Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 378

Jest for Fun

Q. What's the difference between a church bell and a casino? A. A church bell peals from the steeple. * * * * * I stopped to eat at a restaurant in downtown Atlantic City. And what a cheap joint it was. When I asked the waiter for a menu, he said that someone else was using it. * * * * * "My husband has taken up hiking as a result of his job." "Really? What does he do?" "He's a casino debt collector...read more

Doubling for less: Why it's a big mistake

Picture this: I'm playing blackjack with a tall Texan wearing a 10-gallon cowboy hat who is sitting at third base. He's been steadily losing, and then unexpectedly he places four green chips in his betting spot. The cards are dealt and Mr...read more

A shuffle through the gaming mailbag

Q. I've seen the house edge of Let It Ride listed at 3.5% of one bet. What does that actually mean? Why specify one bet? A. In Let It Ride, players start with three wagers of equal size. After you've seen your three face-down cards, you have the option of pulling back one wager...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Dealing with slot players who smoke in the non-smoking section

It really ticks me off when I’m in the "No Smoking" section of the casino and people are smoking. My question is what do you do when someone is smoking near you? I’m not the type of person to go over to them and politely point out that they are in a "No Smoking" section when signs are plastered everywhere...read more

Deviating from basic strategy

It was mid-morning on a Monday, and I found myself at a six-deck blackjack table. It was just an average kind of game, with the dealer standing on all 17s, double downs allowed on any first two cards, including after splitting pairs. There was an average mix of other players, too...read more

The 12 superstitions about craps: #9 - Those darkside devils

The 12 most popular superstitions at the game of craps are adhered to or believed by most craps players -- so if you want to play the game and not be thought a craps barbarian, you should know them. Keep in mind that individuals add their own superstitions too, so you might hear someone yelling some incoherent thing at the table which, to him, will ward off the coming of the ominous 7, or bring it on if he is a darkside player. A Darkside player at the table will increase the appearance of the seven...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Is it rude to stare at a slot player?

Hi John: I was wondering your stance on if it's considered bad etiquette when people stand behind you while you are playing and literally stare at you the entire time you play. I notice this in certain casinos in PA and NJ, and find it absurd...read more

What do you think of these craps strategies?

The following letter is from Michigan Mike and since it has several questions I have decided to answer them as they are given. -- Frank Dear Mr. Scoblete, Where do I begin? I hope you are doing well. I have been an admirer of the game of craps since 1991,and have appreciated your first craps book over the years, never reading it all at once, just a chapter here and there, bits and pieces at a time...read more

What Would You Do If... You Hit a Jackpot?

I grew up in an era when there were no video games or computers. As a youth my friends and I would sit around playing board games, cards or word games to entertain ourselves on a rainy afternoon. One of the games I enjoyed playing was a simple "word" game...read more

A shuffle through the gaming mailbag

Q. At the Atlantic City casinos there is a Let It Ride side bet known as the three card bonus. What is your opinion of this bet? Should this bet be made or is it best to avoid it? A. There are several different pay tables on the three-card bonus bet...read more