Casino Q&A with John G. : Get the Answers that Help You Win!
As a game that allows players to exercise their skill along with having a strong element of chance, blackjack has more subtleties than most casino games. It also leaves plenty of room for question and comment. Let’s try to answer a few questions and relay a few comments submitted by readers.
Q. Weird thing at blackjack the other night. Some guy wanted to double down on blackjack when the dealer had a 6. The dealer told him it was against house rules to double on blackjacks. It became this whole big thing. The pit supervisor came over and told the guy sorry, they don’t allow it.The dealer busted, the player complained some more, but I told him we didn’t know if the dealer would have busted if the player had taken a card for his double. Just for discussion, how bad is doubling with blackjack vs. 6? Does it make a difference if blackjacks pay 3-2 or 6-5?
Casino Knowledge: Q & A with John G.
Q. In casino statistics online from various gambling states, I see casino hold percentages and win percentages in blackjack listed at 16, 17 and 18 percent. How can that be? I know there are some bad players, but no one should be giving the house 16 percent.
A. Those hold percentages are not the same thing as the house edge. When gaming board statistics list a hold percentage of 16 percent, it doesn’t mean blackjack players have lost 16 percent of wagers. It means they’ve lost 16 percent of buy-ins.
Types of Casino Gamblers & The Things They Say
When it comes to gamblers, you will notice a lot of different eclectic personalities and behaviors. You will see everything from superstitious rituals to over zealous excitement with visions of guaranteed jackpots.
Whatever category you find yourself in, or your favorite gambling buddies, we feel that most fall in to one of three categories. Check them out and see which you align with the most.
Casino Gambling: Basics of Baccarat
Known to many as either; bac-ca-rat or bah-ca-rah, the pronunciation has little effect on mastering this card game. This no-strategy, luck-only game is most commonly housed in casino’s “high-limit” areas, due to its minimum betting of usually $20 a hand. To entice more modest wagering clientele, casinos down scaled the baccarat game and created the mini-baccarat. This altered game has a cheaper minimum betting ($5 per hand) and maintains the same game that everyone loves; only cheaper. It’s a simple game to learn and carries a low house edge…Read more.
Casino Confidential: Things you should never do!
Casino games are full of judgment calls with what plays you should make. Should a blackjack player hit hard 16? Yes, if the dealer’s face up card is 7 or higher, but not if it’s 6 or lower. Should a Three Card Poker player match the ante with a play bet? Yes, if the hand is Queen-6-4 or better, but not with lesser cards. But there are absolutes, too. And many of those absolutes are absolutely not’s.
Here are a few things you should NEVER do in a casino….
Casino Comps: Knowing the Numbers
Interests of casinos and players don’ always precisely align when it comes to comps. Naturally enough, as players we’ll take whatever we can get. Cash back, free play, room and meal comps, shows, golf’s bring it on!
Tailgating Tips: A Talk with the Commish…Joe Cahn
Football season is here…it’s time to start firing up the grill and icing down the cooler. Get game time tips with the official Commissioner of Tailgating, Joe Cahn.
Southern Gaming caught up with him to chat about everything from ziplock bags to mustard for brats.
Three Card Poker: Strategy and Game Variations
Three Card Poker is easy to learn…but there are a few game variations and strategies to remember. Go inside the game with John Grochowski as he explores what you might see when you sit down at a Three Card Poker Table.
Three Card Poker: On the Felt with Roger Snow
Roger Snow is the senior vice president at Bally Technologies and also a renowned table games inventor. We recently caught up with him to talk about the popular game of Three Card Poker, a game that inspired him in his career and one that resonates with players around the world.Snow goes into detail on why you will see more ‘made hands’ than other games, the popularity of player interaction and the one simple strategy that will help you win.
Three Card Poker: No Bluffing Needed
Three Card Poker is one of the fastest growing table games on the casino floor and also one of the most popular. The combination of simplicity meets reward has proven to be appealing to casino gamers.
Learn how to play Three Card Poker with casino aficionado … John Grochowski.
