Gaming Gurus: Latest From Our Strategy Experts

Speed of Play

Speed of play matters in casino games. More wagers per hour means more exposure to the house edge.In setting budgets, players need to keep in mind they make more bets per hour at sparsely populated tables than at crowded venues, that blackjack moves faster than roulette, craps moves faster than blackjack, baccarat moves faster than craps and slot machines move fastest of all.That's part of the reason slot machines are so profitable for casinos...read more

Pick'em Poker

Almost all video poker games deal a hand of five cards. They then allow players to choose which of those five cards, if any, they want to hold.Pick’em Poker, also called Pick-a-Pair poker, is dramatically different. It is a combination of stud poker and draw poker...read more

Take a Chance and Play Blackjack

CINDY: We had a very interesting trip to Atlantic City recently.ABBY: We stayed at our favorite Atlantic City casino and we had some great talks with other players.CINDY: Many slot players actually want to give table games a try but some things stop them...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Sample size works both ways

A few months ago I wrote about how the relatively small bankroll I had been allocating for a casino visit led me to have a disappointing number of sessions in which I ran out of money before I had played the number of hands I wanted to play to keep on pace with requalifying for an upper tier in the slot club. Even though the long-term payback on NSU Deuces is 99.7%, I was experiencing paybacks in the high 80s and low 90s in some sessions...read more

To Tell the Truth: Slots II

Frank: More inside information from inside the minds of veteran slot players. What do they think of the game they love to play?Brad: Slot players are jealous types. Oh, yes, they are. If I am screaming because I hit a big one and some players come over to congratulate me, they aren’t thinking, “Oh, I am so happy for that guy.” No, they are actually thinking, “That should have been me!”Listen, I don’t care if other players have good fortune...read more

Quiz: Straight or Low Pair?

This article contains a video poker strategy quiz. The game is an 8/5 (8-for-1 full house, 5-for-1 flush) jacks or better.The quiz assumes the maximum five credits is played. The maximum bet produces the highest long-term return because the royal flush pays 800-for-1 (4,000-for-5) rather than 250-for-1 when less than the maximum is bet.Look at the dealt hand below and decide which card or cards you would hold...read more

Reflections on Gambling Systems

CINDY: Well, in the last few weeks we’ve taken a look at some of the classical gambling systems such as the Martingale, the Roulette Columns system, the Paroli, Oscar’s Grind, the Labouchere, and the Fibonacci. Okay, what have we learned? That’s the big question, Abby.ABBY: I hate to say this but not one of these systems results in consistent wins because not one of them can reverse the house edge and give the player the edge over the casinos.CINDY: Okay, which systems would be the best and which would be the worst? Not one does what we wish they could do but some are better than others...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Banned for complaining?

Question: First, I would like to say thank you for this column. It has provided much interesting, informative reading. My subject is a sad one. I was banned from the casino closest to my home (150 miles each way}, along with all of their properties...read more

To Tell the Truth: Slots I

I am interviewing several veteran slot players. What do they have to say about their favorite game in the casino?Frank: Slot machines make more money for the casinos than any other playing option. Somewhere between 65 and 90 percent of the revenue probably comes from the machines...read more

Basic Blackjack Strategies

Several times a year, I receive inquiries from readers about what to do about basic strategy when you have more than two cards.Mostly, it's easy. There are exceptions for card counters or those using composition-dependent strategies, but mostly, if basic strategy calls for you to hit, then hit no matter how many cards you have...read more