Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 207

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

Probability of great hands

QUESTION: I got three-of-a-kind two hands in a row in Three Card Poker. It was pretty exciting. I was betting $5 on Pair Plus, so at 30-1 I won $150 on the first time. Then I raised the bet to $10 and won $300 the second time. That’s all in addition to wining ante-play against the dealer, too, and getting the 4-1 ante bonuses there.A couple of questions about it...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: What determines the payback percentage on a slot machine?

Question: I vaguely understand the EPROM chip and its function. As you, and most readers, are fully aware, casinos order slot machines with a certain payback percentage for each machine. What determines the payback percentage on reel slot machines? Answer: Let's look at what happens during a spin and I think you'll see what determines the payback percentage on a slot machine before I say it. After you hit the Spin button, the program running the slot machine spins the reels — physical or video — on the machine...read more