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John Robison Gaming Guru - Page 16  Ask the Slot Expert: Understanding why some video poker players don't follow the strategy29 November 2023
In my column a few weeks ago, I wrote about advising my cousin that she probably shouldn't hold a suited Ace-10 when playing video poker. There may be a paytable for which the mathematically derived strategy says to hold the combo, but I've never come across one.
I came across a similar, but completely different, situation playing NSU yesterday. ... (read more)
Ask the Slot Expert: A slot machine design puzzle22 November 2023
I was never asked to solve a puzzle during a job interview, fortunately. According to William Poundstone in How Would You Move Mount Fuji?: Microsoft's Cult of the Puzzle -- How the World's Smartest Companies Select the Most Creative Thinkers (There should be a limit on the number of sub-titles in a book's ... (read more)
Ask the Slot Expert: Statistical Decision Making at video poker and game shows15 November 2023
Statistical Decision Making is the technique of choosing the option that has the highest expected value (EV) when you have to make a decision. I learned the technique in the Operations Research class I took in college.
When you have to make a business decision, you look at how much each option could be worth and the probability of achieving that outcome. ... (read more)
Ask the Slot Expert: Peeking at my video poker neighbor's hand8 November 2023
When someone is playing next to me and they pause to think about how to play a hand, I frequently try to take a peek at their hand to see if I would have any questions about how to play it. I have to be quick because most players don't spend a lot of time weighing their options. If I'm lucky, they'll refer to a strategy card. ... (read more)
Ask the Slot Expert: Choosing same item each time in a pick'em bonus1 November 2023
I saw the movie Inspector Sun and the Curse of the Black Widow today. Aboard a flying boat from Shaghai to San Francisco, Inspector Sun is called upon to investigate the death of Dr. Spindlethorp. While he's examining the body, another character pointed out that the Inspector and the doctor are both ... (read more)
Ask the Slot Expert: Lucky and unlucky on Friday the 13th25 October 2023
As I wrote a few weeks ago, I'm not superstitious. I don't believe in good luck charms or good luck rituals. I don't have a pair of lucky socks that I wear to the casino. I don't have lucky machines, but I do have machines that I prefer to play because of their location and lack of glare. I don't tap on the screen to try to get the jackpot or bonus symbols to appear. ... (read more)
Ask the Slot Expert: Still banned for complaining18 October 2023
Question: I just saw that you had responded to me, I am the one who is banned by the casino. I just wanted to say, I am real, and this did happen.
I agree, by using the word unbearable, it does sound like I was asking for a self ban. I certainly didn't mean to do that.
I'm still upset, but there's nothing to do, but like you suggested, wait a year and write another letter. ... (read more)
Ask the Slot Expert: Why did I win $10,000 on this slot machine?11 October 2023
Last week I posted a puzzle from the New York Times. Here is that puzzle again. The answers are at that bottom of this column.
A few months ago, The New York Times started running a new word game called Connections. The game consists of a grid of 16 words and you have to break them into groups of four words that are related in some way. ... (read more)
Ask the Slot Expert: Questioning Wheel of Fortune Pink Diamonds payout4 October 2023
Question: I hit a hand pay of $61.00 playing wheel of fortune pink diamonds quarter machine I had 2 blue 7 and a pink 7 the lights are flashing on the top screen it said line one 600 line two 800 ect I ask why a hand pay for $61 the attendant didn’t say I show them the top screen they pay me I walk back ... (read more)
Ask the Slot Expert: Good (slot, video poker, ticket redemption) machine news at a casino27 September 2023
With casinos closing closing buffets, doubling the play required to earn a video poker point, and cutting back on comps and promotions in this post-pandemic world, it's rare that I get good news from a casino. I received three pieces of good news at Red Rock casino the past few weeks.
First, two items from the Slots Lost and Found department. ... (read more)
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