Gambler’s Sense, Part 1 - SLOTSGambler's Sense, Part 2 - Video Poker
Gambler’s Sense, Part 1 - SLOTSGambler's Sense, Part 2 - Video Poker Gambler's Sense, Part 3 - Table Games
While we, the individual gambler, are making a trip to our favorite casino to not only have fun but to make some quick cash—and we may very well succeed in our endeavor—the casino is more concerned on getting us to return over and over because they know that over time they will succeed in coming out ahead. This is why we must arm ourselves with a little knowledge and some strategies to win, so that we can have a little bit of the edge for ourselves. This article primarily focuses on the largest array of gambling devices in any casino, the slot machine.
Gambler’s Sense
First, we must arm ourselves with some basics. Common sense isn’t common. Nor is "perfect play" prevalent among gamblers. YOU can be the exception and in the long run you can win a fair amount of the time. But to do this you have to know when to quit ahead and when to stop before you get behind. Let’s call it Gambler’s Sense. It’s a strategy that you can improve on each and every time you go to the casino by using three common elements: good sense, knowledge, and skill.
Here’s one way to obtain it: Go to the library, get a book on your favorite casino game and S-T-U-D-Y the game. There are many good books on gambling by Scoblete, Dancer, and others. Some of those experts write for the publication that you are now reading. Learn "perfect play" for that particular game (slot machines don’t count for perfect play, but more on that later). Then, use good judgment, make sensible bets or selections (like in video poker), double-up only when you’re ahead (in Blackjack, for instance) and watch for hot streaks (like in Craps). If you get in a hot streak at the craps or BJ table, increase your bets moderately and then quit while you’re ahead, when the streak ends. Moreover, don’t fall prey to crazy bets like doubling down when losing (aka the Martingale System), buying-in again for an amount equal to your initial bankroll for that session (called "chasing your losses"), or listening to that inner voice that says, "this machine is going to hit—I know it!" In short, decide ahead of time—before entering the casino—what you can afford to lose, stick to that amount, play sensibly and responsibly, utilize perfect play when possible, and lastly, have fun. The last part, F-U-N, goes without saying because if you're not having fun in the casino, you've probably already lost too much money. And isn’t it more fun when you leave a winner instead of joining the throngs of people you overhear saying, "...but I only lost twenty dollars."
Slot Sense
Tight vs. Loose
Another slot tactic to lose less and still have fun is to pick a row of slot machines and play each one until you find one that FEEDS YOU instead of you feeding it. Again, using your designated roll or two of quarters, start with the first one in the row and play MAX coin-in, spinning the reels four times. If you win, cash out your credits and play these "winnings" for four more spins, but don’t play quarters from your buy-in rolls. If you don’t win any substantial amount that you can play on (or leave with), go to the next machine and try again. Do this with each machine in the row, or find a bank of all the same type of machine and play these. (Casino’s usually have all of one type of machine in a row to use in slot tournaments, but most likely they will be of the 3-coin variety.) The theory behind this is the casino’s "payback percentage." That published percentage—say, 93.5%—is an aggregate average of all machines in the casino. (It’s usually published near the casino cage.) To get this average, some machines will pay back less and some will pay back...you got it, more! It’s your job to find the higher payback machines, or "loose" machines, as they are known. [Note: Harrah's is one casino that has the "loosest slots" information already pre-printed for you as you enter the casino.] So don’t stick with one machine that keeps sucking your hard-earned money like a Hoover. Chances are, that machine’s payback percentage is lower. Of course, this strategy is a bit awkward with the new coinless machines, or TITO, as they’ve been newly labeled (Ticket In, Ticket Out), but you can still give it a shot if you have the patience... and slot players are certainly known to have patience!
These are just a couple of ways that you can increase your playing time while decreasing your expected outlay of cash. The slot machine is hardly your best bet in the casino, but if it’s your favorite form of gambling at least know enough not to just throw your money at it with little thought. Find and play a machine that you can win at. KNOW THIS: casinos don’t need table games to turn a profit; the slot machine IS the casino’s bread and butter.
Stay tuned for Part 2 & 3 where I’ll highlight "perfect play" for VIDEO POKER and some strategies for table games that can help you keep the house's edge to a minimum, as well as smart bets and the dumb ones to keep away from. All this is simply Gambler’s Sense, which is another way to keep the playing field a little more level, and sometimes even tilted in your favor.
I've said it before and I'll say it again here: "Common sense isn't common." Nor is "perfect play" prevalent among gamblers. YOU can be the exception if you use what I call Gambler's Sense, which is simply 1) Good Sense, 2) Knowledge of the Game, and 3) SKILL. This third element, skill, obviously does not come into play with slot machines, but it is simply "basic strategy" (also known as perfect play)
that you need to learn when playing video poker.
Video poker machines are not all alike. Each has its own set of rules and payouts. Almost all use the basic "Jacks or Better" strategy, but this is where their commonality ends.
The first thing you should look for when deciding to play Video Poker (VP) is a "9/6" payout machine. You will find very few of these in your favorite casino and some casinos don't have any! Why? Because a 9/6 machine has the best pay schedule for VP, 99.5% payback over the long run. Combine this with "perfect play" and YOU can reduce the house edge dramatically, extend your playing time, and go home a winner.
What does 9/6 mean? Look at the pay schedule for VP and you'll see five payout columns representing 1 to 5 coins played. If the first column shows a payout of 9 coins for a FULL HOUSE and 6 coins for a FLUSH, then your looking at a machine with your best odds. Many VP machines will payout 8/5 or 7/5, which reduces your payback odds to less than 97.3%. I don't recommend playing these machines. But you'll find more of these than 9/6 because the casino is in the business of making money and to do this they
have more machines and games with that higher house edge, hoping that YOU will carelessly play them.
Other popular VP machines are the DOUBLE BONUS, DOUBLE DOUBLE BONUS and even TRIPLE BONUS which payout higher returns on four-of-a-kind, especially ACES. 10/7 Double Bonus can payback as much as 100.17%!! The drawback here is the even money return for ONE pair as well as for TWO pair. Many also payout only five coins (on one coin play) for a FLUSH. This also allows for a bigger house edge played over time. One important factor to consider
when playing VP is to always play MAX coins (usually five). This is because of the BONUS payout for winning a Royal Flush. Most VP machines payout 4,000 coins (or more) for the R.F., as opposed to 250 on one coin, 500 on two....and only 1,000 for four. What a disappointment that would be to win only $250 at Quarter VP on an unexpected Royal Flush when it could've been $1,000!
BASIC STRATEGY
A few words about PERFECT PLAY (Basic Strategy). Each VP machine has a different basic strategy. Learning the basic strategy for each type of machine is as simple as going to the library and picking up a book by Bob Dancer or Skip Hughes, who are published video poker experts, or going to various websites and downloading strategy charts or software. (See below). In 9/6 machines you should always hold a dealt pair, as well as two dealt pairs. A dealt pair pays even money, and two pairs pays 2-for-1. In FOUR-OF-A-KIND POKER and DOUBLE DOUBLE BONUS, you'd want to hold only ONE pair if dealt two pair, especially ACES or face cards, to go for the higher payout for four-of-a-kind. Note that these machines pay the same whether you hold one pair or two. NEVER hold a "kicker." If you are dealt a pair of twos, for example, never hold a face card or ACE to go with them. This is called "holding a kicker" and actually decreases your chances for a better hand. Also, never try for an inside straight, rather hold a high face card or two, especially more than one "suited" facecard. If all the cards are low, of different suits, and no two values are alike, then deal yourself a new hand.
If you study the various strategy cards and print them out to use in the casino, you will soon learn how easy it is to at least stay even with video poker machines and you're well on your way to getting those elusive Royal Flushes!
You can download FREE Jacks or Better, Double Bonus and Deuces
Wild Video Poker Strategy and Frequency Charts courtesy of About.com.
Skip Hughes has a very thorough Video Poker webpage. You can join by simply posting your email address and logging in with your own selected password. Here you will learn about the various Video Poker machines and use his proven techniques to master your money on your next casino outing.
Don’t go away! Stay tuned for GAMBLER'S SENSE, PART 3
where I'll highlight some strategies for table games that can help you reduce the house edge to a minimum, as well as the dumb bets to stay away from, to help you keep the playing field level, and sometimes... tilted in your favor!
ST-R-E-T-CH Your Bankroll!
You can go to the casino on a limited budget and still have fun. You can also gamble with the intention of making money and go home a winner. This takes discipline, determination and knowing when to quit....and when to leave! It also takes knowledge (of the games) and usually, skill.
It's what I call GAMBLER'S SENSE.
There are several games that offer an excellent chance at winning. Some require a higher bankroll than others and some have a higher house edge. But the following strategies can make you a quick buck, they could double or triple your money...or you could lose it all. But that's the nature of the beast and sometimes it just boils down to luck: having it or not having it.
Try one of these scenarios on your next casino visit, but remember, if you double your money, walk away a winner. In most situations--and most professional gamblers will agree--a 10% win (over your buy-in amount) is the best that you can expect to win. Yes, the casino's edge is that great over time. Everything else that you might happen to win is just "icing on the cake."
Buy-in for $20 at a $5 craps table and play four rounds of PASS LINE (P/L) bets. When the disk near the dealer is black or "OFF" that means that it's a come-out roll and this is when you want to place a bet on the P/L. Place a $5 chip (or $1 or $2--whatever the minimum bet is at that table) on the narrow lane marked PASS LINE. Do this directly in front of where you are standing. If the shooter throws a 7 or 11, you win! The dealer will place an identical chip, or chips, next to yours on
the P/L. Pick up your winnings only, add them to your other chips in the rail and leave your original bet on the P/L. If the shooter throws another 7 or 11, you'll win again. This time stack the two chips together and hope for a 7 or 11 again. If you win, you've doubled your money! So walk away a WINNER. Ideally, you'd win on the first chip, breaking even. Remember, it's still in action on the P/L. A win on the second round and you're $10 ahead, but since you're leaving it on the table for a third shoot, you're still even because your original $20 is still in your possession ($10 in action.) Now, if a 7 or 11 is thrown, you've won $20 or doubled your initial buy-in. Again, here's when you'd walk away.
In the casino, there is no better odds of winning than on this come-out roll in craps because there are six ways (out of 36 combinations) to throw a 7--more than any other number combination. Add to this the two ways of throwing an 11 and you've got an excellent chance at winning on the come-out. If a point number (4,5,6,8,9,10) is rolled during one of the above rolls (on the come-out), you'll have to wait until the shooter throws this number again in order to win. If so, you'll win even money on your P/L bet and you're ready to try the strategy again. If a seven is rolled (after a point number is established), you'll lose your P/L bet and you are encouraged to start the process over. Net expected loss: $20.
Here, you can try a similar strategy with the same $20 buy-in. When the dealer is preparing to deal, place a $5 chip (or the minimum bet) on the circle in front of you. If you win the decision, take your winnings and leave the original chip on the layout for the next deal. If you win the next decision, double your bet to $10 by stacking your winning chip on top of your original bet. You now have your $20 buy-in in front of you and your winnings (only) on the line. If you win this third decision, you've doubled your buy-in amount. Walk away a WINNER. If you happen to get a BLACKJACK, you've won $15 on your $10 bet and are now ahead $25. QUIT. This is a good win and you don't have to give it back! Net expected loss: $20.
Table games are games of skill no matter how easy the casino makes them look. An example: In many casinos you can even find the game you played as a kid, "WAR." You know, the one where you each turn over a card and the high card wins. If you match, then WAR starts. Well, this same game with an unbelievable house edge is now played for money. And you will lose. Stay away from these games using this adage: "If it looks too easy to play, it probably is." And the casino will have their advantage over you in the long run.
Dealers are instructed to be friendly and to allow anyone to play, always prepared to help a gambler new to a game. This is only one way that casinos maintain their tremendous edge. Don't be fooled by this. Instead, be prepared. CRAPS is a fun game that you can learn by asking questions, but it is always best to study the game and its countless bets by reading about it. Check out books at the library until you understand its many bets and payouts. Search for CRAPS
sites on the internet. BLACKJACK can be learned using a strategy card. Many BJ sites offer one as a download. Be sure you memorize it before you play. Professional gamblers such as Frank Scoblete also have excellent sites where you can learn "perfect play." If you'd like you can write to me at gswoody@centurytel.net and I'll email you a BJ strategy card, or get one for free here.
