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Mark Pilarski Gaming Guru - Page 39  Deal Me In: Player's recall might be slightly off19 December 2008
Dear Mark: I like to play video blackjack on 25-cent machines. Do you
know if these machines are dealt randomly from a deck of 52 or are
they "fixed" to give me fewer blackjacks? It seems I never get my fair
share of blackjacks compared to a table game, nor seem to win as much.
Bill ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Munchin' on casino freebies5 December 2008
Dear Mark: Is there any way of lowering the casino's 1.5% edge on a pass line bet by hedging it somewhere else on the table? Brad D.
If you're thinking of those snake oil proposition bets pitched by barking dealers (hard ways, field bets, one number rolls, etc.), absolutely not. Some of those flummadiddle wagers can carry a casino edge as high as 16%. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Smaller bankroll needed for video poker1 December 2008
Dear Mark: Taking your advice, any time I'm given the choice, I play video poker over slots. My question is, do you still need the same sized session bankroll for video poker as you would for slots? Dana S.
Your bankroll, Dana, the money you will need to set aside specifically for playing video poker, ... (read more)
Deal Me In: A little bar stool trivia on cards21 November 2008
Dear Mark: Is there any way of producing luck when you gamble? Wendy P.
Producing luck? Sure! You will always have more luck in the long run at games where the casino has a small house edge versus games where the casino has a large house edge. You've read it here before, and I'll state it again: The smarter you play, the luckier you'll be. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Will a roll of quarters 4.5 yards long last the weekend?14 November 2008
Dear Mark: Is $600 enough of a bankroll for playing quarter slots for a weekend casino trip? Theresa S.
That depends, Theresa, on which quarter machines you choose to play and the speed at which you play them.
A $600 bankroll on a two- and three-coin machine should be enough to keep you playing ... (read more)
Deal Me In: When in doubt, let the house set your hand7 November 2008
Dear Mark: As someone new to pai gow poker, would you a) play the game, and b) advise letting the dealer set my hand since I'm a beginner? Pat T.
Pai gow poker is a variant of American seven-card poker. It is played with a standard 52-card deck and a joker, but differs from the typical seven-card game in that you play against a banker, not against the other players at the table. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Progressives are in no way a "Cluck-for-the-Buck" deal31 October 2008
Dear Mark: I enjoy playing those super jackpot progressive slot machines because it gives me the greatest return for a small investment. Is this sound and sensible gambling? Oliver P.
It is a mistaken belief, Oliver, shared by scores of slot players, that you are only making a small investment in an attempt to win big jackpots when you play progressive slots. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Negative expectations we cherish and suffer24 October 2008
Dear Mark: Although I seldom win anything, I do enjoy playing video keno. Is there any advice you could give me to improve my chances of winning? Kaye S.
The reason you seldom win anything, Kaye, is because keno is a negative-expectation game that has a higher casino edge than most games the casino has to offer. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: It probably doesn't matter where you sit17 October 2008
Dear Mark: You mentioned in a recent column regarding 98% slot paybacks that "if you look closely at the casino advertisement, it will probably say, "on select machines." Typically that means dollar machines, but the return usually it is not posted on the machine itself, and generally will be limited to a ... (read more)
Deal Me In: The dangers of the 'any craps' bet10 October 2008
Dear Mark: Is there any chance that you could spend a portion of your column explaining the "any craps" bet on a craps game? In all the years you've been writing your column, I don't believe you have ever covered it. Buck D.
Yes, Buck, I have not explained the "any craps" bet in any drawn-out answer to a ... (read more)
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