Those
living in the compos mentis world know that the
cut really isn't critical to the flow of the cards,
nor does it make any difference who cuts or where.
Of
course, Alex, exclusive of the horse sense above,
it really depends on where you are playing as
to what happens if no one chooses to cut his or
her luck. Some casinos just have the dealer insert
the cut card at a pre-determined spot in the deck(s),
like two-thirds deep, and pitch away. Yet in the
three joints where I dealt cards, if everyone
refused, I personally hoodooed the players by
my witching cut, and then watched their luck wither
away.
Dear
Mark: How do they determine the house edge in
roulette? Bobby S.
By
the house including the zero and double-zero on
the layout and not paying you true odds for their
inclusion. The casino pays all wagers on the layout
according to odds that would be accurate if there
were just 36 numbers on the wheel. But by adding
0 and 00, they produce 38 numbers. True odds of
winning a single-number bet should, therefore,
be 37 to 1, but winners are paid only 35 to 1.
Dear
Mark: For the complete novice, which bet in the
casino would you recommend that has a minimal
house advantage, but also a game where you don't
have to use any type of basic strategy to lower
the house edge? Chad R.
For
the person with little or no gambling experience,
who like you, wants to put an emphasis on something
way easy to play, I would suggest baccarat, and
betting on the banker hand every time. House edge:
1.17%.
Dear
Mark: Do blackjack machines use a random number
generator just like a video poker machine does?
Tyler L.
It
is a Nevada state law that an electronic game,
which uses the representation of cards, must be
truly random. Hence, both video poker and video
blackjack machines both use random number generators.
And although your letter, and presumably you,
came from outside the Silver State, almost every
gaming jurisdiction in the US more or less goes
by Nevada regulations.
Dear
Mark: An online casino offers two for one on all
blackjacks. How much of an advantage do I get
with this slight rule change? Christopher F.
First, Christopher, any and all rule variations
have an effect on a player's expected return.
By taking into account that you are probably playing
proper basic strategy, and specific rules of where
you are playing are relatively the same, blackjacks
that pay 2 to 1 give the player an additional
2.2 percent advantage.
Dear Mark: In video keno, is there any difference
between playing the same numbers each time or
should I change them up each game? Sherry C.
It
doesn't make any difference, Sherry, either playing
the same numbers or changing them up.
By
the way, Sherry, since keno carries such a colossal
casino advantage, any chance that I can convince
you to play something else?
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