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Alan Krigman Gaming Guru - Page 20  Basic Strategy in blackjack sometimes differs little from next best22 March 2010
Surprisingly few blackjack buffs actually know what's behind Basic Strategy. Ask around. Representative answers range from polling the experts about their preferences in every instance to watching lots of games and seeing which decisions win most often.
In reality, the rules are based on the "expectation" for each triad of two player cards and one dealer up-card. ... (read more)
Why gamblers can win with systems that don't work15 March 2010
Aren't they maddening? Those slick pitches for gambling systems guaranteed to beat the house, with "bogus" written all over them? You'll be glad to know that few system touts get many takers.
You might be surprised, though, to learn that folks who do buy or devise their own systems are often content with them. ... (read more)
What good are bets on which you can lose more than you can win?8 March 2010
Most casino bets have payoffs that equal or exceed the amount in jeopardy on them. The majority of solid citizens not only prefer these wagers, they look for extreme cases. Who can resist a hundred thousand dollar payoff for a buck in a machine or on a bonus bet at a table? And, why not take a shot with ... (read more)
How long are "cycles" in craps, and what do they really mean?1 March 2010
Almost everybody who plays craps knows that a pair of dice can land 36 different ways. A die has six sides and can come to rest with one of six faces on top. For each of the six results on one die, the other also has six outcomes. That's six times six or 36.
Within the 36 combinations:
* one totals 2 ... (read more)
Without the players' options, blackjack wouldn't be a serious gamble22 February 2010
Highly-informed blackjack buffs know the precise house edge they fight by following rigorous Basic Strategy. When the rules allow doubling down on any two cards, resplitting to as many as four hands, and doubling after splitting, it's 0.402225 and 0.429881 percent for six- and eight-deck games, respectively. ... (read more)
Is a big win on longshots guaranteed if you make enough bets?15 February 2010
Unlike lotteries, ball games, or horse races, casino gambles typically involve repetitive bets. A previous article discussed the chances of winning or losing various amounts, using alternate strategies for series of wagers on even-money propositions.
Many solid citizens, however, avoid even-money games. ... (read more)
Do your gambling prospects improve if you bet more often?8 February 2010
The longer a game you play, the greater your chances of a successful round. But this isn't necessarily equivalent to the likelihood of earning a profit. To see the effect, pretend you flip a coin, heads wins and tails loses. The chance of winning any individual toss is 50 percent.
You can approach a multi-round game intending to play until you win or bust out. ... (read more)
Should you take insurance in blackjack without counting cards?1 February 2010
A, if not the, prime directive of Basic Strategy in blackjack is never to take insurance. The reason is that, under normal circumstances, this bet gives the house a huge advantage.
Pretend, for example, you're in a six-deck game, know nothing about the proportions of ranks previously withdrawn from the shoe, and ignore what's in sight on the table at the moment. ... (read more)
What kind of person is gambling one seat over from you?25 January 2010
Harrah's Entertainment has long been commissioning biennial surveys profiling American gamblers. The American Gaming Association (AGA) has also been producing studies of this topic, using data from Harrah's as well as from polls sponsored on its own. Other analyses of who gambles and why have been performed ... (read more)
Gullibility and the gambler18 January 2010
Most casino aficionados have dreamt up, read or heard about, or (yes) spent money for systems or strategies to overcome the house edge. It's indeed doable, under very limited circumstances.
For instance, a "new" game might have a flaw in the rules or procedures, and hasn't racked up enough data for the condition to be spotted by the analysts. ... (read more)
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