Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 716

Going Over the Edge!

Everyone knows that the casinos have a built-in edge, or at least try to have one, in all the games and wagers they offer. Some players, and even some gaming authors, think that this is a form of cheating because the casino structures its games so that it wins more decisions than do the players or takes a cut from the players' winning bets before paying it off. Is it immortal or unfair or dastardly, for example, for the casino to pay off a roulette bet at 35 to 1 when the true odds of the bet are 37 to 1? You bet a dollar and you win $35 and not $37, as the odds would suggest...read more

Never bet baseball? Get ready for 2005 with these excellent studies

Now that football is finally down to the Super Bowl contenders and basketball has moved into conference play at the season mid-point, there's time to catch your breath and decide if you plan to bet baseball in 2005. Here we're dealing with money lines and totals, not pointspreads so it's a whole different game. For those who have never understood how to shop for prices or how important starting pitchers are or the impact of a strong bullpen or the home field advantage, here are some books to explain both the fundamentals and more advanced concepts of betting the Great American Pastime. The late Mike Lee wrote a classic more than 25 years ago and it still stands the test of time...read more

Chan's Poker Book Colorful, Instructional; Gullo's Hold 'Em Guide Perfect for Beginners

Johnny Chan is considered to be one of the all-time great poker players. (He won the World Series of Poker No-Limit Hold em title in 1987 and 1988.) He has now satisfied his fans by joining the ranks of high-profile players with a book geared to beginners and experienced players who might one day challenge him. Chan, nicknamed the Oriental Express, has co-authored Play Poker Like Johnny Chan with Mark Karowe (239 pages, paperbound, $29.95)...read more

You Can Win at Blackjack, But You Must Be Willing to Change

Let's cut right through all the nonsense. You and I both know that at least 99% of the blackjack players are losers over their lifetimes. Yet, there are people who beat the game, pretty much year in and year out. So just what does the winner do right that all the losers don't? The whole difference lies in what winning and losing players believe matters in the game...read more

New Study on the Socioeconomic Impact of Indian Gaming

The passage of time provides the opportunity for reflection on the societal impact of certain changes in our culture. In the late 1980's, in a landmark legal decision between the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians and the State of California, the U.S...read more

Video Poker for the Impatient

Video Poker really isn't a game for the impatient. Even the simplest version takes time to master to play it properly. There is, however, one version of the game that combines a much smaller and simpler strategy table with the higher volatility that the impatient may appreciate. Higher volatility is a nice way of saying that you'll either win big or go bust faster...read more

Harrah's Sale Creates New Gaming Horizons

On the surface of things, the proposed sale of Harrah's East Chicago Casino & Hotel to a group of investors led by a limited liability corporation known as Colony Capital would seem to portend a void for fans of gaming in Northwest Indiana. Harrah's Entertainment, Inc...read more

New Wrinkles on Poker

The poker explosion has built-in problems for casinos. Running a poker room is labor intensive. The games themselves have no house edge - the casinos make their money by taking a percentage of each pot, but there's no predicting how large the pots are going to be...read more

Fun and (Table) Games: Try Pai Gow Poker

Say there were a casino table game based on a time-honored Asian tradition, yet which used familiar poker rankings. Add appeal by challenging participants to make strategic decisions during every round, without having to memorize intricate rules to hold the edge within reason...read more

Burning Your Own Slot EEPROMs

I have several IGT S+ slots in my home and I am looking for software that will allow me to re-program the odds on my machines. I would like my home machines to pay out a little higher so they are more fun for my wife. Do you know how I can get the software I need? I have the tools to reprogram the EEPROM, I do not have the software. Thanks, Shawn Dear Shawn, I don't know of any software that will allow you to burn your own slot EPROMs...read more