Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 413

Are these truths self-evident in blackjack?

Dear Frank: Aren't these true statements? Always figure there is a 10-valued card in the hole for the dealer before you make your decision. Never split aces against a dealer's 8, 9 or 10 up card. Dealers will not bust as often as the player and that is their biggest edge. I have a bet on your answer. Mel Dear Mel: Pay up...read more

Players Pay for Slot Machine Bonus Rounds

We all know what we're up against when we play the slots: A computer program that guarantees a profit for the casino. Players as a collective group are guaranteed to be returned a vast majority of the money the machine takes in. Only a select few share in the wealth...read more

Should I bet max coins?

It used to be so easy advising players on whether to bet maximum coins on slot machines. You'll get the highest payback percentage when you bet maximum coins, I'd tell them. Stay within your budget, but if you're going to bet less than the max, don't play progressive slots, and don't play buy-a-pays where you need to bet the max to unlock all the winning symbols. That's really about all there was to it back when the casinos were filled with slot machines with three mechanical reels. In the age of the video slot, things are different...read more

Following up on player card reader problems and disappearing comps at the slots

Regarding the lady who could not get her player's card to register: I have noticed that some metals interfere with registration. When I have my card on a keychain it will not register. I suspect that your comment on her jewelry may be correct. Also, she should consider her watch. I hope she finds the cause. Fred Dear Fred, Thanks for sharing your experience with players card problems and keychains...read more

Betting on Other Controlled Shooters

When betting on other controlled shooters there are various factors that should be taken into consideration. Is the shooter demonstrating any level of control over the dice? Do you want to bet on the shooter like a controlled shooter or a random roller? Is the shooter in the right position? Does the shooter appear to be fatigued or intoxicated? How is the shooter betting on himself? 1...read more

Breaking the Bank at Monte Carlo

The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo was a hit song in the 1890s and was based on a true event at the famous casino in Monaco. In July 1891 an obscure Englishman named Charles Wells (1841-1926) showed up at the Monte Carlo casino with the equivalent of $2,000...read more

Splitting 10s: Smart or dumb?

You sometimes see blackjack players splitting a pair of 10s, especially when the dealer is showing a 5 or 6 upcard. They figure, Why not split the 10s to get more money on the table when the dealer has a good chance of busting with the 5 or 6? Sounds logical, but is it really the best play? Let's see. Splitting The statistical data on how many hands you win and lose when you split a pair of 10s against a dealer 5 and 6 is as follows: Dealer's Upcard Win Lose 5 63% 37% 6 64% 36% That's interesting...read more

What goes down must come up

Las Vegas's profits have suffered from a poor economy and massive, almost unsustainable growth fueled by large debt and visions of grandeur. Just look at the Vegas skyline of 25 years ago and compare it with today's city. Vegas was not reaching for the skies back then, but the new mega-structures along and near the Strip now compete with the giant buildings found in cities around the world. When Vegas was happily "riding high in [the] April" of the housing and tourist boom, no one thought that it would get "shot down in [the] May" of a big recession...read more

Table Games Give Casino Goers Welcome Relief

Visit any casino in the Chicago-area and the evidence is clear: Slot machines, both the traditional reel variety and the new wave of multi-line video version, dominate the gaming inventory. Slot machines are the "cash cows" of the casino industry...read more

When to play progressive video poker

It was late on a Monday afternoon; my wife, Marcy, and I were both free; and we decided to take a drive to one of the nearby casinos for dinner and a little playtime. When we walked in, Marcy asked, "Do they have the Penguins game here?" She's enamored of Lucky Penny slot machines with what WMS Gaming calls "physics-based bonuses" in which penguins slide down snowy hills, flip through the water and up to a cliff, bouncing their way to credits. I told her I didn't know, and she went off for a look...read more