Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 638

How Bet Size Affects the Chance of Reaching your Win Goal

In "fair" gambles, nobody has an edge and payoffs mirror the odds against winning. Play such a game repetitively, rather than as a single bet, and the same sort of relationship governs the shot at hitting a specified revenue target before depleting a bankroll. For instance, beginning with $100, the odds you must overcome to earn $900 before busting out a 9-to-1 profit are 9-to-1...read more

Server-Based Games

For as long as I've been writing about casinos and casino games --- and that's been more years than I care to count --- I've been reassuring players that there is no difference in slot machine payback percentages whether you play weekday or weekend, day or night, or any other split players might worry about. The process of changing a slot machine isn't that easy...read more

Poker Lessons from World Champion Tom McEvoy

Why learn how to play poker from a book when you can get a private lesson from the player who literally wrote the book? Tom McEvoy, World Series of Poker Champion and author of 14 books on game strategy, offers personal poker lessons at his Las Vegas home and lessons over the phone for those who can't make the trip to Nevada...read more

What does payback really mean to players?

I read Steve's letter to you and I think he needs an attitude adjustment. Playing the slots is adult entertainment and that is all. You don't go to the casinos to make money. Just have fun. If you won or broke even, it was a great night. But if you lost the $200 or what ever your allotment is for the day, it was still a good day! You weren't at work! You were playing. I have been playing for years and have never gotten a taxable hit of $1,200, but have hit for $600-$1,000 several times...read more

Fact or Fantasy?

Dear Frank: I read in your recent article in Casino Player magazine about many changes in the casinos in 2006. Is this article factual or just wishful thinking? I think these changes would be wonderful if true. Also would this be all casinos including Atlantic City? I just returned from a three-day trip and did not find one $5 table available at any game...read more

Steve still has not hit a jackpot

Dear John, I love your column!! I can hardly wait each week to see what "tidbits" of information that you offer!!! I go to Midway Slots in Harrington, Del. at least twice a week. The majority of the machines pay by tickets. Their nickel machines drop nickels...read more

The EDGE, the HOLD, and that friendly PASS LINE

Dear Mark, The Mississippi Gaming Commission recently posted the "hold" percentage for table games on the coast. Blackjack was listed at 14.58%. If, using perfect basic playing strategy, the house edge is supposed to be approximately one half of 1%...read more

Braving the Perils of Live Table Poker

Let's see. Where did I leave off relating my misadventures with Texas Hold'em? I think I had just gone through a quick, basic run-through of how the game is played. I've been playing regularly for the last two years, but there was a period of time, about a year and a half, in which I had quit playing completely. I had not done poorly, but I certainly wasn't a stellar student...read more

Esfandiari's In The Money; Baseball Hacks, Two Fresh GBC Arrivals

Antonio Esfandiari, a former professional magician, and the first player under 25 to win a first-place poker prize over $1 million, has a dynamite new title, In the Money: Strategies for Winning Texas Hold 'em Cash Games (181 pages, paperbound, $15.95). With baseball moving into a higher gear, numbers crunchers, computer aces and Bill James followers should enjoy Baseball Hacks: Tips & Tools for Analyzing and Winning With Statistics by Joseph Adler (448 pages, paperbound, $24.99). Since poker is a bit hotter and more popular than sports betting (until football gears up), let's look at Esfandiari's book, which was co-authored by David Apostolico, the man who previously authored Tournament Poker and the Art of War and Machiavellian Poker Strategy. Esfandiari, one of the most colorful, charismatic and classy tournament players of our generation, says Lee Jones' Winning Low Limit Poker help launch his career at age 19, along with a thousand hours of heads-up Texas hold'em...read more

How Do You Get into Slot Tournaments?

Dear Frank: Hello! I was wondering about slot tournaments, I play slots at several different Atlantic City casinos and have never been invited to a slot tournament. How do you get into slot tournaments? Thank you, Gizelle M. Dear Gizelle: Call a slot host at the casinos where you play and tell them you are interested in slot tournaments...read more