Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 769

Double Down Stud Makes a Comeback

Walking through Empress Joliet a couple of weeks ago, I came across a small blast from the past -- a $1 Double Down Stud video poker machine. I knew IGT had recently dressed up the game for its new gaming platform, but I hadn't seen it in this market since, well .....read more

Ask Frank: Is This Variation on Four-Card Poker Worth Playing?

Frank, One of the Detroit casinos (Motor City) recently opened a four-card poker table. (I'm sure this is much to the chagrin of the Catlin 2001 article on same subject.) The player gets five cards to the dealer's six. Anyhow, the ranking of hands is as follows: four of a kind / straight flush / three of a kind (just as the Catlin statistics predict) three of a kind / flush / straight (mmmmmmmmmm?) two pair / pair The other beauty to the game is the three of a kind pair plus is replaced by an aces or better bet. Without any statistics to prove this, I figure the sixth card helps the house make a hand to beat you 70% of the time, so I can't figure out the allure of this game - which doesn't stop the table from having a line of waiting suckers. Your thoughts are appreciated. Derrick Dear Derrick, I have not played or analyzed this game but it looks to me that the casino has its usual big edge in the game...read more

Mind-reader dice and kitchen Hold'em

Dear Mark, A great column last week on don't bettors. It reminds of a game I was on recently where a guy threw the number seven about a dozen times without the point ever being made. He touted that he had the skill of willing the number seven...read more

Would You Bet the Props at Craps if the Payoffs Were Higher?

Among the great allures of craps to cognoscenti is the chance to make bets with low house edges. So low, that casino bigwigs tell themselves the game is dying to avoid having to admit why they're really scrambling to replace dice tables with slot machines...read more

Are Slots Programmed to Pay at One Coin and Not at Full?

I would like some literature or a booklet or any kind of information about slots. Thank you, Macie Dear Macie, Here is my list of recommended slot books. They are available online at Amazon and at any bookstore (note that the store may have to order the book for you). Break the One-Armed Bandits by Frank Scoblete The Slot Machine Answer Book by John Grochowski The Video Slot Machine Answer Book by John Grochowski Secrets of Modern Slot Playing by Larry Mak The Slot Expert's Guide to Playing Slots by John Robison Best of luck in and out of the casinos, John John, I have a dilemma...read more

Don't Play Hold'em According to What You See on TV

It was Super Bowl Sunday, about two hours before kickoff time. A major TV network was showing the World Poker Tour from the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Lots of big names from the pro poker circuit were at the final table and they had just gotten down to the final four players...read more

Ask Frank: Playing the Don't at Craps

Hi, Frank, I'm pretty new to playing craps and don't get to play much. But I do read and reread your books before I go play. I was wondering if it's a good idea to play the don't side if the table is cold and then when the table heats up, to go back and play "normally"...read more

Double-up Option

The double-up option is increasingly being offered on more versions of Video Poker, raising the questions as to whether players should exercise that option and if so, for how long. In general, any even-up bet should be considered attractive, like the odds bets at a Craps table, but there are a few warnings to heed...read more

Heard it on the River

From all reports the grand opening weekend of the new RIVERPARK MUSEUM and its surrounding 167 acres of Ecopark adjacent to FITZGERALDS CASINO, which donated 70 core acres to help make this vision become reality, was a great success. We all sometimes take such amenities for granted but you owe it yourself, your family and guests to visit this wonderful complex that is perched on the banks of the Mississippi above the dock for the TUNICA QUEEN riverboat...read more

How can they do that?

Because of who I am, what I do and the amount of time I spend reading or talking to people who are essentially Video Poker Experts, I sometimes forget just how many people there are who still play by intuition or common sense. Last night I had the opportunity to talk to one such player...read more