Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 462

Declare your independence from the slots

On this Independence Day as we celebrate 233 years of independence from the tyranny of the British, consider making your own Declaration of Independence from the tyranny of the slot machines. You don't have to stop playing machines altogether...read more

How Many Decks?

The title of this article is the question every blackjack player needs to ask. Why? Well, if you study blackjack strategy literature you will find that, everything else being equal, the more decks that are in play the higher the house edge...read more

Placing $44 inside: Good or bad bet?

OK, we all know that any bet on random rollers is a losing bet in the long run even if you win it once, twice, or many times in succession. The house edge will have its way no matter what you think, wish or "logic" out. The casinos go to the bank with the money from players following poor advice...read more

Banking on the Success of Electronic Baccarat

International Game Technology, one of the world's leading slot machine developers and manufacturers, is betting that the time is right for gaming enthusiasts to start becoming comfortable with electronic table games. The company is starting to aggressively market what it calls its M-P Series, a line of fully-automated electronic games that are designed to be attractive to players and at the same time appeal to the dynamics of gaming floor design and efficiency. Its product line includes electronic versions of blackjack and roulette, titled Digital 21 and Roulette Evolution, respectively, as well as Texas Hold'em Bonus Poker and two versions of baccarat: Dragon Baccarat and Golden Baccarat. Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Michigan, earlier this year became the first property in the nation to feature Golden Baccarat. The installation includes four player terminals which face a large-screen LCD monitor upon which a virtual dealer is displayed...read more

A shuffle through the gaming mailbag

Q. You have completely tantalized us video poker addicts! You mentioned expert strategy on "certain" video poker games, but which ones? I practice, practice, practice with my little hand-held video game every night — can't go to sleep without playing it...read more

Is this a penny machine or a quarter machine?

I just returned from Tunica and have a question regarding some of the new machines. These slots call themselves penny slots but the smallest bet they take is a quarter. Yes the quarter covers 25 lines, but if you can only bet in 25-cent increments does this not make it a quarter slot? The ones I saw were by IGT...read more

What are pot odds?

Dear Frank, I've watched enough poker on TV to see the players doing math in their heads, and the commentators mentioning that "they're getting 2-1 on their money," etc. Is there a formula for determining the correct amount to bet on one's hand based solely on the size of the pot? I realize that the game, position, stack size, hole cards etc...read more

What is keno tracking?

Dear John, On my last visit to my local casino, I had two security guards come up to me and accuse me of "tracking" on the keno machine I was playing, and threatened to take the cards "away" on which I had some favorite birthday numbers written down! Long story short, I refused to give them the cards and asked for a supervisor, to whom I did give the cards, and the matter was dropped. What is keno tracking? Respectfully, Robert Dear Robert, Keno tracking is keeping track of the numbers drawn in order to use that information to choose what numbers to play...read more

Jest for Fun

Casinos know you can't fool all of the people all of the time. But it isn't necessary. A majority will do. * * * * * Two senses are required in a casino: common and horse. * * * * * However much a slot gives out, there is more that it withholds. * * * * * The Defective Casino An English ...read more

Three types of craps cognoscenti

So many players and self-appointed "experts" are such non-cognoscenti when it comes to the game of craps that it is startling what they don't know; what they don't care to know; and what amazingly inept concepts they have about the game of craps and everything that surrounds it, especially betting, and, worse, how freely they share their knowledgelessness (I invented that word) with hapless readers who eat it up as if it were delicious pizza — albeit pizza that costs a fortune...read more