Inquiring minds want to
know
22 June 2007
By Mark Pilarski
Dear Mark: In poker, is it taboo to ask
opponents how they would play a particular hand?
Jim F.
Not only is there nothing wrong with asking
opponents for their opinions, Jim, I actually
encourage it.
Nothing gives you more information about how an
opponent plays than simply asking. Players love
to hear themselves talk, especially about how
skillful they are in playing a hand.
Those rarely volunteered operational schemes may
come out over weeks of observation, but can be
cheerfully had in mere seconds just by
inquiring. Strange but true.
Dear Mark: Do dollar slot machines pay back the
same amount as dollar video poker machines?
Janice B.
Video Poker machines are much more liberal than
slots, with paybacks ranging from 96% to over
100%, while slots range from 85% to 97% in
comparable coin denominations.
With Video Poker, when you add comps and other
slot club benefits, it's not hard to break even
or better, thus, your chances of winning at
video poker are far greater. Best of all,
Janice, you can easily determine the most
liberal video poker machines just by eyeballing
their paytables.
With slots, the paybacks are based on the
generosity of the casino; and, as a breed, they
are not necessarily known for their
philanthropy.
Dear Mark: You mention in a previous column
using a winning progressive method of betting by
predetermining a percentage increase from each
winning bet. You stated increasing your winning
bets by approximately 50% after the second win.
But don't most who use this strategy begin the
50% progression after the first win? David M.
The $10 $15, $22, $30, $45 — repeat ad infinitum
may work just fine, but locking up that first
$10 wager as a winner, then progressively
betting more, appeals to me. My conservative
nature coming through, I suppose.
Dear Mark: You mentioned last week that sitting
to the left of a loose player was the best place
to sit. Is there any best place to sit for
getting the best cards? Jeff G.
First off, Jeff, it isn't just sitting to the
left of a loose player that does it; most of the
profits you will make at poker will come from
your right. And that's because of your
positional advantage over those players. There
is nothing more powerful in poker than seeing
what the other player does before you act.
As to where to park your fanny for those good
cards, well, because all cards are in theory
randomly arranged, no seat is any better than
any other. You should expect to get cards of the
same value, no matter where you sit.
Sure, after a few hours of play you'll notice
that some seats have been blessed by "lady
luck," but that's hindsight, and not something
you can predict in advance. If you could, you
wouldn't be reading this column.
Dear Mark: At our weekly poker game, we often
discuss how we should handle the dealer
selecting the poker game he favors. Which is
fairer, before each hand, or before each round?
Steve M.
Because in many games the dealer has a
positional advantage, "Dealer's Choice," (where
the dealer is allowed to select the particular
poker game that will be dealt on his own deal),
is fairest when players take turns choosing the
game for the entire round.
Gambling Wisdom of the Week:
"Las Vegas is the most honest, fake city in the
world." --Frank Scoblete
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