Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 630

Does Taking Down Bets Mid-Roll at Craps Lower the House's Edge?

In some casino games, coups may result in "pushes" where no money changes hands. When these occur, solid citizens may take down or change bets before the wagers are resolved. Questions then arise as to the impact of doing so on house advantage or edge. The issue is especially relevant in craps, since recoverable bets often languish undecided during many hurls of the hexahedrons...read more

A Lesson from the Dark Side of Craps

The vast majority of gamblers who play craps bet that the dice will pass. In other words, they hope that the shooter will make the point before rolling a seven. But there is another dimension to the game known as betting the "Don't", sometimes referred to as the "dark side" of this fascinating table game...read more

There's More Than One Expert Strategy for Video Poker

When you see me or anyone else write about expert strategy in video poker, there are a couple of important things to keep in mind: Video poker is not just one game, and there is no one expert strategy. Within the video poker family, there are a variety of games --- Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Double Bonus Poker, Double Double Bonus Poker, Super Aces and on and on...read more

Downloadable slot systems

I have heard of downloadable slots where the casino can remotely change the payouts and the type of game to be played. Pioneered by IGT. Is this the remote "switch" we have been suspecting all along? Yes and no. All of the slot manufacturers have downloadable games systems and, if I'm not mistaken, a similar system has been in use in Europe for many years. I don't know that it's correct to say that IGT pioneered downloadable games, but their system certainly is getting all the press right now. In a downloadable games system, slot directors load new game programs on a central server and then deploy the new game to one or more slot machines with a few clicks of a mouse...read more

Court Approves Racino's Non-Slot Machines

An Alabama court has ruled that Birmingham Race Course can legally operate more than 1,300 machines that look, sound, and play just like slot machines - but aren't. Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale had raided the Race Course on December 15, 2005...read more

Playing It Smart on the 'Turn' in Texas Hold'em

The game of Texas Hold'em has four betting rounds. Your first bet comes right after seeing your hole cards. You bet again when you see the flop. You bet a third time when the dealer deals the "turn" card (fourth board card). Then you bet the fourth and final time on the "river" (fifth board card). In "limit" Hold'em, the first two betting rounds are for the lower amount and the last two rounds are bet at the higher limit...read more

The fast and furious shuffle and chop-chop pai gow

Dear Mark, How big of a disadvantage does the blackjack player who counts cards have against continuous shuffle machines? How about online play? How often do they shuffle cards? Jack M. Casinos thwart card counters by using different countermeasures...read more

Bad Beats, Part 2

Okay, one more column on bad beats, and then I'll give it a rest. Last week, I wrote about the bad beat I had experienced at the beginning of my poker-playing career. I had been dealt a pair of queens; the board flopped a third queen and a pair of 8s...read more

The Fire Bet at Craps

Dear Frank, My name isn't Tom but I can absolutely relate to the first Tom in your "Tale of Two Toms." There is one bet that I have made lately for one buck and it is called a "FIRE" bet. I had experienced two sessions in the past month where chicken feeder shooters made five numbers and the payoffs were very handsome...read more

Pointspread Playbook; Iskoe Reports; Gold Sheet Magazine at GBC Now

Are you ready for the 2006 pro and college football season? Of course not. Baseball's still rolling. Basketball and hockey are finally winding down. And the heart of summer's heat hasn't hit us yet, so why would we be ready. But, this is the perfect time to do your homework by looking for soft schedules; evaluating the impact of trades; projecting who'll win how many games; ferreting out future bet sleepers and trying to determine who takes exhibition games seriously -- among other considerations. In keeping with the theme that winners are produced by preparation and discipline, here are four important resources to consider: Al O'Donnell's Pro Football Point Spread Playbook: 2006 edition (113 pages, paperbound, $19.95)...read more