Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 507

Wasted royals?

I hit a royal flush while playing video poker on my home computer last night. Did I waste one of my royals? I hear this question once in a while. Some people say that they don't want to practice playing video poker on their home computers because they're afraid that they'll use up their "royal allotment" while playing for free. Video poker columnist and teacher Bob Dancer described a similar situation in one of his columns...read more

Deal or No Deal Revisited

Back in November of 2006 I wrote an article about Howie Mandell's show Deal or No Deal. In it I gave examples to show that the show's producers appear to give very low offers early on and then increase them as more and more cases are opened...read more

The Most Likely Way to Win Your Blackjack Hand Isn't Always the Best Play

In blackjack, suppose you've got a pair of 9s against the dealer's 2. If you just stay pat with your 18, you'll win the hand 56% of the time (after adjusting for pushes). But if you split the 9s, you'll win with each 9 only 54% of the time (adjusted again for pushes)...read more

What do pitch, roll and yaw mean in dice control?

Dear Frank: In the Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution! book, I am having difficulties understanding the section on "Primary and Secondary Hits" on pages 55 to 59. I don't understand: what a "quarter pitch yawl" is "roll plus or minus from the original set" and basically not understanding the logic of the entire procedure I would greatly appreciate it if you would please reply. Yours truly, MB Dear MB: I am going to have one of Golden Touch Dice Control instructors, Skinny, answer your question: Dear MB: Thank you for your excellent question. You are reading the most advanced book on controlled shooting that exists...read more

Playing It Smart: How to make a mint in the casino on a small stake

Anyone can get off the casino bus with $100 and get back on with $100,000. But few do. This, because the probability is slim. In a "fair" game, no house edge, the probability of this particular feat is one out of a thousand. And the only constraint is that you spend as little or as much time as needed to reach your goal or go bust first. When edge rears its ugly head, it can still be done...read more

If Dad plays and reads -- a book can help his game

If you know your father plays a little poker or likes to bet on a game or just enjoys reading about various games, it's a good bet that a thoughtful gift would be a book on the subject. With Father's Day approaching, here are a few suggestions and some rationale why certain titles might be right on target:Getting Started in Hold'em by Ed Miller (206 pages, paperbound, $17.95)...read more

Where can I see dice control in action?

Dear Frank, I just saw your special on Beating Vegas on the History Channel ("The Dice Dominator") and was really intrigued by it. I must admit that I am a skeptic, but at the same time curious. Craps is the game I play when I go to Vegas and I would love to look further into your methods and their effectiveness...read more

Slot Payback Percentage Based on Max Coin Play

When you sit down to gamble on a slot machine and play less than maximum coins per spin, you're not taking full advantage of that particular machine's programmed long-term payback percentage. Those are the findings of renowned slot machine expert, John Robison, author of the book The Slot Expert's Guide to Playing Slots. "I'm pretty sure that every PAR (Probability and Accounting Report) sheet for every machine I've seen has only one long-term payback percentage on it," Robison said...read more

Nongaming tips

Once every three weeks, I head into the studio at WBBM-AM in Chicago to record my next six "Beat the Odds" tips. Most deal with odds and strategies, but my producer, Jim Mulvaney, tells me his favorites are the quirky ones about casino culture, comps and the like. So let's stray from the beaten path a bit, and take a walk down the non-gaming strategy side of life in the casinos. ** Anyone who's played casino table games long enough has seen something like this happen...read more

The night of 4-card royals

It was one of those times that try video poker player's souls. I went to the Desert Inn to see old friends who were there for the last DI slot tournament and to find out where the members of my "DI family" would be working after the place closed...read more