Pyramid Poker Strategy
March 7, 2008
For those of you who don’t know, Pyramid Poker is a simplified version of Pai Gow poker, where, instead of seven cards, three cards are dealt to each player. Once both the dealer and players are dealt their three cards, the players arrange their hands so each has a two-card hand and a one-card hand. As in Pai Gow Poker, the one-card hand must have a lower value than the two-card hand. The hand rankings are just the same as in poker except there are no straights or flushes with the two-card...
How Progressive Jackpots Rise in Slots & Video Poker
March 7, 2008
Progressive jackpots are a favorite of the casino patron. The desire to leave the casino after a few hours of playing with riches beyond your wildest dreams is an urge that few of us can control. Have you ever wondered how the progressive jackpots rise in both slots and video poker. Well we brought on Mark Pilarski to give us the details. The rate at which the meter progresses upward is based on a pre-set percentage of all the money cycled through the machine. The meter rates will vary from machine...
Streaks on the Roulette Table
March 7, 2008
There are some players out there who are convinced that roulette tables operate on streaks. These players use a strategy that allows them to wager only on numbers that have previously appeared. Mark Pilarski is here today to try and convince you that this is not a good strategy. A streak is nothing more than a backward glimpse at probability and should not be taken into consideration in most, if not all, gaming situations. Roulette wheels do not operate with artificial intelligence nor do they...
Why Aces and Face Cards Help the Player
March 7, 2008
Card counters and even rookie players all seem to know that in blackjack, the more aces and face cards that are in the deck the better it is going to be for the player. If the deck is loaded with small cards, then most people know that the dealer has the edge. Many people change their bets according to how the deck is running, but do you know why it’s so advantageous to the player? Mark Pilarski dives in and explains. There are two reasons aces and face cards help the player: First, blackjacks...
Odds on Hitting the Caribbean Stud Progressive
March 7, 2008
One of the casinos favorite tricks is to offer progressive jackpots that lure players into hoping that they are going to walk out that night rich and live happily ever after. Caribbean Stud is one of those games that offers this exciting option. Let’s say you walk into your local casino and see the progressive total is at $55,200 for a royal flush. How good a wager, and when is it mathematically in your favor and what is a good Caribbean Stud poker strategy? Casino expert Mark Pilarski...
Most Popular Slot Machines in Las Vegas
March 7, 2008
What are the most popular slot machines in the casino? This was a question recently poised to casino expert Mark Pilarski, and like normal he has the answer. The bulk of the lucrative slot business has been the exclusive territory of one manufacturer, International Game Technology (IGT). Their bread-and-butter comes from the most popular machine in America: the Red, White and Blue reel slot. And what makes the Red, White and Blue so popular? Player appeal. People flock to the colors that represent...
Do Casinos Pump Oxygen?
March 7, 2008
There is a popular myth out there that the casinos in Las Vegas pump oxygen through the air conditioning system to enrich the air. The theory behind this is that the oxygen keeps you from sleeping as long and therefore you will be more inclined to gamble your money away. However, this is an old urban legend that doesn’t have any real fact behind it. What comes to mind every time I hear this rumor are the three Apollo astronauts who died when a small spark combined with oxygen ignited their...
Odds on Deal or No Deal
March 6, 2008
We frequently get asked if the banker is setting the true odds on Deal or No Deal or is this game show still showing a game show edge? It isn’t normally giving players the average, but then again there are other factors involved. Mark Pilarski gives his thoughts on the game. If you haven’t seen Deal or No Deal then this is how it works. The participant selects a brief case containing anywhere from 1 cent to 1 million dollars, and there are 26 cases to choose from. Then, all non-selected...
How Long to Claim Mega Millions Jackpot Winners
March 6, 2008
There are some people out there who seem to misplace their Mega Millions lottery tickets for quite some time. This is not a practice recommended by casino expert Mark Pilarski, as he explains to a reader who noticed while cleaning an old purse the she had $10 worth of Mega Millions lottery tickets she purchased last year in California. After checking out a web site and finding out they were not winners, she was still curious about how long she had to redeem them had she won anything, and what...
No Call Bets
March 6, 2008
There may have been a time at the craps table when you heard the dealer call out no call bets. Here is a typical kind of situation. You have been playing for an extended session when you run out of chips with the exception of a lone $5 chip in hand, and whatever you had on the the Pass line and its odds. You toss your $5 chip on the table and yell out to place the 6 for $25, then reach for your wallet for the additional money when the dealer yells back “No Call Bets” and shoves...
