The Slot Expert's Guide to Winning at Slots and Video Poker

You can hear me give my slot and video poker tips live on The Good Times Show, hosted by Rudi Schiffer with Frank Scoblete, which is broadcast from Memphis on WMC 790AM Saturday morning from 10-12 CT.

Many times the strategies that gambling experts suggest you follow goes against what you feel the correct play should be. For example, in 9/6 Jacks or Better video poker, you're better off breaking a dealt flush in order to hold a 4-card royal flush. You may feel that holding the sure thing is the better play--and it certainly seems that way given that you have only a 1 in 47 chance for hitting the royal flush and most of the time you'll trade your sure thing for a bust hand--but mathematically you're better off taking a shot at the royal. And when you're mathematically better off making a certain play, that means that you'll win more money in the long run making that play.

Some table games, such as blackjack, Let It Ride, Caribbean Stud, and Three Card Poker, have a mathematically derived strategy that you should follow too. In blackjack, for instance, it hurts to have to hit a 16 because you have such a good chance of busting, but the times that you do improve your hand means that you'll lose less money overall by hitting.

This week's tip: Trust the math, not your feelings.

Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert, at slotexpert@home.com.

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