Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 181

Stay or stop?

I never volunteer advice on strategy while playing in casinos, but the temptation was strong in early May when I found myself at a Mississippi Stud table where a new player — let's call him Bill — was being coached by a friend.Bill anted $5 and made an equal bet after seeing his two cards...read more

The best craps bets

The game of craps can be very exciting. It can also be very frustrating. One of the great draws of this game is the variety of bets available. One can bet with the shooter – betting that he will make the point number before the 7 shows, or one can bet that the 7 will rear its ugly head before the shooter repeats the point number.Of course, there are dozens of other bets also available: place bets, hard way bets, field bets, horn bets, whirl bets, hop bets, big 6, big 8 and big red...read more

Win goals and loss limits

QUESTION: I'm interested in the idea of win goals and loss limits to decide when to leave a game. You set a win goal, and if you reach it, you leave. You also set a limit on losses, and if you lose that much, you leave.Is that how you manage your money? Does it change if you have an edge, like a blackjack card counter?ANSWER: For games in which the casino has an edge — nearly all of them, against the vast majority of players, I've suggested a modified system of floating win goals and loss limits.I don't think a hard win goal is realistic...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Why are my slot club offers different from my friends' offers?

Question: For the last year, I lost every time I went to the casino with a friend. No one can understand why. I usually can win most of the times when I am alone. Although I spend more than my friends, they get invited to use the perks given by the host...read more

The five-tool casino player

In baseball, there is an elite category called the “five-tool” player. Such a player is excellent in the following areas:1. Batting average (usually near, on, or over 300)2. Power hitting (home runs, triples, doubles)3. Fast runner (base running, base stealing ability)4. Good arm in the field (can throw the ball with power from his position)5. Good fielderSuch players are rare indeed...read more

Gambling and the Law: The Supreme Court changes everything

Late last year, I wrote a blog about the then pending sports betting case, entitled, “The Most Important Case of the Century.”It turned out to be even bigger than thatIn the coming days and weeks, I will be discussing in detail what this major change in the law means...read more

Players' stories

Whenever I relay readers' tales of their experiences in casinos, it seems to inspire other readers to share their own stories.That seemed to go double for craps players several weeks back, after three players told of their first-time experiences and overcoming the game's learning curve...read more

Obey the rules in blackjack

Casino management is very fussy about what goes on at the blackjack table. They worry about cheating both by the customer and dealer. They have firm procedures that the dealer must follow at all times. In addition they have procedures they want the player to follow...read more

A personal superstition

QUESTION: Your column on superstitions got me thinking. I don't know if it's superstition or not, but in general, I will not consciously go back to a machine that I played no matter the result on the same day.If I win a significant amount (for me that's $50 or more on slots, and it varies on video poker depending on the denomination), I will make it a point to avoid that machine for the rest of the day, even though I know that my win doesn't change the probability.Conversely, if I seem to be losing at every machine I play on a given day, I will seek out games that I usually don't play because of prior bad luck, kind of a reverse luck mentality.With VP, I usually play Bonus Poker and I love Deuces Wild, but I will switch to either less volatile Jacks or Better or more volatile Double (or Double Double) Bonus just to change my luck.Without believing that any of this changes anything, I think it's just searching for the lucky spin that is out there waiting for me to press.ANSWER: Thanks for the story...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: 88 Fortunes and resetting progressives

Question: I am one of those who wrote in previously having said that I was fortunate enough to hit the Grand Jackpot a total of three times playing 88 Fortunes. Twice at CasaBlanca Casino ($11k+ and $13k+) and once at Eureka Casino ($11k+), both casinos are located in Mesquite, Nevada. I hit the jackpot on two occasions playing the minimum ($0.88) and once while playing $176. I will also mention that the progressive resets almost immediately as I have hit the bonus almost simultaneously with a player sitting next to me...read more