Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 431

Scoblete's "Slots Conquest" reveals machines that give players the edge! by Melissa A. Kaplan

The following article is by Melissa A. Kaplan. It is no secret that Frank Scoblete is a treasure trove of gambling books that are instructive, original and fun. But he has outdone himself this time, bringing to light many slot machines that at some point in their programming actually become player friendly...read more

Best bets for a wheelchair-bound craps player

Hi Frank, Finished your book Casino Craps: Shoot to Win! I learned a great amount of information. Now since I can't throw the dice from a wheelchair, as I tried, I can still place bets. I go to the casinos at Mt Air Lodge, Pa. and Mohegan Sun, Wilkes-Barre, Pa...read more

Dealing with a grumpy pit boss

Dear Frank: I have been reading your archives at www.goldentouchcraps.com and www.casinocitytimes.com the past month or so and they have provided me with a lot of good insight that I have been applying at the craps tables. Anyhow I have a couple questions for you...read more

Hand Wringing Hands in 9/6 Jacks

            9/6 Jacks or Better Video Poker is, for the most part, a reasonable game.  High cards are better than low cards; high pairs are better than low pairs, and so on.  While it is true that one needs to study a strategy table to establish a hierarchy of hands, there are almost no real surprises.  When dealt a hand with three high cards that include an Ace, it is a bit of a surprise that one should toss the Ace and hold only the other two high cards, but it is not a play that one would wring one's hands about.  There are, however, a couple of hands that most players find hard to play correctly.  Let me show you.             If you are dealt a pat flush that contains four to a Royal, the correct play is to hold the four-card Royal and discard the low suited card.  What?  Bust up a made hand?  That's right.  Notice that the expected return on the made hand is 30 units (I am assuming that 5 units are bet).  Let's look at the expected return for the four-card Royal. I am going to assume that the four-card Royal is the weakest one possible, namely that it contains both the Ace and Ten (thereby precluding a possible straight flush).  Here is the table one uses to calculate the expected return: Event Freq. Pays Product No Win 27 0 0 Hi Pair 9 5 45 2 Pair 0 10 0 Trips 0 15 0 Straight 3 20 60 Flush 7 30 210 Full Hse 0 45 0 Quads 0 125 0 Strt...read more

Three silly theories by ploppy "thinkers"

Some hopelessly hapless critics of the best-of-the-best bets at craps such as the pass line and come with odds will state such inept arguments against betting on them. There are craps players, authors and Internet posters who just can't understand that the math of craps is inviolable if the game is random...read more

Smart Slot Play Helps You Stay in the Game

There is no strategy for playing slot machines. No matter what you do, you are destined to lose over the long run in a direct proportion to how long, how often, and how much you play. Every slot player is bound to win once in a while...read more

Back-to-back jackpots

Life's little coincidences can be fun, or at least intriguing. I know I was intrigued when I received a letter — an honest to goodness, paper through the post office letter — telling of two royal flushes within 25 minutes on the same machine. "About 15 years ago, I was staying at the Stardust," it started...read more

Does this casino promotion give me the edge?

Hi John, A casino I frequent in Atlantic City is offering a promotion on a particular day where I will receive a $500 cash bonus if I hit a slot jackpot of $1,200 or more. The terms stipulate $100 and $500 machines are ineligible, as are video poker, video roulette, video keno, progressives, and jackpots from a doubling down option. My question is, does this promotion offer me a monetary edge over the casino at some point? If so, how much money would you recommend investing to go after it and what denomination and type of machine would offer me the greatest opportunity to hit $1,200 with the least number of spins or potential loss? Thanks in advance! Sincerely, Eric Dear Eric, If casino management has done its job, they will not be giving you an edge...read more

A reader's doey-don't system

Frank, I have read Casino Craps: Shoot to Win! and believe in the Captain's 5-Count and follow that mantra. I have a version of the doey-don't that I would like to ask you about. For those with a smaller bankroll, I thought about this...read more

First appearance of the pyramid of craps

Hello Frank, I guess the last time we e-mailed back and forth was in February. I do have a very good question for you, one that I have not been able to find an answer to. Oh, and by the way. I bought your latest book, Casino Craps: Shoot to Win! Good read, and fun too...read more