The too-good-to-be-true electronic IHTD
(Impending Hit Tip-off Device) is still a
work in progress
July 3,
2009
Dear Mark: Is
there a way you can you tell if a slot machine
is going to hit? Should I stay on my favorite
machine if it’s not paying? Anna P.
If only we knew which slot was going to hit
when, then we'd all be rolling in dough --
for one day; on the morrow, there’d be no more
casinos.
Sorry, Anna, there's no way to know when a slot
machine is going to hit. The computer within
chooses the results of each spin without regard
for what has happened in the past or will happen
in the future. It’s all random, Anna, so there's
nothing you can do to improve your chances of
winning outside of carrying the foot of an
unlucky rabbit.
As to how long you should stay on any particular
machine, stay as long as you are having fun
playing it. If you're getting discouraged
because a machine’s not coughing up enough
money, get up and move along. There is just no
way of knowing whether the machine is going to
be tight or charitable.
Nonetheless, even though each spin is random, if
you’re not having fun, there’s no sense chaining
yourself to a cold machine, even if it’s your
favorite. Reason being, the longer you stay on
any slot, the more time the machine’s built-in
mathematical advantage has to work you over.
Time always works on their side, and they have a
mathematical edge on every slot. If you’re
taking a breather, or just moving from one
machine to another, there is no way for the
casino to eat away at your bankroll.
Oh, and don’t forget to use your slot club card
every time you play. Casinos offer you the
ability to “comp yourself” by using one of their
player’s club slot cards. It is generally based
on the number of coins you cycle through a
machine, so you might as well get credit for all
those nickels, quarters or dollars you're
inserting. Shop the casinos for comp value and
just see how much you are worth to them.
Dear Mark: With the large selection of
machines the casino offers, which is the best
video poker game or games to learn? Carol G.
The straightforward answer is simple, Carol. At
the casino you frequent, play on the machine
that has the highest paybacks, and use the
correct playing strategy on that game.
Your favorite casino, Carol, actually gives you
the opportunity when playing perfect basic
strategy with a decent pay schedule, to reduce
the house advantage to well under one percent.
In video poker, about 21% of the hands dealt are
sure winning hands, so 79% are going to need
help to develop into winners. It's what you do
with those 79% of the hands that makes the
difference between winning and losing.
As to the video poker offerings, you’ll find a
supermarket selection at all casinos, all having
different paytables needing separate playing
strategies. I recommend learning and limiting
your play to two, maximum, such as any two of
Jacks-or-Better, Deuces Wild, or Joker Poker.
There’s no need to become a connoisseur of
Louisiana Jacks or Gator Poker if it's not
offered at the casinos where you play.
Focus on but two games, but stay alert . You
don’t want to forget which machine you're
playing and start using the strategy intended
for the other.
Gambling Wisdom of the Week: “If
you must play, decide upon three things at the
start: the rules of the game, the stakes, and
the quitting time.” ~Chinese Proverb
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