The
correct spelling is A L B U Q U E R Q U E
Dear Mark,
This is not exactly a casino gambling question but an inquiry
regarding bar betting strategies. Why is it that I am always
buying free drinks? It does not matter if it's trivia or
a magic trick, I am always duped into paying. Help! James
S.
Every tavern I have patronized has at least five bar-stool
regulars who can spell Albuquerque. In the real world no
one can spell it.
You won't be a patsy for free drinks if you heed this classic
warning from Damon Runyon: "Son, no matter how far
you travel, or how smart you get, always remember this:
someday, somewhere, a guy is going to come up to you and
show you a nice brand-new deck of cards on which the seal
has not been broken, and this guy is going to offer to bet
you that the jack of spades will jump out of this deck and
squirt cider in your ear. But, son, do not bet him, for
as sure as you do, you are going to get an ear full of cider."
Dear Mark,
Are not the rules better for roulette in Atlantic City than
in Las Vegas? Jay G.
Only on one wager, Jay. When you make an even-money bet
(red/black, odd/even, 1-18/9-36) in Atlantic City, you lose
only half your wager if the roulette ball lands on 0 or
00. These outside wagers cut the house edge down from 5.26
to 2.63%.
Keep in mind, Jay, that this advantage is only in effect
for even-money bets. For even better value, Las Vegas offers
single zero roulette tables at numerous casinos. A single
zero game will give the casino only a 2.7% edge on all roulette
bets.
Dear Mark,
I have only been to the casinos three times but have come
home a winner on each occasion. I operate strictly by a
"feel" for certain machines. Ever hear of consistent
winners that base their skill on "feelings"? Dusty
R.
I
am willing to wager dollars to donuts that I can prove with
100% certainty that you do not possess such an ability.
I bet you want me to prove it. Well, Bob, if you answer
my question, "Yes, I go to work every Monday morning,"
then you don't have such skills.
Dear Mark,
Thank you for the advice on playing the single-zero roulette
game at the Monte Carlo. My wife broke even and I actually
won $200. I do have a question regarding the single zero
game. Is the game I played at the Monte Carlo in Las Vegas
an exact duplicate in rules as a roulette table at the real
Monte Carlo in Europe? Paul L.
Not quite, Paul. A true European single-zero wheel offers
a rule called "en prison." If you make an even
money bet and the ball lands on zero, the croupier doesn't
rake in your wager. Instead, your bet is "imprisoned"
or held hostage, and you are forced to let it ride until
the next spin. If your bet wins, you can remove it from
the table. What is exciting about this wager is that it
cuts the house edge on even money bets in half, down to
a very respectable 1.35%. This makes it one of the better
bets in European casinos.
Dear
Mark,
Is there ever a time when you would double down for less
in blackjack? Sal G.
Never
is the correct answer. Because you only double down when
you are more likely to win the hand than lose, you always
want to wager the maximum amount. It is the double downs
and blackjacks that take your blackjack play from the red
to the black. Don't shortchange yourself in these situations. |
No
Eggheads 
Allowed