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John Grochowski Gaming Guru - Page 72  Even money — NOT24 December 2015
I don’t do a lot of backtracking and explaining past columns. For the most part, they can stand on their own, and when readers e-mail me to say they didn’t understand a point, I try explanations via e-mail rather than readdressing the topic for all. It seems I had one column a few months ago that was so widely misunderstood that I figured I’d best circle back around. ... (read more)
Blackjack versus video poker20 December 2015
QUESTION: If I’m in a casino that has $10 blackjack tables with a half-percent house edge, and $1 9/6 Jacks or Better, which also has a half-percent house edge, which should I play? ANSWER: That depends on a number of factors, including what you want out of the play experience. Video poker is a more volatile game, with a portion of its payback tied up in big jackpot hands. ... (read more)
Hitting that 12 against a dealer's 2 or 317 December 2015
On a crisp November morning, I stopped into a casino near my home, found an empty seat at a $10 blackjack table and did my level best not to get drawn into the argument that was raging. A two-against-one discussion was going on with two players joining forces against the man sitting at third base. The ... (read more)
Paying taxes on wins13 December 2015
QUESTION: I’ve seen you mention that you have to pay taxes on any win over $1,200. I am moving towards the table games, craps and blackjack. What happens at the table games? How do they keep track of your winnings/losses? Is there a limit when you cash your chips in that they give you a W-2G? How do they ... (read more)
Creating the house edge10 December 2015
A few years ago, I answered a question on how slots could be programmed and random at the same time with a comparison to table games. On double-zero roulette, the game is set up with 38 numbers, any of which could occur on any spin. In that way, it’s random. Winning wagers pay at less than true odds, and ... (read more)
Was that a biased roulette wheel?6 December 2015
QUESTION: I usually play craps, but when I was walking from the table, the roulette wheel caught my eye. The board showed black 31 had come up four times in a row. I got some chips and started to bet 31 and the numbers around it, 29, 28, 32, 34 and 35. It never came up again while I was there. I won a couple of corner bets when the 28 and 35 came up, but 31 was my only single number. ... (read more)
The royal treatment at video poker3 December 2015
Each year when I go to the Global Gaming Expo, I spend six nights in Las Vegas. I always have some extra projects and meetings going on around expo time, and I play a lot less than you would think. It’s a busy, busy time. Nonetheless, I manage to squeeze in a little play time, mainly on my first couple of nights in town. ... (read more)
Splitting reduces house edge at blackjack29 November 2015
QUESTION: I've been playing blackjack for nearly 20 years. I have a casino in my area, Valley Forge Casino Resort, that offers splitting twice for a total of three hands, including re-splitting aces. I've never seen this offered before and I wonder if this offers an advantage over splitting three times for a total of four hands as in Atlantic City. ... (read more)
Great new video poker games26 November 2015
A couple of days before the beginning of this fall’s Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas, I was asked about a video poker game by Matt Bourie, son of American Casino Guide publisher Steve Bourie. “Have you seen a game that’s like Triple Play, but you’re dealt three different hands at the start?” he asked. ... (read more)
Real meaning of percentages22 November 2015
QUESTION: What is the real monetary difference between playing basic strategy blackjack and just playing for fun? You always give percentages, like a half percent with basic strategy and 1.5 or 2% for an average player. What does that mean in dollars and cents? Plain English, please. ANSWER: That depends on how much you’re betting and how fast you’re playing. ... (read more)
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