Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 373

A shuffle through the gaming mailbag

Q. Tell me about the free odds in craps. I've read that you shouldn't raise your pass line bet above the minimum until you're betting the maximum on free odds? Why is that? Do the free odds increase how often you win? A. Let's start with the basics...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: The effect of playing with a player's card

Dear John, Thanks for your column. Love the info. I am one who will try anything I can to trigger my machine. In fact, I really did think it was "just luck", when I first started playing and winning, over 25 years ago. Playing in Vegas, Laughlin, Tunica, New Mexico & La...read more

Striking it big on Multi-Strike Poker

One of my standard warnings to players is to never overbet your bankroll. If you bet too large a percentage of your budget for the day's entertainment on each bet, the usual result is that you'll be heading home early, or worse, digging for extra funds. Every so often, though, a player will bet too much by accident...read more

A penny for your thoughts

Two posters on my private members-only website at www.goldentouchcraps.com have an interesting theory when it comes to the mathematics and percentages of craps. They dismiss the house edges based on their concept of the short-run versus the long-run...read more

Is Basic Strategy at blackjack really right about soft 18s and 19s?

Blackjack buffs have positive prognostications with 19s regardless of the dealers’ upcards. This total beats a dealer’s final 17, 18, or bust; pushes on an ending 19; and loses to a finishing 20 or 21. With 18s, players are in decent shape versus 2- through 8-up...read more

Not All Video Poker Bonus Points Are Equal

Savvy players like Video Poker because of its low house edge. With certain select games the edge can actually be in the player's favor. By including slot club bonus points, even a slightly negative game can become positive. However, not all Video Poker games are treated equally when calculating bonus points...read more

Jest for Fun

A jogger in a park near Lake Tahoe heard a woman's scream for help. He rushed over to the woman to find that her son had swallowed a dime. Quickly the jogger grabbed the little boy by the heels and shook him upside down until the dime fell to the ground. "Oh, doctor," said the woman, "it certainly was lucky you happened by...read more

How to play seven tough blackjack hands

Based on my 40+ years playing and teaching blackjack, I consider the following seven hands to be the ones most likely to be flubbed by average players. The list of hands is in no particular order. I've also summarized the correct way to play each hand and the reasons why. Play #1...read more

A shuffle through the gaming mailbag

Q. I was playing on a bank of Blazing 7s slot machines where I have two favorite machines, one on each end. I played one and a lady was sitting at the other one -- not playing, just sitting. She went to play another machine so I went to my other favorite, put money in and proceeded to play...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Is it illegal to use someone else's player's card?

John, Is it illegal to play slots using someone else's card (non family member)? A host told my friend it was illegal. Thanks, Mike Dear Mike, Illegal may be too strong a word, but it could be against the rules. In the early days of electronic slot clubs, cheats would collect a number of "replacement" cards and put them in machines throughout a casino...read more