Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 309

Talking blackjack at the table

Blackjack players can be a bit uncomfortable talking strategy during breaks at the table. The more advanced players may not want to tip the casino off to how good they are, though it really doesn’t take much observation to tell those who know their basic strategy from those who don’t.So the table talk at shuffling time often turns to asking the dealer about her hometown, or finding out if other players have tried the steakhouse, and the occasional gem about something unusual that’s happened at casinos games.But every once in a while, players let their guard down, and a little strategy is mixed in with the tales people tell at the table...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Withholding at New York's racinos

Love your columns and the great advice. This past weekend I was playing at Monticello Raceway in New York, which is operated by the New York Lottery. I was playing a Vegas Hits slot machine and hit one of the bonuses and was fortunate enough to win $690...read more

Video poker, dice control and one million in cash!

Hi Frank:Always enjoy learning from you.About a year ago, I wrote to you about how "video poker" machines were working in a NY Racino, and you explained they were "bingo based or lottery based" machines, which simply meant that the outcome of that particular hand was pre-determined when the cards were dealt, and that the "hold" cards played no role in the outcome.I tested your answer over and over and found you were exactly right...read more

The RNG, clean cards and free play

QUESTION: On machines with different coin values, or with different games to choose from, does each game and each value have its own random number generator? Or can different games share the same RNG?ANSWER: It’s possible for different games and different coin denominations to share the same RNG, provided they can work with the same number set.All the RNG does is generate random numbers...read more

Catching those wicked card counters

Casino management is always on the lookout for card counters. They look for certain behavior that fits the profile. If they think you are a counter (even if you are not), they can ask you to stop playing and leave the table or even the casino...read more

Money management

Jeff is an old friend, one I meet for lunch three or four times a year, just to catch up. He’s not really a casino player, though he’ll tag along with his wife and play the slots once in a blue moon.Our conversation rarely centers on gambling, but this time he had a question from Darcy, his wife.“She wants me to ask you about money management,” he said...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Wrapping up tipping at slot machines

Here are some more comments about tipping: Regarding the tipping of attendants at slot machines, my personal rule is if they come back with my payout quickly, then I tip them. If they take forever, then I don't. I tell them this. I have waited at machines for over an hour at times to get my payout, which is a ridiculous length of time...read more

New roulette number arrangement

Hello Frank,My name is Thomas and I live in the south island city of Christchurch, New Zealand.We have only one casino here aptly named "Christchurch Casino" and there is something I'd like to ask you in regards to roulette. I have been very familiar with who you are for some years now, and read your book "Spin Roulette Gold" and read many other articles and comments of yours, always with interest regarding other games you have expertise in.Anyhow as you may know New Zealand has always been seen as single-zero roulette territory, but a few months ago a double zero wheel appeared in the gaming area and one of the staff told me it was just experimental and was most probably only temporary, but a few weeks ago another double zero wheel appeared, both minimum $2.00 tables but on weekends when things are more busy they will open another couple of single zero $2.00 tables along with one $5.00 table.Now to the interesting part, I know of course that the numbers are placed around the wheel on the double zero wheels in your country, in different positions to the single zero wheels we've had here, but what they have done with these two double zero wheels here is to retain exactly the same number positioning clockwise from the single zero to 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25, 17, 34 and so on and then they have jammed the two zeros at the bottom between numbers 5 and 24.So was just wondering does this seem a bit odd or unusual to you Frank, or have you heard of or seen this type of thing before, also there are new major shareholders that have taken over recently.I have also heard that they have toughened up in certain areas on the slot machines also, not that I play them or are familiar with the slots.Anyhow hope to be able to read your comments soon Frank, when you have time okay.Yours Truly,ThomasDear Thomas:I have never seen what you are referring to and I do hope they decide to take those double-zero roulette wheels out...read more

The Number of Craps Rolls

In January and February of the year 2000 I wrote a two part article dedicated to calculating the average length of a player’s Craps hand in terms of the number of rolls. The answer turns out to be a figure of about 8.526. Recently a reader by the name of Martin K wrote a letter to me challenging this figure, part of which I’ll quote below."I currently play at a casino (Maryland Live) that has a craps game (Interblok) that uses an analog set of dice and a digital interface (no dealers, sticks, etc.) It keeps tracl of the number of rolls and displays it over the game...read more

Blackjack early surrender and max coin on slots

I don’t remember the last time I saw early surrender offered in a bricks-and-mortar casino, and I can’t vouch for its existence online, where I don’t play. “Surrender” means that after seeing his first two cards and the dealer’s up card, the player may give up half his bet instead of playing out the hand...read more