Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 71

Blackjack: Tradeoffs

CINDY: Are there any perfect games? Obviously, you can’t win all the time every time you play but are there games where there are no tradeoffs, good and bad inherent in the game or the people who play that game? What do you think?ABBY: Quickly, no, I don’t think there are perfect games or perfect fellow and sister players even...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Bao Zhu Zhao Fu firecrackers -- real or window dressing

Question: I have read some of your articles on slots and they are quite informative. You definitely are worthy of the guru title. I have a couple of questions regarding the Bao Zhu Zhao Fu slot machine. Is the status of the firecrackers real? In other words, if there are more lit, are your chances of activating them higher? If so, does it make sense to use a penny denomination to get it nearly all lit and then switch to 10 cent denomination to burst it resulting in greater rewards? Answer: Thanks for the kind words. A few days ago, I was losing my shirt playing Quick Hit Blitz trying to requalify for Boyd Emerald status for next year...read more

Craps Creeps

Craps is probably the most exciting game in the casinos. Certainly, craps players think so; just ask them. You will also hear outrageously loud cheering at craps tables when things are going right for the players and, if you pass one or observe one, you might also hear loud moans as players lose their money.Craps is a communal game as most players are rooting for the dice to make as many numbers as possible – except for the seven which will lose them all their bets except if they are betting on the seven.[Please note: On the come-out roll, pass-line players do wish for the 7 as that will win the initial pass-line bet...read more

Mother Knows Best

QUESTION: I just started playing video poker, though I've played slots for a long time. My mom's a video poker player and I started playing a little so I could sit next to her.She loves Double Double Bonus Poker, so I've been trying to follow along...read more

Bonus Poker – 8/5 Standard or 7/5 Progressive?

From Norman:Hi Stickman,So, progressives.I have always kept in mind what you told me a while back that you canadd about .5 percent per $500 on a progressive machine.So, a couple of my observations. One, it seems like every pay table for BP is 7/5 at aprogressive machine...read more

The Question of Tipping

CINDY: A subject that doesn’t come up often in casual casino conversations is about tipping. I guess the questions would be:1. Do you tip?2. How much do you tip based on how much do you play for?3. Why do you tip?ABBY: We both tip.CINDY: Of course...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Automating W-2Gs and raising the W-2G threshold

On October 3, 2020, Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Richard Velotta wrote a column (Treasury, IRS silent on raising the threshold for jackpot paperwork) calling for raising the threshold on issuing a W-2G for slot jackpots. The current threshold of $1200 was set in 1977...read more

A Pocketful of Protection

You must protect yourself at all times against the house edge, at least to the extent that it is possible. Make the best possible bets at the games you enjoy playing and make sure you play the best possible strategies. The best we can do is to keep the game at bay as much as we can.Yet, there are some other factors in play when you go to a casino; the possibility that you will have some truck with certain criminal elements...read more

Tired Blackjack Play

There was a time I really enjoyed marathon blackjack sessions.At one session at the Four Queens in Las Vegas, I was ahead from the beginning, never reached huge profit territory but never fell behind, so I just stayed at the table for six hours straight...read more

Video Poker Strategy Quiz: Straight, K-Q Suited, or J-10 Suited?

This article contains a video poker strategy quiz. The game is full-pay (9/6 – 9-for-1 full house, 6-for-1 flush) jacks or better.The quiz assumes the maximum five credits is played. The maximum bet produces the highest long-term return because the royal flush pays 800-for-1 (4,000-for-5) rather than 250-for-1 when less than the maximum is bet.Look at the dealt hand below and decide which card or cards you would hold...read more