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John Grochowski Gaming Guru - Page 24  Table Game Tales6 August 2020
When I receive reader tales of first casino visits, they nearly always involve slot machines. Slots are the games that attract the most players, and slot jackpots are always memorable. Lately, several readers have emailed first trip reports that involve table games. The variety is welcome, so let’s share a few. ... (read more)
Hitting Choices in Blackjack2 August 2020
QUESTION: I’m a stubborn old coot and I refuse to bust with 16, and I don’t really like to hit 15, either. I’ve played blackjack for a long time. I went to Las Vegas for the first time in 1956. I’ve just seen too many busts with 16. I just don’t see that I’m any worse off waiting to see if the dealer will bust. ... (read more)
The Nature of Paybacks30 July 2020
Given optimal strategy in video poker, you’ll see full houses just about as often as flushes and flushes just about as often as straights. Paybacks differ widely. The goal of designers is a game that’s fun to play, attractive to players and makes a profit for the house. Reflecting true odds in the pay table takes a back seat to all that. ... (read more)
My Second First Time25 July 2020
QUESTION: Do you ever get any fun stories about first times in casinos? I’ve been thinking about mine since casinos are starting to reopen. When I can convince myself it’s safe to go back, I’m going to treat it as a second “first time,” as if everything is fresh and new. My real first time came on my 21st birthday, just after midnight. ... (read more)
Kay's Video Poker23 July 2020
Kay is a veteran reader of this column and she says she loves to play video poker. “I learned toward the middle of the 1990s and put in a lot of practice time with software that dings when I make a mistake. “The game I love is 9-6 Double Double Bonus, and that’s the strategy I have down pat. The plays just come automatically. ... (read more)
Field versus Placing 5 or 919 July 2020
QUESTION: Craps question here. I can see that placing 6 and 8 is a better bet than the field. The listed house edge is 1.52 percent on 6 and 8 and 2.78 percent when the field pays 3-1 on 12, 2-1 on 2 and even money on the other numbers. But isn’t the field a better bet than placing 5 or 9? I know guys who place 5 and 9 who wouldn’t even think about the field. ... (read more)
Bad Table Game Bets16 July 2020
Table games present players with options galore. That doesn’t mean players should take them all. Some, you should avoid entirely. One-roll propositions in craps fall into that category. So do tie bets in baccarat and five-number baskets in roulette. The house edges are higher than other bets at the table. ... (read more)
Video Poker Pairs12 July 2020
QUESTION: In video poker, is one high pair more valuable than another? Are you better of with two Jacks, Queens, Kings or Aces? Are two Jacks with 9-5-3 better or worse than two Kings with 9-5-3? What if you have two high pairs, something like King-King, Queen-Queen and a 9? If two pairs just gets me my money back and a high pair also gets me my money back, I’ve been holding just one pair. ... (read more)
Comparison of Slots and Tables9 July 2020
Despite visible differences, slot machines are more similar to table games than most players realize, Both slots and tables give the house an edge by paying winners less than true odds. Both set odds of the game to drive random results toward an anticipated average, with winning and losing streaks as part of normal probability. ... (read more)
Online Blackjack Strategy5 July 2020
QUESTION: I’ve been able to play blackjack for money online during the shutdown, and it’s been really helpful to have a basic strategy card right there while I play. No more mistakes! It’s helping me learn, too. On the hands that have always seemed like close calls to me, I’m remember the right play before I look a lot more often than I used to. ... (read more)
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