Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 169

Card counting drills

One of the things a card counting blackjack player needs to be skilled at is keeping up with a fast dealer. Occasionally, a player will run across a dealer who thinks it's important to move the game along at a very rapid pace, regardless of how it affects the players at the table.A skilled advantage player should like this type of play...read more

Where does the blackjack edge begin?

QUESTION: At what point does the house edge in blackjack kick in?I recall reading that a casino would never allow a person to make a one-time bet of a million because the house edge would not factor into a single transaction.So the issue then is at what point does the edge kick in...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Does getting comps from a host at a casino affect the offers you get in the mail?

Question: If I use room and food comps, does that lower my comp balance and then I may not get room comp offers potentially? Answer: I'll answer based on my own experiences with the caveat that your mileage may vary. Other casinos may have different policies, and it may matter if the casino caters to locals or tourists and whether you're a local or a tourist...read more

Players respond

FROM K**THEY: Just read your article today and wanted to confirm that I've taken your advice from previous columns and twice in one week, it's paid off for me.Last week, at Chinook Winds Casino/Resort, on the Oregon coast, I had $10 free slot play on my player’s card...read more

Getting help playing cards

It's a given in casino card games that you're supposed to play your own cards.Nonetheless, players often request and receive advice — sometimes from the dealer, more often from other players.In mid-August, I found myself at a Mississippi Stud table with a player in obvious need of help, and the others weren't at all shy about lending aid.When I sat down to play, there were three others at a seven-player table...read more

Group gambling

One of the easiest ways to increase your comp offers is to increase your perceived worth to the casinos. Casinos track and measure your worth in terms of the theoretical loss you should have on an average trip or an average daily basis. But increasing your “theo” does not necessarily mean you need to gamble more or have more at risk personally...read more

Long sessions or short sessions at blackjack?

QUESTION: I seem to do better at blackjack with short sessions and leaving the table when I'm four or five betting units ahead. I then move to another table.My friend tells all these sessions are not independent and the house advantage will still exist on a cumulative basis...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: A video poker machine with a 100-coin max bet

Question: I also have often wondered how comps work. I pretty much only play at GVR [Green Valley Ranch], so that's where I have a host. I could be and am probably wrong, but I've come to the conclusion that the casino hosts must be on some sort of commission basis where they get paid based on how much one of their guests loses...read more

Things of roulette's past

FROM JAGGY: Have you ever started out your day without any intention of going to a casino? My wife and I had decided to do some house cleaning and some painting of our two decks. Well that all changed when our son, John asked if we were going to the casino as they were giving free beach chairs per person...read more

What if dealers played basic strategy?

When my old blackjack-playing buddy Bob and I get together, the talk doesn't always center on the game of 21. We've known each other long enough that talking blackjack usually means rehashing oft-told tales.But when we met at a casino buffet recently, Bob had a new topic."What do you think the effect on the game would be if dealers could use basic strategy?" he asked.My immediate response: I don't think anybody would play such a game.Bob nodded and said, "That was the conclusion I had, too...read more