Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 192

Full-pay Deuces Wild

QUESTION: When I learned to play Deuces Wild, I used Lenny Frome’s strategy chart and it said to pick that when dealt two pair, you should pick one to hold and discard the other. I’ve been playing that way ever since. But last time I played, some guy next to me said, “You know, you should hold both pairs there.” His friend agreed, nodding her head and saying, “That’s right.” They seemed so sure...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Drawing a royal flush

Question: Last night I played a Top Dollar machine with an extra bonus feature. It was $5 for the max credits. I got a Top Dollar and accepted the second offer of $115. Then the second bonus threw up an offer of $15. The casino host told me that if I declined that offer it would reset the first bonus, but it looked to me like the first bonus was locked in...read more

One and done

Most craps players enjoy making multiple bets; in fact, many make some good low-house-edge bets (the pass line and come) mixed with some bad high-house-edge bets (the hard ways bets and many others). The average craps player is, usually more, sometimes less, an action player, looking for hits during every roll of the dice.In truth, being an action player is exactly what the casinos want in their players — and nowhere is action more actionable than at craps, which offers bets of many varieties...read more

Hot dealers

Every blackjack player has run into hot dealers.You know the drill. You have blackjack, the dealer has blackjack. You feel good with your 20, but the dealer pulls 21. You double down with 11 vs. 6, draw a 7 for a decent enough 18, but the dealer strings out three or four low cards to beat you with 19 or better.It’s frustrating, but we all go through it...read more

Blackjack tips

Tip #1Of all the casino games, why bet on blackjack? What makes it “different” than any other casino banked game?For one, the odds in blackjack are not constant. They keep changing from one hand to the next depending on the cards that have been played...read more

Pitch blackjack

QUESTION: I’ve always played blackjack games where the player cards are dealt face-up. You can’t touch the cards.I had to make an adjustment when I was playing a two-deck game for the first time. The dealer didn’t want me to pick up my cards until after all the cards were dealt...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Are slot machines that pause illegal?

Question: I have a question about certain slot machines I have been playing which freeze randomly after a play has been made. I am wondering if this is illegal because the game does not allow you to press play for random amounts of time, which in turn blocks specific sections of the RNG from being played. Example: I hit max bet...read more

The look, the voice, the truth

When I mention to people that I am a writer and I often write about gambling and casinos, I will get “the look” from some of them. “The look” incorporates a scrunched-up forehead, a slight involuntary sneer, a tilt of the head often followed by the words, “Oh, you’re a gambler?” The tone of the question is in keeping with the scrunched forehead, the sneer and the tilted head – not pleasant at all.What have I done wrong? Have I murdered someone? Stolen food from a baby? Looted Little Lulu’s college fund?Being a gambler is not perceived as a good thing, as gamblers are often lumped in with problem or addictive gamblers...read more

Not so winning ways

When I’ve shared readers’ stories of their first casino trips, they’ve almost always involved winning times.There’s a great deal of selection bias there. The majority of players lose money on their first trip, just as most players contribute a little something to the casino’s bottom line more often or not...read more

How do you play this video poker hand?

Hi Jerry,How are you? I hope you are well.This is Jody. It has been awhile since I contacted you.I just have one question for you here: How would you play the following sample?6s, 4s, 2s, 8d, 7d? Would you hold anything here or scrap the whole hand and re-deal five cards?I appreciate your time and look forward to hearing from you.Thanks again,JodyHi Jody,I would be happy to answer your question...read more