Archive for the Gambling Tips category
January 7th, 2007
Going into the blackjack game with a predetermined betting strategy will help you to manage your money to ensure that you are playing for as long as possible and to help you avoid losing all of your money too quickly.
Remember: The black jack strategies for one and two deck games of blackjack are slightly different from the strategy for games with three, four or more decks.
How to win at black jack
If you are playing in a one or two deck game of blackjack start out by betting two units.
If an ace is played in the first round then you will continue betting two units but if an ace is not played in the first round you will bet three units on the next round.
If you are following this strategy and find yourself in a position where you have earned 50% of your initial bankroll you might want to consider upping your starting bet to three units.
If your winnings drop below a 50% increase of your original investment go back to 2 unit bets and quit playing if your winnings drop to a 25% increase of your original investment.
If you started out betting two units and find yourself on a losing streak, switch to a new table and start out with one unit bets.
If you continue to lose at the second table it’s time to quit for the day. However, if you begin winning at the second table follow the same strategy and increase your betting back to two units only after you have won back half of your loss from the first table.
When playing multiple deck games the strategy is the same except you start out with one unit bets and increase to two unit bets if you win 50% of your original stake.
If you find yourself in a position where you have doubled your stake you should take half of your earnings and set it aside and only gamble with your original stake and half of your winnings.
Each time you double your stake set aside half of your winnings and play with the remaining money. If you are losing only continue to play until you have lost the other half of your earnings so that you walk away with your original investment plus the 50% of your winnings that you set aside.
Good Luck!
January 3rd, 2007
The game of pai gow poker is becoming increasingly popular on the gambling circuit. PaiGow poker is based on the Chinese domino game gai gow and is played with a 53 card deck, including a joker.
Although PaiGow poker can be a complicated online game there is one simple tip that will give you an advantage in a pai gow poker game.
The rules of pai gow poker specify that each player must be given the option of assuming the banker role. However, many players pass on their opportunity to assume the banker role because they do not have a large enough bankroll to cover the bets of the other players. This is unfortunate because players gain the largest advantage when they are in the banker role.
There is a pai gow poker rule on how often a particular player are allowed to be the banker varies from casino to casino but in general it is discouraged for any one player to dominate this role.
If you have the funds to assume the banker role, it is recommended that you do so as often as possible. This is because the banker carries the largest advantage in pai gow poker.
Also, to win at pai gow poker both your back and front hands must beat the banker’s back and front hands. If the hands match, this is known as a copy. The house advantage in pai gow poker depends on partially on your skill setting hands but more on how much of the action you bank.
The most important factor in improving your odds in online pai gow poker is the ratio of how much is bet when you are the banker to as a player. The greater the ratio the better your odds are. The second most important factor is how well you arrange your cards.
You must be the banker as often as possible so that you maintain this advantage.
December 30th, 2006
Caribbean stud poker is a game that is an excellent option for the gambler who is comfortable taking risks and following strict strategies.
In this game each bettor is competing against the dealer’s hand (the house) and not against other players.
To enter the game, each better puts up their ante and also has the option of betting into the jackpot. The dealer then deals five cards to each player as well as five to himself with one of the cards dealt face up. After the deal each player has the option of either surrendering their ante and folding or placing a bet which is double the ante.
Caribbean Stud Poker Odds
Caribbean stud poker online, like most games where you play against the dealer, this one cannot be beaten in the long run. For these reasons, most poker players do not consider it to be a form of poker.
The caribbean stud poker game dealer must have an ace-king hand in order to play. If the dealer does not have a qualifying hand, the house pays the antes but the bets are a push. If the dealer has a qualifying hand that beats the bettor than the bettor loses both his bet and his ante. If the bettor’s hand beats the dealer’s hand than he is paid out at the house odds while the ante is paid out at 1:1. Following the basic Caribbean stud strategy gives the house a 4.4% advantage. This strategy entails, betting when you have a pair or better, Betting an Ace-King hand and never taking the optional jackpot bet unless the jackpot is at $150,000 or more.
Following this strategy carefully keeps the house average at 4.4% but any mistakes made in this caribbean stud poker strategy can up the house advantage to 8%-12%. It is clear from these statistics that Caribbean stud poker is a game for gamblers who enjoy the excitement of playing a highly strategic game.
Of course, knowing of what other players hold can decrease the house edge. It has been estimated with the knowledge of 6 other player’s hands (30 cards) and associated optimal strategy the player can gain an edge of 2.3%! Unfortunately in must cases it’s not possible :).
Good Luck!!
December 25th, 2006
Why we all love slots?
Because is easy to play. Playing slots don’t involve a lot of complicated rules or have a variety of betting options like games such as craps or poker. For this reason slot machines are the most played online game.
The popularity of the slot machines has led to a multitude of myths regarding slot machines.
How do slots work?
Slot software is programmed by a random number generator and the probability of hitting a jackpot is exactly the same for every spin. Yes, it is true that some machines are looser than others meaning that they yield a lower house advantage.
One more spin to win the jackpot
Online casinos are multi-user software. Means few people can be playing the same slot game at the same time. This is not possible on a land casino .. unless you sit on top of each other :).
If another person playing the same game wins a jackpot on their first spin, you would have won the jackpot if you had played one more round or hit the spin faster?
This is not necessary true. The second player simply took their spin at the exact moment that the random number generator produced a jackpot. It is not the number of spins but rather the timing of the spins that dictates whether or not the random number generator will produce a jackpot spin.
Slot machines are looser or tighter during certain times during the day?
This is not true. The pay out rate is set by the software creator (Playtech, Microgaming, Vegas Tech, etc) and cannot be changed by casino operators.
Good Luck!
December 21st, 2006
Craps is easily the most well-known of all the casino games. Craps is an intricate game that has a variety of betting options. The bets have different pay out rates as well as different house advantages. There are even bets that win with the same result but do not have the same odds.
The basic layout of the game is simple. Players take turns at rolling a pair of dice, everyone places bets on every roll regardless who is shooting.
In this case especially you want to be sure to play the bet with that has better odds. In general though knowing which bets give the least advantage to the house is very useful in planning your craps strategy.
Yes, there is an optimal craps strategy that will help to keep the house advantage as low as 1.5% and potentially even lower than 1%. The following betting strategies will help you to maintain this low house advantage.
The craps pass line
Don’t pass bar, come or don’t come bets are favorable. These bets all offer a relatively low house advantage and can be beneficial to the bettor in the long run.
Do not bet place, buy or lay bets.
This is an example of a situation where the same results can give a lower advantage to the house. Placing odds bets will result in a win on the same roll but with a lower house advantage.
Do not place proposition bets.
These bets give the house their largest advantage and are not considered sound bets.
Good Luck!
December 17th, 2006
Here are some quick tips to help you win Christmas tournaments and free rolls:
Jacks r Better Video Poker Strategy
Got a suited 10 and Ace in Jacks or Better? Dump the 10, keep the Ace.
Caribbean Stud Poker Strategy
In Caribbean Stud fold when you can’t match an Ace/King; raise on a pair or higher.
BlackJack Tip
Never take Insurance in Blackjack, unless you’re a seasoned card counter and know what’s coming. Another very basic Blackjack strategy is add 10 to the dealer’s card and be ready to let him bust.
RedDog Poker Quick Tip
Only raise on spreads of seven or more in Red Dog, when the edge is in your favor.
Winning Keno
Playing between three and eight numbers on full coins maximizes your chances on Keno.
Casino Hold’em Reminder
You almost never fold in Casino Hold’em; having two singles lower than the flop is an exception.
Online Slots -you must know the odds
Know your slots pay tables, knowledge of odds and payouts is the only slots strategy.
Craps Odds
Want to win bad? Learn Craps, our favourable rules push your odds to over 99.5%.
Be Smart at Baccarat
Smart Baccarat players know to ignore the trends and always bet on the Banker.
Pai Gow Suggestion
The suggested card ordering in Pai Gow is almost always the optimal one, don’t alter it.
Last not Least Roulette Tip
The lowest house edge in Roulette? Even money wagers such as Red/Black and Even/Odd.
Good Luck!
December 16th, 2006
Texas Holdem Poker – sounds familiar? Yes, it’s similar to Omaha Holdem, but only when it comes to the number of cards (both are played with five cards community) and to the increasing popularity.
The player is dealt with two cards faced down and five cards, faced up, are dealt in the middle of the table with placed as it follows: three, one and one – representing three betting segments. Basically, the highest hands win and the players are allowed to use one, both or none of their hole cards in order to get the highest hand. One more rule is that no more than three players are allowed to rise during a round.
The first player being dealt with two cards must bet half of the minimum bet, called Small Blind. The player sitting to his left must place the minimum bet, known as the Big Blind. Placing the minimum bet, raising or folding the hand are the next player’s options. This goes on and each player is dealt with two cards, clockwise, until it’s the first player’s turn again. Then he can surrender, this way, by folding his hand, he loses the Small Blind, or place the appropriate bet or even raise, if possible. At the next phase of the game, also known as the “Flop”, three cards from the table are turned up. No bet smaller than the Big Blind is accepted. Another card from the table is turned up after another round of betting. And finally, the last card faced down on the board is turned, a step known as the “River”. All players still in the game must reveal their cards and the one with the highest hand will win the pot.
There are a few strategies out there that will transform a usual player into a winner and while some go for the “weak tight” type of strategy, others choose a rather more successful one called the “tight aggressive”.
The weak tight player has a winner’s skills, however, there is something drawing him back from being a winner most of the time: he is scared and he gets intimidated pretty easy by the players that rise. Usually, this player doesn’t take his chances, he doesn’t like to risk and he seems to lack self-confidence - he will stay in the game only if he has a high hand.
Unlike this type of player, the tight aggressive type is definitely the all time winner. What sets them apart? The confidence! The second type of player goes with his instinct when the cards “tell” him that he stands low chances of winning. Bluffing is a part of his strategy and because of the confidence other players cannot tell if he really has a good hand or not.
I think that a true winner takes any chance he gets, even if that means that one has to risk. That is why I have adopted the second strategy and the results can be described by using only one word: success! I recommend it to you too and don’t forget: think like a winner and act like it!
Good luck!
December 14th, 2006
The key to being a good online poker player is …
Hold on, please, while I am writing this article, I am also playing in a $50 sit and go.
OK, the tightwad to my left has called my $400 pre-flop raise. He must have something like King-Jack suited.
Like I was just writing, the key to being a good online poker player is…
Can you believe this guy? He leads out with an $800 raise on a rainbow K-7-10 flop. I have an up and down straight draw and he puts most of his chips in from the start.
Right, right, sorry about that. Being a good online poker player means …
I guess I have to fold.
For many online players, this scenario presents itself far too often. It’s the curse of the online player, being deeply involved in a big game but at the same time multitasking. The game takes a backseat to checking email, checking fantasy baseball stats, and checking out what exotic Russian women often do on the Internet.
Therein lies a major problem for the horde of people playing poker online. A population that includes professional players, would-be professionals and a lot of thrill-seekers. It doesn’t take an expert commentator such as Norman Chad to look out at that playing field and forecast the winners are most likely those who devote most of their time and mental energy toward the games they are playing and not on ancillary activities.
The key to being a good online player is to be focused.
Playing online has its risks compared to live games. You can not get a true read on your opponents’ habits; you can’t form a model in your mind on how he/she plays because you can not see them and the way they conduct themselves; and you have no idea if he/she is just some loose player who likes throwing chips away.
So taking into account these risks, if your attention easily sways away from the game, then trapdoors in front of you grow wider.
Here are some ways to improve your online play.
- Don’t allow Web surfing to distract your game. It’s always tempting to waste time between hands browsing the Web, but that won’t help you win. Pay attention to betting patterns of the players at the table. Look to see who folds easily or who keeps over-betting the pot. This information is extremely valuable but can only be obtained when watching the game, not another Web site.
There are plenty of weak players online, so pay attention and identify them early in the game. For those who spend a lot of time playing online, the games can be tedious. Instead of constantly checking your email, attempt another diversion like getting out of the chair and walking around. This will keep you fresh but also keep your mind on the game.
- Be awake. For avid poker players, online games are like an oasis in the desert. Players can satisfy their thirst by finding an online game no matter the time of day. However, that 7-11 mentality of never being closed can also be dangerous. When you crave a game, make sure you are alert. That goes for both morning and night. Don’t wake up and immediately get started with a game.
Take a shower and tend to your daily business. This will greatly improve your attention span so you can sit down at the computer and be free of a lingering notion that your daily tasks are still ahead of you. A good rule to give yourself is not to play until you have been wide awake for more than two hours. After you are awake and have tended to necessary business, an online game can be your only concern.
The same logic holds true for the nighttime. Don’t fall into the bad habit of saying to yourself , “One quick game and then I will go to sleep.” If you are thinking that, then you are probably already tired and not at full capacity to play.
Why put yourself in a position to be someone else’s ATM machine just because you want to play? A good poker player should want to play good poker, not just play poker.
If you know a night’s sleep is only a few ticks away, you are more likely to make a bad decision and easily expose yourself to defeat. Instead of playing that last late night game, convince yourself you will be a better player tomorrow following a good sleep than your current state of drowsiness.
- Play cash games rather than a tournament if time is an issue. Hopefully, you have set time aside during the day when you will play online poker free of other stimuli and annoyances (in other words, a time when your wife is not wandering around the house asking you if you would like to go to the flower festival with her). If you are unsure of how long you will be able to play distraction free, then make the wise decision and play a cash game rather than a tournament. Cash games are better for those players with time restraints. Easy-in, easy-out is the case for cash games, but not so for tournaments. In a tournament, you can never be sure how long it will last. If you have somewhere to go but you are in a tournament, the chances are extremely high you will just throw your chips away to expedite the game. If you were in the same position but in a cash game, you could play one last hand and be free of other inancial obligations on the table.
There is a reason why college students and professional players do so well online. It stems from their free time and their perspective of the game being the most important aspect of their life at that moment. While online, don’t make the mistake of doing a handful of other tasks while playing. You are likely going to lose to someone with a much different approach.
By Aaron J. Moore
Inspin.com Contributing Writer
