Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 347

How to become a better blackjack player

If you are a recreational blackjack player, you don’t need a Ph.D. to become a better blackjack player. You just need to know which games to play and how to play them. Here is a roadmap just for you on how to become a better player.Game selectionNowadays, sitting at the first empty seat you spot at a blackjack table isn’t a smart thing to do...read more

Continual shuffling by design thwarts bet variance

Dear Mark: Do card counters today stand a chance against automatic card shuffling machines? Mel B.Card counters, Mel, have a theoretical advantage of between 0.5 and 1.5 percent against the casino. They accomplish this edge by tracking the ever-changing imbalance of big to small cards in a diminishing deck.Big cards (10s, aces) favor the counter, and small cards (2-6), favor the dealer.So, when the cards remaining favor the counter, the counter chunks out more money...read more

Some Fun With Gambling

I'll tell you why I quit playing slot machines. I've been playing them for 15 years and wanted to give it up before it became a habit. * * * * "Do you ever play the $5 slots?""No, with my bankroll I can only afford to play the lower abomination slots." * * * * A casino credit manager sent the following reminder of an unpaid marker:"Dear Mr...read more

Choosing the right game to play

Which casino game should you play? It really depends on what thrills you, how much money you have, and how much effort you want to put into your gambling. In addition, a player’s personality has a lot to do with choosing the right game to play...read more

Betting those hot numbers in roulette

QUESTION: What do you think of a system where you stick with the hot numbers in roulette? My friend likes to look at the boards at the tables where they post the last 18 numbers. If one appears three or more times, that’s what she bets.ANSWER: It’s as good as any other system, which is to say that on a double-zero wheel, it has the same 5.26% house edge as drawing numbers out of a hat.There are players who swear by hot numbers and those who swear by playing those that are “due.” Truth is, there is no tendency for hot numbers to stay hot, nor for cold numbers to stay cold...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Does a slot machine know how many coins I've played?

John, First off I want to thank you for all the interesting info you share with slot players like myself. I've learned so much. In your Dec 5, 2012 article ("Does the Machine I'm Playing Affect My Chances for Hitting a Progressive Jackpot?") you stated the following: "If the play results in winning the progressive jackpot, the machines sends a message to the progressive controller that the progressive has been hit...read more

Destroying Atlantic City in blackjack

Alan Krigman (columnist for Casino City Times) and John “Skinny” (below) have mathematical formulas showing why Don Johnson of Pennsylvania won more than five million dollars from the AC’s Tropicana. They all state unequivocally that the player had the edge for a relatively short while in which to hammer out a nice, fat win – and hammer such a win Don Johnson did...read more

How To Win More At Blackjack

Dear Stickman,My husband and myself play only Blackjack, here in the UK, usually 'heads up' with the dealer, as we arrive soon as the casino opens. We have exactly two and a half hours to play every day, and usually we each bet £15 – £30 in total...read more

Baccarat ties that bind

One of the first things baccarat players learn if they take the odds of the game at all seriously is that the tie bet is one to avoid. The bet on banker is one of the best bets in the house with a house edge of 1.06%, and the bet on player isn’t far behind, with a house edge of 1.24%.But ties? Those who are tempted to chase the 8-1 payoff spot the house a whopping 14.4%...read more

Why small wagers on high-edge side bets may not be as bad as some say

Experienced casino buffs – solid citizens who are either ahead of the game or at least have enough moolah still stuffed in their mattresses to be able to afford repeat visits – know that side bets give the bosses an edge for which “usurious” is an understatement...read more