 Newsletter Signup
Stay informed with the
NEW Casino City Times newsletter! Mark Pilarski Archives
More Strategy Experts
|
Gaming Guru  Deal Me In: Nominate your candidate for the ten best bets in the casino26 June 2009
Dear Mark: A column of yours in the past mentioned some of the best bets in the casino. One such bet was the six or eight in craps. Although I have never played the game of craps before, it seems like fun and would be interested giving it a try, especially since some of the group I go gambling with weekly do play it. How do I go about making that bet without looking like a beginner? Jayne M. Yes, Jayne, craps can be richly enjoyable entertainment, and based on your wanting to stick with one of the best bets the game offers, that being Placing either the six or eight, let's make you look like an expert amongst your gambling associates. Placing the six or eight, or grabbing a Pass line bet for those so inclined, are really the only wagers you want to make on a crap table. They have a casino edge of 1.5% or lower. Most players who belly up to the crap table are greener than the felt on the table, but by exploiting only the best bet(s) the game offers, you join the less than one percent of players who truly understand dice. You could ask your friendly dealer how to Place the six or eight, but all you really have to do is walk up to the table, set down $6 ($12 if you're betting both numbers) on the layout and state your preference: "Six (or eight) for six dollars," then cheer on the six or eight to appear before the seven, and you're off to the races. You'll get paid $7 if the six or eight hits, but you'll lose, if the seven appears. Craps 101 isn't over yet, Jayne. We'll revisit in the future another best bet in the casino, the Pass Line wager, then move you into odds after that, all of which nudges you ever closer to your Winners University diploma. Dear Mark: I've noticed that certain machines I play on pay out jackpots often, while others never seem to pay. Why is that? Molly F. Regrettably, Molly, your letter didn't mention the specific machines you play, so all I can give you is a generalized answer. Yes, Molly, you are observing correctly; certain machines do seem to pay more jackpots than others. That's because some machines are designed to pay less frequent, though larger hits, (in gamblese they're called low hit frequency machines), while others are specifically designed to pay numerous, but relatively smaller hits. Appropriately those would be high hit frequency machines. There's also the possibility of skewed observation. Might you be selectively eyeballing your favorite machine(s) more than the others, making you more aware of what happens on them, and possibly missing the jackpots on the other slots? If you observe long enough, you might find that those other machines pay off just as often. When all's said and done, Molly, because some players like lots of small hits, while others prefer fewer, larger hits, what your research will eventually identify as normal, is that casinos have machines at many different hit frequencies, some even side-by-side. Gambing Wisdom of the Week: "Ever since I bought those two huge Doyle Brunson Super System books, I've become a much stronger player. Each morning before breakfast, I put one in each hand and do curls with them." VP Pappy Deal Me In: CASINO AHEAD. Reduced speed zone. All penalties doubled.19 June 2009
Dear Mark: What is the best approach-method when playing blackjack using the Table Master from Shuffle Master? Table limits are $5-$200 dollars where I play. My sole motivation is to win moderate amounts while playing and it appears to me that basic strategy may be a possible solution. Myles ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Just Who's Ace Is It Anyway?5 June 2009
Dear Mark: Recently at a Reno blackjack table, I placed a bet in the betting circle and the dealer missed me and didn't give me a card. The card, an Ace, was given to the next player and I said, "you missed me." The dealer said "you'll have to wait till the next hand, I'm not giving you HIS Ace," even though she hadn't even given herself a card yet. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Spread Your Action Around22 May 2009
Dear Mark: The casino where I play cut back on the perks I normally receive. Is there anything I can do about it? Tim D.
I made mention a few weeks back, Tim, that it baffled me that some casinos are making wholesale changes to their video poker machines, hoping to improve their theoretical hold during these tough times. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: The Great Whamerooney, but it still slices like baloney?Dear Mark: Do the large progressive slot machines offer the most potential with the least risk? Dan O. Not a bit, Dan, because for the life-altering big score that a machine like Megabucks offers, you are looking at beating the odds of 30,000,000 to one. Sure, area progressives are usually the ... (read more)Deal Me In: Natural odds, take your bowDear Mark: I have been told that the best bet in a casino is to bet "natural odds" at the craps table because the house has no edge. My question is, if this is such a good bet, why do some casinos offer to let you to place bets for up to ten times your line bet or even higher? Bob F. It's ... (read more)Deal Me In: Those Gimmick Wagers Ride the Range AgainDear Mark: I was playing blackjack, and this game had the Pair Plus bet. I usually don't bet these side bets, but pairs were coming up like crazy so I tried it a couple of times. Could you give me the house edge on this bet? James H. The bet you mentioned isn't called Pair Plus, as the wager of that name you will find on a Three Card Poker table. ... (read more)Deal Me In: 21 MadnessDear Mark: What do you know about 21 Madness? Is it a decent bet for the player? Kenny B. Here's another one of those side bets in blackjack, Kenny, that sort of looks good, but just can't pass the smell test. Kenny is referring to a $1 wager the casino allows you to make, in addition to your ... (read more)Deal Me In: Alert Player Sounds the AlarmDear Mark: I just finished reading your most recent column. You mentioned that it's best for a player to play at a casino with liberal rules, but the number one thing you failed to mention to your readers is to play at tables that pay 3-2 on a blackjack, and not to play any table that pays 6-5 or less. ... (read more) |
Mark Pilarski |
