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John Grochowski Gaming Guru - Page 125  Blackjack quiz18 May 2010
Blackjack offers some of the best odds in the casino for those who take the time to learn basic strategy. But not all blackjack games are created equal. Casinos choose among a mix-and-match set of rules, some favorable to the player, some padding the house advantage.
In this blackjack quiz, let's take a look at some the hows and whys of blackjack:
1. ... (read more)
A shuffle through the gaming mailbag11 May 2010
Q. I expect that you may have heard about the woman who thought she won $42.9 million in Central City, Colo., but only found out that the machine malfunctioned. It was on a penny machine. Is it even possible on a progressive penny machine to win that much?
A. The largest jackpot ever awarded on a penny ... (read more)
Video poker progressives4 May 2010
The math of video poker games tells us average payback percentages given expert play. If everyone played at expert level, 9/6 Double Double Bonus Poker would return 98.98% of money wagered to players, and casinos would have it off the floor in a hurry in favor or more profitable games.
Once we get to ... (read more)
Horse racing slots27 April 2010
On a trip to Las Vegas long enough ago that we didn't have casinos in the Midwest, I took a time out when things were going badly at blackjack and video poker.
I decided to relax for a little cheap play on a horse racing game, Sigma Derby. Maybe you remember it. Odds would be posted and you'd pick a horse to win, or a couple to finish 1-2, and horses would race around a track. ... (read more)
How the casino game got its name20 April 2010
Everyone knows how casino games get named nowadays. The game inventor, or perhaps the marketing department in a large company, decides what best describes the game, or what will sell the game to the public. Someone at Shufflemaster decided, "Hmmm …. You can choose to pull a bet back or let it ride for another card … we'll call it Let It Ride."
Sometimes the names are descriptive. ... (read more)
Flush attack13 April 2010
If there's a way to get an edge on a casino game, players will find it. Whether it's a quirk in the rules, a glitch in the programming, or simply an oversight, knowledgeable players will take advantage.
That's why on modern community-style slot machines where players go to the bonus event together, only active players are eligible. ... (read more)
Laying odds at craps6 April 2010
My craps-playing friend Steve has been experimenting with the dark side. He's been playing don't pass, meaning he's rooting for the opposite outcome of the majority of players who are rooting for the shooter to make a point.
"One thing," he said. "I really don't understand the advantage in laying the free odds. ... (read more)
Playing a soft 1630 March 2010
Sitting at a blackjack table, I found myself with one of those hands.
You know the kind. With the dealer showing a 10, I started with a 5 and a 4. Then I drew another 5. Then a 2.
That's one ugly 16.
It's also a hand almost nothing will help. Hit, and you're more likely than not to bust. Stand, and ... (read more)
RNGs and secondary decisions23 March 2010
There are slot machine myths that have waned through the years or become obsolete because of technology. I can't remember the last time I heard from anyone who believed that you were better off playing slots with fresh money, because the machine could detect the warmth of coins fresh out of the game's hopper.
... (read more)
Three Card Poker pay tables16 March 2010
Video poker players know the drill: To get the most possible out of the game, you have to check the pay table first.
That's a lesson table games players need to learn, too, with the variety of available pay tables in the Pair Plus option of Three Card Poker.
Pair Plus is easy, a bet that your three-card hand contains a pair or better. ... (read more)
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