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Alan Krigman Gaming Guru - Page 41  So Much for Assuming that the Unseen Card is a 1015 June 2005
A theory held and acted upon by far too many blackjack buffs, not all of whom are babes in the woods, is that in a pinch it's safe to assume "the unseen card is a 10." This says, for instance, a dealer's 10-up is headed toward a total of 20. And similarly, only an extreme stroke of luck will keep a dealer ... (read more)
Why Casinos Like the Long Run, and Players the Short8 June 2005
Most gamblers realize that a probability such as one out of six doesn't mean a
hit is in the bag after five misses in a row. It implies that over many instances,
a span often glibly referred to as "the long run," hits are expected
on close to one sixth of all trials. For instance, approximately six million occurrences
of seven for every 36 million throws of the dice. ... (read more)
How Does Varying Your Bet Affect Your Chances of Survival?1 June 2005
In games or on bets that pay close to even money, bankrolls normally tend to drift
up or down slowly. Keeping bets uniform, players can rack up the dough on extended
hot streaks; however, they often leave these sessions wishing they'd raised the
ante when they were winning. Conversely, with the same bet on every round, they
can go bust during cold streaks. ... (read more)
How Likely Are the Best Craps Players' Worst Dreams to Come True?25 May 2005
Craps buffs who prefer the "do" to the "don't" side of the
game, and want the lowest possible house edge, bet strictly on Pass and Come.
Players who don't "take Odds" on these wagers give the house only 1.4
percent edge. Passes and Comes augmented with Odds pay the casinos less juice
as a fraction of the total at risk. ... (read more)
Would Having an Edge Let You Gamble for a Living?18 May 2005
Solid citizens can play some casino games at an advantage. Card counters at blackjack
and controlled shooters at craps do it. Both skills demand dedication to master
and sustain, and both require finesse to use since the bosses will take countermeasures
if they suspect what you're doing. But they're neither cheating nor illegal. ... (read more)
What Makes You Like One Slot Machine Better than Another?11 May 2005
If you play the slot machines a lot, you're apt to have one or two favorites.
What is it about a particular device that makes you like it better than an alternative
across the aisle or in a different casino? That, in fact, keeps you returning,
not to the slots in general but to the same game, on a ... (read more)
How Do You Decide What to Bring to the Casino?4 May 2005
How much money should you bring to a casino, or equivalently, how much should you bet per coup, given such and such a bankroll? Affordability, of course, is a major factor. Folks shouldn't gamble thinking from the outset they'll go belly-up. But there's a chance this'll happen, and risking the rent or mortgage money isn't exactly a sound fiscal or recreational policy. ... (read more)
Gambling: Is It Still a Guy's Game?27 April 2005
Once upon a time, gambling was a sport for guys wiseguys, otherwise guys, and
occasionally gals who were one of the guys. Back then, gambling meant risking
serious dough on every round, money that hurt when it was lost, making bets that
paid somewhere from not much less to not much more than 1-to-1. ... (read more)
What Are the Pros and Cons of Longshots versus Parlays?20 April 2005
Joe puts $5 each on 17 and 24 at single-zero roulette. With luck, he'll win $175
(at 35-to-1) on the spot that hit. He'll also get his $5 back so he has $180.
But he began with $10, so his net is $170. His chance of winning is two out of
37 or 5.4 percent.
Jane comes by and bets $10 on Red. This pays even money. ... (read more)
Count the Ways of Craps, and You'll Understand the Whys13 April 2005
Pairs of dice can land 36 ways. Some players find this puzzling, since rolls such
as 4-2 and 2-4 are indistinguishable yet count as two ways. To understand it,
assume for the sake of argument that the dice are of different colors, red and
green. Say red shows a one. Green can then be anything from one to six. ... (read more)
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