Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 297

Stick to the best bets at craps

FROM CHUCK: I'm 68 years old, never played craps before. Just got started in the game. It is fun and I have mastered the board; the pass line, don’t pass, horn bets, hard ways and so on. I still have problem with C&E and my betting patterns and amounts to bet...read more

Three-card poker and roulette

QUESTION: I’ve been playing three-card poker for many years, ever since I first saw it on a trip to Biloxi. I think Mississippi had it even before Las Vegas or Atlantic City.I read an article right at the beginning that said the best strategy is to bet whenever you have a queen or better, and fold if you have less...read more

Sage advice for the casino gambler

All year long, I write about games and strategies and share readers’ stories about their casino visits. Most of those stories are about big wins because, after all, they’re more fun to remember than the more frequent losses.Once a year, though, I like to sound a cautionary note...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Balancing long-term payback and slot club rewards in NJ

I read your recent column answering a reader's letter about the policy of not awarding players club points for play on some video poker machines at Mohegan Sun, and I thought it might be helpful for your readers to be aware of the following: Mohegan Sun will track your video poker play if you use a players club card when you play...read more

Easy does it craps play and slot message boards

FROM RAYMOND: I just read Michael’s comments about not influencing the dice. I’ve been meaning to contact you for awhile. I’ve been playing craps since AC opened in 1978. I read just two of your earliest books, both very entertaining!I’ve tried every known craps system...read more

Cost of blackjack rules and the origin of video poker

QUESTION: A blackjack question for you. I played a game where you were allowed to double on 9, 10 or 11 only. Obviously, that costs you a lot of soft double opportunities. I kept reaching for my chips when I had ace-5 and the dealer had a 6, but I couldn’t double.My questions are twofold...read more

Straight flushes

QUESTION: Why are straight flushes so undervalued in video poker games? They're much rarer in four of a kinds, but in most games you get the same payback or more on the four of a kinds.ANSWER. The goal of video poker game designers isn’t to reflect the true odds of the game...read more

How to play blackjack's beautiful ace

Most blackjack players have a love/hate relationship with the ace. They love it when they get an ace, but they hate it when the dealer shows the ace. Overall, the ace is our best friend and it’s important to know why.First, let’s look at why we hate the ace; namely, when the dealer gets it as his upcard...read more

Legal online gambling

Legal online gambling on casino-style games has yet to reach the toddler stage in the United States, with Nevada having launched online poker and New Jersey and Delaware coming on board with a broader range of games, all in 2013.Even in those jurisdictions, wagers must come from players within the state...read more

21 years in the casinos!

As 2014 turns into 2015, it means I’ve been writing about casinos and casino games on a weekly-or-more basis for 21 years. When I was first asked to do this column, there was a steep learning curve, and part of that curve was learning how to handle being in casinos for a three-day trip once a year to exploring casino floors twice a week or more.With that frequency, I couldn’t afford to let my heart rule my head, or to let the adrenaline rush that comes with entering the super-charged gaming environment cloud my judgment.I made up my mind 21 years ago that I’d need a dose of caution, both in my play and in writing about games and strategies...read more