GAMING GURUS: LATEST FROM OUR STRATEGY EXPERTS

Why do high “counts” at blackjack help players and not dealers?

Question: Blackjack "card counters" increase their bets when they determine that shoes are rich in 10s. Assuming players bet only on single spots, why is this situation advantageous? Don't players and dealers have equal chances of receiving high hands in these circumstances?Answer: The advantage in...read more

Doubling for Less at Blackjack

QUESTION: When is the right time to double for less? I was at a $10 blackjack table, and there was one big player, betting $50 or $100 a hand. Sometimes when he had a $100 bet, he’d double down for $50 instead of $100.I noticed he was mostly doing it when the dealer had a 7, 8 or 9 face up...read more

Top Blackjack Questions Part One

To say I’ve answered many questions from blackjack players over the past 38 years is an understatement. I figure I answered, on average, about five questions a month, so that’s 60 a year, or roughly 2300 over the past 38 years that I’ve been a blackjack writer (whew!)...read more

How Many Lines to Play on Video Slots

For a large majority of players, a trip to the casino means some time on five-reel video slots. It’s not just that they are an entry level game, easy to play with no strategy required. Most players stick with them. Electronic gaming devices account for about 80 percent of casino revenue nowadays --- more in some jurisdictions...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Calculating the Long-Term Payback of an Online Slot

I was trying to deconstruct some slot machines to be able to calculate probabilities and return. I recorded a video [of some Boss Media-based slots] and started taking note of each symbol in the order they showed on the reels, and noticed that the sequence seemed to be random because I couldn't find a pattern to determine the whole reel strip...read more

The 5-Count and Rolling Six Numbers in a Row

Dear Frank:Your book (“Casino Craps: Shoot to Win!”) stirred up some good debates with a friend of mine this weekend. Like I mentioned in an earlier email I have a table that was my grandfather’s in my garage. We put some time in practicing and talking it was a blast...read more

Ten states that should have online gaming

Last week, the first online gaming site regulated within the United States opened for business when Ultimate Poker accepted its first real-money bet in Nevada. And with New Jersey and Delaware working on finalizing their online gambling regulations, it won't be long before more Americans have the o...read more

What happens to doubles and splits when dealers have blackjacks?

Question: At blackjack, you might split pairs, then double down on one or more of the hands when the dealer has an ace or 10 showing. This means you might have multiple bets on the table. If the dealer doesn’t check in advance for a blackjack and ends up getting one, you only lose some of this...read more

Different Payouts Create Different Strategies

QUESTION: I have a question about Deuces Wild. I love the full-pay game. It’s the one I first played in Las Vegas in the ’80s and it’s still the game I play whenever I can find it. I find it less and less, however.I find myself more and more settling for the games that reduce the four of a kind pays to 4-for-1, but also pay 4 on the full houses and pay 3 instead of 2 on flushes.One hand troubles me...read more

Tweaking Blackjack Strategy

Dear Mr. Stickman,Hi, it’s Amy again from the UK. Now that I have a little more time I'd like to share with you and your readers a couple of tips we use in playing Basic Strategy for Blackjack. We realize of course we can't ultimately win except for lucky streaks, which is always fun without counti...read more