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VIDEO POKER: Hat Trick
In hockey a “hat trick” is when a player scores three goals in a single game causing ecstatic fans to throw their hats onto the ice, especially if it’s the home team.
What would constitute a video poker (VP) hat trick? One example would be getting two royal flushes (RFs) close together or even back-to-back. I have and so have many others had similar, against the odds, good luck. I guess that’s what keeps us coming back. It is important, however, to avoid playing hunches, superstitions and pipe dreams when your hardearned money is on the line. Playing the Odds: A hat trick in hockey is exciting, just like winning the lottery is thrilling, because it is so unexpected and rare. Smart players, however, always play according to Zamzow, that’s Dean Zamzow, the creator of WinPoker software. You should buy tutorial software and practice your game of choice before venturing into a casino. Intuitive Holds: Some VP holds are clear, even to novices. For example, if you’re playing 9/6 JOB (9/6 Jacks or Better) and dealt a FH (Full House), then it’s obvious that you hold all cards. Other plays have closer odds and are not clear even to those who have good math skills. For example, if you’re playing a VP game that includes a progressive RF, then there will be a definitive number of coins when you should hold three to a royal instead of a paying pair in say 9/6JOB. Follow the probability data even though it may cost you in the short run.
Appropriate Denomination: My friend was dealt a flush on a dollar 9/6 JOB game with four to the RF and held the pat hand, a major mistake. She refused to make the correct hold, that’s four to a RF, because she normally plays quarters and wanted the $30 sure thing. You’re better off playing a lower denomination within your budget then feeling compelled to make incorrect holds because you’re playing with “scared money”. This rule of thumb applies to all forms of gambling, including live poker.
Possibility Versus Probability: I’ve seen players hold a random card, say a single seven in 9/6 JOB, and state that they once held a seven and got four sevens. Why is this a foolish hold? The reason is that you can never base future events in video poker on recent results, past events or even your memory. Prior to the deal the odds of either being dealt a specific hand or achieving a given hand after the hold remain constant. The exact statistic resides in the field of mathematics. Tutorial software will give you the mathematically correct holds and therein lies the best odds of receiving the games ER in the long run. Possibility: Anything is possible while gambling, including multiple “hat tricks”, but it’s statistically unlikely. In fact, it’s impossible to know the mathematical odds of winning a major jackpot on traditional slots without knowing the ER percentage of the chip on the logic board. The casino can order identical devices that have different theoretical returns. Even in sports books with multiple factors considered, the odds are not mathematically perfect like they are in VP, assuming computer-perfect play. (Note that some jurisdictions have VLTs, video lottery terminals, posing as VP devices; they are easily identifiable with the information in my book, “The Video Poker Edge”.) Probability: The probability of an event happening is an exact number, say 1 in 10, that something will occur. By using the mathematical likelihood that you will achieve a given hand along with the payout for that hand, tutorial software will give you the statistically correct holds for video poker games. Table 1.1 below gives you the exact odds of being dealt the VP hand indicated.
Table 1.1 Frequency of Dealt Video Poker Hands
1. No Pairs 1in 2 2. One Pair 1 in 2.4 3. 2 Pairs 1in 2.1 4. Trips 1 in 48 5. Straight 1 in 250 6. Flush 1 in 510 7. Full House 1 in 700 8. 4 of a Kind 1 in 4,200 9. Straight Flush 1 in 72,200 10. Royal Flush 1 in 650,000 Note: Odds represent being dealt these hands, assuming a standard deck of 52 cards. The odds after the correct holds for a given game are in my book and on tutorial software.
Final Thoughts: Nobody other than you will be ready to throw their hat onto the casino floor when you defy the odds and hit several major jackpots. Hat Tricks are what makes gambling and sporting events exciting and keeps us coming back for more. But if you’re successful in the sports book, it can be horse racing, football, hockey or anything else on the “menu”, then you already know each venue has a skill component and so do table games and video poker. Sure, you can bet on your favorite name in a horse race and win on a longshot or even be dealt a RF in video poker. There’s even a story about a roulette player that bet one million dollars on a single bet and then left the casino a winner, never to return. That’s the only way you’ll win in the long run unless you play the odds, only deviating for special circumstances.
by LINDA BOYD
Linda Boyd, a long-time table game player before turning to video poker, writes for “Southern & Midwest Gaming and Destinations” and “Arizona Player”. You can see her videos on YouTube and her radio interviews are on iTunes. Boyd’s book, “The Video Poker Edge”, includes free removable pay schedules and her free strategy cards for the most popular games.
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by FRANK SCOBLETE
Frank Scoblete’s web site is www.frankscoblete.com. His books are available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Kindle, e-books and at bookstores.
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CRAPS: Female Crapshooters - Part Three: Mother/Daughter Dice Controllers
There was a song long ago that stated “this is a man’s world” sung by the late, great James Brown. That song could have referred to the craps tables in just about every casino in the country. Craps was a man’s world…and still is for the most part.
In part two of this series, I introduced you to Cindy, a school teacher (now a retired administrator) from New Jersey. You got to see her evolution from a slot player into a craps player.
In her day, you would be lucky to find a single woman playing craps in a casino. Indeed, she even had to take some ill-behavior from her fellow “fellow” players when she stepped up to play.
Now meet her sister Abby and her niece, Abby’s daughter Cynthia, two ladies who fancy themselves as dice controllers.
Abby: “About two years after Cindy broke the family barrier by playing craps, I decided to give it a try. This was the late 1980s. I was now established in my law office.
“I went to the table with Cindy, after having read a few books on the game. I was determined to not let any harsh words deter me from enjoying what seemed – and was and is – the most exciting game in the casino.
“I didn’t know if I would shoot the dice or not. Cindy had said to get the full experience of the game you had to take the dice in your hands and try to beat the house. That seemed a little scary because I didn’t want to get yelled at if I screwed up my turns. Cindy told me everybody has bad turns and that it was no big deal.
“I got my start then and there, and Cindy and I have played craps and many other casino games as well. But craps is the key game for us. A casino visit is not the same for us unless we put in some good time at the craps tables.
“By the way, I did not experience any bad behavior on the part of the men towards me. I did see bad behavior but it was directed at the game, the dealers, the box man, the pit boss – all the types of complaints you expect to see in a casino game.” Cynthia: “I read about the game but I wanted something more than playing against the house. I wanted a way to win through skill. Could I overcome the house edge on the game?
“I read several books about dice control and I began to practice the technique at home. In 2015 I read Frank’s book I Am a Dice Controller and that convinced me this could be done.
“Now my plan of attack is modeled in this way. I play the 5-Count on all the random rollers, who are almost all the craps shooters. When they get through the 5-Count I only make one bet on them. I am saving my money. I only bet Pass line or Come bets. Those are great bets and the easiest to overcome the odds.
“When I shoot, I go up on three numbers right away. I do not play the 5-Count on myself. Then I hope my shooting is good enough to overcome the house edge. Many times, it is. Am I ahead at the game? Just a little but a little is better than not being ahead.
“It is possible that I have just been lucky but I’ll take any good luck too.
“I’ve even convinced my mother to take up dice control. It adds a different dimension to the game. You really feel as if you have control.”
Abby: “Yes, I am trying to learn how to control the dice. I set the dice – and I am pretty quick in doing that so the box man doesn’t tell me to speed it up – and I take care with my roll by throwing in a calm and relaxed manner.
“Do I beat the game? Not yet. It is possible that what I am doing is not strong enough to overcome the house edge. I am not as good as Cynthia; I can tell you that. There are times when the pit people come over to watch her roll. Or, for the men, it might be that she is very pretty.”
Cynthia: “One thing I know and this is true of my mother, my Aunt Cindy, and me: we only make the lowest house-edge bets. We do bet only the rightside of the game. The darkside doesn’t appeal to us. I think part of the true fun of craps is everyone at the table cheering on everyone else. You don’t get that on the darkside.”
Air Marshall breezes with his stablemates.
MY JOURNEY AS AN OWNER IN THE “SPORT OF KINGS”
by ERIC FLOYD
As sure as the sun will rise, it happens to me every single year. Inside of that spectacular moment when the Kentucky Derby winning owner hoists the race’s handcrafted 14kt gold trophy, I become utterly green with envy. Moreover, on each occasion when I attend a live racing card, I habitually catch myself fantasizing about what it would be like to stand in the paddock next to my very own dazzlingly dappled and marvelously muscular thoroughbred race horse. Alas, the price tag attached to this life-long dream is well, exceedingly over and above my modest net worth. Thoroughbred horse racing is nicknamed the “Sport of Kings” for a reason; namely, it is one extraordinarily expensive endeavor. I am reminded of this callous truth on “sale days” when I sit down as a spectator inside of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales auction pavilion in Ocala, Florida. You see friends, even if you do have the small fortune necessary to acquire something remotely competitive, it will literally cost you thousands of dollars per month to keep said beast in training.
Despite the fact that I had basically gotten used to relegating my deep-seated dream of thoroughbred ownership to the back burner, I received an unexpected message on September 26th, 2021 that radically changed the trajectory of my life’s course. Having joined their email list nearly a decade prior, Pocket Aces Racing had sent me detailed profiles on the quintet of horses that they had just purchased at Keenland’s world renowned September yearling sale.
So at heart, Pocket Aces Racing is a limited liability company that specializes in turning average racing fans (like yours truly) into bone-fide thoroughbred racehorse possessors by means of “fractional ownership”. In other words, after they purchase a horse, Pocket Aces will figuratively “split” him or her into shares which can be purchased by those of us who
don’t sleep on a pillow-top mattress that is stuffed with greenbacks. Technically called a “racing syndicate”, the type of arrangement that I just detailed has gathered exponential momentum among turf zealots over the last decade.
Although I was obviously intrigued with the fine fleet of four-legged prospects that Pocket Aces Racing had presented me with, I also retained more than a few questions. However, these logical queries (along with many others) were clearly and concisely answered via the FAQ section at www.pocketacesracing. com! Conjointly, the aforementioned website is tremendously transparent with regard to both the potential rewards and risks that are attached to thoroughbred ownership.
While the financial particulars will naturally differ depending on what Pocket Aces racer one is considering, my own recent purchase will definitely give you a good feel for the fiscal basics. So after a few days of extremely intense deliberation, I decided to buy into a yearling out of a rock-solid sire named Sky Mesa. Pocket Aces Racing had made 10 total shares in the horse available (each share represents 10% ownership) for $6,800 per share. However, potential clients could also opt to purchase half of a share (5% ownership) for $3,500, a quarter of a share (2.5% ownership) for $1,850 or an eighth of a share (1.25% ownership) for $1,025. Additionally, quarterly expenses were listed at $1,500 per full share (if necessary) beginning on January 1st, 2022. ones who take the plunge all at once Eric. Therefore, I think you’re smart to just “dip your toes in the water” this first time out; especially since you will still receive all of the cool perks that the larger shareholders get!”
In back of settling on investing $1,025, I reached out to one Marc Wampler who is the Racing and Bloodstock Manager for Pocket Aces Racing. A thirty-year all-around industry veteran, Marc has selected a number of young prospects that have gone on to excel at horse racing’s highest level. Someone who literally answers to hundreds of owners, Marc nevertheless listened intently before he genuinely commented, “People who have a bad experience in this business are often the At day’s end, Marc’s concluding sentiment is the primary reason why I decided to “roll the dice”.
Bluntly stated, I didn’t buy into Pocket Aces’ Sky Mesa yearling to make money. Rather, I joined the syndicate in order to gain the special “backstage access” that only we thoroughbred owners receive! Some of these benefits include: equine visitation rights (whether that be at the
Air Marshall is a son of Sky Mesa.
training center, along the backside or inside the paddock), being able to speak with our horse’s trainer and of course, a nice cozy spot in the winner’s circle should the latest son of Sky Mesa happen to win!
Now since the yearling that I partly own is still barely out of the womb, and was recently named Air Marshall, he won’t actually race until the latter part of 2022. Consequently, be sure to check out this year’s subsequent issues of Southern & Midwest Gaming and Destinations for updates on my muse’s progression! Until then folks, I will hold fast to an abiding feeling that could be best described as “guarded optimism”.
FUTURE ODDS
Check out the latest odds for major sporting events. For the latest up-to-the-minute odds, visit GamingandDestinations.com
NFL – SUPER BOWL LVI FEBRUARY 13, 2022 – SOFI STADIUM INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA
Team Jan Nov Sept July May Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6/1 6/1 7/1 6/1 10/1 Buffalo Bills 8/1 7/1 11/1 12/1 12/1 Kansas City Chiefs 4/1 8/1 9/2 5/1 6/1 Los Angeles Rams 9/1 9/1 12/1 13/1 12/1 Arizona Cardinals 20/1 10/1 N/A N/A N/A Dallas Cowboys 10/1 11/1 N/A N/A N/A Green Bay Packers 9/2 12/1 14/1 16/1 9/1 Indianapolis Colts 18/1 N/A N/A N/A N/A New England Patriots 18/1 N/A N/A N/A N/A Tennessee Titans 20/1 N/A N/A N/A N/A
*All others are higher than 12/1 **Odds courtesy of VegasInsider.com
NCAA COLLEGE BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APRIL 4, 2022 – CAESARS SUPERDOME NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
Team
Gonzaga Duke
January November
5/1 6/1
8/1 14/1
Purdue 8/1 14/1
Kansas Baylor UCLA Texas Villanova Kentucky Alabama Illinois Arizona Michigan 11/1 12/1 16/1 22/1 25/1 25/1 25/1 25/1 20/1 30/1 16/1 20/1 12/1 16/1 12/1 16/1 18/1 18/1 N/A 10/1
*All others are higher than 30/1 **Odds courtesy of VegasInsider.com
KENTUCKY DERBY MAY 7, 2022 - CHURCHILL DOWNS – LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
Horse
Smile Happy Jack Christopher Rattle N Roll
January
8/1 10/1 21/1
Pappacap Tiz the Bomb 23/1 24/1
Gunite Commandperformance Giant Game Mo Donegal Major General Howling Time Classic Causeway Epicenter Varatti Zandon 25/1 31/1 37/1 37/1 43/1 43/1 44/1 52/1 54/1 56/1
*All 2019 Crop Fillies 41/1 *All Other 2019 Crop Colts 3/5 **Odds provided by Twinspires.com Future Wager Pool 1
NBA CHAMPIONSHIP JUNE 2, 2022 – JUNE 19, 2022 (IF NEEDED)
Team January November
Brooklyn Nets Milwaukee Bucks Phoenix Suns Los Angeles Lakers Utah Jazz Golden State Warriors 5/2 12/5 7/1 9/1 9/11 5/1 11/1 4/1 11/1 16/1 11/2 9/1
Miami Heat Los Angeles Clippers Philadelphia 76ers Denver Nuggets 12/1 25/1 20/1 16/1 20/1 16/1 30/1 22/1
Chicago Bulls 30/1 N/A
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