Archive for December, 2009

Tips on Playing Blackjack

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

On this page we offer you some general blackjack tips. And the No. 1 tip is: always use basic strategy. If you never follow any other tips on blackjack, you must follow this one, because blackjack is a game of math. Basic strategy is simply the optimal strategy for each hand you’re dealt.
As there are a limited number of possible hands going against a limited number of potential dealer up-cards, basic strategy is something that can be learned by heart.  Also don’t forget you can practice blackjack at an online casino to get more experience. The following chart was developed by the MIT blackjack team, and illustrates basic strategy:

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Online Blackjack No Different from Casino Blackjack

There are a lot of mistaken beliefs that surround blackjack played online when it is compared to the land-based version. For example, many people assume that the online and land-based blackjack rules differ – a completely false assumption. Players will also find the games in both venues equally challenging, and the need for tips on blackjack and even a written blackjack guide equally present.

Tips on Blackjack: Winning Online and Offline

Card Counting

No blackjack guide is complete if it does not show you how to count cards. To count cards you’ll need to track the ratio of high to low cards, with more high cards being the desired outcome. The history of counting cards really got started in 1962 with the publication of Beat the Dealer by Dr. Edward O. Thorp. The casinos took steps to counteract a lot of of his tactics for counting cards, however, and as a result they no longer work.
Still, you need to keep up with the ratio of high to low cards in the deck. When the deck is rich in tens you have better odds of hitting the jackpot, so you should increase your bets accordingly.

Know When to Use the Surrender Option

When the rule “surrender” is applied, whether in land-based or online blackjack, it is in the player’s favor. “Early” and “late” surrender are the two variations of the rule, with early being the best one.

Be patient with yourself when you first begin playing

Everybody makes mistakes. As a novice you are most definitely going to do so. It takes time to perfect your blackjack strategy, no tips on blackjack will tell you otherwise. Practice basic strategy at an online casino that offers a play-for-free option.
Keeping the tips from this blackjack guide in mind will not only improve your skill in playing blackjack, but it will also reinforce your strategy. So pay attention, print out this article if you have to, and enjoy your gaming.

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Looking for New Types of Poker Games?

Friday, December 11th, 2009

Poker is a game which is actually played in hundreds of different ways. Although Texas Hold’em is the most talked about version, there are many other types of poker games. In all of them, generally the value of your hand, measured against an elaborate ranking system, is what determines whether or not you win.

For all types of poker games, players bet into a pool, called the pot, that the value of their hand will beat all others. Variations mostly differ on how the cards are dealt and the methods by which players can improve a hand. Generally, “casino style” poker games are played against the dealer instead of other players.

Caribbean Stud Poker

This is a casino game with rules similar to five-card stud poker. However, unlike standard poker games, players play against the dealer, not against the other players. To play, every player places his ante before the dealer calls out “no more bets.” Each player examines his five cards and decides whether to fold or call the dealer. If a player wishes to continue playing, he must place a bet that’s double the ante; if he wishes to fold, he forfeits his ante. The dealer plays only with an ace/king or higher, and he compares his cards to those of the players. The hand that beats the dealer’s qualifying hand wins.

Let it Ride Poker

Let it ride is another variation of casino poker, played against the house rather than against the other players, you can think of it like a live version of video poker. This is another variation of five-card stud where the players bet on a poker hand consisting of three cards in the player’s hand and two community cards in the dealer’s hand. Here is the standard payout schedule used at most casinos:


Hand
Payout
Royal flush
1,000 to 1
Straight flush
200 to 1
Four of a kind
50 to 1
Full house
11 to 1
Flush
8 to 1
Straight
5 to 1
Three of a kind
3 to 1
Two pair
2 to 1
Pair of 10′s or better
1 to 1

Three Card Poker

This game consists of two separate games: pair plus and ante-and-play. Pair plus is very easy, all you have to do is get a pair from the three cards you’re dealt, and you’ve won. You’ll win even more if you get a straight flush: with a 40-to-1 payout. Straights, flushes, and all the other usual poker hands pay out with good odds.

With ante-and-play three card poker, you can raise your bet and challenge the dealer. You don’t even need a pair to win: you just need a higher hand than the dealer and the better poker hands still pay out with odds. Unlike most other types of poker games, with only three cards, a straight beats a flush, since it’s easier to get a flush with three cards than a straight.

Whether you decide to play Caribbean stud poker, three-card poker or let it ride poker, always ensure you play within your financial limits. Start out at smaller tables, and be selective with the hands you play. You can also practice at online casinos. If you start losing too much money, it’s usually a good time to walk away from the table. Don’t forget all types of poker games involve some skill so study properly so you know when to fold and when to go for the win.

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Casino Layout

Friday, December 4th, 2009

Las Vegas is an industry leader when it comes to themes and special designs in contemporary casinos. For the most part, Vegas casino layout and design plans center on escape and imagination, two of the major factors that contribute to the fascination that draws in potential gamers. Design of space inside a casino may center on strategic placement of machines, arrangement of table games, traffic patterns, color schemes and aesthetics, chair design for maximum player comfort in seating, sight lines for navigation, and helpful and unique signage.

Casino Guide: Designing Casinos to Rule the Competition

Entertain, build a dreamy atmosphere, and arouse the senses: that’s what good casino design is all about. Most casinos don’t have windows to the outside, clocks or water fountains – nothing that would sidetrack a patron from the games or the availability of free cocktails. The typical casino layout encompasses a tremendous amount of square footage – you would need a casino map to get around the 171,000 square feet of slot machines and gaming tables at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Another feature of casinos is the intentionally poor navigation – these facilities are built like mazes, so it’s hard to find your way out. Then there’s the steady bombardment of noises, some of which are intended to give you false hope, because if you can constantly hear bells ringing on the slots, then people must be winning, right? Loose slot machines, which pay out more often, are usually placed near high traffic areas such as aisles or near the change booth, so more patrons can witness winners.

Very few casinos have more than one level, although The Sands in Macao is a glaring exception. Their casino map features various gaming and entertainment facilities layered above each other. This breaks the unofficial casino design rule of gaming facilities developed horizontally with any hotel towers being placed above them. Normally there would be no stairs within a casino, because owners want to allow free movement within the facility.

Any casino guide worth its salt would tell you that the theme of the facility is a vital concern. Support facilities like golf and the health spa are also important, since patrons base their opinions on the entire experience, not just the gambling. Attention must therefore be paid to the hotel tower, and the quality of the rooms. Another essential aspect to the casino layout is parking – players who have driven to a gaming area will often stick to a casino that’s close to where their vehicle is parked.

The layout of a casino is usually carefully planned in consultation with a casino psychologist, who will ensure that the different games are placed in positions that would encourage patrons to spend as much as possible. The psychologist tells the casino where to put the looser slots, and where the tighter ones should go. Almost every aspect of casino design and layout is done with the input of the casino psychologist.

The next time you find yourself roaming around, take a moment and realize that the experience was specifically tailored and created; the casino layout was designed to grab you, and your wallet!

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