Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 324

Screen goes blank; wife causes win

Hi Frank,I have a question about machines that lose the connection with their computer system in the casino. I have on occasion at two different casinos, bet high and lost hundreds of dollars without a "hit" and when I have spent all my money and get off the machine with cashing out a few cents, the screen has gone blue and said hand payout or no connection to system.I find this strange that they have lost connection and I have lost all my money...read more

Blackjack comps and the same slots with different payouts

QUESTION: You’ve said that two slot machines that look exactly the same can have different payback percentages. By exactly the same I assume you’re including the payoffs. If I look up the payoffs for one machine, they’ll be the same as the other...read more

Video poker for dummies, part I

Please don’t send me e-mails about how upset you are over the title of this article. If you are reading this far, then I’ve succeeded in getting your attention. Now I aim to keep it by giving you information on how to play one of the best casino games, which could result in you winning more money.Slots vs...read more

Deal Me In: "Money plays!" revisited

Dear Mark: I walked up to a blackjack game, put $100 in the betting circle, and said "money plays." The dealer said I had to change it into chips. I chose not to proceed with the wager. Have you ever heard of such a thing? Donald P.Back in the day when I pitched cardboard, your money could always play...read more

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