50k Blackjack free role tourney

I got a ticket to a 50k free role into a BJ tourney at a casino because of some of my degenerative patterns. I have hardly played blackjack in my life, all of my pit action comes in the form of throwing dice or betting on the outcome of a spinning wheel.

I've played online today with a chart to learn some basic strategy, but how should i factor in that this is a free roll and a tourney structure. I think there will be around 50-60 entrants, and the payout structure looks like this

1)25k
2)10k
3)7k
4)5k
5)3k

I'd imagine i should just double down like a maniac and split ATC?

:this

:fraudalert

:doublefacepalm

blackjack tourney strategy is different from cash game....and card counting really doesn't help...learn basic stategy, but bet sizing has more to do with your statck size relative to the other players at the table instead of the hi-lo count...on average you will beat the dealer 43% of the time, lose 47% and push 10%.

i've heard a good strategy is to use a gamblers ruin strategy to double up after a loss, and to go to minimum bet after a win--do that until the last 3 or 4 hand of tourney if you are a not far from the table leader...the last 3 or 4 hands bet to get to the lead and stay there...

i believe Stanford Wong wrote a book on BJ tourney strategy...and perhaps you can find strategy guides for tournaments online