Casino Games History or How People Have Learnt to Count Cards; Part 2
Thorp’s Era.
If you don't know, now we are living in 43th year of Thorp's era. This person had such a great influence on the blackjack and all the gambling industry, that I seriously consider that he is worth of setting up a monument while alive, by the way at the casino's expense.
Being a young scientist, Edward O. Thorp regularly read mathematic journals. When he was a student, he was pressed for money. The idea of outplaying the casino on the basis of calculations appealed to Thorp and he decided to check the results of the "excellent four" and see what will come out of it. The result of his activity was a phenomenal book Beat The Dealer, now its sales are approaching million of samples.
Thorp chose the other way – he did not make analytical calculations, but with powerful at that time computer IBM (they were also called mainframe) he wrote several programs on Fortran, creating quite original methods for 60s. By the way, Thorp together with his research instructor Claude Elwood Shannon, a great scientist, were also involved in solving the problem ″how to outplay the roulette?″
From his calculations Thorp understood that dead cards had a considerable affect on the gambler's chances this or that way. His main idea was about memorizing the dead cards in somewhat simplified way and when the situation is beneficial for the player, make high stakes. By the way, this system still remains the basis of any methods and counting systems of blackjack.
The counting system introduced by Thorp, was rather complicated for usage in real casinos, required great concentration and large amount of mentally arithmetic actions. However with good training there was nothing impossible in its application.
Thorp's book immediately became a success and bestseller. Everyone understood that with quite simple actions you can get an advantage. Every reader dreamt of enormous prizes. However, the casinos also knew the score.
Panic seized them. And in 1962 after Thorp's book, all Las Vegas Casinos without exception changed their rules being afraid of mass influx of ″system players″. The quality of the rules worsened terribly and no counting system could ever help you to win. Though the effect for casino turned out to be quite unpredictable and reverse - people stopped playing blackjack. And during several months, all the casinos had to return to the former rules for their own survival.
Another interesting effect caused by Thorp's book- incredible popularity of blackjack outrunning the favorite American craps. A lot of people, after reading the book considered themselves potential winners and rushed to the blackjack tables. However, most of them had a bad understanding of the mathematical principles of the game did not become winners but quite vice versa. Therefore, casino got more clients and moreover losing clients. Since then their number is only increasing.
The system presented in the first edition of Thorp's book was quite difficult even for professionals and only the few could apply it under the conditions of a real game. Something should be simplified.
The power behind the throne.
Julian Braun is quite a unique personality. He had hardly ever played a deal in real blackjack. But he played millions and maybe even billions of deals on the computer. Braun was a good mathematician and programmer and he got interested in Thorp’s idea and offered him cooperation in the sphere of calculations and programming.
Braun became the person who first invented the counting system Hi-Lo. He was behind the development of all modern systems the authorship of which belongs to Revere, Humble, Wong and Uston. He wrote the only book How to Play Winning Blackjack, but what a book!
Braun upgraded Thorp's system on FORTRAN and made considerable changes and the second edition of Thorp's book also contained Hi-Lo system in its modern form. It was quite a revolution in gambling world. Braun worked in IBM corporation and had access to probably most powerful computers of that time. This fact helped to build simple and efficient tool in struggle with casino.
Using Braun's calculations the gambler mostly known as Lawrence Revere developed his own counting system and presented his results in the form of convenient tables which are applied in most counters of the world. Lance Humble based his HiOpt systems on Braun's experience. Regardless the fact that Julian most probably had never been to the casino, he became a power behind the throne of the blackjack and all the mathematical modeling of the game fell on him.
© Copyright 2006-2007 www.bonus-map.com
The Secrets of Electronic Craps
Pssst…! Wanna know a secret?
How about the secrets of winning at electronic craps slot machines?
There are a lot of new slot machines in casinos, and a few might resemble a craps layout. These are especially popular in places where real craps is illegal - like in some Indian casinos. Technically these games are just slot machines, the casinos say, and not illegal dice games.
Wanna know how craps pros increase their winnings at electronic craps?
Let's find out!
The first thing you should do is look at the playing area. You will probably see no hard ways, no don't come, and no don't pass. You also need to read the instructions on the side of the machine, as there are two basic machine types.
The first type is like a normal craps game - You win on the 7/11 comeout and lose if a 2, 3 or 12 is rolled.
The second basic type is a "crapless" machine - You win only on the seven comeout, there are no craps numbers, and any other number (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 ,11, or 12) becomes the point. This crapless game is very bad for the player as the casino edge is higher than the regular game. If you have a choice, play the regular game rather than the crapless one.
In either case, find the chart depicting the payoffs for all the numbers. You may be surprised to find totally different odds than you are used to. In addition, the machine only pays off even dollars. Let's look at an example.
Let's say you normally bet $6 on both the six and eight, and for this bet you get 7:6 odds, or $7 when you win. But now you look at the chart and it says that 6 & 8 place bets pay 2.15 for 1. Wow, you think, this pays more than a regular bet! But 2.15 for 1 means 1.15 to 1, so if you bet $1 you only get $1.15. Plus, you usually get paid in even dollars and if the payoff is $1.50, you only get $1.
So, if you bet $6 you will get $7 (1.15 x $6 = $6.90), but if you bet $3 you win $3 (rounded down from $3.45). This 1.15 to 1 casino odds turns out to be a 2.3% casino advantage, compared to 1.5% in "normal" craps. Make sure that you always bet the right amount so the machine "rounds up" your win instead of rounding it down.
One advantage to playing electronic craps lies in the minimum bet - it's usually only 25 cents. And most machines have a 25 cent minimum and a $25 maximum bet so you can test your craps systems very inexpensively!
For example, let's look at a simple double as you lose Martingale type system. In a normal seven level $5 minimum game ($5, $10, $20, $40, $80, $160, $320) you can lose up to $635.00 . But now you can test at the same seven levels (.25, .50, $1, $2, $4, $8, $16) and lose only a maximum of $31.75 . This is a perfect way to test a new or developing system!
The other advantage to electronic craps is that the machines usually have a place to swipe your comp card. Your comps here, however, are counted as slot machine credit, not for table games. You can also use slot coupons and special slot promotions to play electronic craps.
So, the next time you see a craps slot machine, give it a try - it's certainly worth a quarter!
Pssst…! Now you know the secrets of electronic craps!
(c) 2006 by Larry Edell
Win Baccarat - Great Odds & Easy & Fun to Play!
If you are looking to have some fun in a game of chance, Baccarat is a good choice not only is it fun and easy to play and surprisingly easy to win at Baccarat.
Before we look at how to win at baccarat, let’ look at plays to help you avoid losing that are made by novice players.
My players feel they can win by studying patterns in Baccarat but this is simply a gamblers myth. Looking for patterns and cycles in baccarat is just as futile as in roulette or slots.
Their all games of chance and patterns mean nothing.
The previous play never influences the next play.
This is a mistake many novice gamblers make when trying to win at Baccarat and they end up losing.
If you bet on the flip of a coin, and it landed on heads 22 times in a row many gamblers would say the chances of tails on the next flip have increased.
The chances however remain 50 -50 for the next toss regardless of how many times the coin has fallen on heads in previous throws
Winning at baccarat – Systems
Casino’s give out cards where you can write down the games history and look for patterns.
While many players take them seriously, they won’t increase the odds of success or help you win at baccarat.
You see them on the net all the time systems to help you win at baccarat consistently, but they never work and you should save your money.
Winning at baccarat avoid card counting
Card counting is usually associated with blackjack, as it is an effective strategy when utilized correctly to help you win and give you a small edge over the casino.
Is it a good strategy to win at baccarat? The answer is no.
The problem is though, the issue of used cards being fed back into the shoe before very many cards have been dealt as there are only a few cards out you cant use card counting
Another problem is unlike blackjack, baccarat does not offer you an opportunity to alter your bet in mid-hand play.
Blackjack offers this in a number of situations, so you can increase your bet if your count changes and the odds shift in your favor.
Using card counting in baccarat though offers so few situations with an advantage against the house that it does not help you win at baccarat.
The best bet in baccarat
The house has an edge in baccarat, as in all, casino games but it’s a small one at just 1.24% for bets on player and just 1.06% for bets on banker.
The odds of winning at baccarat are much better than many casino games such as roulette, slot machines and blackjack using basic strategy.
The only game with a better odds bet is the craps odds bet at (0%).
Winning at baccarat means you need to use the banker bet as often as possible, as it’s the bet with the best odds and the lowest house edge.
5 ways to win at baccarat
1. Number of decks: Choose the game with as few decks as possible.
2. Commission: Look for the casino that charge a commission on banker bets lower than 5% shop around and cut costs
3. Bet on the banker. This bet has the lowest house edge and greatest odds to win at baccarat, as previously discussed
4. Money management. Set a bankroll in advance have a profit and loss cut off point, don’t spend more money than you have chasing losses.
5. Don’t use baccarat systems. It is futile to base your gaming decisions on results of previous bets, when the game is a random game of chance.
There is only ONE good bet.
Use the banker bet the most, for variety you may want to bet on the player occasionally but never bet on the tie.
Winning at baccarat
Baccarat attracts both novice and experienced players, it’s a fun game, easy to play and with great odds when you know how to play.
Use the above and win at baccarat. Good luck!
The Secret of Pushing the Pass Line
Pssst…! Wanna know a secret?
How about the secret of Pushing The Pass Line?
Professional gamblers can get better odds than casual gamblers when they play craps. They just know how to ask properly, and they get to "push the house."
Wanna know the secrets that craps pros use to push the house on pass line bets?
Let's find out!
One simple example of "pushing the house" occurs when you are betting the pass line, 6 or 8 is the point, and you are at a double odds table. Technically, if you have $10 on the pass line, you should be able to place $20 behind in odds. If you win, you'll receive $10 for your flat bet and $24 for your odds (at 6:5). However, most casinos will let you place $25 in odds behind a $10 bet (actually giving you 2.5X odds instead of 2X) which results in an odds payoff of $30. So you'll win a total of $40 ($30 + $10) instead of $34 ($24 + $10).
If you are a $5 player you can still give it a try. If you have $5 on the pass-line and six or eight becomes the point (in a double odds game) you can place only $10 behind the line. But it doesn't cost you anything to ask the friendly dealer if you can place $15 in odds behind your six or eight. Then if it hits, you''ll win $5 for the flat bet and $18 for the odds, a total of $23 instead of the $17 you would have won previously.
Using the same technique, if you have a $5 flat bet and 5 or 9 is the point, you can normally place $10 behind the line. This time, just ask if you can place $20 in odds. You have absolutely nothing to lose by trying this. If the 5 or 9 hits, you'll win $5 for your flat bet and $30 for your odds, for a total of $35 instead of $25.
Finally if the point is four or ten and you have a $5 line bet, ask if you can again place $20 (instead of $10) in odds - you''ll win $5 for your flat bet and $40 for your odds bet - a total of $45 instead of the $25 you would win with $10 odds!
Remember, you have absolutely nothing to lose by trying any of this. A lot depends on the dealer. You might nudge things along by tipping him a few times, but many professionals ″push the house″ all they can - whether they are at the $50 level or the $5 level!
Give it a try the next time you play!
Pssst…! Now you know the secrets of "Pushing The House" with your pass line bets!
(c) 2005 by Larry Edell
The Secrets of the Field
Pssst…! Wanna know a secret?
How about the secret of the field bet in craps?
As you might know, the field bet is a one roll bet. So if any number other than 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 rolls, you lose. The other numbers 5, 6, 7 and 8 roll a total of 20 times while the field numbers roll only 16 times. On the surface, it looks like the field is a bad bet.
Wanna know how craps pros use the field to make more money?
Let's find out how!
Craps professionals know that their winning depends on streaks. When a positive streak occurs, they bet more. When a negative one appears, they bet less. When you play the field, you can determine whether to increase or decrease your bets, and then use a rotating field progression.
In order to accomplish this efficiently, you will need a win goal and a loss limit. Let's say your buy-in is $500, so your starting unit on the field should be $5. You should not make any other bets and you should quit when you've won or lost the same amount - approximately 30% of your buy in, or $150 in this case.
You'll need to keep betting on the field without missing any bets. This means you have to bet before the come out as well, and be 100% sure the dealers know your bet is on. If you make a bet and the dealer even thinks it is off then you won't get paid.
To start, take a red chip and place it on the field. If you win, increase your bet by one unit ($5). If you win again, increase it by one unit again. So now you have $15 on the field. If you lose the next bet, just go down one unit, so you're now at $10.
You are not doubling your bet on a win, even if you hit a two or twelve. You are going up one unit when you win and going down one unit when you lose. If you have $50 on the field and the twelve (or two) hits and you win $100, just increase your next bet by $5 to $55 and pocket the rest.
Your win goal of $150 means the money in your pocket plus your money on the table. So if you started out with $500 and now have a combination of $150 on the table plus the chips on your rack then it's time to stop.
If the shooter happens to hit a string of non field numbers, you are limited in your losses, because you are decreasing your bet by one unit on a loss until you hit zero. Then you'll start betting one unit ($5) again. At zero, if you lose four bets in a row you are down $20 (4 x $5). If you then win the next four bets in a row you are up $50 ($5 +$10+$15+$20). Remember, you will keep betting until you either win or lose 1/3 of your buy in.
The most important part of this is to make sure your field bet is always "on" before the come out. Once you tell the dealers what you are doing, they will help you with this, but when you first start out betting, make sure they know your bet is always "on." You don't want to lose money even though you made the correct bet!
Pssst…! Now you know the secret of betting on the field!
(c) 2005 by Larry Edell
Tips to Enjoy Online Casino at Home
If you want to have the fun of a casino without leaving home, online casinos can be just as exciting and as hopefully profitable as brick and mortar casinos. Whether your new to internet gambling, just need a refresher, or are looking to maximize your profits, our short guide can help you get started!
The first thing to learn about is that there are three different types of casinos on the net; web-based, download-based, and live-based online casinos.
Web-based games are played through your browser. You might need Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Shockwave, or Java installed for the games to work. With this type, no software is loaded to you computer and you can usually start playing immediately. This is great to play one of the many free games some casinos offer.
At download-based, you download software which connects to the casino, and play games through the software. Often the software can be downloaded in the back round while you enter your player information.
Live-based allows you to interact with real casinos in real time. You can see, hear, and interact with live dealers and players. This works best with a high-speed internet connection.
Internet casinos offer the same games you can find at land casinos, including but not limited to; baccarat, blackjack, craps, roulette, slot machines, and video poker. Some only focus on one or two games, and some offer other games. Whichever you want to play, search around to find the best for your needs.
No matter which kind you prefer, many have a welcome bonus. That means they will match a percentage of your first deposit, giving you free money to gamble with. However, they usually have a minimum amount you must bid before cashing out. Some welcome bonuses can not be cashed out at all; these are called sticky bonuses. Be sure to carefully check all the terms and conditions about welcome bonuses before choosing where you play.
Gambling is not without risk, though. As with anything on the internet, there may be scam sites. You can avoid scams and find the best sites by reading reviews and recommendations written by other people.
Remember, before you visit any sites like these, check your local laws. Make sure that gambling and online gambling are allowed in your area. Even in different areas that allow online gambling, the rules may differ, so be sure to check the laws and rules thoroughly. Also, read all the terms, conditions, and rules of an online casino before signing up. Thanks for reading this guide!
Slot Machines
On average, one third of the casino’s total revenue is generated by Slot machines. Compared to other casino games such as Baccarat, Blackjack, Craps and Roulette, Slot machines have a number of advantages which explain their popularity among casino players. Some of these advantages include the following:
Easy to understand:
The Slot machine is probably the easiest game to understand and play. One simply decides on how much money to place on each bet, and how many lines to bet on, before pressing a button. There are absolutely no skills required.
Cheaper to play:
Unlike a game of Blackjack or Roulette, where the minimum bet costs a few dollars, Slot machines offer the player minimum bets ranging from one cent to a few dollars per spin, therefore allowing the person to play up to one hundred games for only one dollar.
Play at your own pace:
There is no time limit between spins. A player may take one minute or one hour between each spin without experiencing the pressure of having to quickly place a bet before the next game begins. This means that the games can last as long as the player wishes.
Large variety of game themes:
There are literally hundreds of Slot machine designs with many different game themes, graphics, lights and sound features. While the nature of the game is basically the same from one slot machine to another, being able to choose from a wide variety of different game themes makes each Slot machine seem rather unique.
Single player game:
Since it is a single player game, there is no pressure to play against others. One does not need to interact with any other person during the course of the game. This is a particularly attractive advantage for persons who are very shy or unable to speak the language.
Bonus features and free spin games:
Unlike the classic game of Blackjack or Roulette, most Slot machines offer bonus features which include free spins and a chance to win real money for free.
Eating, drinking and smoking:
Many Slot machine establishments allow players to eat, drink or smoke while playing the game. This adds to the player’s sense of enjoyment and freedom without having to worry about what other players are thinking or how they will react.
No pushing or shoving:
Unlike a game of Roulette where players often push and shove their way between other players in order to place a bet, one does not need to tolerate such behavior when playing Slots.
Real money:
While classic casino games are played with plastic casino chips, Slot machines are played with real money notes and coins, making the gambling experience much more realistic for the player.
Privacy:
Being a single player game, one is able to bet as much or as little on any game without the knowledge of other persons. This is a significant advantage considering the fact that one does not want to attract the attention of any questionable characters by betting large amounts of money in open view of a group of people.
Given these set of facts, it is no wonder that Slot machines are one of the most popular games in a casino, often generating approximately one third of the total casino’s income.
Winning Gambling Strategy
A Winning gambling strategy is based on statistical analysis of the occurrences of each event in the game and an analysis of the odds the casino applies to that event. Casino operators use the occurrence of these events to calculate the odds for the various occurrences within the game. You must identify those events which are good bets for you and those which are good bets for the casino and avoid those that are overly favorable to the casino. Understanding these odds allows us to formulate a winning gambling strategy for each game that we choose to play.
Every experienced gambler should know that each time the cards are dealt, the wheel is spun or the dice are rolled, we will loose more times than what we will win. This is a statistical fact of gambling. By only placing bets that are favorable to the player or bets in which the house has only a very small advantage, we can increase our chances of becoming a winner.
Using a simple basic strategy, a good blackjack player can change the game odds from slightly favoring the casino to slightly favoring the player. On average, out of every 100 hands dealt, you will loose 45 and should win 55. This does not mean that if you record the results of a hundred hands, you can expect to achieve that result. If you take a sample of a million hands, played by a good player, the results should be very close to the results stated.
Over a short period, you can have a dream run and win 60 odd percent of your hands. You could just as easily have a disastrous run and loose 70% of your hands. This is why a sound money management strategy should be an integral part of your winning gambling strategy.
You can find many free gambling strategies on the web for almost all gambling games. Many of these are sound and feature material that will take you from being a novice to a respected player in a short time frame. Take off your rose colored glasses when you read these gambling strategies because some are sound and are really good advice and some are well… very esoteric. Technical playing skills alone will not make you a successful gambler in the long run. Aspects of psychology, your nerve, personal courage and determination are also required and will be discussed in another article.
I have used my favorite game to highlight the importance of a sound gambling Strategy. I could have used the game of craps which has many bets that are highly favorable to the house and the free odds bet where the house has no mathematical advantage.
All online casinos offer cash bonuses to attract new players. These cash bonuses can dramatically increase your chances of winning and should be seriously considered when formulating your gambling strategy. Likewise many casinos offer loyalty programs and reward players on the basis of the amount of money wagered each month. Try keeping a record of your wagers during a gaming session. Whilst you may have only started out with say $100, you win a bit, you loose a bit during the course of the session but your total wagers may amount to several thousand dollars and this is the number used to calculate your loyalty bonus. Regular players should take advantage of these programs.
Once you reach the stage of being a respectable player at your chosen games, you will then be in a position to evaluate the myriad of advanced gambling strategies for sale on the net for most gambling games. Some are cutting edge and some are recycled variations of old failed strategies.
Adherence to a sound gambling strategy can substantially reduce your reliance on Lady Luck.
Online Casino Gambling: Fortune or Missed Fortune?
Online casino gambling, in the past few years, has become a multi billion dollar industry. Online casino gambling has literally changed the face of gambling and no longer is it required that players visit a brick and mortar casino. With the popularity of internet gaming enthusiasts can now enjoy their favorite casino games in the comfort of their home. As the overall view of the casino has changed so has the availability of coaching and learning material for guidelines to play these games. Some people think that the investment of money in casinos on the Internet is not safe and in some cases they may be cheated. But the fact is most casino sites are monitored by various gambling associations in order to ensure their honesty. Payouts must meet acceptable levels by various gaming commissions. If not met, these suspect casinos are quickly noted as 'not to be trusted' and with the speed of the internet they are even more quickly out of business. Customers are advised to stick to reputable online casinos to ensure a fair game.
Playing guides and rules:
No player can succeed in the money making process directly without becoming familiar with specific methods to win the game. Knowing the basics of the game you intend to play will go a long way in determining your chances to become a winner. One should never commit to common mistakes as they will most certainly lead to greater loss. One should always approach their game of choice with the casino's money. This will reduce the risk of losing what one already has.
Downloading Casino Games:
You can easily learn your game of choice, whether it be blackjack, poker, craps or slots simply by downloading the casino software for that game and practicing. Most software will offer you the opportunity to play your game FREE. Also, many of the games have accompanying rules and strategies that you can reference as you go. Once you get the hang of it and learn the various techniques you can then register and become a 'real money player'. Then, just like any brick and mortar casino, you play against the house competing for cash prizes and jackpots.
Online Gambling Bonuses
Gambling is a behavior that involves jeopardizing money or property on the outcome of a game, contest, or other events in which the outcome of that activity depends largely upon chance or upon one’s ability to do something. Online gambling is the usual term for gambling using the Internet. Different types of online gambling are online casinos, online poker, online betting, etc. Games offered at online gambling sites are blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps, pai gow poker, slot machines, video poker, etc.
Bonuses are a great way to promote a gambling business because it gives people a feeling that they could gain something extra or even something for nothing. It would be difficult to cite an online gambling bonus offer as the gambling sites are consistently increasing their business by offering new bonuses. These bonuses are not only designed to attract new players but also to promote loyalty amongst regular players.
Online gambling sites offer large bonuses. Common terms and conditions for a bonus might be 100% up to $100; must bet 25 times the deposit and bonus before withdrawing; bets on baccarat, craps, roulette, and sic bo are not counted towards meeting gambling requirements, etc. Bonuses are definitely one of the factors for selecting an online gambling game. There are a number of websites that provide listings of recommended gambling sites. They also provide online reviews of these gambling sites and let the player know what bonuses are offered for each game.
Bonuses are offered for a variety of games such as poker, roulette, baccarat, bingo, blackjack, and many other games. There are also comprehensive bonuses offered for gambling that are not specific to any individual game. Thus bonuses are a great way to make some extra money for both the gamblers and for online gambling operators.
Online gambling is turning out to be a big business for the casino companies and is becoming very popular. There are, of course, other factors that should be taken into account before playing in any online casino as some casinos are scalawags. Each state has specific laws against online gambling of any kind. It is illegal to own an online gambling operation without proper licensing.