How Much Did You Learn about Casino Gambling in 2005?

Lots of new casinos opened up across the country in the year 2005 . Are you smarter about it now than you were a year ago? Here's a year-end quiz to test your casino gambling IQ.

1) You're playing the slots and haven't had much luck. The lady right next to you just hit a $1000 jackpot and ran right out on a Christmas shopping spree. Should you:

1. Grab her machine because it's hot.
2. Pass up that machine because it won't be "due" again for a while.
3. Makes no difference either way.

2) You're playing Jacks or Better video poker and are dealt a 3-4-5-6-6 of mixed suits. Should you:

1. Draw 3 cards to the pair of 6s.
2. Draw 1 card to the 3-4-5-6.
3. Draw 5 new cards.

3) You're playing roulette and notice that the last six numbers in a row were all red. This means:

1. You should jump on "red" and stay on it as long as it's hot.
2. You should bet "black" because it has to be due to come up.
3. Red and black are both equally likely to appear next, no matter what.

4) You've been playing baccarat for an hour and there hasn't been a tie dealt yet. You should now:

1. Start betting on the 8-to-1 "tie" proposition since it normally comes up once every 10 or 11 hands.
2. Never bet on a tie because an 8-to-1 payoff on a 10-to-1 shot is a pure sucker bet.
3. Count the next 11 hands and if there's still no tie, bet on it.

5) You're a low stakes craps player and usually put $10 on the pass line, then follow it up with two consecutive $10 come bets. You never take odds, never make any "prop" bets and never risk more than $30 per pass decision. A better strategy for your money would be to:

1. Make only one come bet in addition to your pass line bet, then make two $5 hardway bets per pass decision.
2. Forget the come bets and take $20 odds behind your pass line bet whenever a point is established.
3. Bet the whole $30 on the pass line and forget everything else.

6) You're playing Texas Hold'em and are dealt the Q/J of spades in the last seat. You call behind three other players and the flop comes up A-10-7 including the 10 and 7 of spades. The first player bets, the second player raises and the third player calls. You call too, and on the fourth card the Ace of diamonds comes. There's a check, a bet and a raise. You should:

1. Call both bets and go for your Queen-high flush.
2. Fold because a Queen-high flush won't be that good a hand in this particular spot.
3. Raise to get everybody's money into the pot in case you hit your spade.

7) You're about to buy in at the blackjack table, but you watch the first couple of hands while you're getting out your money. The players keep getting dealt 11s, but always seem to catch a 3 or a 4 on their double downs. To boot, the dealer keeps on making long, drawn-out 20s and 21s. Just then, everybody leaves in a huff and you're standing there all alone. The smart move is to:

1. Buy right in and bet double or triple your regular amount.
2. Move on down the line and look for a table where the players are being dealt 20s and blackjacks.
3. Sit down and play, but if you lose your first two hands, leave the table.

Answers: 1) C; 2) A; 3) C; 4) B; 5) B; 6) B; 7) A. Five correct out of seven (71%) is a passing grade. I'll supply all the whys and wherefores in my next column.