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  • Wagering Tricks And Combinations by John Grochowski (Jan 2012)
    When a game offers multiple wagering options, casino players start looking for that winning combination, the right mix of wagers that will pad their bankrolls. Is there a magic combination, one where the weakness in every wager is covered by the strength of another, where the whole is stronger than the parts, and the player has an edge in the long run?

  • My Friend Lenny by John Grochowski (Nov 2011)
    Somewhere buried deep in my files of personal memorabilia is a letter from Lenny Frome. It was written in 1994, it was the first contact I had from the first video poker guru, the man who made playable strategies accessible to the public.

  • Random Random Random By John Grochowski (Sep 2011)
    There must be some other explanation than random chance for those oh, so sweet wins and those all too frequent losses, or so many players think. But slot machine results really are as random as humans can program a computer to be.

  • Tell Me Something Good By John Grochowski (May 2011)
    Ask just about any casino executive these days, and he or she will tell you the business is all about customer service. Make players feel good about their day and regardless of whether they win or lose, they’ll be back. Make them feel the least bit unwelcome, and they’ll find other places to spend their money.

  • Destination Resort: Your Favorite Casino By Cynthia Earhart (Nov 2010)
    Once upon a time, a casino was just a casino — a place to gamble, have a cocktail and hope that lady luck was on your side. How times have changed.Some Tips For You by John Grochowski (May 2010)
    Sometimes it’s the little things that count. A small strategy adjustment in blackjack. A tiny tip on what to look for in a slot machine. A wee wrinkle in getting the most out of comps. Here are 20 tips that may come in handy during your next casino visit.

  • New Frontiers On The Felt by John Grochowski (March 2010)
    Find out what the future holds for table games at your favorite casinos. Developers and manufacturers put forth some exciting games and side bets at the recent Global Gaming Expo.

  • A Look At The Edge In The Short Term by John Grochowski (Novemeber 2009)
    It all sounds so cut and dried when we talk about the house edges on casino games. But as anyone who has ever played the games knows, the house edge isn’t short-term destiny.

  • Hail To The Liberty Bell by John Grochowski (September 2009)
    Hail to the Liberty Bell. Let jackpots ring. We’re not talking  Philadelphia and issues of independence and liberty. We’re talking  slot machines, one-armed bandits, spinning reels and big paydays.  We’re talking Charles Fey.

  • 20 Tips To Beat The Odds by John Grochowski (September 2008)
    Want a short piece of advice for getting the most out of a day in the casino? Be prepared. Be prepared to choose the game that’s right for you. Be prepared for strategy decisions. Be prepared to manage your money wisely. 20 tips drawn from John Grochowski’s radio show that airs weekends on WBBM-AM in Chicago.

  • Stretching Your Casino Dollars by Bill Burton ( July 2008)
    While there are several alternatives you can choose to cut back on the amount you spend for coffee, movies and other items you buy, I started wondering what could be done if your favorite form of entertainment is visiting the casino?

  • New Games Mean More Fun At The Tables by John Grochowski (March 2008)
    Livening the games and drawing extra attention from players is the object after all of new table games. And whether it’s from new wrinkles on old games or fulfilling video poker players’ fantasies with a novel twist, players can look forward to a livelier 2008.

  • World’s Easiest Card Counting Systems by Fred Renzey (June 2007)
    When card counting was first publicized in the 1960s, the “plus/minus” method of mentally adding and subtracting points for each high or low card that came out became standard operating procedure.World Class Cities in Missouri by Dan Donarski (Mar 2007)
    Way to go St. Louis! Enhancements to St. Louis’ hospitality product and improvement in the quality of life there received international recognition when the World Leadership Forum awarded St. Louis its World Leadership Award in the category of urban renewal.

  • Sportsman’s Gift Guide by Dan Donarski (Dec 2006)
    Need gift ideas for that special outdoors-loving someone? Here are some bona fide tools sure to please the sportsman on your list.

  • My Favorite Fallback Games by N.L. Preston (Nov 2006)
    Although many casino visitors avoid the table games because they’re intimidated, they shouldn’t be. The table games, if you choose wisely, can make your bankroll last longer by stretching out your gaming time.

  • An Open Letter to Casino Personnel 
    by Richard LoBello (May 2006)

    We all walk into casinos with certain basic expectations. We expect to be treated cordially, if not cheerfully by both floor personnel and the occasional manager we happen to meet. We expect to have questions answered and services rendered in a timely fashion. In short, we expect good customer service. We are, after all, consumers walking into not only a business, but also an entertainment venue. Unfortunately, there are times that we’ve all had when our expectations were not met. 

  • The Big Four by John G. Brokopp
    What do recent casino acquisitions and mega-mergers mean to us in the Midwest? For one thing, these transactions are representative of what has been happening to the riverboat casino industry in America's Heartland for the last several years. As we go to press, more than half of all floating casinos in the Midwest are now owned and operated by just four companies.

  • Nice Guys Can Finish First  by Bill Burton
    The winner of this year's 35th annual World Series of Poker, Greg ŒFossilman' Raymer, proves once again that nice guys can finish first, even out of a huge field of contenders.

  • Stretch Your Gambling Dollars by Tom Hawks (Sept. 2003)
    When it comes to spending your entertainment dollars, you want to spend them wisely and make your money stretch as far as it will go. In today's economy, discretionary income for most people is limited, so here is how to get as much bang for your gambling buck as possible.

  • Take Common Sense Into The Casinoby Bob Dancer
    You just want some simple advice on how to make your gambling bankroll last longer in a casino. Let's see what we can do, by just using common sense. 

  • Players Clubs: The Future by John Robison
    Unbelievably, the players club features described here are not a futuristic fantasy, they are all possible with current or imminent technology.
  • Tournaments: Competition For Fun And Profitby Bill Burton
    In a tournament, you are competing against other players. This means that, depending on the number of entrants, your odds may be better for winning a large amount of money than if you were playing against the house.
  • Pop Casino Quiz   by Tom Hawks   
    Learn how to use some of this strange and funny language to amaze your family, friends and neighbors, not to mention that old cigar-chomping know-it-all at the craps table, with your command of casinoese.
  • The Same Old Snake Oil - Part Two by Dale Yeazel
    Have you spent money on a “sure fire, guaranteed” method to beat the casinos at their own games? Then read on.

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Craps 

  • Learning The Language Of Craps by Dave Guzman and Chris Fagans 
    Have you ever gone over to the craps tables just to watch the game for awhile? Next time instead of just watching, try listening to the dealers and the stick person. You will soon discover that there is a different language out there. It’s a language that only dealers and craps players understand. 

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Money  

  • Mastering The Comp Game by Mike Aponte 
    Aside from the prospect of winning big, comps are the most appealing lure for gamblers. As a big player for the MIT blackjack team, not only did I stay in luxurious penthouse suites and dine in fine restaurants, but I also enjoyed some rather extraordinary perks. 

  • Time Is Money by John Grochowski 
    Time is money, as much when visiting the casino as in the work world. And when we’re deciding how to spend our time in the casinos, how much time it takes to play a hand or spin the reels is a factor to be weighed right along with the house edge.
     

  • Worst Case Scenario Money Managementby John Robison
    We've all had trips on which we just can't catch a lucky streak. It seems like we're single-handedly paying for the casino's latest expansion. We need a plan to see us through those trips from hell with as little financial and emotional damage as possible. 

  • Gambling Can Be A Taxing Proposition by John G. Brokopp: 
    The fact is, you never know when Lady Luck may look your way and bestow upon you a big win. So, it1s important to be armed with the proper information to help take the sting out of taxation on your good fortune

Poker  

  • Yakity Yak ... Do Talk Back by John Grochowski (July 2009)
    When table games players take their seats, the conversation often doesn’t get any deeper than asking the dealer how long he’s worked at the casino. But when something out of the ordinary is fresh in mind, that’s when the table talk flows.
  • What’s In The Cards? A Look Ahead At Poker in 2009 by Jennifer Newell (January 2009)
    Any game, or sport if you will, goes through its ups and downs over a span of years. Poker is no different and has maintained, as most successful games or sports, a fairly consistent rise over the past few decades, with two very notable exceptions.
  • Across The Felt, Friend Or Foe by Cynthia Thomason (January 2008)
    How does the competitive arena of poker interact with personal relationships? Can pro poker players really be friends? Where better to explore this topic than with the pro poker players themselves.
  • Reading Minds. Sizing Up Your Opponents by Bill Burton (May 2007)
    We have all watched poker tournament television and seen some players make reads on their opponents that might have some of us wondering if they were psychic. It almost seems supernatural, but in essence it is one of the skills that separate the great players from their competition.
  • Not Easy Being A Poker Diva by Jennifer Newell (May 2007)
    Liz Lieu in the first of this two-part series that gives a candid look into the much-discussed and envied career that is professional poker. Her life is a unique one as she manages cash games, tournaments, family life, marketing, fan relations, and business opportunities, all from her laptop.
  • Way To Go: Sit & Go by Bill Burton (April 2007)
    Sit and Go tournaments are mini-poker tournaments. They can be multi-table events, but the most common and popular are the single-table S&G with nine or 10 players. These are the ones I will be discussing here.
  • PARTNERS IN POKER: Love, Honor, And Take Your Chips (February 2006)By Jennifer Newell
    Many couples experience natural difficulties when they balance married life with their separate careers, trying to find financial security and job satisfaction while taking the time to nurture the complexities and nuances of love. What happens when they throw a poker career into the mix and both people in the relationship have that same job? What ensues is an interesting situation, to say the least. Poker, in and of itself, is a difficult sport and an even more challenging career.
  • Winning Poker Tournaments: More Than Good Cards by Bill Burton
    Many players who have only watched poker tournaments on television may get the impression that tournaments are fast-paced events with chips flying and plenty of action throughout. Nothing could be further from the truth.
  • Hail King Elvis by John Grochowski (Sept 2006)
    Elvis Multi-Strike, the latest game from the designers of Multi-Strike Poker, is ready to rock through the Midwest.
  • The Evolution of Modern Day Blackjack by Fred Renzey 
    It doesn’t seem that anyone really knows where the game of blackjack originated. Some look toward similar 18th and 19th century European games. We do know that the house-banked game of “21” began appearing in the gambling parlors of America between 1910 and 1920. 
    Crazy 4 Poker by Elliot Frome(June 2006)
    In the past, I’ve written about a game called Four Card Poker. ShuffleMaster also has a similar game that is currently more prevalent than Four Card Poker in Las Vegas and can also be found in the Midwest. It is called Crazy 4 Poker.
  • Tournament Poker: The Pros vs. The Joes by Bill Burton (June 2006) 
    Over the last few years, tournament poker has evolved from a simple casino marketing tool to a major industry generating billions of dollars in profits for casinos, card rooms and online poker sites. 
  • Reading Your Opponents Is A Must To Win At Poker by Fred Renzey (May 2006)
    Poker is a truly unique gambling game. Other casino games are made  up entirely of mathematics. Poker’s foundation too, is rooted in the  math and the odds. But you’ll never be a winning player if you can’t  understand and use its vital psychological aspect. That’s what makes you more money with  your winning hands and saves you money with your losing hands.

  • Sibling Rivalry: From Home Penny Games To Million Dollar Pots by Jennifer Newell 
    Sibling rivalry has long been an interesting subject studied by psychologists. Though it is a natural part of growth and life for brothers and sisters, bringing those relationships to the poker table in a competitive and sometimes cutthroat environment yields new challenges. 

  • A Festival Of Poker by Lou Krieger
    It's springtime in Las Vegas, and that usually means only one thing, the World Series of Poker. But there's a difference this year. It's hot, it's new, and it's made for TV. It's the finals of the World Poker Tour.

  • True Tales From The Poker Tablesby Fred Renzey
    In my 23 years of playing poker, I’ve met some colorful characters, seen plenty of pretty strange things and pulled off a few amusing stunts myself.

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Slots  

  • Milestones In Our Slot Machine Journey by John Grochowski (July 2011)
    Any journey begins with a single step, and so it is with our journey from the first mechanical slot machines to modern games with bonus events, multiple progressive jackpots, high-definition video and other bells and whistles.
  • Multitiered Progressives Bring More Ways To Win by John Grochowski (Sep 2010)
    Practically everywhere you turn on a casino floor nowadays, there are multitiered progressives. Hot new games like IGT’s Sex and the City and Amazing Race, WMS Gaming’s Hot Hot Super Jackpot Progressive and Goldfish Race for the Gold, and Bally Technologies’ Hot Shot Progressive.0
  • What’s Hot: New Slot Games Heating Up The Casino Floor by John Grochowski (Jan 2010)
    Let’s take a look at some of the highlights from the IGT, WMS and Bally booths at this year’s Global Gaming Expo. These are games we can look forward to adding to our list of favorites as they spice up casino floors in the not too distant future.  
  • Well Worth The Risk: Slot Innovations by John Grochowski (May 2009)
    Sometimes companies are born of innovation. Sometimes they’re driven by the innovations of others. Either way, it takes further innovation to survive and thrive in a competitive environment. So it goes with International Game Technology and WMS Gaming
  • Story Of A Slot Machine Cheat by Steve Bourie (March 2009)
    The first slot machines were invented in the late 1890s and it probably wasn’t very long after those machines appeared that somebody had the brilliant idea of trying to cheat them. Yes, times may change but, unfortunately, greed is here to stay.
  • Winning Double Takes by John Grochowski (Oct 2008)
    If you play slots or video poker, no doubt you’ve heard this before: every spin of the reels, every deal of the cards is an independent trial. The odds are no different after a big winner. You’re just as likely or unlikely to hit the jackpot on any spin, regardless of what has happened in the past.
  • So You Wanna Be A Blackjack Card Counter By Fred Renzey (May 2008)
    What is it that’s so attractive about systematically winning at blackjack? Beating the house at its own game? Achieving heroic status as a gamesman? Making money doing it? Who wouldn’t want that? You might want it, but considering everything it takes to make it happen, you might not after all.
  • Oh Those Progressives by John Grochowski (September 2007)
     
    Each progressive system has its own personality and its own little quirks. Still, there are a few things you could remember about progressives each time you sit down to play.
  • Coming To A Casino Near You Soon by John Grochowski (Jan 2007)
    G2E as it's known in the casino industry, is the industry's largest annual  conference and trade show, and it's where slotmakers and other manufacturers show off their latest and greatest wares to potential buyers. Find out what you'll be seeing in your favorite casinos soon.
  • PlayAway Lets Players Take The Casino Home by John Robison 
    PlayAway may sound like Internet gambling, but it isn’t. No wagering, redemption, or other financial transactions take place online. Those activities take place in the casino, where those transactions are legal. 
  • Where The Loose Machines Are - Part Two by John Robison (May 2006)
    Last month we looked at what a loose machine is and some of the theories about where casinos place their loose machines. I said I didn’t think the theories are relevant in today’s slot world. Let’s look at how slot machines and slot floors have changed to see why.
  • Back To Basic Training by Gayle Mitchell
    Basic or straight slots are the vanguard of the casino and still quite popular with players. Even though they are less complicated than the new multi-line video games, a slots education is still essential to get the most out of your play.
  • First Quiz Of The Semester-Slots (Oct. 2003)by Gayle Mitchell
    OK, class, it's test time. I offer up this quiz in the expectation that all slot players will forever hear the sound of "raining coins." Let's get started.
  • The Slot Expert's Lucky 13 Tipsby John Robison    
    Have more fun and stretch your bankroll while playing the slots with these tips.
  • Elvira - Mistress of the Dark  by Victor Royer
    In the next few issues I want to introduce you to some of the newest slot machines that you will soon be seeing in your favorite casinos.
  • Back To Slot Basics by Victor Royer
    Most of the casino’s profits from slot play come from the nickel and quarter players — not the dollar slot players.
  • Near Misses: The Truth by John Robison
    Near misses are part of the fun of playing the  slots. They’re the slot player’s equivalent of the fisherman’s tale of “the one that got away.” Near misses provide an incentive to play because it seems like the machine is trying to pay off, but it just hasn’t gotten it quite right yet. Surely, one of the next few spins will be a big winner.
  • Just The Facts  by John Grochowski 
    Before you spend your money trying to solve the Case of the Giant Jackpot, get a clue about how slot machines really work.

    Interview With A Slot Cheat by John Robison 
    Slot cheating expert Mr. Slug (not his real name) reveals the numerous and varied methods that have been devised over the years to cheat slot machines. Warning: Don't try any of these in the casino. 

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Video Poker

  • Video Poker: Something Old, Something New By Linda Boyd (Dec 2011)
    Way back in the seventies, IGT founder Si Redd, purchased the rights to video poker from Bally. When “Draw Poker” first began to appear on Las Vegas casino floors, neither Redd nor casino operators could know how popular the game and its variations would become. Now, almost 40 years later, we are sure to find video poker machines in virtually every casino throughout the country and worldwide.
  • The Godfather Of Video Poker by Elliot Frome
    My mother said that he never liked being called the godfather of video poker, and preferred the term ‘video poker guru.’ I think that was my mom’s opinion more than my dad’s. I’m guessing he liked the idea of being called the godfather. He didn’t invent the game, but he probably had more to do with its success than even the inventor.
  • Video Poker: Bridge At The Divide By Linda Boyd (Oct 2011)
    Some establishments manage to give patrons what they want, yet still make a solid profit while others can’t seem to find a pathway over the gap between players and the house. They sway too far in one direction and then dangerously back the opposite way..
  • Ink By The Barrel by Linda Boyd (Aug 2011)
    Most people would agree that you have to consider the source before placing a value on any information. The reality, however, is quite different from the dictates of common sense.Video Poker: Snow In Winter by Linda Boyd (June 2011)
    Some casinos advertise prizes galore and the best machines in town, but when you get there you discover it’s just more snow in the winter
  • Video Poker: Bad Beats By Linda Boyd (April 2011)
    One of the good things people cite about video poker is that there are no possible bad beats. This does not mean, however, that there are no feelings of despair akin to bad beats when you play video poker.
  • Video Poker: The Price Of Poker By Linda Boyd (Mar 2011)
    With video poker you don’t have to worry about a poker face or playing mind games with others. It’s just plain old all-American what you see is what you get. One additional thing you’ll be getting with some newer versions is the option to play several hands during the same game.
  • What’s New In Table Games By John Grochowski (Feb 2011)
    The move toward video on table games is more of a slow march, a niche here and a niche there. But it’s coming on big and strong.
  • Saving Fish From Drowning by Linda Boyd (Dec 2010)
    I guess you can’t save people who are satisfied with their lack of knowledge and choose to remain uninformed. But those players who value their money and want the best odds of avoiding an early demise of their bankrolls will want to take the time and make the effort to become an informed player.
  • Just Another Brick In The Wall by Linda Boyd (Oct. 2010)
    If you base your video poker plays on oddball anecdotal stories, then you’re more likely to go for long shot plays too often. The reason I describe these moves as “too often” is sometimes it is correct to draw for an unlikely result because the stakes are high enough to offset the risks.
     Video Poker: Spending A Penny, Waiting For Change by Linda Boyd (June 2010)
    Many things in the world of gaming are different today, some to accommodate an economy stuck in a recession, while others are to spark new interest in the games. How does that affect video poker?
  • Waiting For Godot by Linda Boyd (April 2010)
    If your game is video poker, regardless of the specific name or version, Godot absolutely has a possibility of arriving. The probability depends on your individual definition (a royal, a huge jackpot, or just coming out ahead) as well as the game and pay schedule you have selected.
  • Video Poker: Gaming In The Heartland by Linda Boyd (February 2010)
    Casino patrons are making cost-saving changes. For one, they’re staying closer to home. And that’s a good thing. It used to be that people correctly assumed you had to go to one of the famous Southwest towns to get the best odds, whether it was tables or video games. That is no longer true. Games in the Midwest are just as good.
  • Video Poker Country Of The Blind by Linda Boyd (December 2009)
    Video poker involves short-term luck, like poker and every other casino wager, but the long-term results are also based on the game’s expected return (ER) and your skill as a player.
  • All Winners, All The Time, All-Star Video Poker by Linda Boyd (October 2009)
    Video poker fans have cast their votes for the games they like best  with a ballot that’s been open to voters since the late 70s. I’m  talking about the classic games that have been video poker favorites  for years, and I think you’ll be happy to find many of them on All  Star Poker.
  • Video Poker: The Razor’s Edge By Linda Boyd (August 2009)
    Casino management is much more sophisticated now than back in the  late 70s when the first video poker device was spotted on the casino  floor. Back then nobody had the software to know the precise way to  play each dealt hand, much less the expected return if played computer-perfectly.
  • Recession-Proof Video Poker by Linda Boyd (June 2009)
    There is definitely a “best way” formula that will provide fun for  customers at an affordable price and still keep casinos solvent  during the hard times. Those businesses that come up with the right  combination will be around when the recession ends and we’re back to  business as usual.
  • Video Poker: The Next Big Thing by Linda Boyd (April 2009)
    Doesn’t matter whether it’s music, fashion, or a casino game, everybody’s looking for the next big thing. Gaming manufacturers cater to people who are looking for heart-pounding thrills in exchange for their disposable mad money. Their customers may be risk-takers, but whatever you do, don’t bore them.
  • Playing Quick Quads For Fun And Profit by Linda Boyd (February 2009)
    Some things have come along to make various classic video poker choices more exciting and even increase the theoretical return of the base game. One of those is a format option that can be applied to any video poker game, it’s called Quick Quads.
  • Part One: Key Plays For Video Poker by Linda Boyd (December 2008)
    Most people don’t want to devote too much time to practicing and understand that it won’t cost that much to make a few mistakes on rare hands. However, learning some key plays will be very beneficial if you don’t want to rely strictly on luck.
  • Part One: Key Plays For Deuces Wild Video Poker by Linda Boyd (November 2008)
    Most people don’t want to devote too much time to practicing and understand that it won’t cost that much to make a few mistakes on rare hands. However, learning some key plays will be very beneficial if you don’t want to rely strictly on luck.
  • Recreational Video Poker by Linda Boyd (August 2008)
    Some people shy away from table games because they are new to gambling or are intimidated by the fast action of craps or short- tempered players and dealers in live card games. Still, they’d like to play a game involving some skill, only something less stressful. Video poker fits the bill for this group.
  • Pick ‘Em Poker by Linda Boyd (June 2008)
    Pick ‘Em Poker (PKM) is one of the eight recommended games in my book, The Video Poker Edge. This month, I’ll tell you what makes PKM so special.
  • Guaranteed Play by Linda Boyd (April 2008)
    I had been reading about Guaranteed Play for quite a while, and since it seemed to be a big hit with both focus groups and at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E), I decided to learn more about it. Let’s take a look.
  • Video Poker Nibbling By Linda Boyd (February 2008)
    There aren’t many players with the ability to play almost perfect video poker and most casinos have downgraded the pay schedules, so the house doesn’t need to worry too much. But those who take the time to learn the games will have good odds of getting an inexpensive or free vacation.
  • Video Poker Tournaments: Making The Cut by Linda Boyd (December 2007)
    There’ll be lots of opportunities to participate in a kaleidoscope of video poker tournaments this holiday season. So, here’s a guide to help you select the best competitions around and then give you several strokes advantage over the rest of the field.
  • Norman Rockwell Video Poker by Linda Boyd (October 2007)
    Rockwell’s paintings are nostalgic. The same is true of some video poker games, which are becoming extinct, especially in full-pay versions. Rather than just lamenting the demise of your favorite games, there are some things that players can do to keep the classics around for a long time.
  • How To Play The Video Poker Comp Game by Linda Boyd (August 2007)
    Years ago video poker players could stay ahead of the game by choosing full pay deuces wild or even 9/7 Jacks or Better. Life was good. Nowadays you can still have an advantage, but you’ll have to combine borderline paytables with a mixed bag of cash and non-cash benefits.
  • Why We Love Our Video Slots by John Grochowski (July 2007)
    Why are slot machines the most popular games in casinos today? Lots of reasons. They’re easy to play, with no complicated strategies to learn. You don’t have to worry about a dealer who’s in a bad mood or a player who might hassle you over strategy mistakes. Most important is the chance at a big jackpot. Three quarters or a couple of dollars give you a chance at enough money to change your life.
  • A Work In Progress: Progressive Video Poker by Linda Boyd (June 2007)
    Obviously, some progressives are better than others. How then, can a player decide whether to choose a progressive bank, as well as when to stop playing? Let’s take a close look at some good progressive games, strategy changes and rules of thumb to make adjustments for the constantly changing jackpot amounts
  • The Midwest’s Duelin’ Deuces - Part Two by Linda Boyd
    When it comes to video poker Deuces Wild games, it’s a case of so many choices, so little time, well, sort of. Part I made it clear why all games are not created equally and shed light on how to narrow your choices.
  • The Midwest’s Duelin’ Deuces by Linda Boyd (Feb 2007)
    If you’ve played video poker in Las Vegas lately, then you’ve probably noticed that many of the paytables have been downgraded. Some games at which you turned up your nose in the past are starting to look better. The good news for those living in the Midwest is that you won’t have to travel to Nevada to find the best games.
  • Boyd’s Eye View: You Know What They Say About Practice by Linda Boyd (Dec 2006)
    One of the most important steps in playing smart video poker is to study the most mathematically sound strategy before you go to the casino.
  • Video Poker: Tips For Playing The Games By Linda Boyd (Oct 2006)
    What can you do to increase your video poker playing time and maybe even go home a winner? Choose a game wisely and play correctly.
  • Interview With A Wizard by Kevin Blackwood (Sept 2006)
    Whether you are looking for the optimal way to play video poker or the best strategy to reduce the house edge at pai gow poker, Michael Shackleford is a trusted voice and one of the top math minds in his field.
  • Video Poker Name Game by Linda Boyd (July 2006)
    Whether you’re new to video poker or a long time player, you’ve probably heard lots of unusual names for the games. As its popularity continues to increase, manufacturers are creating even more varieties of video poker for players to choose from, which can cause confusion
  • As An Investment, How Risky is Video Pokerby Bob Dancer (May 2006)
    I believe that investing in the intelligent playing of video poker  is a far safer and less risky course than investing in the stock  market. At least for me.
  • The Magic Words In Video Poker by John Grochowski  
    Good video poker and a good slot club go hand in hand. In fact, say “100% return’’ and “1% cash back’’ to a video poker player, and you’ve said the magic words.
  • It Usually Doesn't Happen This Way 
    by John Robison 
    As my friend Brian Tidwell once told me, "Hey, even I know better than to play the machines at the airport." .

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Blackjack

  • Blackjack Around the U.S. by Henry Tamburin(June 2006)
    One of the nice things about my profession as a blackjack player, writer and instructor is that I get to travel to different gambling areas in the U.S. In the past month, for example, I visited and played in Atlantic City, Tunica, Biloxi, and Las Vegas. I saw quite a difference in blackjack playing conditions in all three areas from previous trips and thought I’d summarize what I found.
  • More Blackjack Questions by Henry Tamburin (May 2006)
    Questions, questions. I get lots of questions from readers on  blackjack. Here are just a few that I received this past month.
  • Practice Makes Perfect by Mike Aponte (March 2006)
    Editor’s note:
    In 1992, Mike Aponte was recruited to play on the MIT Blackjack Team,  and quickly developed into one of the team’s top “Big Players” and  money winners. Within several years, he also became one of the team’s  managers, contributing significantly to the team’s incredible  success. In the summer of 1993, “MIT Mike” recruited his good friend,  David Irvine (a.k.a “Mister J”) to join the team. Together, they were  part of a hand-picked group of MIT students that took casinos by  storm using a new training approach. The team would go on to win  millions and take blackjack to extraordinary heights, as chronicled  in the best selling book, Bringing Down the House.
  • The MIT Team's $500,000 WeekendBy Mike Aponte (January 2006)
    Editor’s Note: The following narrative recounts a landmark weekend for the MIT Blackjack Team, a consortium of card-counting phenoms who won millions from the casinos. The team’s exploits, as chronicled in the best-selling book Bringing Down the House, two television documentaries and Kevin Spacey’s upcoming movie, have been based primarily on the recollections of a single team member. ‘The MIT Team’s $500,000 Weekend’ is written by Mike Aponte, another original member of the world-famous team and co-founder, along with Dave Irvine, of www.BlackjackInstitute.com. Blackjack aficionados will recognize Aponte as the 2004 World Series of Blackjack Champion.
  • Blackjack Encounters Of The Video Kind by Henry Tamburin
    A reader's question about what is the correct playing strategy for video blackjack prompted me to write about the different types of video blackjack games that are available and how smart players often take advantage of these games.
  • Tourney Play: Blackjack and Craps by Bill Burton
    The excitement of competing against other players instead of just playing against the house is one of the attractions of tournament play. Here's what you need to know about blackjack and craps tourneys. 
  • Keeping Your Cool At A Hot Table by Walter Thomason
    Even though it's obvious that streaks occur in blackjack, it's darn near impossible to take advantage of them because we only know that they exist in hindsight. So what is one to do? Do we just ignore streaks as if they don't exist, or do we seek out some "mystical" method to take advantage of them?
  • A Day In The Life Of A Card Counter  by Fred Renzey 
    This is a story about a fella named JoJo Finelli. JoJo is a blackjack card counter. He doesn’t play blackjack for a living, he plays for fun and profit.
  • In Answer To Your Blackjack Questions  by Henry Tamburin
    I continue to receive a lot of good blackjack questions from readers, so I decided to share a few along with their answers.

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Online

  • Line On Online by Mark Balestra (Jun 2003)
    Last month's introductory article about online poker rooms offered a peek into one of Internet gambling's hottest games. This time around we examine more closely the things you need to consider in optimizing your online poker experience. You're on your own when it comes to gaining the skills necessary to be a champ, but the following items should help make the transition from felt to pixels a smooth one. Software: To Download or Not to Download

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