“Knowing just a few simple things about the rules and odds of different games will allow you to play more successfully and be more likely to end the game as a winner.”
Playing casino games can be fun, exciting and even profitable. Knowing just a few simple things about the rules and odds of different games will allow you to play more successfully and more likely to end the game as a winner. The 10 simple and winning gambling tips I’m about to give you can be used at any casino in the United States, including riverboats and Native American facilities. These tips have been proven over the years by thousands of gamblers. Read them, study them and apply them, and you will reduce your losses and become a more successful gambler.
1. Ask And Ye Shall Receive.
When playing blackjack, if you are not sure how to play your hand, you can always ask the dealer. In about 90 percent of cases, they will help you. They will usually do so with the suggestion, “the book (basic strategy) says to “, or “most players will _ with this hand”. They may not tell you how to play every hand, but they may tell you how “others” might play. Also, there may be experienced players at the table who can tell you what the mathematically correct play is. Don’t be afraid to ask.
2. To split or not to split?
In blackjack, you should always split aces and eights, and never fours, fives and tens. In the case of aces, you hope to catch two tens and end up with two 21s. Separating the 8s is also a good move, as 16 is considered the worst hand in blackjack. The best solution is to split them and count on two 10s and then two 18s. You won’t always be a winner when you split the 8s, but you will end up losing less when you make a habit of splitting under the right circumstances.
On the other hand, don’t split 4’s. If you’ve just hit your hand, you may catch a 10, making your hand an 18. Splitting them may result in two 14’s, which is bad. Don’t discard the 5’s; you want to double down if the dealer has a 2 through 9. Otherwise, just hit. Two 10s make a 20, which is the second best hand in blackjack. Don’t cheat yourself by splitting it, just win.
There are other pairs you can split, depending on the card the dealer shows. Does the dealer have a small card (2-6)? If so, you can do a lot more splits. For example, 9’s against the dealer’s 5 or 6 is a good split. If the dealer shows a high card, from a 7 to an ace, you should only split aces and eights.
3. Insure your car, not your cards
Don’t take insurance or even money for your blackjack. If you take either of these options, the odds are very high. Remember, the house wouldn’t offer these options if it wasn’t in their favor. The bottom line is not to take insurance with any hand or even money.
4. Reel decisions
When you play slots, it’s a good idea to stick to three-reel machines. Machines with four and five reels increase your chances of winning. In the long run, you’ll lose money faster playing on additional reels beyond three.
5. Maximum bet, maximum payout
Always play the maximum coins in a slot machine or video poker machine. In order to get the most out of the machine, you must throw in the maximum amount of coins. If the price is too high with the maximum bet, simply play on a machine with a lower dominance. If you can’t afford three $1 coins, replace them with three quarters or even three nickels. However, always play to the maximum, which is the only way to win big.
6. Avoid risky bets in roulette
In roulette, never play the 5 spots (0, 00, 1, 2, 3). The house edge jumps from 5.26% on a double-zero table to over 7% when you bet a 5-spot. You can also avoid “inside” numbers and play only “outside” bets such as red/black, odd/even, high/low or columns and tens. The odds are much better on these bets than on any individual numbers you may choose.
7. Play good Video Poker
Whenever possible, play Jacks or Better 9/6 video poker machines. These are the oldest video poker machines and the easiest to learn. A 9/6 machine can be identified by looking at what the Full House pays per coin (9) and what it pays per flush (6). This machine will return 99.5%, which is much higher than any slot machine. It won’t take you long to learn the strategy. Remember that video poker is also called “draw poker.” You are dealt five cards and can choose to keep one, two, three, four or replace all five. The resulting hand is the final score, which determines what the payout will be. You are the winner of any hand that has a pair of jacks or better. Video poker (played correctly) pays out much more than any slot machine.
8. The best bet in a casino
Only play craps where they offer 2X odds or better. A small sign next to each dealer will tell you the minimum and maximum bets allowed, as well as tell you the odds offered. Placing a Pass Line bet with double the odds will reduce the casino’s advantage to just 0.08%. You should always take odds on the Pass Line, because the casino will give you the true odds on that bet, but only equal money on your basic Pass Line bet. In other words, the house keeps some of the winnings for the Pass Line, but keeps nothing for the odds bet. If you’re not sure how it all works, ask the dealer.
9. Keeping it simple
When you play craps, keep your bets simple. Bet on the Pass Line with at least 2X odds, then bet 6 and 8, or two come bets with odds. These are the best bets at the craps table and some of the best odds in the entire casino. Forget long shots like hard ways and field bets, and never bet the Big 6 or Big 8. Craps really can be an easy game if you keep your bets simple.
10. Make bets for the dealers
When you’re playing at the table, instead of tipping the dealer by moving a chip toward him, make a bet for him. When you place a bet for the dealer, they will cheer your win. They certainly won’t cheat to help you win, but there are other small ways they can help you. And they appreciate the gesture. They like to get in on the action, just like any of us.