Bob Dancer

Posted on January 12, 2021 by Bob Dancer — 6 Comments

Tonight’s the Night!

Listeners to the GWAE podcast know that Richard Munchkin is one of my favorite storytellers. When a guest on the show takes us through memory lane, it sometimes jogs one of Richard’s stories and I just sit back and listen with enjoyment.

With that in mind, Richard’s brother Jake made a long post on Facebook in late December that caught my eye. It was about blackjack in the early 80s and their team was playing in Atlantic City somewhere. At that time, there was no device law in the New Jersey gaming statutes and so it was completely legal to use electronic devices inside the casino. Teams tried various forms of computers to assist them in playing blackjack and other games. At that time, computers were very primitive relative to today, and often this involved pressing buttons with your toes and getting tiny shocks on your leg to tell you what to do. There would be wires running up your legs to your battery pack. All kinds of things could and did go wrong with this, but in general the process was successful enough that casinos finally banded together and lobbied the state legislature to ban electronic devices used to predict the outcome of casino games.

Posted on January 5, 2021August 24, 2023 by Bob Dancer — 7 Comments

It All Adds Up

A friend, Jake Jacobs, posted in passing on a Facebook page recently that he’d been active in car rallyes in the Chicago area way back when. Some of them were time-speed-distance events where you were timed and crossing a checkpoint 30 seconds early was as bad as 30 seconds late — but both were better than 40 seconds either way.

The other type of rallye was called a gimmick rallye, where time was not a factor, although you had to finish by such-and-such a time because that’s when awards were passed out. You were scored on the basis of your answers to questions, such as, “What is the name of the first street you pass on the right?” or, “How many streetlights do you pass between xxx and yyy?” There was always some sort of trick in the rules leading many participants to get the wrong answer.

Posted on December 29, 2020August 24, 2023 by Bob Dancer — 5 Comments

A Life Changing Book

Someone recently mentioned that one of the characters in the book, The Ultimate Edge, was based on himself. This book, written by Mark Billings, talks about blackjack in the 80s. It includes some insider tips that I haven’t seen elsewhere and ends with a discussion of the main characters’ best play.

I read the book in preparation for a Gambling with an Edge visit from the author on April 4, 2013 and came across one tiny throwaway section that has brought a lot of fun to my life. I wrote about it back then, but since I’m sure many of my readers didn’t read that particular column 7½ years ago, I’ll repeat the fun part here.

Posted on December 22, 2020August 24, 2023 by Bob Dancer — 23 Comments

“I Hate Stations,” She Said.

In January of this year, I was preparing to teach a video poker class at the South Point. As is my custom, once I got set up, I went around to chat with the students before the class began.

One lady I had never seen before seemed to be a friend of a frequent student. She told me her name and proclaimed, “I hate Stations!”

Posted on December 15, 2020August 24, 2023 by Bob Dancer — 9 Comments

Am I the Favorite?

The following email was sent to [email protected]. The correct answer, although not that difficult, has too much math for a podcast. So, I’m addressing it here.

I play full pay Jacks or Better (99.54% return), exclusively. I play $1 denomination at max bet for $5 a hand. The casino that I usually play at gives me, at minimum, $90 worth of free play once a week. For cash back, $5 coin-in on video poker earns one point. One thousand points is equal to $1 in value.

Posted on December 8, 2020August 24, 2023 by Bob Dancer — 17 Comments

Response to a Blog Comment

For the past two weeks, I’ve been posting about using different software in order to learn to play. A comment on the first such post read (lightly edited):

“Just some of plays worth two cents or less if you make the wrong one are sometimes on the rare side and some are somewhat common. So, for me personally, I wouldn’t sweat making this mistake once an hour or so. I’d compare this article to a card counter learning every single playing index for blackjack. While there is an index for splitting 10’s vs 2 and then doubling if one of them receives an ace, is it really worth learning?”

Posted on December 1, 2020August 24, 2023 by Bob Dancer — 1 Comment

Comparing Software on Difficult Hands — Part II of II

Today we’re continuing last week’s discussion of comparing video poker software.

If you’re planning on playing Quick Quads or Ultimate X, the Pro Training software is the way to go. It’s accurate and gives you correction. I’m someone who highly values getting correction when I’m trying to play a game for real money. Other games that are unique to this software, but I don’t happen to play them, are Build a Wheel Poker, Color Match Poker, Deal Draw Poker, Double Pay Poker (single hand), Extra Action Poker, and Wheel Poker.

Posted on November 24, 2020August 24, 2023 by Bob Dancer — 5 Comments

Comparing Software on Difficult Hands — Part I of II

This week’s article explains how WinPoker and Video Poker for Winners help you in different ways to become a competent player. Next week covers a new piece of software called Pro Training that’s available on the website www.videopoker.com for a monthly or annual fee.

I’ve had a lot of discussions with “Kal.” Kal played successful blackjack for years, but is relatively new to video poker. We bring different “beating the house” skills to the table and enjoy learning from each other.

Posted on November 17, 2020August 24, 2023 by Bob Dancer — 1 Comment

“Don’t Be So Negative”

This is a repeat of a column from more than 10 years ago. Today, the games are different. I play at different places. I’ve even changed my wife! (Not on purpose. Fortunately, I’ve ended up in a good place with Bonnie. Shirley has moved back to Las Vegas after a time in California. She started showing up at the same advanced square dance group that Bonnie and I attend. For a time, it was awkward for Bonnie, but not so much anymore. I have no interest in turning back the clock and hooking up with Shirley again, and I’m pretty sure she feels similarly.) The thought processes I went through at the time remain intact today and are worth discussing.

One Wednesday evening, I was at my desk, answering email, recording daily results, preparing an article for the next week, etc. Shirley came in and asked if there was anything she could do. I told her she could sort my bag if she wanted.

Posted on November 10, 2020August 24, 2023 by Bob Dancer — 2 Comments

Learning Advanced Bonus Poker Deluxe

This is a lightly re-done version of a 10-year-old article. The principles still hold and even if you saw it way back when, we all need refreshers from time to time.

At some denominations and in some casinos, 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe (99.64%) can be the best available game. The pay schedule is identical between this game and 9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54%) — save for two items. Two Pair pays 2-for-1 in JoB and 1-for-1 in BPD; 4-of-a-kinds return 25-for-1 in JoB and 80-for-1 in BPD.

Author: Bob Dancer