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Alan Krigman Gaming Guru - Page 14  When phenomena coincide, it may not be coincidental9 May 2011
Perhaps you’ve been at a gathering and were asked to write the month and day of your birth on a piece of paper and hand it in. A sorter arranged all the slips in calendar order and, lo and behold, two or more coincided. How much of a coincidence was it? Even with a moderately sized group, the probability of the phenomenon is higher than you might guess. ... (read more)
Will you ultimately win if you keep on gambling?2 May 2011
Gambling gurus and math mavens all say that in games of independent trials, including nearly everything in the casino except blackjack and its derivatives, and even there to a great extent, probabilities don’t vary between rounds. If your chance of a result is one out of five the first time you try, it’s one out of five on your second, third, fourth, 10th or any other shot as well. ... (read more)
If 17 in blackjack isn't much better than 16, why treat them differently?25 April 2011
Some folks play blackjack by guess and by gosh. Others learn and follow Basic Strategy but do it by rote and haven’t a clue why hands call for the treatments they do. Solid citizens of the latter ilk don’t guess but do exhibit lots of gosh when bets go bad even through they abide by the rules.
The differences in treating 16s and 17s offer a case in point. ... (read more)
For the same money at risk, should you concentrate or spread out your bets?18 April 2011
Doris and Horace enjoy shooting craps. They both start on the Pass line then make Place bets to cover additional numbers. Their Place strategies differ, however. Doris bets $10 on four or five, or $12 on six; Horace spreads $5 each over four and 10 or five and nine, or $6 each over six and eight. In terms of players’ theoretical loss from edge, the approaches are equivalent. ... (read more)
Why are 12s Against 2- and 3-up at Blackjack so Perplexing?11 April 2011
Proficient blackjack buffs sometimes knowingly and rationally violate Basic Strategy. This might occur when the “correct” play is to double down or split a pair but the bettor doesn’t want or can’t afford to risk the extra money for these actions. Another involves prescribed doubles where a player might wish ... (read more)
How do Edge and Chance of Winning a Bet Differ?4 April 2011
In casino gambling, edge indicates the fraction of every wager the joint should get to keep. Probability of winning suggests how frequently bets should pay off. Higher or lower edge means that the bosses keep more or less, not that a bet is less or more apt to win. Analogously, higher or lower probability of ... (read more)
Do people (you, for instance) gamble for the fun or the money?28 March 2011
Casino gambling has advocates and detractors. Boosters deem it to be an enjoyable leisure pursuit; they picture the cognoscenti seeking the excitement offered, hoping that chance will bring them a profit but not really expecting this to happen. Detractors consider it an unproductive, wasteful, and ... (read more)
Will winning a major lottery or giant jackpot ruin your life?21 March 2011
Anecdotal evidence. You've been exposed to it frequently. As when politicians explain why they're trying to regulate the rocking horse industry by mentioning little Sally Jones from Muncie IN who broke her arm falling off one. The story may well be true. However, as an isolated incident, it doesn't justify drawing a general conclusion. ... (read more)
How do higher Odds multiples affect your chances at craps?14 March 2011
Proficient craps players know that taking or laying odds behind their Pass and Come or Don't Pass and Don't Come bets reduces the overall edge the casino has on the dough at risk. The reason is that the house gets 1.4 percent on the flat portions of the bets and nothing on the Odds. So, if you start with $5 flat on Pass, the bosses figure you for $0.07 (1.4 percent of $5). ... (read more)
How long do you have to wait for a hit?7 March 2011
Some casino aficionados believe that if they keep betting enough to cover previous losses, they'll do OK in the end. This philosophy works sufficiently often to tempt those who've tried it and triumphed, or heard of folks who have. But, realistically, what's the chance that chasing losses will be a path out ... (read more)
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