Louis Pasteur, scientist and philosopher, is quoted as saying “chance favors the prepared mind.”
There are lots of things you can do to learn and prepare yourself about your favorite game and become a better player. It’s really quite simple. To become a good player you must practice three basic concepts: gambling know-how, self control and lots of common sense. Here are some of the specific things you can do to meet these three concepts:
1. Read articles in magazines or newspapers about your favorite game and refer to them from time to time. Those articles are written by experts and longtime experienced players. These authors can explain about all the newest games. They will also give you the best strategy for the current games found in today’s modern casinos.
2. Get some of the strategy cards for the games from the casino gift stores or for sale on the Internet. Computers have helped make these card formats simple and easy to learn. They are available for blackjack, craps, roulette and even video poker.
3. Speaking of the Internet, you will find loads of tutorial material online for just about any game found in a casino. There are websites (like Casino City Times) that have gaming experts giving advice and even answering questions. Again, the idea is to practice and practice your game and do it without using any funds.
4. Self-control is a must for any casino player. When things are not going well, that’s not the time to “double up.” You can’t expect to win every session, so you need to stop playing and WALK. Here is the example I tell students in my gaming seminars. Visualize yourself driving down the highway at 75 mph. The speed limit is 55 mph. You look in the rearview mirror and see the Highway Patrol pull in behind you. What do you do? You speed up to 85 mph! That is not a good technique. The same with gambling, things are not going well, pull back or quit, don’t throw more money at it.
5. Common sense tells you not to play when you don’t feel well, are tired, or have drunk too much alcohol. If you are playing with a rude dealer or rude players, it will become a distraction and will affect your game. Common sense says you should move on. There will be tomorrow, next week and next month to play. When things are not going to your liking, for any reason, quit, so you have the time, energy and funds to play again.
BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW
• Australian TV magnate Kerry Packer once won 20 consecutive hands of baccarat in 20 minutes at the Mirage, while playing $250,000 per hand.
• In the early days of baccarat in Las Vegas, players were allowed to shuffle the eight decks of cards at the table.
• Triskaidekaphobia means the fear of the number 13. Maybe that is why you won’t find that number at the baccarat table.
