Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 357

Chip collectors share tips

Maybe you go to casinos to go jackpot chasing at the slots. Maybe you go to test your skill at blackjack or poker. Or maybe you're out to grab a piece of history. Dollar chips from current casinos. Old Las Vegas chips. New Jersey chips...read more

Altered states

In the 1980's film, Altered States, based on the novel by Paddy Chayefsky, the hero scientist discovers that there is more than one state of reality and that our consciousness can go back in genetic time and also to the edge of infinity. It's an interesting premise. Such a condition, in a far more moderate way, can be said to exist among many players who participate in casino gambling...read more

Is "normal" craps hard to find?

Frank: I recently visited a midwest casino. I walked up to the craps table, made my pass line bet, roll was 11, and to my surprise I was not paid but rather the 11 was now the point. Upon further inspection I found the layout was completely bizarre and 2, 3 and 12 were also point numbers...read more

Texas Hold'em A to Z: R is for Reading

In order to be a winning poker player, you will have to improve your reading skills. There are three types of reading you will need to do. You have to be able to read the board, read the players and read some poker books. These will help you get the edge on your opponents. Reading the Board Reading the board is a basic skill that you need to master to become a winning player and it is one of the first skills you should learn...read more

A shuffle through the gaming mailbag

Q. I was looking online at the Wizard of Odds site (wizardodfodds.com), and found a page that says that continuous shufflers actually lower the house edge in blackjack. You've recommended playing in hand-shuffled games or in games with non-continuous shuffling machines, and not playing with continuous shufflers. In light of the Wizard of Odds findings, have you changed your opinion? A...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: How does the casino pay for prizes?

John, here's a question I would like answered. More and more casinos are giving away gifts, cars, cash and drawings, etc. Where does the money come from? Is it from their net profit (i.e., the 10 percent on slots) or gross money taken in? If it's gross then a player doesn't really get the 90 percent on paybacks. Keep up the good work. Hope you can understand the question. KY slot player Dear KY: Thanks for the kind words. I think I understand your question...read more

Using 9/6 Jacks strategy on other games

Every video poker game has its own expert strategy. If you want the most out of Double Bonus Poker, you won't play exactly the same strategy as Jacks or Better, and you'll need to adjust to something a little different for Double Double Bonus Poker. But how much difference does it all really make? If all you learn is strategy for 9/6 Jacks or Better and make no adjustments, what does it do to your payback percentage on other games? My friend and colleague Henry Tamburin pointed me to a website with the answers, Video Poker Help...read more

Hot and cold craps tables

The new player comes to the craps table and asks, "Is this table cold or hot?" Dealers will usually shrug and say something equivocal such as "Oh, it's up and down." Players at the table might answer the hot-cold-table question by saying, "The table is ice cold." Or they might answer, "The table is hot." Or they might just shrug, perhaps mumble, and ignore the new person. Interestingly enough, some craps players will ask the dealers at an empty table if that table had been hot or cold before it emptied, as if such hot and coldness will continue into the future. Are there actually such things as "hot" and "cold" craps tables? Of course not; but tell that to superstitious gamblers who believe with all their hearts, minds and souls that tables have just such characteristics...read more

Valuable Casino Customer Service Lessons from Outside the Industry

Occasionally, good advice bears repeating. I was reminded of that recently when a friend shared an article that draws from basketball to offer valuable lessons for those in advertising and public relations. I encourage casino executives to look outside the gaming industry for ideas that could help them do their jobs better...read more

A Few Things About Roulette

Roulette is one of the easiest games to learn and play in the casino; it's also considered the oldest casino game. Francois Blanc, the man who put the Monte Carlo casino in Monaco on the map in the 1860s, designed the roulette table and wheel layout we use today in most casinos around the world...read more