I was at a Palms drawing on Friday night in mid-August. Afterwards I stopped by the Gold Coast to play a bit (4x points) and to pick up four beverage packs earned the day before. During “Thursty Thursdays,” 1,200 or more points on Thursday earns you four beverage packs (water, soda, beer) that you can pick up sometime between Friday and the following Wednesday. (You can earn less than four packs. I don’t have the rules with me just now.) I’d played quite a bit more than 1,200 points on Thursday, and if I was going to pick up the beverages, this was a good time. Continue reading Five Times Zero is Zero Only if You’re Calculating Wrong
Author: Bob Dancer
New Video Poker Class Semester Begins August 31at South Point
I’ve been teaching video poker classes fairly regularly for 14 years in Las Vegas so another semester beginning soon is hardly earth-shattering news. Still, the new semester is different in a few respects. Continue reading New Video Poker Class Semester Begins August 31at South Point
Being Restricted
Both blackjack players and video poker players risk being restricted by casinos — largely for the same thing — which is winning too much. Many casinos view advantage players as highly undesirable, but most let advantage players who are losing continue to play. Continue reading Being Restricted
Playing an Straight to Eight Promotion
Someone asked me about a promotion at a Rounder’s bar that paid you an extra $20 for a max-coin 45678 straight or straight flush when played for quarters. The best game there is 6-5 Bonus. Continue reading Playing an Straight to Eight Promotion
The Shoe Is On the Other Foot
At this time of my life, video poker is relatively easy to me. I’ve studied the game for 17 years, played 30,000 or so hours, taught 500 classes, and have written thousands of pages on the subject. Learning a new video poker game is usually a piece of cake for me. Continue reading The Shoe Is On the Other Foot
A Look at Gambling Wizards
I’ve been reviewing a lot of books lately, largely because I’ve been reading them to prepare for my Gambling with an Edge radio show. Some of you may remember the June 30th show where we had Richard W. Munchkin on. I read his Gambling Wizards: Conversations with the World’s Greatest Gamblers prior to that date for the third time. (I read it when it came out and go back and reread it periodically. It’s that good.) The question is why should I review the book now instead of just prior to the show? Reviewing it just prior to the show would have had the added benefit of attracting more listeners who were sufficiently inspired by the review so as to catch the broadcast. Continue reading A Look at Gambling Wizards
Major Change to Gambling with an Edge
Starting sometime in 2010, I decided that I wanted to host a radio program dealing with gambling. I have a large amount of gambling knowledge and I’ve become something of a celebrity while doing it. I checked out various avenues. Talked to various people. And nothing happened with my idea. Continue reading Major Change to Gambling with an Edge
Planning Your Work and Working Your Plan
I annually submit articles to the American Casino Guide and in payment get an ad and a free book, worth less than $20 retail. The book has coupons in it, but I rarely take advantage of them. Same with the Las Vegas Advisor’s Pocketbook of Values. Either may be picked up at Huntington Press, 3665 Procyon, just north of the Rio. Continue reading Planning Your Work and Working Your Plan
If it’s good Enough for You
I was playing $1 8/5 Bonus Five Play in the Slot Emporium at the Palms. The machine is right next to the set of restrooms adjacent to the poker room, so whenever I play there lots of people see me on their way to and from the facilities. A player I knew, Henry, saw me and sat down immediately, saying “I don’t play at the Palms very often and I don’t know why you’re playing these machines, but if they are good enough for you they are good enough for me.” Continue reading If it’s good Enough for You
A Look at Kill Phil
The goal of the book Kill Phil is to allow novice players to have a chance playing in No Limit Texas Hold’Em tournaments. This is done by moving “all in” more frequently than “normal” players do and force the smart players to make a guess for their tournament lives. Most strong players want to avoid these guesses, figuring they can cream these novice players in other parts of the game, so they fold the all in bets and let the novice players win these particular hands. Continue reading A Look at Kill Phil