That's the beauty of blackjack tournaments. In a short number of hands (20-30) it's not just knowing how to play the game but how to judge when and how much to bet in order to advance.
You have to play your cards against the dealer as well as playing against the other players.
You also have to know when to double down, split or surrender in times you would never do in a regular game based on where you are sitting and what the chip counts are.
One time on a cruise I had to double on 12 and drew a 9. I would have moved from 5th place into 3rd for the money but the dealer drew to a 21 and we pushed!
Kenneth Smith is a renowned expert in Tournament Blackjack. This link is to his website.
Learn from it and give VB a run for his money.
http://www.blackjackinfo.com/
Orange,
You get a set amount of money. The button (first to bet and get cards) moves left with each hand. There is a minimum and maximum bet on each hand. You don't have to win at your table but you have to finish high enough to advance.
Some tournaments allow you to rebuy if you've been eliminated. Most tourneys start each new table with the same number of chips (you don't advance with your chips like in poker).
If you've never played blackjack tourney I suggest you do some study before jumping in with these sharks.