 Newsletter Signup
Stay informed with the
NEW Casino City Times newsletter! Alan Krigman Archives
More Strategy Experts
|
Alan Krigman Gaming Guru - Page 82  Can You Wait for a Winning Run?16 June 1997
Gambling can get frustrating. Especially in high-payoff games. It's partly because big scores seem so close yet are so elusive. But that can't be the whole story, since sensible solid citizens are savvy enough not to anticipate major money on every outing. The frustration also results because bounty bestowed comes from cash collected. ... (read more)
When to Break the Maximum Coin Rule at the Slots9 June 1997
Modern slot machines let players bet one, two, up to some maximum number of coins at once. The casino creed says always go for the max. But the rule has exceptions. You may be happier following this dogma. You may not. It depends on the machine. And on you. For casinos, multi-coin betting is a no-brainer. ... (read more)
Why Blackjack Seems to Run in Streaks2 June 1997
Seasoned blackjack buffs are often bewildered when they get battered in a game. And casino bosses are likewise frequently flabbergasted when dealers take a drubbing. After all, blackjack has low house edge, fluctuation, and skewness. So solid citizens who don't radically alter bet size during a game should drift up and down - with a bias toward the latter. ... (read more)
Why Casino Bosses Don't Want You to Quit When You're Ahead26 May 1997
In language, a tautology is a useless repetition of meaning in different words. In logic, it's a verification that something equals itself. An important axiom underlying money management - to win at gambling, quit when you're ahead - is a tautology. Why so? Because you obviously win if you quit when you're ahead. ... (read more)
Is Playing the Percentages Right for You?19 May 1997
Pretend, as a promotional ploy, a casino let you pick one of two great gambles. Bet $10 and you'd get a 63 percent chance to win $10. Bet $20 and you'd get a 60 percent chance to win $20. Both bets are robust because you have an edge - even-money payoffs with 1.7-to-1 odds favoring success. Of course, neither may suit you. ... (read more)
Why Maximum Expected Win Isn't the Only Betting Criterion12 May 1997
Conventional casino canon claims the best bets maximize expected win. Similarly in business, the best options ostensibly maximize expected profits, stock prices, executive pay, or other monetary value. Maximum expectation is an objective criterion which can be readily analyzed using run-of-the-mill college math. ... (read more)
What's Your Shot at the Slots?5 May 1997
What are your chances at the slot machines? As is often the case in gambling, this is far simpler to ask than answer. For starters, slots that look, sound, smell, and feel alike can be set up differently. So, what applies to one may not hold for the next. Compounding the confusion, the question doesn't have the same meaning to everybody. ... (read more)
How Helpful Are Doubles and Splits in Blackjack?28 April 1997
House advantage in blackjack comes from settling the dealer's hand after the player's. If both have the same final value, for instance 20, the hands "push" and neither wins. Except when both "break" by exceeding 21. Here, the bettor loses even if the dealer subsequently also goes over the limit. ... (read more)
How Betting Strategies Affect Your Chances21 April 1997
People want to believe whatever supports their preconceptions about gambling. Frequent players, especially those who've studied the usual books or videos, want to believe money management can overcome house advantage. Occasional bettors, especially those who spend their mad money trying for a big win, want to believe it's all luck. ... (read more)
Does Peek-A-Boo Blackjack Affect Decision Strategy?14 April 1997
In olden days, blackjack dealers always peeked at their hole cards when they had ace- or 10-up. With ace-up, it was after closing insurance. If they had blackjack, they exposed it, ending the round without further dealing. Verifying the hole card was good for the casino; more hands could be dealt per hour. ... (read more)
< Previous 10 Articles | Next 10 Articles > Alan Krigman |
Alan Krigman |