Dear Mark,
I seem to be having less success playing the video poker game, Deuces Wild.
I'm playing the same way I normally do. Is there something I should be on
the lookout for since I play Deuces Wild exclusively? Sharon W. Newark,
OH
Sharon, let me try to make a real-life comparison here. When you go to your
local grocery store to purchase a jar of spaghetti sauce, you're probably
paying the same amount as you did a year ago. But look closely at the glass
container. It's shrunk! Now it's a 28 oz jar where it used to be 32 oz.
The same probably holds true with the Deuces Wild machines you're playing
on. You pay the same price to play it, but you're now getting less in return.
Are the casinos cheating or rigging the machines so you'll lose more? Not
at all. They most likely changed what they pay you for Four-of-a-Kind.
Expert players evaluate the potential return on a Deuces Wild video poker
machine by the payoffs on Four-of-a-Kind hands, so in casinos with limited
competition or ones tightening the screws a bit, you're normally paid 20
coins versus 25 for each coin inserted on that payoff. Since Four-of-a-Kinds
occur frequently, this lower payout drops the percentage return by almost
6.5%.
So, Sharon, I recommend first finding, then playing, only full-pay machines,
ones that give you 25 coins for each quarter played.
Dear Mark,
A friend, who claims he knows a lot about blackjack, told me you should
always split 10s when the dealer is showing a six. Does he know what he's
talking about? Ellen G. compuserve.com
This reliable source, Ellen, does he stand behind you while you're playing
your hard-earned cash offering advice but never wagering his own money?
Seriously, Ellen, there is only one time when it's proper basic strategy
to split 10s and that's on a face-up blackjack game. Face-up blackjack is
where all the cards dealt are exposed, including both of the dealer's cards.
Only here does correct strategy dictate you splitting 10s against a dealer's
13, 14, 15, 16.
But I can't recommend this version of blackjack to anyone because even when
using perfect basic strategy, the casino edge is 2.0% compared to 0.4% with
regular blackjack. Why 2%? Mainly because you lose when you push (tie).
Dear Mark,
How do you feel about playing video keno versus regular keno? Noreen D.
aol.com
If you've read my columns in the past, you'll note I've lambasted keno as
a game of choice, but that hasn't stopped the many letters, like yours,
from inquiring about video keno. So should you play video keno? NO!!! Besides
a bonging sound bound to drive you nuts, and though it doesn't carry the
tall odds of regular keno where the casino take is over 25%, it still has
a built-in house edge running close to 8%, and as you know, Noreen, "Deal
Me In" readers only place wagers where the casino advantage is 2% or
lower.
Before I Shuffle:
Our French-speaking friends north of the border in Montreal call it à
bon marché. We call it "a bargain" or cluck for the
buck, and that's what you get when you see illusionist Lance Burton's $30
magic act in Las Vegas versus Siegfried and Roy's $85 performance. Don't
get me wrong; many believe Siegfried and Roy is the "must see"
act in Vegas, but readers of the Las Vegas Journal--Review also think otherwise.
They've rated Burton's magic act #1 over the duo's in their latest "Best
of Las Vegas Readers Poll." One last thing: The first amateur magician
who can tell me how Burton made that girl disappear two feet in front of
me without props, I'll send a free set of my tapes, "Hooked on Winning."
Please, I've got to know how he did it!!!
Got a question about gambling? Write to: Deal Me In, 774 Mays Blvd.
Suite 10, Incline Village, NV 89451 or e-mail:winners@winner.com
· To order Mark Pilarski's "Hooked on Winning" audio cassettes--laminated
win cards package ($12.95 plus $2. S&H) call (800) WINNERS.
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