Dear Mark,
You always recommend making wagers that have less than a
2% house advantage. Okay, sound logic, but why is it that a gambler can
still win, even on games like keno or those big slot jackpots when the Law
of Averages says they won't? William R.
Because, William, the Law of Averages does not have time to work during
most brief casino visit. That said, you should never put your faith in the
heady belief that happy aberrations in gambling odds will happen in
games that carry a huge house advantage. The keen player never ignores
the mathematical odds that are working for or against him. But every
gambler's timeline (tabletime) is still relatively short, be it three
hours or three days, so anything can happen- even for the 8-spot keno
winner, or the serendipitous winner of the super slot-pot. Those
fortuitous winners don't go home because the Law of Averages worked in
their favor, most likely it was because the Law of Averages didn't.
Dear Mark,
I am new to the game of mini-baccarat. My boyfriend
says all I should do is just keep betting the player hand. Besides
avoiding the 5% commission when making the bank hand bet, it has the
easiest rules to remember on when your hand has to be hit. Not that I am
challenging my boyfriend's wisdom, but what are your thoughts on just
sticking with the player (one) wager? Molly P.
Your Mr. Smart (clearly a loyal column reader) is correct, Molly, as the
bank hand has no bearing on whether or not the player hand draws a card.
The lone variable, which determines whether the player hand should get that
third card, is the total of the first two cards the player hand
receives. If that total is 0 through 5, then the player hand receives a
third card. If the player hand totals 6, 7, 8, or 9, then the hand
cannot draw an additional card. For example, 6 + K = 6 (stands); 8 + 7 =
5 (draws); J + Q = 0 (draws); 8 + 8 = 6 (stands). (Reference: 10, J, Q,
K are always zero)
Though most players vary their betting between the bank hand and player
hand, I see no problem with sticking to just one wager. KISS, Keep It
Simple Stupid, is just fine and dandy, especially if you are one of
those players who don't believe in streaks, that each dealt hand is an
independent event, separate from each preceding hand.
But just so you know, Molly, by learning the more complex rules on when
you have to take a hit on the bank hand does reduce the house edge down
to 1.17%, slipping neatly under the already picayune 1.36% edge the
casino has over the player hand.
Either way, both the bank and player
bets are smart wagers because they have a relatively low casino
advantage, making them both some of the best bets in the casino.
Dear Mark,
In video poker, is it better to keep a small pair
against a single face card? Leslie B.
A small pair, Leslie, (2s-10s) is always a keeper over a single face
card.
Gambling quote of the week: "Anyone who tells you that they're
a professional craps shooter, professional baccarat player or
professional slot junkie is either a liar or a cheat that the casino
hasn't caught yet." —Lou Krieger & Arthur Reber
