The grind of blackjack tourneys can wear you down, no doubt. Your approach of tightening up early resonates—playing conservative with basic strategy is like pacing yourself in a marathon. Lately, I’ve been leaning into that same mindset but with a twist: I track the table’s chip leaders obsessively. Knowing who’s swinging big lets me adjust my bets in the mid-rounds, especially when I’m trailing. If I’m behind, I might push a calculated double-down on a strong hand, but only if the math checks out. The real edge, though, comes from casino cashback programs. Those small returns on losses can stretch your bankroll, giving you more shots at the final table. Anyone else factoring in chip stacks or cashback to tilt the odds? Stay sharp out there.