Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 124

Raising Bets at Blackjack

QUESTION: I read that blackjacks happen an average of once every 21 hands. That seems like good information.If you don’t get a blackjack for a while, when’s the right time to raise your bet? After 10 hands? More? Less? It seems like you should bet more when the chance of getting a blackjack is 1 in 11 instead of 1 in 21.What about when you’ve just had a blackjack? Should I lower my bet back down to my base? Should I use a sliding scale, like $10 bets after I’ve just had a blackjack, $15 if there have been five hands without one, $20 after 10 hands and so on?I want to bet my most money when the bigger payoff is most likely.ANSWER: That’s a worthy goal, but counting hands between blackjacks won’t get you there.Blackjacks do happen an average of once per 21 hands, but that’s an average, not a guarantee...read more

Face-Up Pai Gow Poker

Many casino gamblers enjoy playing Pai Gow Poker. It is a relaxed, slow-playing game with a lot of “pushes” where neither the house or player wins or loses. Because of this, there is a relatively low player loss rate.The traditional game of Pai Gow poker is played with one deck of 53 cards – the normal four suits of 13 cards each and one joker...read more

Electronic Blackjack

Blackjack Bob doesn’t usually have random number generators on is mind. Almost all of his playing time is spent at live blackjack tables, though he has dabbled in online slots during the healthcare crisis.Nonetheless, when I contacted him in mid-September, he wanted to talk RNG.“I finally went back to play,” he told me...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Do you always have a chance at the biggest prize in a picking bonus?

Question: When the feature [bonus picks] is activated in some games, choices appear for the player. The three of the same kind, say free spins, regularly is what he or she gets. Question, on those screens where the possibilities include mini, major, etc., jackpots, it seems that often what results is the smaller or smallest. Does the grand or biggest prize worth thousands of dollars ALWAYS appear under the cover or is always available for the lucky customer to find? Keep up the great work and advice! Answer: Thanks. A timely question...read more

Slow Down

Craps is a fast game or, rather, it is a game that looks fast because so much seems to be going on between the rolls of the dice. Just look around a craps table and note how many people are playing and how many bets are being wagered by the group and by different individuals; it is a lot.Still, in my opinion wise craps play follows a simple dictate – don’t make many bets because each bet you make allows the house edge to eat away at your bankroll...read more

Blackjack the Hard Way

QUESTION: I thought it was funny when you wrote about the blackjack dealer who was pitching the cards so hard they were flying off the table. I’ve had that happen, though where I live you don’t see a lot of single-deck and double-deck pitch games.What I do see sometimes in six-deck, face up games are dealers who go so fast I can’t keep up with them...read more

Pay Your Taxes

If you are a gambler, your government wants to hear from you.As with your earnings from a regular job, you must also declare all winnings from gambling regardless of the amount. You need to have accurate records of your losses or you could be dealing yourself a real problem.If you want to deduct your gambling losses, you can only claim them to the extent of your winnings...read more

Trade and Place Video Poker

A couple of years ago, I wrote about Multi-Draw Poker, a video poker game developed by Tim Nottke for Realize Gaming LLC.The game was a niche success, Nottke is back with a new creation, Trade N’ Place Poker, and you can check out a demo version at https://www.realizegamingllc.com/demo/tradeNPlace3x1/?fbclid=IwAR0cGiRJcOB6zQKGSF-r03r7ANeQW5nyZeUPLeDEbOPNLR-VDayZCHQJNKwTrade N’ Place isn’t the five-card draw that you find in nearly all video poker games...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: When your slot machine reboots

I was playing my favorite video poker machine a few days ago when the bezel surrounding the card reader slot changed to flashing purple. I know that red means no card inserted; flashing red means card invalid or card can't be read; green means everything is hunky-dory; and flashing yellow means that you haven't made a bet in a while, you aren't considered to be an active player, and you aren't eligible for any kind of bonus event that might occur...read more

Don't Do the Doey Don't

The late Atlantic City legend, and my mentor, the Captain of craps, was a genius when it came to playing casino games, especially craps. I’ve written several books and many articles about his ideas, philosophy and methods of play.I give him full credit for making me the gambling writer that I became...read more