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Alan Krigman Gaming Guru - Page 28  Playing It Smart: How to get an edge at Pluto Craps11 March 2008
Resolving world crises at corner taprooms or coffeehouses can grow old. So, many solid citizens look for friendly gambles at their tables or the bar, preferably where they can have an edge when nobody is the wiser. Pluto Craps may be just the thing.
The game requires one or two dice and a shaking cup (to prevent dice setting). ... (read more)
Playing It Smart: Hey! That looks easy. Let's try it!25 February 2008
Frequent bettors often know the games, perhaps even the machines or tables, they'll play when they visit a casino. The choice may be objective or subjective; it's sometimes even rational.
Most casino patrons, though, are occasional if not once-in-a-blue-moon dabblers. They don't distinguish one game from another in any but a cursory sense. ... (read more)
Playing It Smart: Can gambling losses be considered business expenses or entertainment costs?19 February 2008
In 1978, Robert Groetzinger joined the unemployed. Instead of crying, Mr. Groetzinger decided to turn his hobby into a business. The hobby was gambling at the dog tracks. He accordingly spent 60 to 80 hours per week betting as well as studying racing forms, programs, and other materials to help him wager skillfully. ... (read more)
Playing It Smart: The premium paid for a blackjack means more than you think12 February 2008
Most blackjack buffs, even those with considerable experience, underestimate the significance of ace-10 "naturals." Sure, everyone likes to pull a fair share of these hands. The rationale typically hinges on two factors. First, the combination can't lose; it pushes a simultaneous dealer blackjack and wins automatically when it's uncontested. ... (read more)
Playing It Smart: Hedging your bets increases the house advantage at craps5 February 2008
Craps players who are too smart by a half often use hedges, thinking they'll protect their primary wagers with small, high-payoff auxiliary bets. When a hedge pans out, they think they're onto one of those secrets the bosses don't want anyone to know.
Bet $10 on Pass and hedge it with $2 on Any Craps, for instance. ... (read more)
Playing It Smart: Doubling down strategies explained22 January 2008
Blackjack buffs earn much of their money when they get their fair share of hands on which to double-down and win a decent fraction of them. The converse also holds. Too few doubles or too many that fizzle can quickly send the unlucky to the lockers.
Theoretical frequencies of hands suitable for doubling with six and eight decks differ, but not so much that you'd notice. ... (read more)
Playing It Smart: Table games and slots may be more unlike than you think18 January 2008
The casinos' edge on bets booked is inevitable. Without it, the joints couldn't stay in business. Card counting at blackjack is an exception. But, even there, the bosses can minimize or eliminate the effect and few players do it right anyway.
The casino gambling engine runs because many bettors make money despite the edge. ... (read more)
Playing It Smart: The maximum boldness theorem7 January 2008
The "maximum boldness" theorem is a basic law of gambling when you're fighting an edge. Simply stated, starting with a given stake in a particular game, you have the best chance to reach a specified earnings level by making the biggest allowable bets consistent with that goal the fewest possible number of times. ... (read more)
Playing It Smart: Should you make Come bets if you can't afford the Odds?28 December 2007
Some craps know-it-alls think anyone who makes Pass or Come bets without taking Odds is an idiot. Ditto for Don't Pass and Don't Come. The reasoning is that supplementing these bets with Odds reduces the house advantage on the total in action. So a player who doesn't take or lay odds is sacrificing edge to ... (read more)
Playing It Smart: Do all-slots casinos protect gamblers from themselves?17 December 2007
The Pennsylvania legislature has authorized "slot parlors" around the state. It and the governor have said they won't extend the franchise to table games. The rationale for slots and not tables involves safeguarding the solid citizens against high losses.
Contenders for the limited number of licenses were enthusiastic, to say the least. ... (read more)
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