Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 312

Top blackjack questions, part I

To say I’ve answered many questions from blackjack players over the past 38 years is an understatement. I figure I answered, on average, about five questions a month, so that’s 60 a year, or roughly 2,300 over the past 38 years that I’ve been a blackjack writer (whew!)...read more

Deal Me In: Luck goes south for this slot player

Dear Mark: My luck with slots has gone kaput. I am to a point where I feel slots don't pay at all. What is an old-time slot player to do? Ted Y.I can tell you, Ted, with 100 percent certainty that all slot machines dependably pay. They pay the casino's mortgage, those neon light bills and all the employees' salaries...read more

How many lines to play on video slots

For a large majority of players, a trip to the casino means some time on five-reel video slots. It’s not just that they are an entry level game, easy to play with no strategy required. Most players stick with them. Electronic gaming devices account for about 80 percent of casino revenue nowadays -- more in some jurisdictions...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Calculating the long-term payback of an online slot

I was trying to deconstruct some slot machines to be able to calculate probabilities and return. I recorded a video [of some Boss Media-based slots] and started taking note of each symbol in the order they showed on the reels, and noticed that the sequence seemed to be random because I couldn't find a pattern to determine the whole reel strip...read more

The 5-Count and rolling six numbers in a row

Dear Frank:Your book (“Casino Craps: Shoot to Win!”) stirred up some good debates with a friend of mine this weekend. Like I mentioned in an earlier e-mail I have a table that was my grandfather’s in my garage. We put some time in practicing and talking it was a blast...read more

Different payouts create different strategies

QUESTION: I have a question about Deuces Wild. I love the full-pay game. It’s the one I first played in Las Vegas in the ’80s and it’s still the game I play whenever I can find it. I find it less and less, however.I find myself more and more settling for the games that reduce the four of a kind pays to 4-for-1, but also pay 4 on the full houses and pay 3 instead of 2 on flushes.One hand troubles me...read more

Tweaking Blackjack Strategy

Dear Mr. Stickman,Hi, it’s Amy again from the UK. Now that I have a little more time I'd like to share with you and your readers a couple of tips we use in playing Basic Strategy for Blackjack. We realize of course we can't ultimately win except for lucky streaks, which is always fun without counting cards which we don't do, as my partner is now over 70 years old, and errors would hurt us but we do remarkably well by 'tweaking' Basic Strategy a little.I've already mentioned we often split tens when a lot of low cards have already been played we also hit on a two card sixteen against a dealer 7 or higher but stand on a three card sixteen...read more

What bothers you in a casino?

Every player encounters things that bother them in casinos, things they see over and over again. My pet peeves start with low video poker pay tables and bad blackjack rules. No matter how good the restaurants and how attractive the amenities at a high-end resort, I’m playing at the shack next door if it has better games.Others have different priorities...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Should I stay at a hot machine?

In March 2013, I received a card in the mail from Pearl River Resort. The card said that they missed me. Come back and I would be eligible to play for free under the new member program. On the first visit they would reimburse me up to $500 gaming losses on the first day of play...read more

Trends, trends and more trends

Dear Frank:Hi just wanted to give my two cents. I am 45 and have been gambling since I was 7. Craps, poker and sports betting are my thing. I have never read a book on gambling until recently. My daughter gave me "Casino Craps: Shoot to Win!" as a present and I read it last night...read more