Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 743

Wrong bettor wants better odds

Dear Mark, What would my edge be if the (Bar 12) were omitted from don't pass and don't come wagers? Gary N. In craps, before a point is established, most players typically have a pass line wager. However Gary, as his question suggests, bets the backside by being a "wrong" bettor and placing a wager on the don't pass line...read more

Who Gambles?

Recently, on the very day the American Gaming Association's "State of the States" survey crossed my desk, a caller wondered who gambles. "Don't they prey on the poor?" she asked. "I go to the casinos and see people who really can't afford to be there, losing money they shouldn't be spending, chasing some impossible dream of riches." Now, you certainly can find casino customers who would be better off doing something else with their money and who have unrealistic expectations...read more

Scobe's Quick Tips: #95 and #96: Money Management and Comps

Scobe's Quick Tip #95 Money management can't make you win at casino games but it can take the edge off big losses. Divide your gaming stake into session stakes. If you have $1,200 to play with and you want to stay two days at the casino, then give yourself $600 each day...read more

You'll See More Aces Playing Blackjack with Fewer Decks

Aces are a big deal in blackjack. They help on both sides of the table by reducing the chance of busting on a draw. In general, though, they benefit the bettors more than the bosses. The ace-10 combination is particularly important because it pays 1.5-to-1 when players receive it, but costs only what's bet at the start of the round when it appears in the dealer's hand...read more

Play on the Main Floor or in the High Limit Room

John, your August 5th article on slot "loss limits" is confusing! Let's say you start with $40 and you set a loss limit of the whole thing. You play and hit a nice payoff and you have $120 on the machine. You raise your loss limit to, say, $50...read more

Play B-I-N-G-O to Win M-O-N-E-Y

As slot machines get more sophisticated, the game-within-a-game concept seems to be more prevalent: Monopoly, Pictionary and Trivial Pursuit are good examples. Other video reel slots incorporate generic, classic games that everyone knows, like tic-tac-toe, lotto and today's subject, bingo...read more

Heard it on the River

If you have a $600 ticket for the ROY JONES-GLENN JOHNSON IBF light heavyweight championship fight sponsored by GRAND CASINO you have a great ringside seat and might get your face on HBO on the night of Sept. 25. Those seats are the not on public sale as the scale there is from $40 to $500...read more

Scobe's Quick Tips: #93 and #94: Doubling Down, Buying Craps' Numbers

Scobe's Quick Tip #93 Doubling down can be a real winner for players at blackjack. When you have a two-card 11, double on all dealer upcards except an ace in multiple-deck games, and double against the ace as well in single-deck games. When you have a 10, double against a dealers 2 through 9. When you have a 9, double against a 3 through 6 in multiple-deck games and 2-6 in single-deck games. For more information on blackjack, read Best Blackjack by Frank Scoblete, Blackjack Take the Money and Run by Henry Tamburin, and Get the Edge at Blackjack by John May. Scobe's Quick Tip #94 At craps, avoid Placing the 4, 5, 9 or 10, unless you can buy them for $25 and $50 and only pay the commission when you win...read more

Office Pool Book, Mafia in Havana Bio on Yardley Allfascinating Reading

Three diverse titles, each indirectly connected to gambling, are now in stock at Gambler's Book Shop. Each is fascinating reading. The three are The Un-Official Office Pool Handbook by Steve and Tom Ney (143 pages, paperbound, $14.95); The Mafia in Havana by Enrique Cirules (177 pages, paperbound, $17.95) and The Reader of Gentleman's Mail (Herbert O...read more

Making Money from Each-Way Bets

Each-way bets are a popular form of wagering. Most often applied to horse racing, these bets allow you to bet that your chosen horse may finish first or second, or perhaps first, second and third. Typically you will only get half to a quarter of the odds you would if you were betting solely on the possibility of a win. These bets can be interesting because, while there is a relationship between the chances of horse winning a race and a horse finishing second, it is not always straightforward...read more