Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 319

The truth about blackjack side bets

Side bets at blackjack are offered for two basic reasons: to add a little excitement for players who want more out of the game than trying to grind out a profit one bet at a time, and to increase action to generate more profit for the house.The house edge on side bets tends to be higher than on blackjack itself, provided the player knows basic strategy...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Do your choices in bonus rounds matter?

Thank you for your weekly newsletter - great stuff. When you get into a bonus round on a slot machine that requires you to make choices, e.g., three treasure chests out of eight, or pick until you lose, spin a wheel, anything like that, do your choices really make a difference, or has the RNG already determined how much you will win? Thanks, Larry Dear Larry, Thanks for the kind words about my column. Let me start with your last question first...read more

Surrender, dealer advice and losing one's head

FROM BERNIE: Early surrender is available at the Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas and also at Wynn casino but most people are not aware of this. Please pass this on to your readers.FRANK’S RESPONSE: Early surrender is a great option. I just alerted my readers to it...read more

Money management for all types of players

QUESTION: I have a question about your "money management" column. If you were at a positive expectation game -- a game with a positive pay table -- and if you also had the benefits of cash back or some other comps from your play -- would the advice in your article still hold? Or, can players who are playing a positive-expectation game with additional benefits ignore the need and advice for win/loss goals?How would you respond to a comment such as this: "I have the advantage on every hand I play, why should I stop?"ANSWER: The win goals/loss limits advice applies only to negative-expectation games, which means it applies to a vast majority of players...read more

Playing Class II Video Poker Machines

Hi Jerry "Stickman,"Does a player with skill at Jacks or Better strategy (for hold cards) have any influence over his long-term return on a class II video poker machine, or is that determined solely by the server programming?I am confused by the differences in how these machines actually work and are programmed.---John in New YorkDear John,The whole concept behind Class II machines is they function like a bingo game...read more

Tales told during shuffles

After nearly 20 years of writing this column -- it launched at the beginning of February in 1994 -- I have a fair idea of what resonates with readers. After all, many of you are kind enough to tell me, via e-mail.One message that comes through loud and clear is that players love to read about other players...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Betting more coins increases chance of hitting progressive

I have heard Oklahoma casinos have no gaming regulations because they are all Indian casinos. Does that mean they can change the payout with the click of a mouse or if a machine seems to pay too much? Can they do whatever they want? Can they have on and off peak hours? The slots seem so tight lately...read more

How to treat dealers

I am a firm believer is treating dealers with respect. I think a friendly smile, a hello when you sit or stand at their table, and a calm understanding that the dealer actually knows what he or she is doing, will go a long way in making a table game a good experience for you and, hopefully, for the dealer.When I was a young man I was a waiter...read more

Random strategies

QUESTION: I teach statistics and probability at a community college, so my brother-in-law was asking me about betting systems. He showed me a book in which the author claimed the way to beat baccarat was by betting streaks. The BIL wanted to know if he could apply that to roulette, maybe starting to bet on black after it won twice in a row, then getting off after a loss and staying off until some other even-money bet won twice.I told him I couldn’t see any reason a system like that would win in either baccarat or roulette...read more

Odds Once Again

I recently received a letter from a reader named John regarding the odds involved in an odd/even or red/black roulette wager.FROM JOHN: Since there are 18 winning spaces and 20 losing spaces on the wheel the true odds will be 20 to 18 or 2 to 1.8.If the “actual odds” are 16 to 10 or 1.6 to 1...read more