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Alan Krigman Gaming Guru - Page 79  When Do You Break a 'Made Hand' in Video Poker?19 January 1998
Video poker buffs face a common dilemma. Whether to break up a "made hand," a guaranteed winner, trying for a larger return. An example might be 5-H, 8-H, 10-H, J-H, J-S in a jacks-or-better nothing-wild game. Should you hold the jacks - at least 1-for-1 and maybe improving to two pairs, ... (read more)
Seven Ways to Let Everyone Know You're a Loser12 January 1998
There's a reason for the way certain folks gamble. They're losers... have to be, want to be, are fated to be. Nature or nurture? That's for head shrinkers to answer. Maybe by studying later lives of identical twins who separated after burning their "Born to Lose" motorcycle jackets the day James Dean got killed. ... (read more)
How Important Are Doubles on Soft Blackjack Hands?5 January 1998
Basic strategy is unambiguous about doubling down on soft blackjack hands against low dealer up-cards. But even seasoned players may falter in the heat of the action. Here are the rules for the games you're most apt to encounter... multiple decks, doubling is allowed, and the dealer must stand on soft 17. ... (read more)
Laying the Numbers: Conservative Craps for Bold Bettors29 December 1997
Lay bets at craps are wagers that a shooter will roll a seven rather than the selected number. They're the opposite of place bets. Yet, placing numbers is well understood and quite common, while few players know about - let alone use - the lay option. The basis of lay betting is simple. 1) Payoffs precisely mirror the odds of winning. ... (read more)
Should You Worry about Being Cheated by a Casino?22 December 1997
An acquaintance recently drew me aside with a warning to avoid the high-limit blackjack pit in a certain casino. "They have a way of shuffling the cards to make you lose," she whispered. She's not the only player to believe casinos cheat. Some dealers - current and former - think so, too. ... (read more)
How Bet Size Affects Profit and Loss Potential15 December 1997
Good gamblers realize that magnitudes of profit and loss potentials are functions of bet size. But, the link isn't simple. The relationship is obscured by low-probability high-value payouts like progressive jackpots on the slots and side-bets in Caribbean Stud. With these, the haul of everyone's hope ... (read more)
Choosing Slot Machines When You Don't Know Your Chances8 December 1997
The slots are versatile. Every machine seems to offer its own twists. I'll cite a few, just for video poker. Wild cards: none, one or two jokers, deuces. Bonus hands: none, four-of-a-kind of one or more selected ranks, flushes of a certain suit. And payout lists for different winning hands: no two look quite alike. ... (read more)
How Different are Blackjack Totals of 16 and 17?1 December 1997
Blackjack buffs occasionally wonder whether totals of 16 and 17 are really as different as the experts insist. When a dealer's upcard is seven or greater, the gurus say hit 16 and stand on 17. With exceptions, of course. If surrender is offered, they favor this option with 16 against nine, ten, or ace. ... (read more)
Are You Certified to Play this Slot Machine?24 November 1997
A bronze plaque at a hydroelectric plant I once toured identified the make and model of the turbine, gave its ratings, and ended by warning, "Do not attempt to operate without reading instructions." Folks, a generator big enough to light half a city isn't something you just plug in and switch on. ... (read more)
Should Casinos Publicize the Odds on their Games?17 November 1997
Every so often, some well-meaning arbiter of the public wealth and weal proposes that casinos carry warning labels publicizing the odds on their games. Sorry, but the idea is irrelevant. One reason is that, although "odds" are an important aspect of gambling, they're not what gives the casino its advantage over the player. ... (read more)
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