Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 78

The Facts of Pass and Place Bets

Craps players have individual styles and betting preferences that don't always coincide with sticking to the lowest-edge wagers.Some place 6 or 8 (1.52 percent house edge) rather than bet pass (1.41) because they like to pick their own numbers...read more

Make the Most of Your VP Play

Video poker players enjoy the game for many reasons. They enjoy the fact that they have control over the outcome. They enjoy the higher returns usually afforded to them.Serious video poker players generally look for the best games they can find...read more

Losing It

CINDY: The worst topic any gambling writer can write about is going on a losing streak, be that streak just one session, or one day, or one trip. Losing is the worst aspect of playing casino games. Would you agree?ABBY: Definitely. None of us goes to the casino in order to lose our money...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: That can't be random

Question: Can you better explain how a slot machine uses the random number generator to produce a spin result? Let's take a 3 row x 5 column slot machine. I spin and get a full screen of the same symbol. If a random number generator is used to select each of the 15 symbols shown, how could it possibly select the same symbol 15 times in a row? The odds of that happening even once in a lifetime seem staggering, but it happens again and again. That can’t be random. If I numbered 15 pieces of paper 1 to 15, put them in a bowl, drew one piece of paper out, checked the number written on it and it was 6, and put it back in the bowl, I can’t even fathom that I would draw that same piece of paper with #6 on it out 14 more times in a row...read more

Craps Decorum

All games have their proper way to play them. Some of these ways are actually considered fundamental rules, such as not allowing the picking up of the cards off the table in a blackjack game from a shoe. The dealer will strongly tell you not to do this.Of course, many handheld blackjack games require the players to pick up the cards...read more

Blackjack Basic Strategy Changes

QUESTION I'm a basic strategy player from way back. My grandpa taught me to play blackjack and he insisted I know the basic strategy chart inside out before he'd take me to a casino. My 21st birthday present was a ride, $250 in chips and a buffet.I found you online and have been reading old articles on blackjack...read more

Video Poker Is Not Live Poker

Since the introduction of the “Poker-matic” machine in 1970, video poker has grown to become wildly popular. The World Series of Poker, a live poker tournament, also started in 1970, has also drawn a huge audience.While there may be similarities between video poker and live poker, the two are distinctly different.Let’s look at video poker first.Video poker is a machine-based game...read more

Tweedle Dumb

CINDY: In our early days of play, way over 30 years ago, our trips to the craps tables were not always pleasant.ABBY: As most of you know, the game of craps is largely a man’s game, even now in the 21st century. For some reason women still shy away from it.CINDY: You will find slightly more women playing the game now then back when but the men still rule those tables.ABBY: I guess you can give a million reasons why but really what does it matter? I love the game and I wanted to play it, whether men dominated the game or not.CINDY: Women do not take the abuse they used to all those decades ago when men frowned if a woman appeared at the table to play.ABBY: Women could be at the table if they were girlfriends or wives but a woman coming to the table without a man was looked at with disdain.CINDY: Snarky comments could be heard and plenty of grumbles when Abby and I bought in and then even more grumbles when we shot the dice...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Las Vegas locals casinos vary more in promotions

Question: I received a $10 voucher on my 94th birthday. My dear son drove me to MGM Yonkers, N.Y. Lost all my play money but it was a very Happy Birthday surprise. Answer: A few weeks ago I posted a column about how my regular casinos did not give me a gift (point multiplier, free play or even a physical gift) this year...read more

Good Advice is Bad Advice

Good advice is often bad advice if you happen to give such good advice at a gaming table in the casino and such advice backfires.“I’ve got a 12 against the dealer’s two,” said the man playing blackjack. “What should I do?” He asked me that question directly...read more