Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 770

IGRA Classes of Gaming, What is the RNG?, Megabucks, Double Diamond

You say that each spin is random on a slot machine, and that there are, what, 8,000 combinations on a typical slot machine. Whatever the number, it must be calculated at more than the times I've played, if that is the case. Why do I recognize so many of the losing combinations that come up? And why do the same combinations seem to come up so often? Can't this be interpreted as a way to "read" the slots, as far as predicting that the next spin will be another "no win"? Is there any way to determine how many winning symbols there are on a specific column? For example, three sets of cherries on the first reel, two sets on the second, one set on the third? Is it better to play a slot machine that has only five types of payouts, with all the symbols being made up of a variety of one type (e.g., different colored sevens)? Yes, the result of each spin is determined at random...read more

Ross' Record Keeper Perfect for Baseball Bettors; 'Hot Shoe' Focus: 21 Counters

Robert Ross' Baseball Bettors' Record Keeper (186 pages, 11x8 plastic spiralbound. $29.95), designed for serious handicappers who believe recording past performance patterns,can lead to future winners, has arrived at Gambler's Book Shop. This is more than a team-by-team schedule...read more

Hoosier Picks for Best Blackjack

This column's mission to analyze the "State of Blackjack" in the Chicago area by targeting the best casinos to play the game and why. We determined last week that Argosy's Empress Casino in Joliet beats out the competition on the Illinois side for player-friendly rules...read more

Hitting 12 at Blackjack, Illinois Casino Admission Fees

Q. I play blackjack at least twice a month and use a basic strategy card while I play. I had no problems using the card until recently. The card tells me to take a hit when my total is a hard 12 and the dealer's up card is a 2 or 3. It also tells me to hit a soft 17 when the dealer's up card is a 2...read more

Jest for Fun

You can't win. We have attack dogs that protect our money and attack casinos that take it away. * * * * * Overheard in a casino bar: "I wouldn't exactly say the slot I played this morning was dead. Maybe in a deep coma." * * * * * Next to knowing when a hot streak starts is knowing when to walk away when it stops. * * * * * It may be that the race is not always to the swiftest, nor the battle to the strong, but that's the way to bet...read more

Bluffing's OK but strategy's better

Dear Mark, I enjoy your writing and just received your blackjack strategy card, but I am not sure how to read the Player's Hand portion. I assume the 8-16 means total value of my two cards, and I understand the 2s etc at the bottom. But, what is the A2-A9? Also, do I assume a hit on any total less than eight? As you can tell, I am a beginner...read more

Why You Should Do What with 11 against 10 or Ace in Blackjack

A two-card 11 is a strong blackjack hand. A dealer's 10 or ace is a formidable upcard. What happens when both occur concurrently? Against 10, the definitive version of "The Book" says to double. With ace, most $0.25 Basic Strategy charts simply say hit...read more

Life Among the Slots: Oh, Those Sexy Slots!

Some people think gambling is sinful. Some people think the same thing about sex (if it's not between two people who are married to each other). So if you want to indulge in two so-called sins simultaneously, I recommend playing Risque' Business video slots by IGT. I have to admit, I'm not easily shocked, but even I gasped a little at this stripper-themed nickel slot's suggestiveness, despite the fact that the characters are cartoons! But this nine-line, 10-coin game is so clever and fun to play, who cares if it pushes the limits a little? Strip club setting Risque' Business takes place in a strip club, so the symbols include money, a plush chair with a brassier draped over it (the lap dance room?), high heels, lingerie, a martini, a beer stein, a sleazy DJ, bowtie, jockstrap, cufflinks--and the four stars of the show, strippers Rod (a Fabio type), Lance (a macho construction worker), dark-haired Trixie and blond Kitty...read more

Next Generation Video Slots, Black Jack Video Poker, Playing off Jackpots

Where do you see the next generation video going? What features would the cabinet have? Hmm. As high-powered processors and memory keep getting cheaper and cheaper and therefore used in slot machines, the platform will be able to do more and more...read more

Ask Frank: Keeping Craps Strategy Fresh

Dear Frank: I love to shoot craps, but have an admittedly boring strategy while doing so. (I am also full FRB with this approach.) I make a $5 pass line bet, backed with 2X odds, and place the 6 and 8 for $30 each if neither is the point...read more