Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 333

Craps payouts and blackjack percentages

QUESTION: I make all the craps bets you say I shouldn’t. I know the percentages are lousy, but I play for cheap, never lose too much and when I get a little lucky, I have some big wins. I know I lose more than I win, but the excitement of the big ones does it for me.Anyway, I’m not writing for advice about that...read more

Splitting those 8s and other conundrums in blackjack

It was late on a Monday night on an overnight casino stay, and the table games pit was mostly empty. I was at a $10 blackjack table with three other players, a man and a woman in their late 20s or early 30s who seemed to be a couple, and a fellow with a shaved head and gray beard who appeared to be in his 50s or early 60s.Mostly, it was an easy-going, jovial atmosphere...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: How much should I tip for a slot jackpot?

I noticed at Trump Taj Mahal that the reel-spinning Wheel of Fortune machines have been replaced with video slots. Does that make the jackpot harder to hit? Are all the progressive jackpots linked to all casinos in AC? Thanks, Mike Dear Mike, I haven't seen the PAR sheet for the video Wheel of Fortune machines in Atlantic City, so I don't know for sure whether the odds of hitting the jackpot have changed...read more

The changing landscape of slot payouts

Dear Frank,Frank - I enjoy and appreciate you disseminating your gambling knowledge and expertise. I've got two questions regarding slot machines.1. I understand that the house edge will change depending upon the denomination of the machine with a nickel machine generally having a higher house edge than a dollar machine...read more

Deuces Wild and royal flushes

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

To Lay or Not to Lay

Jerry "Stickman",Thank you for your previous advice. I have another question for you.If a point has been establish, like say number 9 and I ask the dealer to lay $10.00 each on the 4 & 10 for a total of $20.00. The shooter's next roll (2nd...read more

Three-card poker oddities

I don’t play three-card poker very often. Blackjack and video poker are my games of choice, though I do spread my time around to nearly all casino games. I spend the most time on the games that give me the best chance to win, and three-card poker moved down the list when it became common for casinos to pay only 3-1 instead of the original 4-1 on flushes in the Pair Plus portion of the game.Nonetheless, when I have played, I’ve seen some odd turns of the cards, and I’ve heard of some strange ones from readers...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Can one slot machine affect another?

Hey John! Regarding the "what's that slot music" question... One suggestion would be to use any of the smart phone "song identifier" apps. I've used the FREE "Sound Hound" app for some time and it works great. Occasionally, I'll hear a song or tune on the TV (usually in a commercial) that I'd love to have, but don't recognize...read more

Not random, fine eating and the "imaginary line"

FROM LAWRENCE: In reference to reader Pat who e-mailed with an inquiry about the randomness of electronic craps games, I don't think that you answered the letter. Are these games in fact random at a racino (let's take NY for the example) where we know that the video poker is in fact not.I was at the racino at Aqueduct (yes, we are neighbors, I stay in Valley Stream most of the time...read more

5-Count Don't betting and big VP and slot wins!

Hi Frank:I read your book “Casino Craps: Shoot to Win!” and was fascinated by the 5-Count. It will save me some money! But if the 5-Count reduces one’s exposure by betting on only 43 percent of the random rolls, wouldn’t it be advantageous to bet the Don’t Pass on the other 57 percent? It would seem that one could place a minimum bet on the “Don’t Pass” for each new shooter and then switch to the Pass Line if/when the shooter makes his point.Thanks for your comments.Fred P.Dear Fred:Your plan, unfortunately, doesn’t work...read more