Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 586

Real Surprises in Store for Players

Two big casino corporations have decided to change their philosophy of gambling to offer players a more "player friendly" experience. In a March, 2004 press release, the new CEO of Caesars Entertainment (formerly Park Place Entertainment) James Caruthers is quoted as stating: "Our volume of business is massive and we have decided to loosen both the table games and the machines." The press release was admittedly vague, so I gave Mr...read more

Manipulating slot machines on a cruise ship

Hi, John, I noticed in your response to Mike you said "I'm afraid you won't believe me". I have to say even though I work in the industry and I know you are right there are some experiences that make it hard to believe. I recently took a Carnival Cruise for vacation and being in the industry, it didn't take me long to sniff out the casino...read more

No Talking, Please

This month I had a particularly tough time deciding what to write about. I mean, I knew I was long overdue for a column on blackjack and thought I might write about why you should take a hit on your 12 against a dealer's 2 or 3, or on a 16 against a 10, or maybe even why you want to double on a soft 18 against a 3 through 6, but for some reason my heart just wasn't in it...read more

The Three C's of Freebies

As my body and wallet will testify, I love to dine out. I have certain restaurants that I frequent near my home where I am given the royal treatment I desire. That treatment really means three things: good food, good service, and a free glass of Frangelico after dinner to go with my coffee...read more

Retired FBI Special Agent Specializes in Reading Poker Faces

Meet Joe Navarro. For 25 years he was a Special Agent with the FBI. His expertise, and one for which he continues to be called upon to teach members of the intelligence community, is studying and interpreting the behavior of spies and terrorists during interrogations. As an adjunct faculty member at the FBI's Counterintelligence Division, he is regarded as one of the leading experts in the world on the non-verbal communications that human beings exhibit when they are not telling the truth. While filming a Discovery Channel special titled "More Than Human" with poker professional Annie Duke, Navarro discovered that his knowledge and skill could also be applied to "reading" the physical communicative behavior exhibited by card players and how that knowledge could work to their opponents' advantage. A second career was born, and one that has blossomed to the tune of Navarro's own poker Website (www.navarropoker.com) and a book done in conjunction with 10-time World Series of Poker champion Phil Helmuth titled Read 'Em and Reap, with the subtitle "A Career FBI Agent's Guide to Decoding Poker Tells". Navarro is also an instructor with the new World Series of Poker Academy, which makes its next stop at Caesar's Indiana in downstate Elizabeth April 7 and 8...read more

Playing at Foxwoods

It took me two hours to get to Foxwoods to play in the $300 Modified Shootout on Monday. It took me nine hands to find the rail. Sure, 30 minutes of driving per hand hardly makes a good session, but I'm not mad about my play -- and overall, I'm happy with the decisions I made...read more

Your Best Chance to Double Your Money at Roulette

A couple of weeks ago, I walked in the door at home and my wife greeted me with, "You have a package. I wonder who's trying to teach you to play poker this week." I laughed, because the last couple of years have brought a steady stream of poker books, more than I can read, let alone review...read more

Single-deck 6-to-5 blackjack isn't always hazardous to your wealth

Say you play the usual version of blackjack offered in casinos these days. You'll be able to split any pair, double down on any two cards including hands formed by splits, and will be paid 3-to-2 for a winning blackjack. Unless you're a high roller, the game will be dealt from an eight-deck shoe. If you follow Basic Strategy in making decisions, the edge you fight will be roughly half a percent...read more

Heard it on the river

It seems that the MISSISSIPPI BAND of CHOCTAWS like progress and growth a lot and thus there is always something new at their lovely PEARL RIVER RESORT, such as their latest amenity, in a resort filled with amenities, the HILTON GARDEN INN CHOCTAW...read more

Does the value of the jackpot affect hit frequency?

Hi, John, I like to play a slot machine that has a high hit frequency. I have read various articles of yours that have indicated that the paytable can give an indication of the hit frequency of a particular machine. I'm wondering if the "win up to 100,000 credits" advertising that you find on some of the slots back glass can also be used as an indication of the hit frequency...read more