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Mark Pilarski Gaming Guru - Page 52  Changing slot percentages for the weekender crowd doesn't happen27 January 2006
Dear Mark,
Who sets the payout percentages for large progressives like Megabucks? Do they
change those percentages on the weekends when it is busier? Douglas D.
To eat up your latter question first, “Do casinos take a screwdriver to
their slots on the weekends to tighten them up?”, the answer is no. ... (read more)
Blackjack's elusive history20 January 2006
Dear Mark,
How did blackjack come into being and arrive at the number 21? Why not 18 or 33?
Also, where did the 3 to 2 payoff come from? Nick B.
Just about every card game has a unique history, but unfortunately historians
cannot always uncover the full trace of a game. Blackjack is one such shadowy
customer. ... (read more)
Ekectronics for Uncle Twirch13 January 2006
Dear Mark,
When playing blackjack on a shoe game, what are the most cards that a dealer can
draw without busting? Though it's probably not a record, last night the dealer
drew nine cards before he got a 17. She even called over the pit boss who said
that was the most he'd ever seen. Matt T. ... (read more)
Dead hands protect the integrity of the game6 January 2006
Dear Mark, I have a question concerning a dead hand in poker. Here’s
the scenario: I'm playing Texas Hold'em heads up till the river card. First
position bets, I call and turn over my cards. First position is excited he won,
slams his cards on the table face up, but one card falls on the floor. ... (read more)
Meet the top dog30 December 2005
Dear Mark,
If a video poker machine shows a good hand with only one coin bet, would the same
hand have appeared if I had played the maximum amount of coins? Sue L.
In practically every gaming jurisdiction, Sue, the answer would be yes. Using
Nevada as an example, their regulations mandate that the number of coins played
cannot influence the outcome. ... (read more)
Points on etiquette and en prison27 December 2005
Dear Mark,
In poker, who is supposed to show their cards first at the end of a hand? Is it
the one who calls the last bet, or the player who makes the last bet? Justin B.
Customarily, Justin, if there has been a bet on the final round of betting,
the person who makes the last wager, or raise, has ... (read more)
Tops, bottoms and middles19 December 2005
Dear Mark,
As a former dealer, were you ever instructed to deal "seconds" to winning
players at a blackjack table? Charles L.
It's crucial, Charles, that I address the issue of cheating first, then
your question regarding seconds.
In my 17 years working the Green Felt Jungle, I have never been asked to do
the slightest thing that borders on deception. ... (read more)
Reviewing some fine points9 December 2005
Dear Mark,
In Texas Hold'em, if two players have the exact same hand, is the pot divided
evenly? What happens if there are leftover chips? Dale D.
Because all five cards on the board (the flop, the turn and the river) in Texas
Hold'em are communal, it is not uncommon for two or more players to ... (read more)
Four Card Poker 1012 December 2005
Dear Mark,
A while back you wrote a very informative column on Three Card Poker. I have noticed
there is what looks like the same game called Four Card Poker. Any chance you
can write about their similarities and/or differences? Jim F.
Your question, Jim, is one of many I have received of late regarding Four Card
Poker. ... (read more)
Super Fun 21 does have some tough edges28 November 2005
Dear Mark,
I was playing a form of blackjack that had a bit of a twist to it when it came
to the rules. I don't remember its exact name, but I do remember that a blackjack
in diamonds paid two-to-one. Do you know what version of blackjack I was playing?
I actually won some money. Ed ... (read more)
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