The gambling buffet

7 May 2019

By Frank Scoblete

Casinos have great dining buffets. You can get all manner of ethnic offerings such as Italian, Southern, Chinese, Irish and Scottish, along with many other European and Asian specialties. Not every buffet will have every ethnicity's or country’s offerings, but tour the country as I have and you will eat – a lot! (And gain a ton of weight.)

However, this column is not about eating at buffets, but rather about you making casino games a buffet session. Why not slake your thirst to challenge Lady Lucky by playing at many different games in the casino – my favorite games, that is. Let me warn, though, that none of the strategies I give in this article can get you a mathematical edge at the games but I will give you strategies that keep the house edge somewhat at bay.

This column might resonate with newer players, those who haven’t actually played very much or at all. It also might interest those of you who have grown somewhat tired of the games you play and are looking to tackle something new. This buffet session (or sessions) should let you taste some ethnic games because each game has a history – it came from somewhere.

So let’s get started shall we?

BLACKJACK: This is the most popular table game in the casino. Approximately 9% of all players tackle this game and play various strategies from good to awful. The dealer gets two cards, one face down, one face up and the player gets two initial cards. Then the player decides whether to hit his hand (getting another card or several cards), stand on his hand, double his bet on one hand getting one card only, or splitting pairs on his hand and now playing two hands.

The object of the game is to beat the dealer’s hand without going over 21. You can do this by beating the dealer face-to-face, for example you have 19 and the dealer has 17; or by the dealer busting his hand by going over 21.

Yikes that is a lot to learn, right? No problem. Go to the casino gift shop and get what is called a blackjack basic strategy card which will tell you how to play each and every hand you have against the dealer’s up card. You can also buy such cards at a casino book store and/or supply shop.

You will play just 10 hands. If you are betting $10 per hand it will cost you $100 more or less depending on whether you double down or split your first two cards. Do not be shy to admit that you are a first-time player and are nervous. You’ll be treated just fine.

Blackjack either originated in France in the 17th century with a game called Vingt-et-Un, which means 21, but some gambling historians think the game actually originated in Spain in the 17th century since a Spanish deck is used.

The house edge at blackjack is more or less one-half percent. If you wish to pursue blackjack I would recommend my book (obviously!) titled Beat Blackjack Now!

CRAPS: This is the second most-favored game in the casino, although it was No. 1 until the blackjack card-counting revolution occurred in the 1960s.

You do not have to know how the game is played to bet decently at it. Sounds weird doesn’t it? No knowledge necessary to place a good bet at the game? Yes, this is true; in fact, what is even stranger is that you will be betting with a lower house edge against you than many other more experienced craps players at the table – and you will do this without knowing the ins and outs of the game!

Now, you might want to buy a book about craps if you find the excitement at this game to be quite thrilling – many players believe this is the most exciting table game in the house. I’d recommend my book Casino Craps: Shoot to Win!, which you can find at Amazon.com or in bookstores. (Look, I am always going to recommend my books; you would too for your books, right?)

Here is what you are going to do: Step up to the table near one of the dealers; this will make you less nervous. Every bet you make must be made in six-dollar increments. Let us say you are going to bet $12. Buy in for $120 and say to the dealer, “I want to place a bet for $12, just tell me when I can give you the bet.” He will.

When he gives you the green light say, “Let me have the six for $12.” The dealer will take your chips and place them on the six. You could also choose the eight instead of the six but only bet on one of these numbers, not both.

You are now rooting for your six to show up before the seven. If it does, you will win $7; if you lose, well, you then ask the dealer to let you know when to bet again. That’s it. Your six (or eight) against the dealer’s seven. The house edge on this bet is quite low, 1.52%.

Craps is based on the British game of Hazard. The French immigrants brought the game to Canada. The name “craps” probably came up from the south of the United States and was called “crabs,” which sounded like “craps” to northerners and that name stuck.


Visit Frank’s website at www.frankscoblete.com. Frank’s latest books are Confessions of a Wayward Catholic!, I Am a Dice Controller and I Am a Card Counter. All of Frank’s books are available from Amazon.com, Kindle, Barnes and Noble, e-books and at bookstores.