Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 402

A Few Facts about Blackjack

Blackjack originated in French casinos around the 1700s where it was called "vingt-et-un" (twenty-and-one). Emperor Napoleon played and enjoyed it more than any other card game. There are approximately 140 countries in the world with casinos that offer blackjack. The proper name of the game is "21"; "blackjack" was only added as slang in the 1920s. The object of the game is not to get 21; the real object is to beat the dealer. 20 is the second best hand in the game. 16 is the worst hand in blackjack, followed by 15 as the second worst hand. 11 is the third best hand in blackjack. Mathematically, in 100 hands the dealer will win 48 hands, the player will win 44 and there will be eight ties...read more

Blackjack seat rental

A few casinos have started to charge a "seat rental" to players who want to play blackjack at low denomination tables. I'll report what this is all about, give you my opinion on it, and let you decide if paying a "seat rental" is for you. Here's how seat rentals works (at least in one casino that has it)...read more

Is there a proper way to choose dice?

Frank, At the craps table, the stickman gives you all the dice from which to choose before you start to play. Is there a proper way to choose the two dice to use? Can I pick up one dice at a time to check to see if the corners are rounded, then pick the two dice I want to use? Thanks in advance for the answer to this question. Thomas Dear Thomas: You can choose the dice one at a time and feel free to check them...read more

Playing a found ticket

I am so freaked out. I am one of the most honest people you will ever meet. I went to a casino and had 20 dollars to play with I sat down with about $15 of it in one dollar bills, and next to me the machine was beeping loud and I saw a ticket in the machine...read more

Winning is easy

You walk around the casino slot aisles looking for that one special machine. How about this one? No, not this one. How about that one? No, not that one either. Still you know that somewhere in this casino, your machine is waiting for you. You feel it is your day to win a BIG one. Now you see a machine that calls to you, "Come here, my love, let me take you into the sky...read more

Craps in California

Craps is one of the most social of all casino games. In no other game is almost the whole table cheering on the player (shooter) as he gets ready to throw. It is also the only casino game where the casino gives you the means to win. They give you the dice and it is up to you to win or lose...read more

Jest for Fun

Many casinos have a small sign near the cashier's cage that says, "If you have a gambling problem call 1-800-Gamblers." A blackjack player wrote down the number and dialed it on his return home. The phone rang, and the player heard,"Gambler's Anonymous...read more

Casino Safety

If everyone were as honest as you and me, we would never have to worry about safety. Unfortunately whenever there is money involved, you are bound to run into some dishonest people, and at the casino there are a lot of players walking around with a lot of money...read more

Why don't players place the six when six is the point?

Dear Frank: If the 6 is rolled on the come out roll, why don't players make place bets on the 6? Especially if they did not have a pass bet. Gary Dear Gary: Players are free to place the 6 after it becomes the point. In fact, you can even be on the 6 on the pass line, take full odds, and also place the 6 if you want to...read more

Do paybacks change when you change denomination?

Dear John, When playing a machine that allows the player to select the denomination of a credit (.01, .05, .10, .25), do the payback percentages change based on the denomination you select? I really appreciate your column, keep up the good work. Carla Dear Carla, Thanks for the kind words about my column. The answer to your question is a definite maybe. Long-term paybacks on video poker games on multi-denomination machines tend to increase when you increase denomination, so it's possible...read more