Odds on Natural Royal Flush in Video Poker
March 8, 2008
You could almost bet someone a large amount that they would never be dealt a natural royal flush on a video poker machine and feel pretty safe that you are never going to have to pay up. With a 52-card deck there are 2,598,960 possible hands, and what you’re asking for is that one of them to be dealt straight away. Those are long, tall odds. And what about all that time and money spent chasing down a natural Royal flush in hearts? Well, here’s the barnyard math. At a buck and a quarter...
Video Poker Odds Royal Flush
March 8, 2008
Doesn’t it seem that every time you are dealt one card short of the royal flush, when you draw you never get the card that you need? It can lead you to believe that the casino controls who and when someone hits the jackpot and takes home the cash. However, casino expert Mark Pilarski is here to deal with this nasty rumor and set you down the right path: I could bore you to tears by trying to explain how the pseudo-random number generator determines the cards you will get, but instead, I’ll...
Video Poker
March 8, 2008
In video poker, only 21% of the hands dealt are winning hands of Jacks or better and 79% are downright dogs. Herein lies the difference between the winning and losing player: what you do with those 79% of the hands that need to be groomed into winning greyhounds. The best way to give yourself the greatest chance of victory at video is to read, absorb, embrace and pledge allegiance to these playing tips. o Seek out Jacks or better machines that pay 9 coins for a full house and six coins for a flush. o...
Video Blackjack Odds
March 8, 2008
If you want the video blackjack odds then take a look at the house edge and different strategies to help you win. We have frequently been asked about the house edge on Video Blackjack and how different rules and playing perfect strategy affect the odds against you. Many players like the smaller wager limits with the video version and the fact that they can play at my own slower pace.These visitors are right in that there are plenty of advantages to video blackjack with the low minimum bankroll...
Two Year Olds Gambling
March 8, 2008
Today Mark Pilarski is giong to prove that two-year-olds gamble. Seems like an outlandish statement right? Well keep reading. First, let me give you two examples of children gambling casino style. On the Boardwalk in Atlantic City children can freely walk into an arcade and play true slot machines by exchanging quarters for tokens. They win crummy prizes in exchange for the tickets the slot spits out. Another example is at the children’s arcade at the Circus Circus in Reno. A child can play...
Three Card Poker
March 8, 2008
Three card poker is two games in one where the player may bet on either one, both, and in different amounts. Both games are based on hands consisting of three cards. Before I go on here are the possible hands in three card poker, the number of combinations of each hand, and the probability of forming. Note that a straight is harder to form than a flush. Probabilities in Three Card Poker PairplusThis is a simple game in which you get three cards and are paid according to their value. The...
Things for Kids to Do in Las Vegas
March 8, 2008
If you are deciding on whether to take a family trip to Las Vegas or Disneyland, then the age of your children is important. If you have the younger crowd then Disneyland is more appearling, while if they are old enough to gamble then you could have a good time in Sin City. Mark Pilarski gives his recommendations here. If you’re looking for total family entertainment, choose the latter and take your family to Disneyland. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Las Vegas-just not as a family destination....
Super Fun 21
March 8, 2008
Super Fun 21 is a blackjack variation found at lots of casinos in Las Vegas. There are lots of liberal rules offset by most blackjacks paying only even money. The Rules Blackjack rules are followed with these specifics and changes: The game is played with a single deck of cards. Dealer hits a soft 17. Player may double after a split. Player may resplit to up to four hands, including aces. Player may hit and double down to split aces. Player may double on any number of cards. Player may take late...
Splitting Eights in Blackjack
March 8, 2008
If you have ever taken a look at a basic strategy card, book on blackjack, or an experts column online then you will always see they recommend splitting eights against a dealer 10. However, many players realize that they are going to end up losing even with two different 8’s going against the dealer 10, so they depart from optimal play and just hit instead of splitting. While this is a hand that hurts most players, you have to realize that the perfect strategy tries to minimize losses at...
Pass Line Odds Compared to Hardway Sixes & Eights
March 8, 2008
When it comes to casinos, there aren’t many people out there who know more about the odds than Mark Pilarski. This week a reader asks Mark to help her show her brother how much more he is going to lose over the long run by betting hardway sixes and eights at the craps table over the pass line. Always remember, the pass line is one of the best bets you can make in the casino since it has such a low house advantage.By using a simple mathematical formula Mark proves that by playing smart you...