Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 134

Blackjack Bob's latest

My latest chat with Blackjack Bob came at a good time. He’d just had a big win at the tables, and he had an interesting time at Three Card Poker, too.Let’s turn the conversation inside out and look at the Three Card Poker before turning to Bob’s blackjack exploits.“The day had gone so well, I decided to lock up my $650 profit and walk away...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: The person who pushes the Spin button doesn't always get paid a slot jackpot

Question: In your reply to my question last week, you said that you had to bet the max ($8.88) on Dancing Drums to qualify for the Grand jackpot. I was betting $0.88 and was awarded the Grand jackpot. Answer: You're right. I misspoke (mistyped?)...read more

Money management at slots

Does this sound right? The bartender pours your favorite drink. You sip it in a leisurely fashion. You are adult and cool, calm and considered, as you imbibe slowly. In fact, you are feeling somewhat philosophical as you nurse your drink. Other folks are at this trendy bar as well...read more

Three hands in bonus poker

QUESTION: I have questions on three hands in Bonus Poker. How would you play these?Ace of spades, Ace of clubs, 9 of clubs, 9 of hearts, King of diamonds 3 of hearts, 3 of diamonds, 3 of spades, 7 of hearts, 7 of spades Ace of hearts, Ace of spades, Ace of diamonds, 6 of spades, 6 of diamonds ANSWER: This email came from a player who in the past couple of months has submitted several strategy questions on Double Double Bonus Poker.Bonus Poker differs from Double Double Bonus in a couple of important respects...read more

General gambling

Most experts believe that to be good at any sport, or any task for that matter, one has to have three major traits: dedication, concentration and self-discipline.Playing at blackjack, craps, roulette or any other game successfully also requires these same traits...read more

Secondary decisions and splitting 10s

QUESTION: My friend told me I was wasting my time at video poker because it can change cards on you. He says if you draw a card, two cards are really chosen, and then the machine decides which of the two it can show you. So if I have four cards to a royal missing only the ace, and the ace is one of the cards chosen, I won’t necessarily get the royal.ANSWER: Your friend has bad information...read more

Manners at slot machines

Unlike games such as blackjack, where some players think they are obliged to tell you how to play your hands, even if these “experts” have no real idea of the correct basic strategy; or craps, where players dislike it when other players take care with their rolls; or roulette, where players bump your hand as you are trying to make your bets so they can make their bets; or baccarat, with its players who stare and fume if they are playing the opposite of the hands you are playing because you are winning your hands and they are losing their hands; the slot world does have its mores and manners.Here are some: Do not play more than one machine if the casino is crowded and people are waiting to play...read more

Pass and don't pass simultaneously

Craps players have tried betting combinations as long as the game has been around. The grand hope is that by using a multiple bets to cover weaknesses of others, players will hit on the magic winning formula.One combo that’s come to my attention recently via a reader e-mail involves pass, don’t pass, and laying the odds.Here’s how it goes: Bet pass and don’t pass at the same time...read more

Common casino mistakes

ABBY: “Mistakes, I’ve made a few….”CINDY: Don’t sing the song, please, Mr. Sinatra, because we have all made mistakes in playing casino games. I wish we were all perfect, but then again, you can’t be perfect playing in the casino when the house has the edge on the bets...read more

Non-optimal bets at video poker

QUESTION: I read something you wrote about never betting four coins at a time on a video poker game with a five-coin max. That made sense. You don’t get the full royal flush payoff when you bet less than five, and when you bet four you’re risking the most money you can without the full royal.Can I add a corollary to that rule? Another thing you should never do is make that one last bet on a Triple Play or Five Play video poker machine when you don’t have enough credits to cover the maximum bet.On Triple Play, the max bet is 15 coins, five for each hand...read more