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Alan Krigman Gaming Guru - Page 18  Everything you really want to know about splitting nines in blackjack9 August 2010
Everything most blackjack buffs want to know about playing pairs of nines can be stated in a single sentence. Split 'em against a dealer's two through six, eight, or nine; otherwise stand.
Players with enquiring minds, who want to know, might be interested in delving deeper, however. In particular, why ... (read more)
Which is preferable, big bets or small?2 August 2010
Say you want to win big at a casino, starting with a bankroll you consider realistic. Assume you're willing to go for broke, bag the bonanza or bust out trying. There are two basic approaches.
You can strike it rich betting low at games with high payoffs, like the slots or tables with bonus side action. ... (read more)
You can't judge a slot machine by its belly-glass26 July 2010
Pretend you go to a casino and notice two slot machines side-by side. Hypothetical simplified configurations will be used as an aid in understanding. The devices seem identical, except that the returns shown on the belly glass for winning reel combinations with $1 bet are $1,000, $100, $10, and $1 on the first and $2,000, $200, $20, and $2 on the second. ... (read more)
Should you "work" your craps bets on the come-out?19 July 2010
Flat bets on Pass and Come at craps, those made when the shooter is coming-out, are contracts. After the come-out roll, when the points for such bets have been established, you can't temporarily call them off or permanently take them down. This, because you're favored 8-to-4 on these wagers during the ... (read more)
How does fighting or having an edge affect your chances?12 July 2010
Casinos reap their rewards on the edge in the games they offer. If they know, or estimate, the totals bet over some time period, they can anticipate how much profit will drop to the bottom line.
Predictions based purely on edge are accurate provided three conditions are met. 1) The bosses must get the gross wager right. ... (read more)
Combination bets at roulette let you manipulate risk and reward5 July 2010
Roulette players often mix-and-match wagers. Multiple spots straight-up; groups like three-number rows, four-number corners, and 12-number dozens; and maybe an 18-number outside bet. In all manner of combinations.
Ability to cover lots of possibilities is attractive in a game whose winners are ... (read more)
Can casinos earn more money than players put at risk?28 June 2010
Make believe you go to a casino with a $100 budget. You decide to risk it at your favorite slot machine. Although you can't know precisely, say the machine has a return rate of 92 percent. Here's what return rate means, in case you're unsure. Chances of wins at various levels and of losses are such that, in theory, the game should pay out 92 percent of the gross wager over many trials. ... (read more)
Simultaneous opposing bets in craps: what price moderation?21 June 2010
Some craps aficionados relish opportunities in the game to bet on multiple propositions simultaneously. The usual incentive is to have wins on one or more offset losses on others.
The approach most often takes the form of hedging. That is, using small, low-probability, high-payoff auxiliary bets as ... (read more)
Winning at blackjack: how much is luck and how much is skill?14 June 2010
What causes players to win at blackjack? An amalgam of luck and skill. Luck: getting a healthy helping of highly hopeful hands. Skill: knowing how to handle whatever comes along, to maximize the expected profit or minimize the expected loss inherent in the cards involved in each decision. The first, they can't control. ... (read more)
How to get broader bankroll swings without paying more in edge7 June 2010
Everybody knows that house advantage or edge in the casino is bad for players. Not many solid citizens know exactly why, how much it's responsible when they lose, or the reason folks often wrap up sessions or visits with a profit despite its negative effect.
Hardly anybody knows anything about volatility. ... (read more)
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