GAMING GURUS: LATEST FROM OUR STRATEGY EXPERTS

Isn't the Odds Bet at Craps a Big Mistake?

Dear Frank: I don't see how you can say that the Odds bet at craps is a good bet. It only makes it appear that it reduces the house edge but in fact the amount of money you lose is always the same. If I make a $25 Pass Line bet my expected loss is 35 cents...read more

Why are 12s Against 2- and 3-up at Blackjack so Perplexing?

Proficient blackjack buffs sometimes knowingly and rationally violate Basic Strategy. This might occur when the “correct” play is to double down or split a pair but the bettor doesn’t want or can’t afford to risk the extra money for these actions...read more

Additional Information on the Field Bet

Hi Stickman, One thing I would add to your article on the Field Bet is that the bet is resolved on every roll. Compare a $5 Place 5 bet (HA=4.00%) to a $5 3x12 Field (HA=2.78%) bet over a perfectly distributed 36 rolls. Place 5 wins $7 four times and loses $5 six times for a net loss of $...read more

Jest for Fun

Sign seen written on men's room wall in a Las Vegas casino: "It's only a gambling problem if you're losing." * * * * * Math teacher to gambler's son, "Billy, tell the class how much is two and two." Billy: "Snake eyes." * * * * * The Flamingo Casino in Las Vegas was built by the notorious mobster Bugsy Siegel...read more

Deal or No Deal

I have always loved playing games. I grew up long before the video generation and most of the games I played as a child were board games or card games. It didn't really matter. I just loved competing against my family, friends or anyone else I could entice into playing. I guess my love of games is why I also enjoy watching certain games shows on television...read more

Deal Me In: You heard it right: SPLIT ‘EM

Dear Mark: A prime rule in blackjack is always split Aces & 8's. I recently watched a player split aces against a dealer 7. He drew a 4 on one ace and a 3 on the other. The dealer showed 17, so both hands lost. Is one card all you get on each split card? If so, what is the advantage of splitting? Dave S...read more

Please, No! It's Not Right!

In baseball there are many "unwritten codes" that are supposed to be followed by the ballplayers. For example, if your team is destroying the other team, your base runners are not to steal bases. Don't rub the area of your body where you were hit by a pitch; doing so shows you are not manly...read more

RNGs and Bingo Cards on Class II Slots

The following letter is about Class II slot machines. Class II slots, unlike the Class III slots found in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Tunica and elsewhere, do not determine the outcomes of their spins independently. They do not have Random Number Generators (RNGs)...read more

Triple-Zero Roulette

Anna was a casual acquaintance in college, a friend of a friend of a friend who I used to run into at the odd party. I was more than a little surprised to receive a message from her via Facebook --- and then I saw it was about gambling. "At a charity casino night, they had a roulette wheel with three zeroes," she wrote...read more

Top-10 betting games for baseball

At some point, most guys learn that going on a date to a baseball game is much safer play than going on a date to basketball or football game (unless the girl really likes those sports). At basketball and football games, there's a significant risk that -- outside of buying beer and snacks -- we'll ignore our dates and focus strictly on the game...read more