Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 239

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Playing slots can seem as if you are in a Sergio Leone spaghetti western. You remember those films, mostly starring the young Clint Eastwood before anyone knew what a tremendously talented film maker he would become.Those movies had a great, mysterious hero (played by Eastwood), totally nasty villains (the best of which was Eli Wallach) and at last, finally, thank the stars, the good guy won in the end after much struggle and the death of most of the cast and the extras.Let’s talk the good.You go to your favorite slot machine, put in $100, and start playing...read more

Deal Me In: Separating the wheat from the chaff

Dear Mark: A few weeks back you had mentioned both the math and rules for the table game Let It Ride. You also recommended not playing the game. But there are other table games that seem interesting, for instance, Three Card Poker and Caribbean Stud...read more

Match play and composition blackjack hands

QUESTION: I used to like it when every casino had a fun book and you could get a little slot play and some match play at the tables, some food discounts, free popcorn or a hot dog – it was fun hunting for the best bargains for a low roller!The reason I bring it up is that I actually got a couple of match plays last month, and used them on craps at the pass line...read more

The 6 and 8 versus the 7

From Olivia,Hi Stickman,I shoot craps quite a lot, but I tend to be “mathematically challenged” or so it seems!I understand that on average you will roll a 7 more than any other number. I’ve seen the “list” posted many, many times. But, if you take, let’s say, the 6 and 8 "together" on the dice, when you actually roll those babies down the felt don’t you have a better chance of making one of those two numbers than a 7?My feeble brain assumes if there are 5 ways to make a 6 and 5 ways to make an 8, why don’t you have 10 chances to make either of those numbers and only 6 chances to make a 7? If this is true it would therefore obviously give you the advantage.I would love to hear an explanation I can understand!Thanks...read more

Girl party blackjack

Tales of casino bachelor parties have come rolling into my mailbox ever since the days when my prime contact with readers came through snail mail.Of late, I’ve also started to receive bachelorette party stories. There aren’t many – I receive stories mainly where gambling is the focus...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: If only I had bet two coins

Question: Most slot players have heard or said, "If only I had bet two coins." I was wondering if there is any truth to this statement. I often play an older slot machine (Triple Gold Bar) for which there are two- and three-coin versions...read more

Send Me No Flowers

Casino players love comps. No secret there. Look at all the players who routinely hand in their player’s cards in order to be “rated.” Being rated is simply the casino keeping track of how much you bet, how long you play, the house edge on the game you are playing, and how many decisions per hour you get at that game...read more

A memorable play and comps

QUESTION: I play a lot of Triple Play and Five Play Poker. I love them, but when the game turns cold and drains credits, there’s that moment when you can’t bet the max. I’ve always joked about the time coming that sometime, I was going to get a royal flush with less than the max and I was going to get mad at myself.It finally happened...read more

Becoming a good blackjack player

The question comes up on how to become a skilled and consistent winning blackjack player. The answer is not that difficult. There are basically three tasks a player must excel in to arrive at that goal. In fact, these three tasks are about the same for any sport or skill one wants to learn and master.It’s a three-step method...read more

Deal Me In: A video poker machine too good to believe

Dear Mark: You have written that with perfect basic strategy some video poker machines will have a payback above 100%. I have also read that the machines can NOT be set to return over 100%. Can you please explain the difference of what I am reading? Dave D.When employing expert play, a player’s strategy can affect payback percentages...read more