New year, new you

31 January 2017

By Frank Scoblete

A new year is upon us, but, as often happens in our gambling world, we wind up treating the new years the same way we treated the old ones. The only thing that changes – at least in our casino playing career – are the dates on the calendar.

So I say start this new year off with a radical suggestion: Why not do two things? Change some of the games you play and change the way you play your old games (that is, if you aren’t playing them the way I figure you should play them).

So let’s leap into our new playing year and do the following:

Blackjack players, you must, must play basic strategy. These strategies are computer-derived and they are accurate. Basic strategy gives you the best shot at beating the house. If you don’t know the strategy by heart, buy a basic strategy card from the gift shop or read a good blackjack book (written by me of course).

In any game — that means any game at all — do not rely on your psychic abilities to play your hand correctly or to pick a table in which to play craps, roulette, or any other game or machine. There is no such thing as a “hot” or a “cold” table. The table may have been hot, it may have been cold, but neither state can be predicted from this moment onward.

Give Pai Gow Poker a chance. It is a relaxing game where you do get to make decisions on how to play your cards. A great benefit of the game is if you are confused you can ask the dealer and she will show you the house way to set your cards.

In any game, be aware that decisions made by other players will not add or subtract from your expectation. There is no known order of the cards that any player is disturbing by his play; unless you are indeed psychic which I am guessing you aren’t.

Try to cut down the number of decisions you play at every game you play. Sit out hands in blackjack; sit out spins in roulette, sit out hands in mini-baccarat and only play about six decisions a minute on any slot machine.

The slower the game, the better for you, and talkative dealers help make the game go slowly. Also social players are a big plus. Be friendly. It reduces the number of decisions you will face.

Craps is a game where it is extremely easy to lose your discipline and start betting all the worst possible bets. Some of these bets are so bad, they are in the worst category of all casino bets — some worse than the worst slot machines!

Craps players, stick to the best bets, which means the pass with odds and come with odds. If you are a darkside player, a don’t pass with odds and a don’t come with odds. Let that become the “be-all and end-all” of your craps betting.

Every multiple bet at the same game (such as craps and roulette) is really adding another game against the house. That means the house edge is grinding away at more of your money. Make three bets at roulette and you are tripling your losing expectation.

Do not be proud if the casino looks at you as an “action player.” That definition works for the casinos, because an “action player” means a player who is willing to throw a lot of money out there.

If you are playing any of the carnival games such as the various poker variants (Four Card Poker, Three Card Poker, Let It Ride, Caribbean Stud, etc.) try to sit out at least one-third of the hands.

Craps players, use the Captain’s 5-Count. You will only be betting on 43% of the random rolls. You’ll save a lot of money. Not to worry; if a player gets hot, you’ll be on his roll.

Video poker players would do well to read several books on the subject. There are good and great video poker games in the casinos. You just have to know what to look for and how to play the games properly. You are allowed to bring the strategy into the casino so you make the right decisions.

All players should tip the dealers. You don’t have to constantly tip, but if a dealer is friendly and professional, tips will make his or her workday.

Tip on top of your bet. Do not put the tip on the layout because a win means the dealer will take that chip along with his win. Tipping on top means the dealer takes only the win and your tip can ride on multiple hands if you keep winning.

In craps, when you tip, you must say, “I control the bet,” which indicates they can only take the win, not the original bet. This method allows the dealers to win on subsequent rolls without you having to spend more money.

Ignore the players who badger you with their ideas of how you should play. Smile and ignore them. Play properly and let other players worry about themselves.

OK, now leap into your new playing style, and all the best in and out of the casinos!


Visit Frank's web site at www.frankscoblete.com Frank's books are available at Amazon.com and Kindle.