Professional Gambling Guide - Gambling Strategies » Game Rules

Blackjack Rules

Professional Gambler — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:09:06 +0000

Blackjack is fairly straightforward once you grow accustomed to playing it, but many players prefer to read all of the rules before they sit down, and this is likely a good idea. Blackjack rules are not set in stone. In fact, they vary from game to game depending on a small set of variables that the house chooses for the game.

Generally stated, each blackjack player competes only against the dealer (i.e. the bank/casino), not against other players. Your goal as the player is to beat the dealer by drawing cards until your hand comes close to 21, without exceeding it. If your first two cards total 21, you have what is known as a ‘natural blackjack’. If the dealer gets closer to 21 than you without going over themselves, they win. The dealer follows a strict set of blackjack rules written just for them, and knowing what the dealer must do at the table is as important as knowing what you yourself can do.

Learning blackjack rules online is a great deal easier than trying to learn at a table in a land-based casino. Besides the pressure you feel from the players around you, and the dealers themselves, you are expected to wager your money as you learn. This is something everyone prefers to avoid. Playing online eases this concern, as you may play unlimited amounts of blackjack on a free play version before placing any real bets.

Blackjack rules online are the same as in a land-based casino, and as mentioned previously, can vary slightly from establishment to establishment. To playing online is very simple, since the software won’t let you make any real errors, playing is as simple as clicking your mouse. Open our software to see how many bet denominations are readily available. To place a bet for a specific denomination click on the chip, the software will automatically place this chip in the betting area for you. To remove a bet, right click on the stack in the betting area.

All standard forms of blackjack rules dictate that the numerical values of the cards are: (10, J, Q, K) = 10, (Ace) = 1 or 11, (other cards) = face value (3 = 3).

Blackjack rules for the dealer are very simple. If the dealer’s hand is 16 or less, they must take a card. If the dealer’s hand is 17 or more, they must stand. Note that some casinos allow the dealer to hit on soft 17, which gives the house a very small additional advantage.

The player can do most anything they want as far as hitting and standing goes. Should a player get a natural blackjack (first 2 cards are an Ace and a ten) standard blackjack rules payoff at 150% (or 3 to 2) the original bet. For example, betting $10.00 determines the payoff to be $15.00. Doubling down is restricted to 2-card hands, totaling 9, 10, or 11. When the option to double down is available, the software will ask you if you wish to.

After you double down, if that was your choice, the dealer will give you one more card only, and will move onto the next hand. If you have a pair that you want to split, the software will also prompt you to determine what you wish to do. The original bet will go with one card and the software will place an equal amount of chips in the betting box near the other card. You are now playing two hands, each as though they were regular hands adhering to normal blackjack rules, with the exception being that if you have just split two aces, you only get one more card. If it is a ten, that hand’s total is now 21 but the hand isn’t considered a natural blackjack. That is, you are paid 1:1 and not 1.5:1 as for a natural.

The suit of the card doesn’t matter in blackjack, only the point value. With that in mind, paying attention to your potential total on the next card is the main thinking part of the game.
There is no way to win automatically in blackjack; the closest you can get is being dealt a 21 with your first two cards without the dealer doing the same. This of course is simply called getting blackjack, or getting a natural blackjack, or sometimes simply called a natural. If both you and the dealer happen to get blackjack, it’s a push and you don’t get paid, you just get your money back. If you win on a natural blackjack you are paid a bonus that, as stated earlier, is usually 3 to 2 on your bet.

Part of learning to play blackjack well, or as some call it, becoming an advantage player, is learning when to bet more and when to bet less. Blackjack is a game with a variable house edge, and the amount of money you walk away with isn’t determined by unalterable numbers each time (as would be the case in a game of roulette). This house edge fluctuation is only useful if we know how to take advantage of it, and there is one area where most people fall short, that area is doubling down.

Doubling down is the player’s ability to increase their bet mid-hand if they feel they have a particularly good opportunity to win. This is the major variable that lets blackjack be played at a low house edge. The problem is that people don’t often take advantage of this fact! Without taking advantage of when you should double down, the house edge soars as high as many games you’ll be warned to never play. When people are presented with an opportunity to double down it’s natural for them to think ‘That must mean I have a good chance of winning, and since I’ll win either way, I don’t really need to double my bet, I’ll be happy with just winning, I don’t need to risk more’.

Of course this leads to people not doubling down even though it may be advantageous to do so. Keep in mind though that the house edge gained from a good strategy is only attainable if you take advantage of those double down situations. There is no better money-making opportunity than the double down that Blackjack rules offer.

How to Play Omaha Poker

Professional Gambler — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 08:45:35 +0000

Most poker buffs will tell you that poker was most probably derived to its modern form from a variety of elements aken from a variety of early card games. Omaha Poker is one of the earliest poker derivatives on record and there are no prizes for guessing where this thrilling game originated!
Similar to Hold’Em, Omaha is a community card poker game where players are dealt four cards (called the pocket cards), instead of two as in Hold’Em.

The Dealer then deals five community cards, with betting rounds preceding each newly dealt community card. Players must make the best five card hand using two of their pocket cards and three of the community cards.
Omaha Poker is an extremely popular form of poker because of the potential for outstanding hands to be created, which heightens excitement and enjoyment.

Omaha Poker generally allows for stronger hands to be constructed because players have the opportunity to create their best 5-card hand from a selection of nine cards, four pocket or personal cards, and five community cards. The game play is virtually identical to that of Texas Hold ‘Em, however the cards are dealt differently, which means players are in for an interesting and stimulating time!

Captain Cooks Poker Room offers the popular Four Card Omaha poker game.

SLOTS Terminology

Professional Gambler — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 08:22:17 +0000

Slots Terminology

Like so many games in the casino, slots has its own terms, and as players we are better off being familiar with them. Some terms apply more to land-based gaming, while some are exclusive to the online world. On this page we will cover common terminology and what each term means.

RNG (Random Number Generator): A Random Number Generator is a piece of software, usually housed on a computer chip placed inside the slot machine by the manufacturer. In online terms, the Random Number Generator is the piece of software on the game server. The purpose of both is identical, and that is to randomly select hundreds of numbers and symbols every second, faster than you can pull the handle or click the spin button. It’s working even when the machine is idle. Each random number corresponds to a certain reel and symbol combination that is randomly chosen after the first coin is dropped or credit played. Naturally, the fewest programmed combinations are for the top jackpot.

Reels: The number of wheels/reels showing on slot with symbol combinations imprinted. In a classic machine there are usually three, but some slots have five.

Slot Schedule: Also referred to as the slot payout schedule, this is information posted on front of slot machine and tells you what denomination and win amounts are possible for the machine. You should always be aware of these things for the slot machine you’re playing.

Slot Cycle: Slot’s average payoff percentage rate applies over the long haul; as long as one fiscal year. Therefore, over the course of a session, a slot advertised as having a 98% payoff rate will sometimes pay off at 130% and other times at 50%. The lower percentages indicate a down cycle, and the higher numbers indicate an up cycle. However, in reality there is no consistency to a cycle, as the jackpot can theoretically always be won on the next spin.

Slots Drop and Hold: The slots drop is the amount of money played through the machine. The slots hold is the amount of money the machine retains (that which is not paid out as winnings). A slot machine payout percentage is calculated by dividing the hold number by the drop number and multiplying by 100%. For example: a machine which takes in $100 and pays out $50 can have its payout percentage calculated as such: 50 / 100 x 100% = 50%.

Slot Testing: The act of playing through a set number of coins without using accumulated credits, and keeping track of the drop and hold, in order to determine your session payout percentage for a selected slot.

Slot-mix or Slot Placement: Often people claim casinos place high paying slot machines near highly visible areas of the casino so that winners can be seen and heard better by the populace. This theory has been proven wrong by the Wizard of Odds.

Short Win: Large jackpot win after a small cash outlay – happens often.

Making a Killing at Craps

Professional Gambler — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 06:32:30 +0000

The game of Craps is considered America’s most popular gambling game. Because the Craps table uses unfamiliar language, it is often considered very complicated. However, after learning the terminology, it is in reality, quite easy. In the middle of the Craps table are what is known as proposition bets. This includes all one roll proposition bets. The House has an advantage on these bets of from 2.778% on the “field” to 16.667% on any 2 or 12. For this reason, we will not be going into detail on any of these bets. If you want to win consistently, you want to stay away from these bets.
You may stand at either end of the table, as both sides contain exactly the same bets. If you were the first player at the table you would stand at one end of the long table and the stickman would let you pick a pair of dice. You, being the “shooter” would have to bet on either the pass line bet or the Don’t pass. The first roll of the dice is called the “come-out” roll.

PASS LINE BET
If the dice thrown on the come-out roll total 7 or 11, ( a
natural) you win and are paid 1 to 1. (You would then bet and
roll another come-out. ) If the dice thrown total 2, 2 or 12 (
a crap ) you lose. ( The dice would then go to the next player
for another come-out roll. ) If the dice thrown total 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 then the total becomes the “point”. You are more likely to win, than lose on the come-out roll. However, once the point is made, the odds
turn against you. Now, if 7 comes up on the dice, you lose the bet you made at the beginning. If the point comes up, you win.

Pass Bet Rules:

Come-out roll: Natural 7 or 11 you win Crap 2, 3, or 12 you lose
Points: 4 5 6 8 9 10 Point rolls: Point you win 7 you lose

DON’T PASS BET

If the dice thrown on the come-out roll bet total 7 or 11, you lose. 2 and 3 win, and on 12 you “push” (neither winning or losing).
If the dice come up 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 as before, this becomes the point. After this, if 7 comes up first, you win. To lose, the point must come up.

Don’t Pass Rules:

Come-out roll: Natural 7 or 11 you lose Crap 2 or 3 you win
Crap 12 push Points: 4 5 6 8 9 10 Point rolls: Point you lose
7 you win

COME BET
After a point has been made, you may place a bet in the space marked Come. This has almost the same rules as pass. 7 or 11 win, crap 2, 3 + 12 lose. When a new point is established, the bet is moved to the appropriate box above the come space. Then the bet wins if the point appears, loses if 7 appears first.
Payment again is 1 to 1.

DON’T COME BET

After a point has been made, you may place a bet in the space marked Don’t. This has almost the same rules as don’t pass. 7 or 11 lose, crap 2 + 3 win, 12 is a push. When one of the point numbers comes up, the bet is moved to the appropriate box. Now you want 7 to come up before your don’t come point number.
After what you have read so far is understood, you can “lay the
odds”. A bet not even on the Craps table. Let’s say you have made a pass line bet and point 5 has been established. You may now bet a like amount by placing it behind your pass line bet. This means an “odds bet” on 5. If 7 turns up before 5, you lose both bets. If 5 turns up before 7, you win both bets.
On a come point the bet is the same. You identify the point to
the dealer saying for example “odds on 5″. He will place your bet on top of your come bet. If the come-out roll intervenes this, the odds bet is off unless you specify to the dealer that you wages “work” on the come-out roll.

ODDS Payoff ( by exact odds )

Point 4 or 10 6 to 3 5 or 9 6 to 4 6 or 8 6 to 5 To maximize the odds, you should bet 3 units of the table minimum so you may always get full odds. Pass + Come Don’t Pass + Don’t Come Point payoff Bet payoff
4 or 10 2 to 1 6 units 3 to 6
5 or 9 3 to 2 6 units 4 to 6
6 or 8 6 to 5 6 units 5 to 6
In this way, if the point is 5 or 9, you may be a full 6 units ( more than the original bet ) instead of the actual odds of 4 1/2 to 3.
Work on your game and begin this way: 1st bet only on the pass line. When you have learned the game well enough, bet full odds on the point rolls. Then make come bets and bet full odds on point rolls. ( You can at this point bet don’t pass or don’t come with full odds. )

Slots Terminology

Professional Gambler — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 22:04:56 +0000

Slots Terminology

Reels: The number of wheels/reels showing on slot with symbol combinations imprinted. In a classic machine there are usually three, but some slots have five.

Short Win: Large jackpot win after a small cash outlay – happens often.

Craps Game Rules

Professional Gambler — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:54:53 +0000

CRAPS
Introduction to the Game

Welcome to our introductory craps page. We’ll start with the very basics of the game and explain how you would make your first bet. Before reading this page we highly recommend you download GoldenPalace.com software and start up a free play session. This way you can practice as you learn, and our examples will be easier to understand.

The first bet for players is most often the ‘Pass line bet’, and it’s made by placing your chips in the large band that runs around the outside of the table with the word PASS written in it. The pass line bet is placed in anticipation of the ‘come out roll’. The come out roll is the first roll of a session. Since there is no one else playing playing along with you while you are online, it may be difficult to tell if a session has begun. There is one sure way to determine if the session has started already, or if you are currently on the come out roll. Just like in land-based craps games, there is what is known as a ‘puck’ on the table at all times. This puck has the word ‘OFF’ written on one side, and the word ‘ON’ on the other. If the session has not yet started and we are on a come out roll, the puck will not be on the playing surface and it will be ‘OFF’ side up.

The major premise of the game of craps revolves around the two states that a game can be in. These are: with a session started (the puck is on the board and set to ON), or with a session not started (the puck off the table and set to OFF). During a come out roll the session is not started. This is when we place our pass line bet.

With our pass line bet in place, the come out roll is thrown. If the total of the two dice adds up to any of 2, 3, or 12 on the come out roll, the session resets and all pass line bets lose. However, if the total on the come out roll is a 7 or an 11, the session resets and all pass line bets win. If any other number is thrown, the session has started and the dice total becomes known as the ‘point number’ for the remainder of the session.

If a point number is set, pass line bets neither win nor lose; they simply stay in place with their fate to be determined later in the session. At this point it is common to back up your pass line with an odds bet. Commonly called ‘placing odds’ or ‘placing free odds’, this type of bet is particular to craps, and what you are doing in effect is backing up a previous bet with more money. Only a couple of bets can be backed up with free odds, and the most common is our pass line bet.

To back up your pass line bet with odds after the point has been set, put more chips just below the pass line, as though you were placing them just off of the playing board, behind your initial bet. This becomes your odds bet, and it is literally the best bet in the casino. The house edge on a pass line bet is quite low to begin with, and gets lower the more odds you back it with. Free odds bets are paid back at even odds, meaning for the odds portion of your bet you will be paid exactly what probability suggests you should, the house has no edge whatsoever. The catch is that to place that odds bet you must place a negative expectation bet before hand (the pass line), and then back it with odds. This is why the pass line bet, which already has a nice low house edge, in combination with free odds, is often considered the best bet in the casino.

You’ll notice in our session flow diagram that after a point is set it says we are ‘shooting for the point now’. This is how a session progresses. Let’s say a six was rolled on the come out roll, so the point number for the session is now six (you’ll see the puck flip to the ON position and move over to the six printed on the craps table). For our pass line bet to win, the shooter must roll a six again before they roll a seven. The session ends when the shooter either hits their point, or hits a seven. Hitting the point number again makes pass line bets win, but hitting a seven first makes all pass line bets lose.

As you can also see from the diagram, the shooter continues to throw the dice until they either hit the point number, or hit a seven. In the meantime any other number can come up, and we can place all sorts of bets on these rolls.

Now that you understand how to place a pass line bet and know what a session is, you can play a basic game of craps. Learning to place more bets on the table will be simple once you understand how to place your pass line and pass line with odds bets.

To learn about each of the other bets available on the craps board, and whether or not they are a good idea, read our craps rules page. Do this while playing our free version of the game and you can discover exactly what you are allowed to do and not do, and read all about which bets are favorable.

Play Craps at GoldenPalace Casino

BASIC BLACKJACK RULES

Professional Gambler — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 19:12:24 +0000

BlackJack Rules

All standard forms of blackjack rules dictate that the numerical values of the cards are: (10, J, Q, K) = 10, (Ace) = 1 or 11, (other cards) = face value (3 = 3).

Easy Blackjack System

Professional Gambler — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 06:49:30 +0000

In all of the games used for gambling, Blackjack remains the only one in which a participant can actually change his chances of winning during the game. Whether those running casinos wish to admit it or not, Blackjack does involve skill. Blackjack actually refers to a specific holding (two cards totalling 21). However, this is also the most common term for the game – also known as 21.

You are playing against the dealer at all times. Many people feel that you must play differently depending on where you sit at the table. This is not true. Players sit in a semi-circle around the dealer, but no matter where you sit, you are still playing against the dealer. You owe nothing to the other players – it is your own money you are risking. In Blackjack, the suits of the cards have no significance. Tens, jacks, queens, and kings all count 10. An ace counts 1 or 10 at the player’s option. Cards from 2 to 9 have their face value. Therefore, if you hold a nine and a five, you have 14. A nine and an ace can be either 10 or 20. The simple idea of the game is to get closer to 21 without going over than the dealer does. You are dealt two cards and the dealer is dealt two cards also – one always face up, and one face down. You are then given the option of standing with the cards you have (“stick” or “sticking”) or you may be “hit” and be given another card (“hitting”). You may take as many cards as you wish to, but should you go over 21, you “bust” and the dealer wins automatically. The dealer will not take any cards until all players are through at taking cards. Thus the dealer’s biggest advantage is here. Any players that bust, lose their bet – even if the dealer goes bust.

If you stay at 21 or under and have a higher total than the dealer, you win; if both you and the dealer hold cards equalling the same total, it is a “push” and you stay even (not winning or losing). If the dealer has a higher total without busting, he wins. The pay off if you win is even money (one to one). If you get a “21″ or “Blackjack” (21 in two cards) you are paid at a rate of 3 to 2 (bet $10 win $15). If the dealer gets blackjack at the same time, you push – all other players lose. You may take “Insurance” when the dealer’s first card is an ace.After all players and the dealer have two cards, he will ask Insurance?”. You may bet another 1/2 of your original bet.

Payment is 2 to 1 if the dealer does get blackjack. At this point, after each player and the dealer has 2 cards, he will start at the immediate right and see if the player wants a card (a “hit”). If yes, the player scratches the table with his fingers or cards towards himself. If not, he places his cards under his bet or makes a negative movement with his hand. Dealers respond to hand gestures only. If you go over 21 “bust” you turn your cards over (face up) and the dealer takes the cards and your bet. If you stay at 21 or under, the dealer will continue to the next player. As we mentioned, an ace can be counted as a 1 or 11. When you have say an 8 and a 10, you have a “hard” hand. However, an 8 and an ace gives you a “soft” hand. Because you have a soft 19 or a hard 9 if you count the ace as a one. The dealer on the other hand does not get these options. When all players are through, the dealer turns face up his hole card. He must take a card if he has 16 or less. He must stand (in most casinos) on a hard or soft 17.

Most players try and guess what the dealer has and look at the other cards on the table before deciding to hit or stand. Most players also never win at Blackjack. At this point, you should understand how the game is played.

The following is your best blackjack strategy as determined by computer testing:

Always hit when you have 11 or less. Always stand with a hard 17 or more.On a hard hand: When the dealer’s up card is from 7 to Ace, draw if you have 12 to 16. When the dealer’s card is 2 to 6, stand on 12 to 16 except if the dealer’s card is a 2 or 3, in which case you would draw. On a soft hand do the following: Always draw to a soft 12. Stand on 18 except when the dealer has a 9 or 10 value card. Stand on 19. In most casinos, you may double down (double your bet) after your first two cards. On a hard hand: Always double with 11, with 10 except if the dealer has a 10 or ace, with 9 against the dealer’s 2 to 6 up card. On a soft hand: With ace 2 to ace 7 double against dealer’s 4, 5, or 6. Also with ace 6 against 2 or 3 and ace 7 against 3.

Another play is the splitting of pairs. If your first two cards of the deal are the same value, you may place a bet the same as your original, and play two hands. Always split ace-ace, and 8-8. Never split 10-10, 5-5, or 4-4. Split other pairs only when the dealer’s card is 2 to 6. These rules may seem complicated and difficult. However, after playing at home, this basic strategy will require no concentration.

After you have become comfortable with the basic strategy, you may be able to shift the odds in your favor. Although counting card is illegal in some places, simple methods of advanced strategy can be easily employed. When a number (greater than average) of 10′s have been used, more 5 average cards are present and this is an advantage to the dealer. If more 5 value cards have been used, the advantage is in your favor (a slightly larger bet may be in order). Here is a way fo counting high + low cards: Whenever a 2 or 6 appears, count +1. Cards 7, 8, 9 count 0. Count -1 for 10′s and aces. In this manner, there are 5 low cards (+1) and 5 high (-1) cards. If at any time the number obtained is say +5 or more, it is to your advantage to raise your bet. If very few low cards are left, it may even make sense to stand on 15 or 16 against dealer’s high card.

Craps Game Guide

Professional Gambler — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 06:31:06 +0000

CRAPS
Introduction to the Game

Play Craps at GoldenPalace Casino

How To Play Texas Holdem Poker

Professional Gambler — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 05:26:17 +0000

With the increased interest being displayed towards poker, it’s not really surprising that so many people are looking at learning how to play poker, or more specifically how to play Texas Holdem poker.

The reason for the increased interest in playing Texas Holdem as opposed to any other game of poker, is due to its perceived simplicity. On the face of it Texas Holdem looks by far to be the easier poker game to play. Although in some ways this is true, in many ways Texas Holdem is as deep and hard to play as the other variations of poker.

When you are first learning how to play Texas Holdem poker however, you will not have to worry about any of these. The largest concern you should have is staying in the game without losing a large amount of your chips. Of course, for a new player this is an almost impossible task, but it always helps to keep this goal in mind.

With practice and experience at you fingertips you will be better able to defend your chips and to make the overall amount grow considerably; however, you will first need to learn how to play Texas Holdem poker.

And the best place to start is by learning what the different hands are, for poker. Since most poker games are five-card games, you are best off learning these card combinations to begin with. Anything else which is basically a variation on this theme, you can learn later when you are more comfortable with playing poker.

Once this very basic tenet of poker is learned, you can then go on to learning the finer points of how to play Texas Holdem poker. Very concisely, in Texas Holdem poker you (the player) are dealt two cards, these are called the Hole cards and are yours only, they cannot be shown to another player while you are still in the game.

Over and above these two Hole cards there are five community cards. These, the dealer deals face up onto the table. The object is for any player to make the best possible hand they can using their Hole cards and the five community cards. Occasionally these community cards will form the strongest hand, in which case the pot will be spilt equally between the players remaining in the game at the end.

However, there’s more to learning how to play Texas Holem than learning about the cards and how they are dealt. You will also need to learn when the different rounds of betting takes place and your various options at these times.

If you are serious about learning how to play Texas Holdem poker or any other type of poker for that matter, you will also need to learn to speak in Poker, learning such things as an Ante, a Blind, the Turn, the River and something intriguingly enough called the Flop! From there of course it’s merely a matter of your learning how to win when playing poker!

Additional information: Poker Tips, Tricks and Strategies Book + Mp3 Course