Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 85

Darn Bad and Good Streaks!

Craps-playing reader Artie and roulette fan Rosa checked in during May and tell of streaks that caught their attention. Artie saw the downside of probability, while Rosa made her biggest roulette haul.The streaks were unusual and certainly meaningful to Artie and Rosa, but for the casino, they're part of the normal run of ups and downs...read more

That Depends

CINDY: The big question is sometimes the simplest question. What game do you want to play this session?ABBY: I think it sounds simple but I know that how I feel, physically I mean, will sometimes dictate what I want to play.CINDY: Good point...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Cascading reels slot math

Question: I was doing research on par sheet related to cascading reels slots. I wonder how the cascading math is designed? Could you give me some idea? Answer: I haven't been able to get my hands on a PAR sheet for a cascading reels slot machine, but this is my understanding of how they did the math...read more

Good Friend, Bad Friend

Human beings are social creatures. With some exceptions such as monks on mountain tops, hermits, or our strange neighbors in the apartment or house next to us, we delight in the company of others. The word “tribes” best reflects our inclinations to be with others.We join the company of some parrots, wolves, dolphins, whales, elephants, lions, dogs, some fish, deer, buffalos and many more species too numerous to name...read more

Top 10 tips to improve your poker game

The only way to hone your poker skills is to put them to the test constantly. (photo by Flickr)If you want to be a successful poker player, you need to constantly improve your skills and add new ones to your repertoire. Doing so can be challenging, especially if you don’t know where to begin.While we can’t guarantee you huge wins or instant success, the tips we’ll share with you will effectively improve your game...read more

Blackjack Continuum

QUESTION:Is the difference in house edge between blackjack games where the dealer stands on all 17s or hits soft 17 large enough that I should bet more to get the better rule?At the casino nearest me, the cheap tables are $10 minimum, dealer hits soft 17, six decks, blackjacks pay 3-2, split pairs up to three times except only once on Aces, you can double down on any first two cards, and you can double down after splitting pairs.The $25 and up tables are the same game except the dealer stands on all 17s.I move my bets up and down a little, but my average is probably a little short of $20...read more

Low Pair versus Inside Straight

Hello Stickman,I like and appreciate your columns in Casino City Times Guru.I read your "how to play" articles and low hands challenge me.In PA, lucky to find 1,2,3,4,5,7 with 7 on the full house.So many times, I have low cards for an inside straight...read more

The Battle of Mini-Bac!

CINDY: News is usually bad news. When many of us write about casinos, it is fun to tell the irritating experiences. Obviously, the overwhelming experiences of the casinos are fun or we would not go to them, especially regularly. Why go if things stink?ABBY: But that doesn’t mean Cindy and I have not seen some interesting things at the tables and machines.CINDY: And there is one we call the Battle at Mini-Bac.ABBY: One thing to know about mini-baccarat; many of the players are extremely superstitious...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Son of Monty Hall plays Survivor

Question: I just read your "survivor" article of today. The odds don't work that way. The odds ARE 50/50 once one of the losers is revealed. The odds change, just like in Blackjack once cards are revealed. Otherwise, counting cards would be meaningless, and we know that's not the case. I thought of a couple of alternate scenarios, but I won't bore you with the machinations of having more than 3 choices, and the reality is that you had a 1 in 3 chance at the beginning, and that doesn't change, but there was also only a 1 in 3 chance that the particular remaining "non-choice" was the good one...read more

Up, Up and Away!

Most slot players are true players! While casinos want table-game players to play four hours per day, slot players tend to go way beyond that in their pursuit of Lady Luck’s love. Some of them you have to tear away from the machines to get them to go to dinner or a show.Playing slots is not a difficult assignment...read more