Mark Pilarski Article Archive

• Mark Pilarski Homepage
• Mark Pilarski Archives

• Mark Pilarski Archives

• Deal Me In: Did a crappy thing happen at the craps table? (26 August 2016)
• Deal Me In: The best bet without using brain power (19 August 2016)
• Deal Me In: One coin is fine on a multicoin/multiline (12 August 2016)
• Deal Me In: Fast play can make your day (5 August 2016)
• Deal Me In: Disclosure of slot percentages not guaranteed (1 August 2016)
• Deal Me In: Odd dollar jackpot avoids a W-2G (22 July 2016)
• Deal Me In: Fast play doesn't change payback rates (15 July 2016)
• Deal Me In: Separating the wheat from the chaff (11 July 2016)
• Deal Me In: A video poker machine too good to believe (1 July 2016)
• Deal Me In: Video blackjack machines thwart counters (24 June 2016)
• Deal Me In: The quicker you go, the behinder you get (17 June 2016)
• Deal Me In: The math always favors the casino winning it back (10 June 2016)
• Deal Me In: Consistency is the key (3 June 2016)
• Deal Me In: One card short of good fortune (27 May 2016)
• Deal Me In: Blackjack versus Let It Ride (20 May 2016)
• Deal Me In: Are players falling in love with this machine? (13 May 2016)
• Deal Me In: Betting patterns won't change the casino's advantage (6 May 2016)
• Deal Me In: A shorter timeline is no predictor of winning (29 April 2016)
• Deal Me In: No bluffing needed with PokerLotto (22 April 2016)
• Deal Me In: Can a computer beat a game that is built on lost bets? (8 April 2016)
• Deal Me In: Card counting isn't cheating, but . . . (1 April 2016)
• Deal Me In: What in the world is going on with craps tables in California? (25 March 2016)
• Deal Me In: Only bet what you can afford to lose (18 March 2016)
• Deal Me In: Anatomy of a beatdown (11 March 2016)
• Deal Me In: Breaking the bank (4 March 2016)
• Deal Me In: Antiperspirants, anyone? (26 February 2016)
• Deal Me In: Lady Luck smiles over the short run (19 February 2016)
• Deal Me In: Math trumps kitchen table consensus (12 February 2016)
• Deal Me In: Prune the hedges from your craps game (5 February 2016)
• Deal Me In: Rule #1: Check your firearms at the door (29 January 2016)
• Deal Me In: Chuck A. Luck wagers a buck (22 January 2016)
• Deal Me In: High-stakes gambling was Maverick's game (8 January 2016)
• Deal Me In: More bang for your buck watching sports (31 December 2015)
• Deal Me In: Smart gambling takes the day (25 December 2015)
• Deal Me In: Chance, not persistence, determines the winning spin (18 December 2015)
• Deal Me In: It doesn't hurt to ask (11 December 2015)
• Deal Me In: Kinship doesn't count for comps (4 December 2015)
• Deal Me In: 5 + 5? How about 17 x 17? (30 November 2015)
• Deal Me In: Show me your ID, please! (13 November 2015)
• Deal Me In: Let It Ride (6 November 2015)
• Deal me In: Doubling as James Bond for $5 a pop (30 October 2015)
• Deal Me In: This game is crap for the unsuspecting (16 October 2015)
• Deal Me In: Just a token of your appreciation (9 October 2015)
• Deal Me In: Gamblers are shunning tightfisted slots (2 October 2015)
• Deal Me In: Where's my refill? (25 September 2015)
• Deal Me In: Is there such a thing as a controlled shooter in craps? (18 September 2015)
• Deal Me In: Toilets don't flush themselves (11 September 2015)
• Deal Me In: Progressively riding your streak (4 September 2015)
• Deal Me In: Overruling 'it lays it plays' (28 August 2015)
• Deal Me In: Buy-er beware (21 August 2015)
• Deal Me In: Is free slot play rigged? (14 August 2015)
• Deal Me In: Streaks end — but when? (7 August 2015)
• Deal Me In: Player strategery (31 July 2015)
• Deal Me In: 'Loose slots' aren't necessarily a good bet (24 July 2015)
• Deal Me In: Most loss leaders are long gone (17 July 2015)
• Deal Me In: IRS proposes altering slot machine reporting requirements (10 July 2015)
• Deal Me In: Video blackjack paybacks are based on skill and rules (6 July 2015)
• Deal Me In: About those resort fees ... (26 June 2015)
• Deal Me In: Change only happens when customers demand it (19 June 2015)
• Deal Me In: Guaranteed jackpot not related to random number generator (12 June 2015)
• Deal Me In: Doing dice the easy way (5 June 2015)
• Deal Me In: Player cries foul, but was it? (29 May 2015)
• Deal Me In: Getting gripped in the grind down (22 May 2015)
• Deal Me In: Time-killing bet causes confusion (15 May 2015)
• Deal Me In: The machine is random; it's the payout that's fixed (8 May 2015)
• Deal Me In: Think of keno as a spectator sport (4 May 2015)
• Deal Me In: A courtesy, or something more ominous? (24 April 2015)
• Deal Me In: Appearances can be deceiving (17 April 2015)
• Deal Me In: Using this lotto write-off ruse is ill advised (10 April 2015)
• Deal Me In: I'll be back (3 April 2015)
• Deal Me In: Only Nostradamus can predict when a machine is due to hit (27 March 2015)
• Deal Me In: Your chances of busting are not as great as you think (20 March 2015)
• Deal Me In: Gimmick bets are part of the game (13 March 2015)
• Deal Me In: It's possible, but improbable, to hit the big kahuna (6 March 2015)
• Deal Me In: Times to split 10s at blackjack are extremely rare (27 February 2015)
• Deal Me In: Player questions if he is a freak of nature (20 February 2015)
• Deal Me In: A decent game, for those running the casino (13 February 2015)
• Deal Me In: Does the Golden Arm exist? (6 February 2015)
• Deal Me In: Scores of one-button bandits seldom pay out super-sized jackpots (30 January 2015)
• Deal Me In: Reader's take, well taken (23 January 2015)
• Deal Me In: Murky waters when gambling at sea (16 January 2015)
• Deal Me In: We're all just grinding it out (9 January 2015)
• Deal Me In: If it weren't for suckers, there wouldn't be any good bets (2 January 2015)
• Deal Me In: The illusion of skill (26 December 2014)
• Deal Me In: Yo Levine the Dancing Queen (19 December 2014)
• Deal Me In: A freebie can be had just by asking (12 December 2014)
• Deal Me In: Husband penalized for canny play (28 November 2014)
• Deal Me In: Who watches them? Them being the casino (21 November 2014)
• Deal Me In: Plan on a long dry spell between top-line jackpots (14 November 2014)
• Deal Me In: Is Chuck-a-luck worth chucking? (7 November 2014)
• Deal Me In: Is Free Bet Blackjack really a freebie? (31 October 2014)
• Deal Me In: Patience is needed for volatile bonus video poker machines (24 October 2014)
• Deal Me In: Never shortchange yourself with this betting opportunity (17 October 2014)
• Deal Me In: What's in your wallet? (10 October 2014)
• Deal Me In: Armed and fueled by alcohol is not a good mix (3 October 2014)
• Deal Me In: These machines are designed to be a billfold buster (26 September 2014)
• Deal Me In: Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind (19 September 2014)
• Deal Me In: Sloppily placed chips might not cut it (12 September 2014)
• Deal Me In: Luck or skill? (29 August 2014)
• Deal Me In: No disparity in payoffs on this terrible bet (22 August 2014)
• Deal Me In: Even at even-steven, the house still has an edge (15 August 2014)
• Deal Me In: Never busting never works (8 August 2014)
• Deal Me In: Finders keepers? Not in the Commonwealth (25 July 2014)
• Deal Me In: Winning will come at a steep price (18 July 2014)
• Deal Me In: Where'd ya go? (11 July 2014)
• Deal Me In: No loopholes at this location (4 July 2014)
• Deal Me In: The casino returning lost loot is a no-brainer (27 June 2014)
• Deal Me In: Different win amounts trigger traceable paperwork (20 June 2014)
• Deal Me In: Shifty, this player isn't (13 June 2014)
• Deal Me In: This rule offers a distinct advantage to the player (6 June 2014)
• Deal Me In: Did this player deserve to be tossed from the casino? (30 May 2014)
• Deal Me In: The choice between losing or losing really fast (23 May 2014)
• Deal Me In: Simple rule change squashes chances of winning (16 May 2014)
• Deal Me In: Blackjack at $5 a whack (9 May 2014)
• Deal Me In: Prosperous gaffes do happen (2 May 2014)
• Deal Me In: Chasing champagne wishes and caviar dreams (25 April 2014)
• Deal Me In: Luck be a lady tonight (18 April 2014)
• Deal Me In: How'd he do dat? (11 April 2014)
• Deal Me In: Dealers aren't paid enough to spar with players (4 April 2014)
• Deal Me In: Reader catches discrepancy in blackjack basic strategy (28 March 2014)
• Deal Me In: Loose slots and loads of goodies (21 March 2014)
• Deal Me In: Several groups of numbers can be had on the inside (14 March 2014)
• Deal Me In: A combo of different wagers won't help against the house edge (28 February 2014)
• Deal Me In: I'm talkin' Quick Draw McGraw fast! (21 February 2014)
• Deal Me In: Surreptitious jackpot shrouded in mystery (14 February 2014)
• Deal Me In: Using Final Jeopardy tactics at blackjack (7 February 2014)
• Deal Me In: Talk about a snowball's chance in hell (31 January 2014)
• Deal Me In: Progressives can offer winning opportunities (24 January 2014)
• Deal Me In: A double whammy for the house (17 January 2014)
• Deal Me In: The subtle art of tipping (10 January 2014)
• Deal Me In: "To one" and "for one" (3 January 2014)
• Deal Me In: 6 for 5 blackjack tweaks the casino advantage tenfold (27 December 2013)
• Deal Me In: What's all the commotion about? (20 December 2013)
• Deal Me In: Uncle Sam loves those $1,200 jackpots (13 December 2013)
• Deal Me In: Splitting 5s is where "never" applies (6 December 2013)
• Deal Me In: Win/loss statement documents your play (29 November 2013)
• Deal Me In: Can a $50 bill ruin your day? (22 November 2013)
• Deal Me In: I've been everywhere (15 November 2013)
• Deal Me In: A no-brainer (8 November 2013)
• Deal Me In: Bob knows slots (1 November 2013)
• Deal Me In: Vegas on the cheap (25 October 2013)
• Deal Me In: If the shoe fits, you don't have to wear it (18 October 2013)
• Deal Me In: 100x odds are going, going ... gone! (11 October 2013)
• Deal Me In: Gambling goodies from the grave? (4 October 2013)
• Deal Me In: Contrary to popular belief (27 September 2013)
• Deal Me In: Awaiting word from Mount Nebo (20 September 2013)
• Deal Me In: The "L" bet cuts the house edge in half (13 September 2013)
• Deal Me In: A blackjack dealer faux pas? (6 September 2013)
• Deal Me In: Either way, it's still a random draw (30 August 2013)
• Deal Me In: This virtual table game has one big drawback (23 August 2013)
• Deal Me In: Long, long odds for multiple royals (16 August 2013)
• Deal Me In: Reader questions where lucky machine went (9 August 2013)
• Deal Me In: Don’t Walk Away Renee (2 August 2013)
• Deal Me In: Chips Ahoy! (26 July 2013)
• Deal Me In: Mucking has multiple meanings (19 July 2013)
• Deal Me In: Your chances of busting are not as great as you think (12 July 2013)
• Deal Me In: Are casino-style social gaming slot machines trustworthy? (5 July 2013)
• Deal Me In: A low house edge isn't necessarily the end-all, but it sure helps (28 June 2013)
• Deal Me In: Check your ticket! (21 June 2013)
• Deal Me In: "Money plays!" revisited (14 June 2013)
• Deal Me In: Card down! (12 June 2013)
• Deal Me In: That good old 22 (11 June 2013)
• Deal Me In: It really was a pretty sweet gig (7 June 2013)
• Deal Me In: What's next? (31 May 2013)
• Deal Me In: Smart play plus cash back makes for a positive-expectation game (24 May 2013)
• Deal Me In: Did I really say that? (17 May 2013)
• Deal Me In: Luck goes south for this slot player (10 May 2013)
• Deal Me In: Mega this and Mega that (2 May 2013)
• Deal Me In: A push is a push, except for ... (26 April 2013)
• Deal Me In: Spread your play around (19 April 2013)
• Promotional yank can expose your pay envelope (12 April 2013)
• A 'taxable jackpot' is a bit of a myth (5 April 2013)
• When and why to double up (29 March 2013)
• Three reasons to color up (22 March 2013)
• That good old 22 (15 March 2013)
• Deal Me In: Life among the happy humanoids (8 March 2013)
• Deal Me In: Making money music (1 March 2013)
• Deal Me In: A low house edge and EZ to play (22 February 2013)
• Deal Me In: The weighty power of the pit boss (15 February 2013)
• Deal Me In: A truly timely question (8 February 2013)
• Deal Me In: A slippery slope for the weary wallet (1 February 2013)
• Deal Me In: 'All in' demystified (25 January 2013)
• Deal Me In: Slots held on a very short leash (18 January 2013)
• Deal Me In: Just another truth-is-better-than-fiction call (11 January 2013)
• Gotta get the right mix: Joint-day-hour and a jot of diplomacy (28 December 2012)
• No legend of love, liberty and roulette here (21 December 2012)
• Continual shuffling by design thwarts bet variance (14 December 2012)
• The push: The bet you win from yourself (7 December 2012)
• Deal Me In: The PUSH: the bet you win from yourself (7 December 2012)
• Deal Me In: Casinos are in the math-and-time business (30 November 2012)
• Deal Me In: Trust, but verify (23 November 2012)
• Deal Me In: Does superstition trump mathematics? For many, you betcha! (16 November 2012)
• Deal Me In: Dealer goofs: The road to riches (9 November 2012)
• Deal Me In: Finally, a use for a kicker (2 November 2012)
• Deal Me In: Stretch your strategy until it whimpers (26 October 2012)
• Deal Me In: I stand corrected (19 October 2012)
• Deal Me In: Boosting the payoff (12 October 2012)
• Deal Me In: Twilight play doesn't mean looser machines (5 October 2012)
• Deal Me In: Varying pays of Pai Gow (28 September 2012)
• Deal Me In: The rigged slot (21 September 2012)
• Deal Me In: Don't buy the points (14 September 2012)
• Deal Me In: Hmmm, do I smell an opportunity here? (7 September 2012)
• Deal Me In: Our old pal Hobson (31 August 2012)
• Deal Me In: Give those cards a wash (24 August 2012)
• Deal Me In: Buon appetito! Or as they say in Polish, Smacznego! (17 August 2012)
• Video poker with a shocking twist (10 August 2012)
• Smile through the pain, that confuses them (3 August 2012)
• The fun way to pitch good money after bad (27 July 2012)
• Heaps of streaks and runs (20 July 2012)
• Blackjack code of conduct (13 July 2012)
• Craps is chock-full of bad bets, so stick to the good ones (6 July 2012)
• Don't believe everything you see on the Internet (29 June 2012)
• Deal Me In: Never happened (29 June 2012)
• Blackjack's most revered fallacy: Collateral damage (22 June 2012)
• From goon to moon on the good ol' Top Deck (15 June 2012)
• The grim relationship between the Wild Deuces and the royal flush (8 June 2012)
• Deal Me In: Skilled play offers no guarantees of winning (1 June 2012)
• Deal Me In: Breaking down roulette odds (25 May 2012)
• Deal Me In: Beware of those odds on single-deck blackjack (18 May 2012)
• Deal me in: Be 'put' off by this bet (11 May 2012)
• Deal Me In: Making doing OK even better (4 May 2012)
• Deal Me In: To assure a win, hold your breath and count to 13 (27 April 2012)
• Deal Me In: Those costly bargains (20 April 2012)
• Deal Me In: Early worm in robin-swallowing spring training (13 April 2012)
• Deal Me In: Splitstown revisited (6 April 2012)
• Deal Me In: Whoever said you had to have fun? (30 March 2012)
• Deal Me In: Never and always are princes among slippery terms (23 March 2012)
• Deal Me In: Brightening the cloudy slots scene (16 March 2012)
• Deal Me In: Getting ignored by a touch screen (9 March 2012)
• Deal Me In: The only armed queen in the deck often delivered (2 March 2012)
• Deal Me In: Slot tournaments 101 (24 February 2012)
• Deal Me In: Reading your way to riches (17 February 2012)
• Deal Me In: Shopping list for the right blackjack setup (3 February 2012)
• Deal Me In: Round and round she goes (1 February 2012)
• Deal Me In: Beware of Greeks bearing gifts (20 January 2012)
• Deal Me In: The useful art of table and partner selection (13 January 2012)
• Deal Me In: Husband gripes over wife's generous tip (6 January 2012)
• Deal Me In: Ah, those cash-comp-currency calculations (30 December 2011)
• Deal Me In: Live keno vs. video keno (23 December 2011)
• Keepers and weeper partial-pay machines (16 December 2011)
• Deal Me In: A side bet here, a side bet there (2 December 2011)
• Deal Me In: Pirates of the Caribbean (29 November 2011)
• Deal Me In: Number of decks versus number of players (18 November 2011)
• Deal Me In: Courtesy hold while the lady powders her nose (11 November 2011)
• Deal Me In: Bad beat for the book (4 November 2011)
• Deal Me In: A truly thoughtless object: The roulette ball (28 October 2011)
• Deal Me In: The sticky thing about your gambling timeline (21 October 2011)
• Deal Me In: A little deeper into the comps topic (14 October 2011)
• Deal Me In: Jackpot denied (30 September 2011)
• Deal Me In: A certain craps loss (16 September 2011)
• Deal Me In: The courteous sidestep demonstrated and explained (9 September 2011)
• Deal Me In: Let the games begin (2 September 2011)
• Deal Me In: Do not believe in scheming RNGs (26 August 2011)
• Deal Me In: A tiny difference with lots of leverage (19 August 2011)
• Deal Me In: No bettor left behind (12 August 2011)
• Deal Me In: Trading aces (5 August 2011)
• Deal Me In: Blackjack comps 101 (1 August 2011)
• Deal Me In: Poaching or no foul? (25 July 2011)
• Deal Me In: Distrust any shuffling machine that smiles at you (9 July 2011)
• Deal Me In: Some profitable pre-yank reading (1 July 2011)
• Deal Me In: Hot news on roulette voodoo (24 June 2011)
• Deal Me In: Your state lottery has better odds (17 June 2011)
• Deal Me In: '...And how about a smile, while you're at it?' (10 June 2011)
• Deal Me In: Faced with two bad choices, take the better of the two (3 June 2011)
• On the trail of the best payout machine (20 May 2011)
• Deal Me In: Some numbers – take notes – there'll be a quiz (13 May 2011)
• Deal Me In: Hope springs eternal (29 April 2011)
• Deal Me In: The oddities of odds (22 April 2011)
• Deal Me In: Getting more decisions per hour isn't necessarily a good thing (15 April 2011)
• Deal Me In: You heard it right: Split 'em! (8 April 2011)
• Deal Me In: Many players believe the aisle-slot scuttlebutt (4 April 2011)
• Deal Me In: High hit frequency doesn't necessarily mean higher payback (25 March 2011)
• Deal Me In: Clanking of coins silenced (11 March 2011)
• Deal Me In: One annoying feature of randomness (25 February 2011)
• Deal Me In: The mathematics of breaking even (18 February 2011)
• Deal Me In: Speak, baby, speak (11 February 2011)
• Deal Me In: A sort-of answer to a sort-of query (4 February 2011)
• Deal Me In: But look at all the snow they got (28 January 2011)
• Deal Me In: Share and share alike (14 January 2011)
• Deal Me In: A New Year's brush-up on some fine points (7 January 2011)
• Deal Me In: This buy is no bargain (23 December 2010)
• Deal Me In: Spooks of the green felt (20 December 2010)
• Deal Me In: Glitches happen (10 December 2010)
• Deal Me In: On the up-and-up (3 December 2010)
• Deal Me In: The only game in town (30 November 2010)
• Deal Me In: Think outside the bun (12 November 2010)
• Deal Me In: R stands for right, rong or ravishing (5 November 2010)
• Deal Me In: That skinny path on the up-and-up (29 October 2010)
• Deal Me In: When less is more, more or less (22 October 2010)
• Deal Me In: Putting a pal in the sand trap (15 October 2010)
• Deal Me In: So, to shield her from embarrassment, I took the money (8 October 2010)
• Deal Me In: Getting, and betting, sloshed (1 October 2010)
• Deal Me In: When they say, "No thinking allowed," just smile (24 September 2010)
• Deal Me In: Over 21 in dog years doesn't count (17 September 2010)
• Deal Me In: The price of your free lunch (10 September 2010)
• Deal Me In: Three speeds – three different results (7 September 2010)
• Deal Me In: The Standing Committee is called to order (27 August 2010)
• Deal Me In: A better deal? Well, not really (20 August 2010)
• Deal Me In: Does back-and-forth chip exchange happen? (13 August 2010)
• Deal Me In: Sound of silence (9 August 2010)
• Deal Me In: The right to resign Scowlee status (30 July 2010)
• Deal Me In: The gentle art of tipping (23 July 2010)
• Deal Me In: Come one, come all (16 July 2010)
• Deal Me In: In unison, yell "Monkey Monkey" (2 July 2010)
• Deal Me In: Slot personnel will be your happy guide (25 June 2010)
• Deal Me In: Payment in installments or lump sum? (18 June 2010)
• Deal Me In: A flush at the outhouse (11 June 2010)
• Deal Me In: Fellow asked me once if I recommended winning (4 June 2010)
• Deal Me In: Can anything honestly be that elusive? (28 May 2010)
• Deal Me In: I'd gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today (21 May 2010)
• Deal Me In: That's what drove Aunt Matilda to cribbage with cocoa (14 May 2010)
• Deal Me In: Pennies from heaven line the casino's pocketbook (7 May 2010)
• Deal Me In: Players can get paid to play (30 April 2010)
• Deal Me In: A heap of small advantages has its value (23 April 2010)
• Deal Me In: Sister Cyrilla to the rescue (16 April 2010)
• Deal Me In: Winner winner (9 April 2010)
• Deal Me In: Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain (2 April 2010)
• Deal Me In: Point chasing not permitted (26 March 2010)
• Deal Me In: Bonus games and bonus multipliers (19 March 2010)
• Deal Me In: A negative-expectation game like craps can't be beat (12 March 2010)
• Deal Me In: And Faith says to Logic, "I'll jus' whup yo' butt, sonny." (5 March 2010)
• Deal Me In: Ah, sweet surrender (26 February 2010)
• Deal Me In: Maybe once in 800 hours of swift play, maybe not (19 February 2010)
• Deal Me In: Be one of the very few — use expert play (12 February 2010)
• Deal Me In: Naval names for table games (5 February 2010)
• Deal Me In: Hone strategy to a razor's edge (3 February 2010)
• Deal Me In: Cinco dos, adios (22 January 2010)
• Deal Me In: Should you split 10s in blackjack? (15 January 2010)
• Deal Me In: Course of action can differ between casinos (8 January 2010)
• Deal Me In: Start off 2010 by making smart bets exclusively (28 December 2009)
• Deal Me In: Power outage shouldn't cause concern (18 December 2009)
• Deal Me In: Warranty service with a smile (11 December 2009)
• Deal Me In: Thomas D. 1 — Mark P. 0 (4 December 2009)
• Deal Me In: Reader eyewear required (27 November 2009)
• Deal Me In: Those thinking machines have still not arrived (20 November 2009)
• Deal Me In: Where she drops, nobody should know (13 November 2009)
• Deal Me In: Michigan gamblers out of luck on info (6 November 2009)
• Deal Me In: Toke tapping tenets for tipsters (30 October 2009)
• Deal Me In: Some dealers have strategy know-how, others don't (23 October 2009)
• Deal Me In: Feed the right machine the right strategy (16 October 2009)
• Deal Me In: Slots just don't work like that (9 October 2009)
• Deal Me In: The quicksand known as Gambler's Fallacy (2 October 2009)
• Deal Me In: Multi-line/multi-coin slots welcome all wallets (25 September 2009)
• Deal Me In: The Good Samaritan (18 September 2009)
• Deal Me In: Slot players butter casino's bread (11 September 2009)
• Deal Me In: The RNG neither frowns nor smiles (4 September 2009)
• Deal Me In: This cultist can't offer reader counsel (28 August 2009)
• Deal Me In: Two inquiries for the price of one (21 August 2009)
• Deal Me In: Those nickel machines just won't pay back in quarters (7 August 2009)
• Deal Me In: But it looks like a slot, quacks like a slot (31 July 2009)
• Deal Me In: Yes, the casino wants an occasional winner (24 July 2009)
• Deal Me In: Doubling up on bets and hopes (17 July 2009)
• Deal Me In: When not to be on the phone (10 July 2009)
• Deal Me In: Nominate your candidate for the 10 best bets in the casino (26 June 2009)
• Deal Me In: CASINO AHEAD. Reduced speed zone. All penalties doubled. (19 June 2009)
• Deal Me In: Just whose ace is it anyway? (5 June 2009)
• Deal Me In: Spread your action around (22 May 2009)
• Yes, now that you mention it, profit does play a part (15 May 2009)
• Deal Me In: The Great Whamerooney, but it still slices like baloney? (8 May 2009)
• Deal Me In: Natural odds, take your bow (1 May 2009)
• Deal Me In: Those gimmick wagers ride the range again (24 April 2009)
• Deal Me In: 21 Madness (17 April 2009)
• Deal Me In: Alert player sounds the alarm (10 April 2009)
• Deal Me In: Fire and ice (3 April 2009)
• Deal Me In: How sweet they are, those 20 minutes of sanity (27 March 2009)
• Deal Me In: Tutorial on casino management (20 March 2009)
• Deal Me In: Casinos try to keep it cloak-and-dagger (13 March 2009)
• Deal Me In: Pick the odds against you: 5.26% or 2.7% (6 March 2009)
• While cards flit hither and yon, the dots on dice stay put (27 February 2009)
• Honest answer, yes, but here's the explanation why (20 February 2009)
• Deal Me In: Any time is the right or wrong time to play (30 January 2009)
• Deal Me In: Rigging your payday? (23 January 2009)
• Deal Me In: Happenstance or cheating? (16 January 2009)
• Deal Me In: While all liars figure, some figures can lie (9 January 2009)
• Deal Me In: Player's recall might be slightly off (19 December 2008)
• Deal Me In: Finders Keepers? (12 December 2008)
• Deal Me In: Munchin' on casino freebies (5 December 2008)
• Deal Me In: Smaller bankroll needed for video poker (1 December 2008)
• Deal Me In: A little bar stool trivia on cards (21 November 2008)
• Deal Me In: Will a roll of quarters 4.5 yards long last the weekend? (14 November 2008)
• Deal Me In: When in doubt, let the house set your hand (7 November 2008)
• Deal Me In: Progressives are in no way a "Cluck-for-the-Buck" deal (31 October 2008)
• Deal Me In: Negative expectations we cherish and suffer (24 October 2008)
• Deal Me In: It probably doesn't matter where you sit (17 October 2008)
• Deal Me In: The dangers of the 'any craps' bet (10 October 2008)
• Deal Me In: Give those machines a more thorough physical (3 October 2008)
• Deal Me In: There's no guarantee when it comes to card counting (26 September 2008)
• Deal Me In: Should I go for the sure thing or go for the gusto? (19 September 2008)
• Deal Me In: One toss from the poorhouse (12 September 2008)
• Deal Me In: Card counting isn't all it's cracked up to be (5 September 2008)
• Deal Me In: Common sense is legal, but not encouraged in casinos (22 August 2008)
• Deal Me In: The games they play to change your winning ways (15 August 2008)
• Deal Me In: You can pitch cardboard at any age (8 August 2008)
• No filet mignon this time (1 August 2008)
• Deal Me In: More and less than you think (25 July 2008)
• Deal Me In: Coins will slow you down — and that's a good thing (18 July 2008)
• Deal Me In: A sour grape swelling in memory (11 July 2008)
• Deal Me In: Is stretching your bankroll by betting one coin at a time a good idea? (5 July 2008)
• Deal Me In: What do driving and video poker have in common? (27 June 2008)
• Deal Me In: Don't give in to peer pressure when it comes to those 'sucker' side bets (20 June 2008)
• Deal Me In: Don't give in to peer pressure when it comes to those 'sucker' side bets (20 June 2008)
• Deal Me In: Like stepping stones across the creek (13 June 2008)
• Deal Me In: Hearing vs. listening (6 June 2008)
• Deal Me In: Skill and a decent bankroll can go a long way in making you a winner (30 May 2008)
• Deal Me In: If I only held… (23 May 2008)
• Deal Me In: Friend should try Shuffle Master's leg (16 May 2008)
• Deal Me In: The role of Lady Luck at the the casino (13 May 2008)
• Deal me in: That sweet edge and how to find it (2 May 2008)
• Deal Me In: An explanation of 'loose' and 'tight' slot machines (25 April 2008)
• Deal Me In: Patience (and a big bankroll) is necessary if you're counting on a royal (18 April 2008)
• Deal Me In: The double down bet outpaces the insurance bet by a mile (11 April 2008)
• Deal Me In: So much for being a penny pincher (4 April 2008)
• Deal Me In: Insert your card for your fair share of freebies (28 March 2008)
• Deal Me In: This show will 'blue' you away (14 March 2008)
• Deal Me In: Ultimate Hold'em 101 (7 March 2008)
• Deal Me In: The lure of automated table games (8 February 2008)
• Deal Me In: Count and discount (25 January 2008)
• Deal Me In: Are casino dice on the level? (22 January 2008)
• Deal Me In: Reader asks if the anti-gimmickry gimmick is gimmicked (4 January 2008)
• Machines do matter (14 December 2007)
• Deal Me In: Cheating maneuver allowed on this variant of blackjack (7 December 2007)
• Deal Me In: For now, this victor is enjoying the spoils (30 November 2007)
• Deal Me In: The wise and benevolent reign of strategy (28 November 2007)
• Deal Me In: Those teachable electrons (16 November 2007)
• Deal Me In: Too good to be true? (9 November 2007)
• Terms of (casino) endearment (6 November 2007)
• Cash out, then clear out (19 October 2007)
• Some useful shirt-pocket truths (12 October 2007)
• Separating sound strategies from sham systems (5 October 2007)
• Sorry Charlie, no CSM for you (28 September 2007)
• Anything can and will happen (21 September 2007)
• If Kenny got it right, it must be easy (14 September 2007)
• Opulence has its place and price (7 September 2007)
• Bonehead play: help or hindrance? (31 August 2007)
• Is it football season already? (24 August 2007)
• A machine that is due is a glittering myth (20 August 2007)
• Two-timing the casino could get you tossed (10 August 2007)
• The taxman cometh (20 July 2007)
• Tipping points (13 July 2007)
• Windfall or downfall? (6 July 2007)
• Inquiring minds want to know (22 June 2007)
• No shoe for you! (15 June 2007)
• Perfect basic strategy: not just a pretty slogan (8 June 2007)
• Better returns can make for bigger losses (25 May 2007)
• The actions behind action (18 May 2007)
• The smarter you play, the luckier you'll be (11 May 2007)
• Deal me in (4 May 2007)
• It's best that you avoid these bets altogether (27 April 2007)
• Play tight while you learn and perfect your game (19 April 2007)
• One word that assures a happy marriage (6 April 2007)
• Rump riders can play along (23 March 2007)
• Deal me in (9 March 2007)
• Married poker and the eight commandments (5 March 2007)
• Switcheroo allowed with this blackjack hybrid (23 February 2007)
• Free money when using match play coupons (16 February 2007)
• Penny investment pays off (9 February 2007)
• Free trip to the chow line for system player (2 February 2007)
• Beware the dragon's tooth (23 January 2007)
• Dumbo on third, the "back door" and Texas rules (15 January 2007)
• "Stingy" slots, "tight" videos, and that ever-trusty pass line (29 December 2006)
• Gut feeling gamblers (26 December 2006)
• Best not to murmur while card-counting (23 December 2006)
• What has odds of 1 to 2,598,960? Give up? Read on (22 December 2006)
• Sure thing isn't so sure (21 December 2006)
• Slot comps and the wily 6-5 (20 December 2006)
• Gut feeling gamblers (17 November 2006)
• Pilarski mailbag: House edge, burn cards and multiple-deck blackjack (10 November 2006)
• Big hand bluffing (3 November 2006)
• A video poker triplet (27 October 2006)
• RNGs flirt with eternity (20 October 2006)
• Treasure-hunting nickel machines (13 October 2006)
• Random is random (6 October 2006)
• Dealer's batteries plugged in backwards (29 September 2006)
• Milking the pair (22 September 2006)
• Getting cold-cocked by a cold deck (15 September 2006)
• Shufflin' off to Pyramids and deep caves (8 September 2006)
• Those highly skilled lowlifes and how to spot 'em (1 September 2006)
• Doubling up and heaving shingles (25 August 2006)
• One oldie, one newbie — it's a great world (18 August 2006)
• Faire sauter la banque (11 August 2006)
• Meet some wallet gobblers (4 August 2006)
• Poker's handy glossary (28 July 2006)
• That ubiquitous ace (21 July 2006)
• Romancing the slots (14 July 2006)
• Leftovers from last week (7 July 2006)
• Why no calls (30 June 2006)
• No straw into gold on these wagers (23 June 2006)
• The fast and furious shuffle and chop-chop pai gow (16 June 2006)
• The inner charms of Texas Hold'em (9 June 2006)
• Maximum coins, maximum jingle (2 June 2006)
• "Could have been" should cost (26 May 2006)
• Who they were and where they went (19 May 2006)
• Counting's wins and woes (12 May 2006)
• Cherry Poker Confit (5 May 2006)
• The EDGE, the HOLD, and that friendly PASS LINE (28 April 2006)
• Maximum coins in = maximum advantage out (21 April 2006)
• Figuring your taxes in baccarat (14 April 2006)
• The odds may say, "No deal!" and yet . . . (7 April 2006)
• Dropping zeroes drops the house edge (31 March 2006)
• The wizard arm and bargain blackjack (24 March 2006)
• Keen eyes and a drop of the weird (17 March 2006)
• Comp computing made easy (10 March 2006)
• Pooh pooh the hardway (3 March 2006)
• The ups and downs of the suitcase man (24 February 2006)
• The sweet sound of the shuffle (17 February 2006)
• Some common blackjack misconceptions that needn't cost you plenty (11 February 2006)
• Pai gow payoffs and parlay fever (3 February 2006)
• Changing slot percentages for the weekender crowd doesn't happen (27 January 2006)
• Blackjack's elusive history (20 January 2006)
• Ekectronics for Uncle Twirch (13 January 2006)
• Dead hands protect the integrity of the game (6 January 2006)
• Meet the top dog (30 December 2005)
• Points on etiquette and en prison (27 December 2005)
• Tops, bottoms and middles (19 December 2005)
• Reviewing some fine points (9 December 2005)
• Four Card Poker 101 (2 December 2005)
• Super Fun 21 does have some tough edges (28 November 2005)
• Sovereignty plus federal recognition equals gaming (18 November 2005)
• Pips, passes, pairs, and ribs to spare (11 November 2005)
• Good wallet questions (4 November 2005)
• Pips, paint and pushka (28 October 2005)
• The ins and outs of payoffs (24 October 2005)
• Combing out a couple pesky cockleburrs (14 October 2005)
• Poker profits - 3 views (7 October 2005)
• Demystifying slots myths (30 September 2005)
• Who's in charge of tinkering and quibbles and other civil wars? (23 September 2005)
• Sortie gambling wins for now (16 September 2005)
• Toying with the slots (9 September 2005)
• Few can afford not to care (2 September 2005)
• You got to know when to hold 'em (26 August 2005)
• The cheating game . . . by name, that is (19 August 2005)
• Sideline fan wants some action (15 August 2005)
• Lady and gentlemen, start your engines (5 August 2005)
• Poker, Beantown style (29 July 2005)
• No thinking allowed (25 July 2005)
• Gray Power Granny grabs the pot (19 July 2005)
• Hostile playing conditions found on some blackjack games (8 July 2005)
• Those itsy-bitsy advantages still count (1 July 2005)
• . . . And don't look back! (17 June 2005)
• C-A-R-D-S! TEN-SHUN! COUNT OFF! (13 June 2005)
• Divide and maybe conquer (6 June 2005)
• Craps game gobbledygook (27 May 2005)
• Those due slots, soft 17s and plugs (25 May 2005)
• From sportsbook archeology to slots paranoia via the half point (16 May 2005)
• A hand by any other name . . . (9 May 2005)
• Luck be a lady tonight (2 May 2005)
• Progressive betting and Texas Wipeout (25 April 2005)
• Calling all hands! (18 April 2005)
• Barnum Bets for those born every minute (11 April 2005)
• Counters, markers and the occasional check (4 April 2005)
• Casinos offer kitchen table kid's game (25 March 2005)
• A backroom tour (21 March 2005)
• Hold, house edge and no-no-no (14 March 2005)
• The REAL Vegas, from a REAL Vegas cocktail waitress (7 March 2005)
• Bounding o'er the salty main with the IRS (28 February 2005)
• Price of comp munchies and kitchen etiquette (21 February 2005)
• Chips within chips (14 February 2005)
• Rule #1: Seek out the best paytables (7 February 2005)
• Bad beats we've all known and loved (31 January 2005)
• Multiple ways of winning, and losing (24 January 2005)
• Baccarat shouldn't be monotonous, so say readers (17 January 2005)
• Royal Match and other treasure hunts (10 January 2005)
• Anti-chicken strategy and get-poor-quick schemes (3 January 2005)
• Side bets usually have a huge house edge (28 December 2004)
• Dice and the devil (20 December 2004)
• Early, middle and late in poker lingo (10 December 2004)
• Higher ginko biloba dosage needed for yours truly (6 December 2004)
• Let us all praise streaking (29 November 2004)
• Apples and odds (19 November 2004)
• A little flim, a little flam (12 November 2004)
• Smart play and goodies equal profits (8 November 2004)
• Card Counting 101.5 (29 October 2004)
• It's Miller time (25 October 2004)
• Is there such a thing as the due factor? (18 October 2004)
• Rules and strategies different for each game (12 October 2004)
• Of gaffes, goofs and gains (4 October 2004)
• Improbable odds here, there, everywhere (27 September 2004)
• Red to black with a player's card (20 September 2004)
• The man with the Midas touch (13 September 2004)
• Four Card Poker 101 (7 September 2004)
• The Devil, sometimes missed, is in the details (30 August 2004)
• Split bet placement causes confusion (23 August 2004)
• Wrong bettor wants better odds (17 August 2004)
• A break on a mistake is only a stay of execution (9 August 2004)
• RULE BREAKING 101 and 102 (2 August 2004)
• A foul hand is a losing hand every time (26 July 2004)
• Employee resolute about being wrong (19 July 2004)
• Dealing out some crap (13 July 2004)
• Three faces of eight (5 July 2004)
• Pai gow poker and the losing chicken (28 June 2004)
• A neat trio you may not know (21 June 2004)
• America's favorite machine (14 June 2004)
• Tic-tac-dough, for the casino, that is (7 June 2004)
• Split pots and other mysteries (1 June 2004)
• Rake in the chips with these books on poker (24 May 2004)
• Living in P.T. Barnum's world (17 May 2004)
• Three strikes and you're out! (10 May 2004)
• All or nothing is a bad bet anytime, anywhere (3 May 2004)
• At the movies, maybe, but it's still illegal (26 April 2004)
• Threading through a blackjack scam (19 April 2004)
• Down under and way up over (12 April 2004)
• Orwellian video poker (5 April 2004)
• Mind-reader dice and kitchen Hold'em (29 March 2004)
• Bluffing's OK but strategy's better (22 March 2004)
• Yups and nopes for the dark side (15 March 2004)
• Those happy Caribs and the voiceless standees (8 March 2004)
• Naming the puck and a keno rarity (1 March 2004)
• Mastery at blackjack for just a buck (23 February 2004)
• Serial/parallel, bet glossary and WSOP — what a bargain! (16 February 2004)
• Oh, say can you see: I obviously couldn't (9 February 2004)
• Nephew not the sharpest knife in the drawer (2 February 2004)
• Super Bowl and deeper into faro (26 January 2004)
• All-in is double or nothin' (19 January 2004)
• Let's be fair-o to faro (12 January 2004)
• Biased machines and a damned system (5 January 2004)
• Bringing down the house (29 December 2003)
• Those hungry slots (22 December 2003)
• The no seven shooter (15 December 2003)
• An odds way of looking at things (8 December 2003)
• Kids show Pops the hazards of gambling (1 December 2003)
• Slot nostalgia (24 November 2003)
• Airport machines are a tough beat (17 November 2003)
• Man of letters moving up (10 November 2003)
• Downright lethal vs. pretty good (3 November 2003)
• With one lonely Ben Franklin left, I would . . . (27 October 2003)
• A handful of specifics to commit to memory (20 October 2003)
• Henry on the attack, and BEEEG wins (13 October 2003)
• Tiger hunts and winning pockets (6 October 2003)
• Moneymaker makes good on his name (29 September 2003)
• Meet Jerry, the award-worthy guest writer (22 September 2003)
• 9/6 machines, soft 17s and one hard rule, under the harvest moon (15 September 2003)
• Yankless, coinless, clueless, staffless, tipless, hapless. Is playerless a-comin'? (8 September 2003)
• Yuck! (1 September 2003)
• Stalking the willy craps vipers (25 August 2003)
• Using a nickel to protect a penny (18 August 2003)
• Have screwdriver, will gamble (11 August 2003)
• Such-and-such percent return means what? (4 August 2003)
• Poking right along (28 July 2003)
• OOPS! Boss, I gotta go (21 July 2003)
• Wild wins and weird losses (14 July 2003)
• The greatest gambler who ever lived (7 July 2003)
• I'll bet dollars to donuts it will never hit (30 June 2003)
• A $64 question (23 June 2003)
• Code red on these two blood-donor bets (16 June 2003)
• How those gambling gizmos work (9 June 2003)
• Eyes OK; just a camouflaged rule (3 June 2003)
• Just whose money is it? (26 May 2003)
• 3 cards, 2 plays, 4 wins . . . WOW! (19 May 2003)
• Mr. Virtue and taxes (12 May 2003)
• Friday night player wants to go BIG TIME (5 May 2003)
• Dealers do bust, really, with a little help from you (28 April 2003)
• Buy, lay, place - What's a player to do? (21 April 2003)
• Slots and pots revisited (14 April 2003)
• Video poker is more skill than luck (7 April 2003)
• Bruisin' the old billfold (31 March 2003)
• There must be easier ways to make a living (24 March 2003)
• Midstream switch? (17 March 2003)
• Reader takes this writer to task (10 March 2003)
• The casino advantage, and then there is the graveyard advantage (3 March 2003)
• Iacta alea est! (24 February 2003)
• Starting with the blonde virgin . . . (17 February 2003)
• Guy knows what he's talking about! (10 February 2003)
• Hell's Kitchen (3 February 2003)
• Ladders go both up and down (28 January 2003)
• Odds are — LVSC set the line (21 January 2003)
• It could happen to you — and then again, probably not (14 January 2003)
• The Caribbean Stud — game, that is. (7 January 2003)
• Decisions, decisions (23 December 2002)
• Those odd odds (18 December 2002)
• I'm dreaming of a green Christmas (15 December 2002)
• The odds way of staying even (6 December 2002)
• Finder's keepers, losers weepers? (26 November 2002)
• Keno — no beano (19 November 2002)
• Ah, those knife-edge distinctions (12 November 2002)
• Super Fun 21 is truly super fun (5 November 2002)
• Aquire skills at home before you expose your hard-earned money (24 November 2000)
• Sometimes you wonder who runs the nut house (17 November 2000)
• The side of gambling casinos never talk about (10 November 2000)
• Salvo cannonade of craps questions (3 November 2000)
• Viva Las Vegas (27 October 2000)
• Slots simplified (20 October 2000)
• Are birthday numbers really luckier? (13 October 2000)
• Bring your kids — sort of (6 October 2000)
• The Law of 250 (29 September 2000)
• With the wise guys gone, Wall Street rolled in (22 September 2000)
• Treat all winnings as YOUR hard-earned money (15 September 2000)
• Who's watching whom in the pit? (8 September 2000)
• Waving the white flag in roulette (1 September 2000)
• The secret to video poker (25 August 2000)
• Substantiating your losses a must with Uncle Sam (18 August 2000)
• Consider tipping a contribution to the Dame of Fortune (11 August 2000)
• Three's a charm? (4 August 2000)
• The Kid wasn't ready yet (28 July 2000)
• One taco short of a combination plate (21 July 2000)
• Tabasco-style blackjack (14 July 2000)
• Nothing is a sure bet in a casino, but streaks sure help (7 July 2000)
• How the house makes its bread on the spread (30 June 2000)
• Who needs a spleen, anyway? (23 June 2000)
• You won't get the shaft if you toss a good hand (16 June 2000)
• Same price, less sauce (9 June 2000)
• You won! Great. Now pay Uncle Sam (2 June 2000)
• Rules that improve blackjack conditions (26 May 2000)
• If the player is wrong, see rule #1 (19 May 2000)
• Casinos see raising table limits as economic common sense (12 May 2000)
• Don't quit your day job (5 May 2000)
• A push is NOT a win (28 April 2000)
• Play where there's competition (21 April 2000)
• Plastic or paper (14 April 2000)
• Always think 2% or less (7 April 2000)
• Playing nickel machines with small stakes (31 March 2000)
• Mutual funds versus blackjack (24 March 2000)
• Cat and mouse (17 March 2000)
• Mistakes shouldn't cause problems (10 March 2000)
• Casinos don't mind an infrequent winner (3 March 2000)
• Mission accomplished (25 February 2000)
• Compounding money works only on Wall Street (18 February 2000)
• Rip-off on the midway? (11 February 2000)
• Casino management can't mandate cheerfulness (4 February 2000)
• Slot machines don't have synthetic reasoning capabilities (28 January 2000)
• Putting gambling and "luck" into perspective (21 January 2000)
• Casino loyalty deserves slot club compensation (14 January 2000)
• A Nevada perspective from a chaise lounge (7 January 2000)
• Crap wagers that put you in lollipop land (31 December 1999)
• Bad checks, loaded dice and coin flips (24 December 1999)
• The legacy of The Gambler (17 December 1999)
• The language of craps (10 December 1999)
• I play occasionally, twice a week (3 December 1999)
• So what's all the hoopla over Megabucks? (26 November 1999)
• You no longer need to cut off both ends of the ham (19 November 1999)
• Guerrilla Gambling 101 (12 November 1999)
• Analogies of greed and pomposity (5 November 1999)
• Heed the golden rule of gambling (29 October 1999)
• Is it gaming or gambling? (22 October 1999)
• Player may not merit a frolic frenzy (15 October 1999)
• Fiscal ruin possible when you select the wrong machine (8 October 1999)
• Sometimes casinos can't figure (1 October 1999)
• How much is enough? (24 September 1999)
• Winners, not losers, pay the electric bills (17 September 1999)
• Some do's and don'ts before your trip to Vegas (10 September 1999)
• Is counting worth the hassle? (3 September 1999)
• Your ticket to three squares a day (27 August 1999)
• Dinner in the steakhouse comes at a price (20 August 1999)
• Treat casino chips as hard earned cash (13 August 1999)
• Do Casinos Cheat? (6 August 1999)
• Las Vegas is Cheapskate City (30 July 1999)
• My favorite cee-ment ponds (23 July 1999)
• What's the deal and appeal with Caribbean Stud? (16 July 1999)
• Buffets are a Nevada State treasure (9 July 1999)
• Dealers call these players ... (2 July 1999)
• The name is Bond, James Bond (25 June 1999)
• Playing bingo can be sound gambling (18 June 1999)
• Getting bent out of shape (11 June 1999)
• Just say NO to keno (4 June 1999)
• Bankroll to bankrupt in three minutes (28 May 1999)
• Inside a cybernetic one-armed bandit (21 May 1999)
• How gambling and Arby's are historically related (14 May 1999)
• The correct spelling is A L B U Q U E R Q U E (7 May 1999)
• The odds of you beating the casino are 2 to 1 against (30 April 1999)
• Slots at 35,000 feet? (23 April 1999)
• Strike when they ask (16 April 1999)
• You still lose, just less often (9 April 1999)
• Split decision (2 April 1999)
• Please be the queen of spades (26 March 1999)
• Finder's keepers losers weepers? (19 March 1999)
• Pushovers sit here (12 March 1999)
• Off to the races via a satellite wagering facility (5 March 1999)
• Pumping Oxygen into a casino is NOT a trick of the trade (26 February 1999)
• The Classic Roman Myth Approach to Gambling (19 February 1999)
• When you lack capital, a bankroll meltdown is inevitable (12 February 1999)
• The good, the bad and the ugly (5 February 1999)
• Good advice can come from anywhere (29 January 1999)
• Gambler's Ruin (22 January 1999)
• I love buffets, but... (15 January 1999)
• Do two-year-olds gamble? You bet they do! (8 January 1999)
• Extrasensory behavior on a dice game doesn't work (1 January 1999)