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John Grochowski Gaming Guru - Page 177  The Casino Answer Man30 May 2000
Q. In blackjack, I know the rule is you should either hit or double down on soft 17. I was playing last week at the last position (third base) and was dealt Ace-6. The dealer had a 6 showing, and the rest of the table stood pat. All had 13 or higher. I also chose to stand pat. The dealer ... (read more)
Payback Percentages are Straight from State22 May 2000
Q. I can understand how odds are figured on craps, blackjack or roulette, but when you say some casinos pay back 96 percent, 97 percent, etc., on slots, how do you know this? Ed R. A. Payback percentages on slot machines at local casinos are taken from monthly reports by the Illinois Gaming Board and Indiana Gaming Commission. ... (read more)
Players Should Know Myth from Reality16 May 2000
Casino lore is full of myths, legends and superstitions. That's natural enough. Few players understand the math, the odds and percentages that explain what's really going on in the casino. It's easier to blame that losing streak on someone else's poor play, and more fun to claim our own smart play led to a big win, than to make sense of the eternal tide of random results. ... (read more)
Baccarat Quiz Answers9 May 2000
Last week, I popped a little 10-question quiz on baccarat. Here is the test again, followed by the answers. The Quiz: The winning hand in baccarat is: The hand that totals closer to 9. The higher-ranking poker-type hand, with three Aces being the perfect hand. The lower-ranking poker-type hand, with Ace-2-3 being the perfect hand. ... (read more)
Test Baccarat Mettle and Go for the Gold: A Baccarat Quiz2 May 2000
As an introduction to table games, it's hard to beat baccarat.
An inexperienced player can step up to the table and get the same low
house edge as an old pro. There are no basic strategy tables to
memorize, as in blackjack, nor does it take as large a bankroll ... (read more)
The Casino Answer Man26 April 2000
Q. The Las Vegas Advisor recently highly recommended both your Slot Machine Answer Book and Robbing the One-Armed Bandits by Charles Lund. I bought your book and loved it. What can you tell me about the Lund book? G.S., Chicago A. Let me start with a return recommendation for ... (read more)
Pay Tables Are Key to Best Poker Strategy19 April 2000
My brother, Jay, has a new favorite toy. That's been apparent ever since Christmas Day, when I presented him with a copy of Bob Dancer Presents WinPoker, software to help him brush up on his video poker in advance of a Las Vegas trip he, my dad and I are taking together. Every few days, ... (read more)
On My Gambling Bookshelf12 April 2000
A new Frank Scoblete book is always a treat, and so it is with his latest, Baccarat Battle Book. Scoblete is a showman as well as a gambler, a former actor who knows entertainment as well as he knows odds and percentages. In 203-page softcover Baccarat Battle Book ($12.95, Bonus Books), the entertainment, odds and percentages are all there. ... (read more)
The State of Illinois Feeds at Trough Twice on Big Slot Payouts5 April 2000
Q. For those who don't know, IRS Form W-2G is used to inform the IRS of winners of amounts of $1,200 or more on slot machines. However, since slot machine gamblers often lose money in the course of winning money, the IRS allows itemized deductions for substantiated losses up to the amounts won, using Form 1040, Schedule A, Line 27. ... (read more)
Harrah's Joliet Hotel Gets a Running Start23 March 2000
Playing in casinos in the Chicago area is a night-out type of experience. We don't have glitzy destination resorts, we have casinos that cater to local customers. To draw a comparison to Las Vegas, this isn't the Strip, it's Boulder Hwy., except without the single-deck blackjack and 100 percent video poker. ... (read more)
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