Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 354

A shuffle through the gambling mailbag

QUESTION: I think I remember you writing that the odds were so high against getting a royal flush in Caribbean Stud Poker that you were unlikely to even see someone else at your table get one in your lifetime, let alone get one yourself.Yet, playing Ten Play video poker, I was DEALT a royal on the first five cards...read more

John 'Skinny's' 'How to win as a dice controller'

[This column by John “Skinny” was a post on my private website and message boards.]We often think you need a monster roll to make money at the craps tables. But that is not the case. It is the moderate rolls that occur more frequently. We need to have discipline at the tables, a good betting method that compliments our game and a plan for how long to stay in order to make a profit...read more

He rolled one and one-half hours!

Dear Frank:I play but just the basics of craps. No crazy bets. I played my first ever craps game at the Rivera in Las Vegas. I didn't know much other than to play the come out roll, odds with it and only two numbers with odds.One dealer could tell i did not know much and helped but also made the comment, "You play safe and by the rules." Anyway, I started with 200 dollars and was down to about 50 on five dollar bets only with odds...read more

It Isn’t Called Player Development For Nothing

What would be a good gift for my casino host? I have seen this question posed on travel, casino and gambling related forums dozens of times over the years. Usually other posters will respond and suggest wine, liquor, neckties, scarves, flowers, candy, sporting event tickets, or gift certificates to local stores...read more

Deal Me In: Give those cards a wash

Dear Mark: I recently viewed a blackjack game where when the pit boss put new decks on the game, the dealer took all the cards, placed them face down, and started swirling them around in a circle. What is the reason for doing this? Dave L. What you observed, Dave, was a card shuffling technique called "Card Washing," wherein the dealer spreads the cards on the table face down, and then proceeds to swish them about with his hands, using a circular, "washing" motion, before scooping them up to perform a typical shuffle. As a youngster, Dave, you were probably exposed to a form of card washing with the game "Go Fish," when the deck is intentionally stirred up in a non-orderly pile known as the "pool" or "ocean." Anytime you open a new deck of cards, they are pre-arranged in a specific order...read more

The easiest ways to lose your shirt in a casino

“Don’t teach them how to win; show them why they lose!”I once received this discerning advice from a friend of mine 10 minutes before I was to give a “How to Win” seminar to a convention group numbering 200. “Why”, I asked, “Would I want to do something like that? These people want to know how to win, not why they lose.”His response hit me like a brick...read more

Reader sends his gambling quote

Here's my own personal quote for the craps table:"You can't warm up a cold table by burning money!"--Rollo...read more

A shuffle through the gambling mailbag

QUESTION. What’s the worst bet on the tables? I’m thinking roulette, but my brother says some of the newer games are probably worse. What do you think?ANSWER. Roulette has one of the higher house edges among table games, but it’s not the worst...read more

Letter about gambling quotes

Dear Frank:I have to congratulate you for finding the quote below in your recent article for Casino City Times. It hit the nail right on the head.I have always felt that way and you had an article where you talked about gamblers being in a time warp when they play...read more

Love the Captain

Dear Mr. Scoblete,My name is Al Michaels. I got married to my wife Christine on 11/11/11 at 11:11am. She has since introduced me to craps and I am very excited about the game and about learning to beat it with the 5-Count and controlled rolling with sensible bets.She still likes to bet the horn and any craps on a come-out roll even though I explained the math from your book "Casino Craps: Shoot to Win!" I figure craps is about fun as much as money, and when she does win a Crazy Crapper bet she is ecstatic.She once saw a shooter setting the dice and saw that he doubled his field bet so she bet the horn and he made two midnight rolls (12) back-to-back...read more