Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 160

Betting opposites

QUESTION: I read one of your old articles that explained betting opposites and trying to get your comps for free doesn’t work. You, or you and a partner, can’t bet both pass and don’t pass in craps or player and banker in baccarat, have them offset and get free comps because the bets aren’t really exact opposites.That got me to wondering...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Slot machine prints ticket worth more than $10,000

Question: My 27-year-old grandson and I were at Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore for the Preakness on May 18, 2019. Between races he wandered around and went over to play a slot machine. He put $5 into the machine and spun the wheels, then he did so again...read more

The two roulettes

There are two types of roulette games in the world, the American and the European.Strangely, the American double-zero wheel was created in Europe but is now considered fully domesticated, since it is used far more than any other wheel in the United States...read more

No doubling down after splits

Nearly all the blackjack tables I’ve played at in the last couple of decades have permitted double downs after splitting pairs. I used to encounter no double after split rules in single- and double-deck games, but these are mostly unplayable now because of 6:5 payoffs on blackjacks.Blackjack rules have been tightening, but it came as a surprise when I was playing in April at a six-deck table and another player tried to double on 8-3 after splitting 8s.The dealer was sympathetic...read more

Is this a new craps bet?

From Joe in Peoria:Out of a clear blue sky the following idea for a new craps play occurred to me (at least it’s new to me):It’s a one-roll bet that the number you bet on will NOT roll; sort of the inverse of midnight, yo, etc.I suppose all numbers could be bet on, and the payoffs calculated accordingly...read more

Crapless craps and busting in blackjack

QUESTION: I don’t quite get why the house edge is so much higher in Crapless Craps. I’ve seen that the house edge on pass or come is 1.41% in regular craps and 5.38% in Crapless Craps.I understand that the house edge should be higher because 2, 3, 11 and 12 are point numbers, and they’re hard points to make...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Do casinos on cruise ships cheat?

Question: I travel to Vegas often and take quite a few cruises, mostly on RCL. I play lots of video poker and blackjack. Obviously the VP pay schedules are pretty bad at sea. Having played millions of hands of VP over the years, I can’t help but feel that the results of each deal are not as random as they would be in a regulated Vegas casino...read more

The methods to their madness

My wife has a (correct) theory about me. She believes that I believe that anyone who agrees with me is smart and those who don’t agree with me are (to put it mildly) not too bright.Actually, I think most people think this exact way. The dumbest guy at the bar hollering and arguing about his pet theory of the world being flat is convinced that the other idiot at the other end of the bar is also smart because he agrees that the world is flat.“So why not give others the chance to express their views about slot-play without always thinking they have to go along with your reasoning?” she asked...read more

Keith hits the big one

For Keith, a Wisconsin reader, a 22-year quest has finally achieved its goal.“I got the ACE$ bonus in ACE$ Bonus Poker,” he said in kicking off a series of e-mails. “I’m thrilled, of course, but there’s also a little sadness that something I’ve been after for so long is over.”Since 1997, Keith has played 8-5 ACE$ Bonus Poker whenever he’s had the chance...read more

Where to practice

When it comes to learning and practicing your game, the ideal place to do it is at home. It is a lot cheaper to learn about your game — or even a new one, whichever one it is — in the comfort of your own home then it is in the casino.When first learning a new game, you are bound to make some mistakes and be slow in learning all the ins and outs...read more