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Mark Pilarski Gaming Guru - Page 20  Gotta get the right mix: Joint-day-hour and a jot of diplomacy28 December 2012
Dear Mark: It never ceases to amaze me when I walk into a casino, see all the $5 table games packed with people waiting to play, then see $10 and $25 games empty. I realize casino managers aren't stupid, but wouldn't it make more sense to open another $5 table and make more people happy and make the casino more money? Skip W. ... (read more)
No legend of love, liberty and roulette here21 December 2012
Dear Mark: I have one strange thing I observed with others playing roulette. I watched the people I was with make a wager on some roulette numbers, and they put some chips on numbers for the dealer. They told the dealer some were for him, and the dealer stopped the wheel and started it again, tossed the ball, and it came up with the right number. ... (read more)
Continual shuffling by design thwarts bet variance14 December 2012
Dear Mark: Do card counters today stand a chance against automatic card shuffling machines? Mel B. Card counters, Mel, have a theoretical advantage of between 0.5 and 1.5 percent against the casino. They accomplish this edge by tracking the ever-changing imbalance of big to small cards in a diminishing deck. ... (read more)
The push: The bet you win from yourself7 December 2012
Dear Mark: When playing Double Double Bonus Poker, playing the max bet for five coins, I can get a pair of Jacks or Better for a payout of five coins. How can this be considered a win when the machine takes five coins at the beginning of the bet? Isn't this considered a push? Bob C. Hey, Bob, you have overlooked something. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: The PUSH: the bet you win from yourself7 December 2012
Dear Mark: When playing Double Double Bonus Poker, playing the max bet for five coins, I can get a pair of Jacks or Better for a payout of five coins. How can this be considered a win when the machine takes five coins at the beginning of the bet? Isn't this considered a push? Bob C. Hey, Bob, you have overlooked something. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Casinos are in the math-and-time business30 November 2012
Dear Mark: What is the typical hold for the casino in blackjack? I have heard it is under 10 percent. Nathan M. I am wondering, Nathan, if you might be confusing the "house edge" with the "casino hold." The "house edge" in blackjack can be near zero against those who use perfect basic strategy, and approximately 5 percent against your typical player. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Trust, but verify23 November 2012
Dear Mark: Concerning blackjack, I recently bought into about the only good single-deck game left in Vegas, at the El Cortez Hotel & Casino, for $100. I played one hand for the $5 minimum bet and lost. For some reason, I then counted my chips and found that I had $90. I brought this to the dealer's attention, and she said that two hands were played. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Does superstition trump mathematics? For many, you betcha!16 November 2012
Dear Mark: My wife wears a Las Vegas sweater for luck whenever we go to the casino. I think it is all hogwash, besides, she loses more than she wins. So, let me ask the expert. How prevalent is this type of superstition in gambling? Frank P. The word "prevalent," Frank, would be an understatement as to superstition in a casino. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Dealer goofs: The road to riches9 November 2012
Dear Mark: I was recently playing blackjack at one of Detroit's casinos, and I was dealt a blackjack with the dealer showing an ace. I opted not to take "even money" as I had always thought you shouldn't take insurance. After checking her hole card and turning over a face card for a dealer blackjack, the dealer told me I was wrong, that it was not the same as insurance, that it was free money. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Finally, a use for a kicker2 November 2012
Dear Mark: I like to play Double Double Bonus Poker. What is the best pay table that I should be playing on? Nancy S. I am glad to see, Nancy, that you recognize that getting the greatest return out of any video poker game, you need to find the optimum pay table first. Double Double Bonus Poker is a video poker game based on Bonus Poker, which is a hybrid of Jacks or Better. ... (read more)
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