It's the dream of many roulette players to catch a hot number or number set. A short streak of winning single-number bets with 35-1 returns can bring a big payday.

Casinos feed right into streak players' dreams with tote boards that post the last 12, 18 or24 winners at live tables. Online casinos and electronic tables at live casinos often enable you to see longer-term results. A touch of the screen can bring a display of number history.

Getting Streaky

What to do with that information? When recent results show the same number coming up twice or more in a row, or several times within a short period such as five or 10 spins, the streak players go to work.

There are several approaches:

●    Bet the hot number until it loses several times in a row.
●    Bet the hot number and those surrounding it until there are several misses in a row.
●    Ignore the supposed hot number. Continue betting your usual favorites confident that there is no tendency for a hot number to stay hot or a cold number to stay cold.

That last approach squares with what the casino expects from the game. In a live game or a live feed to online casinos, as long as the wheel is properly balanced and the dealer is alert and well-trained, the odds are the same on every spin. Streaks are a part of normal probability, but past outcomes have no bearing on future results.

The same goes for online games and electronic games in which results are driven by random number generators. As long as there's no programming glitch, the most you can say about a streak is that there has been one. Streaks are not indicators of more winners to come. 

But what if there has been a programming glitch? What if a wheel has not been properly maintained and is out of balance, or has a slight groove worn into the wood through repeated play? What if a tired dealer has fallen into a rut, releasing the ball in the same way at the same speed time after time?

Streak players live in hope, and there is no harm in playing hot numbers. With the random results the casino strives to insure, the odds of continuing to win on hot numbers are the same on any other number.
 

Grabbing Numbers on the Wheel

Making single-number bets on hot numbers is easy enough. But what about playing combinations and betting on surrounding numbers as well as the one that has won several times in recent play?

There's a trap. The numbers surrounding a hot number on the betting layout are not the same as the numbers surrounding it on the wheel. Should you encounter the rare situation where there is a bias in favor of an area on the wheel, it's the wheel numbers you want to heed.

Imagine the ball has landed on No. 17 twice in a row and four times within 10 spins. You want to take a chance on there being a wheel bias and decide to bet 17 and its surrounding numbers.
On the layout, including horizontal rows, vertical columns and diagonals, 17 is in the middle of 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20 and 21.

There are several ways to approach that. You could bet all nine as single numbers. You could put extra emphasis on the hot number by betting on 17 by itself while betting the three-number streets of 13-14-15 and 19-20-21, while accounting for 16 and 18 in a street that repeats 17 or in two-number splits. You can bet splits including 16 with 13, 19 and 17 and splits with 18 and 15, 21 or 17.

You also could approach the combinations with four-number corners, with 13-14-16-17, 16-17-19-20, 14-15-17-18 and 17-18-20-21 all as viable corners.

Regardless of how you build your combination, the house edge is 2.7% on a single-zero wheel or 5.26% on a wheel with 0 and 00 as in standard American roulette.
The streak player is counting on a wheel or dealer bias in favor of the hot numbers and those that surround it to swing edge in favor of players.

 

Adding Numbers for Streak Wagering

➔    Problem: Even if there is a wheel bias, there is no physical cause that would increase the frequency of the ball landing on numbers that surround the hot number on the layout.

Roulette wheels are set up so consecutive numbers are approximately opposite each other on the wheel. They're not perfectly opposite. Perfectly opposite isn't even possible on a single-zero wheel that has an odd number of slots with 1 through 36 plus the zero.

On a single-zero wheel, 16 is not adjacent to 17. There are 12 numbers between them. Likewise, 18 is not next to 17. In the shorter trip around, there are 15 numbers between them.
On the wheel, the numbers on either side of 17 are 25 and 34. If you wanted eight additional numbers, such as those surrounding 17 on the layout, the four numbers clockwise from 17 are 34, 6, 27 and 13, and the four numbers counter-clockwise from 17 are 25, 2, 21 and 4.
Those numbers are not adjacent on the layout. There's no easy betting pattern of splits, streets and corners that will cover everything.

If you want to bet the numbers closest to the hot number on the wheel, you're looking at several single-number bets. Streak players might be well advised to limit extra bets to the two or four numbers closest to the hot number rather than the eight numbers surrounding on the layout.

Numbers are rearranged a bit on a double-zero wheel to accommodate the extra slot for the 00. There are 14 numbers between 16 and 17, and 18 between 17 and 18.

The numbers closest to 17 are 5-22-34-15 going clockwise, and 32-20-7-11 going counter-clockwise.

As on the single-zero wheel, there is no easy combination of combinations such as streets and corners that will cover all the numbers in a minimal number of bets. If you want to take a chance on a bias or a programming glitch and want to bet the hot number and those closest to it, single numbers are your opportunity.

Should you decide to take a chance on building a streak with a hot number, start with the knowledge that actual wheel biases are very rare. Do not increase bets in an attempt to catch a streak. Bet your normal amount, using the streak numbers instead of your usual bets. Hope for the best and enjoy the streaks when they come, but understand the house edge almost always will take its toll.
 

All casino games are based on a random event to determine the results. Standard slot machines are an excellent example of games where winning or losing relies totally on luck. 

A few games on the casino floor can be influenced by the player, however. Video poker, blackjack, and craps are some examples.

This article explores the role of luck and skill in video poker. 

1. Where luck plays the strongest role

The cards dealt for each initial hand and for draw cards are selected randomly based on the results of the game’s Random Number Generator (or RNG for short).

The RNG runs constantly. It cycles through a thousand or so numbers every second.

When the player hits the Deal or Draw button, five numbers are selected. On the deal, they are translated into the initial five cards. For draws, the number of cards discarded by the player are selected and translated into a card for each slot created by a discarded card.

This method of selecting cards has changed over the years. Originally, 10 numbers were selected when the Deal button was hit – the original hand along with a replacement card for each original card. This was called the parallel method. Later, five numbers were selected for the original hands along with five numbers to replace any discards starting with the sixth and continuing through the 10th, if needed.

Notice that every card selected for play is randomly selected – or “pseudo-randomly” - as randomly as a software routine can do it. Even though the trigger for selecting numbers from the RNG relies on action by the player, there is no amount of skill that can be applied to favor any cards. These numbers change every millisecond or so which is far too often to skillfully improve results.

Because no amount of player skill can influence the results in any meaningful manner (there is no way to improve the results), luck is 100% involved in the cards that are selected.

2. Where skill enters the picture

Even though there is no skill involved in the cards that the random number generator selects, skill is involved in successful video poker play.

Since all cards are dealt (pseudo) randomly, the laws of probability can be applied to determine how often the various hands will occur. Knowing this information allows discard (playing) strategies to be developed that will maximize the return of every possible initially dealt hand.

The playing strategies are based on:

• The number and type of winning hands in the pay table (game type). Some examples are:
  • Jacks or Better
  • Bonus Poker
  • Double Bonus Poker
  • Double-Double Bonus Poker
  • Deuces Wild
  • Joker Wild
• The amount paid for each of the winning hands. These can vary from machine to machine, or by denomination even for the exact same game.

A skillful video poker player will know the game and pay table and have the proper playing strategy to extract every last credit possible from his or her play. This is where skill enters the picture.

3. The ever-changing luck/skill balance

As seen above, video poker has elements of luck and elements of skill.

Bankrolls will sometimes expand. Bankrolls will sometimes be drained. This is the luck aspect of video poker.

Even players who play perfect strategy for the specific game and pay table being played (the skill aspect), will not have consistent results. There will be periods where they win hand after hand. There will also be periods where they lose many hands in a row.

There is a balance between luck and skill.

At the beginning, luck will be the major factor with skill coming in a distant second. A funny thing happens, however. As more hands are played properly, the average return will approach the mathematical return. After tens of thousands of hands of proper play, results should be very close to the mathematical return.

4. How to tilt play to favor skill versus luck

Obviously, most players would like to get the best returns possible. This requires skill. Skill requires work.

Here are the steps players can take to fully tilt results in their favor:

• Scout the video poker games and pay tables that are available in their casino.
• Determine which games and pay tables are worth playing. Higher returns are favored.
• Find (or generate using an app) the proper playing strategy for the game/pay table combination. If the playing strategy is too complicated, consider playing a different game.
• Practice the playing strategy at home until it can be played (nearly) perfectly. The closer to perfect, the better the results.
• While playing the game either in the land-based casino or online casino, make sure to maintain control:
  • Bring an adequate, discretionary bankroll. Concern about running out of money can cause mistakes in play.
  • Refrain from drinking alcohol.
  • Only play when alert. Take a break when tired or lacking focus.
  • Do not play when under stress. Take a break.
  • Maintain a low-key attitude while playing. If a losing streak is affecting play, take a break.

5. Summary

• Video poker play is a mixture of luck and skill.
• Luck is involved in the actual cards that are dealt or drawn.
• Skill is involved in:
  • Determining and selecting the best video poker game to play.
  • Having the proper playing strategy for the game(s) and pay table(s) being played.
  • Practicing the playing strategy at home until adept at it.
  • Having an adequate bankroll.
  • Maintaining alertness while playing – no alcohol, take a break when tired.
  • Maintaining composure while playing – take a break when stressed.

Follow these guidelines and your video poker results will be the best that they can be.

In a previous article I explored how to mathematically evaluate the results of any given casino game that the player is attempting to gain an advantage over. In that discussion I explored how one can relate their theoretical win with their actual win. From this we were able to determine whether our results, good or bad, were in range of the standard deviations of gaming theory. The application was then able to be spread across any game in the casino. It was a universal approach.

The purely mathematical evaluation is vital to determine whether or not we are a consistent winning player, yet it is only one variable in a multivariable equation, or when you ask yourself “Am I truly beating the casino?”

Here I will review some additional factors that need to be considered when asking that question. Some will be obvious, while others are not so straight forward. 

What to Review

Here are just a few important things you should ask yourself when doing a postmortem of a trip. 

●    What are the financial advantages and disadvantages of the game besides the theoretical edge?
●    What is the casino offering me to come and play there?

These can take the form of comps and promotions associated with playing at a particular venue. There is nothing theoretical about getting $100 cash in a promotion. These promotions will come via mailers after your first one or two trips and usually within 90 days of visit.

When the mailers come will vary from property to property and what they offer will also vary. Some properties offer a complimentary room and a food allowance, while others will give you a room and promotional chips. In some cases they may even offer you show tickets. The point is that the comp system varies for each resort. 

Another aspect to consider is how friendly are the dealers and the pit? Are they consistently searching for advantage players or are they relaxed? What is the aesthetic experience?

You have to put a value on "fun" and "pleasure" because you would otherwise spend time (and money) doing something else like watching a movie, going to a club, or traveling to another destination. These are the things that the casino marketing team thinks about, so you have to think about them too.
 

 

The Costs of Playing

Next you have to consider the expenses of playing. What are the real costs? This includes travel, lodging, food and other incidental expenses besides the cumulative price of the house edge.

Usually the proximity of the casino plays a huge role in determining whether or not a game is worth playing. Driving more than an hour or staying in a non-complimentary hotel often negates a game’s theoretical advantage. An edge of less than 1% at moderate stakes is oftentimes swamped by the value of a promotion or the simple advantage of playing in a casino that serves great but expensive food.

This means you shouldn’t ignore edge calculations and just play without a strategy. Should you accept whatever rules are forced on you by the greedy casinos? No. But don’t base your decisions entirely on theoretical advantages. Be honest with yourself about the real peripheral costs and advantages of giving a casino your action.

An extreme example of this occurred when I was playing blackjack in Europe. The house edge was 0.62%, but that didn’t include the fee of €10 for getting into the casino, or the 12% conversion fee charged by my bank for changing dollars into euros and then back into dollars (about 6% each way).

Strictly speaking, I would have been better off going to a local casino and running my money into a Wheel of Fortune slot machine. On the other hand, I was in Europe for business anyway. And a casino just happened to be close by. 

For a more local example consider this; If you had to drive two hours to play at a casino near San Diego then the following would have to be considered. Drive 150 miles one-way or 300 miles round-trip at 30 miles per gallon, and each gallon costs $6. That’s $60 in gas, not including the value of my time, nor food, nor wear on my vehicle.

If my average bet was $200, then after four hours I might be able to squeeze out $240 in average gross profit with a 0.5% positive edge. Or $200 net, assuming the tap on the shoulder never came. Or it would be -$40 if … well … you get the picture.

If we stay in our home base near Los Angeles, all the games use continuous shufflers and casinos charge a vig (fee) per hand. Sounds awful, right? But wait, you can play/bank the dealer’s hand! That’s right. You can bank the blackjack dealer!

So, the effective edge can be solidly positive, up to 2%. It varies depending on the skills of the players, the size of their bets relative to the vig, the size of your bets when you play against the dealer, and how often you bank. Let’s be conservative and say the positive edge is effectively only 0.5% and my bets are $200. Then L.A. beats Barona. No counting required. Even if it’s 0%, L.A. beats San Diego in some circumstances.

In other words, basic edge calculations are just the beginning. Those numbers are only one factor to consider when you choose to play or pass.

 

A Quick Review

Now that we have an understanding of the numbers are away from the game, let's quickly review what to look for at the blackjack tables. Ideally you should scout the tables before you sit down to play. Make sure the game you are playing pays 3:2 on player blackjacks. Rare as it may be, there are a few casinos that now vary the game from table to table (the Four Queens in downtown Las Vegas is an example of this).

Know the rules and seek out the best combination you can possibly find. Stick to games that allow DOA and DAS. Ideally you should be able to split and re-split Aces up to four times. If you have a choice, stick with S17 versus H17 and play games that offer late surrender and use it when necessary. 

Be sure you know the table minimums before you sit down to avoid overplaying your bankroll and to save yourself some embarrassment. Know how many decks are offered. Most casinos offer a choice; generally two or six decks. Know which one you want to play before-hand. If there are only a couple of tables offering the number of decks you want to play, be prepared to play the other game or to walk-away.

These are decisions to make before you enter the casino. Assuming equal rules and payouts, the fewer the number of decks the better. Play in manually-shuffled games rather than games dealt with an automatic shuffler or the uncountable, speed-demon, continuous shufflers. 

There you have it. These are the basics on what to look for in evaluating a casino for blackjack play. As discussed other factors like geography, whether pit personnel will rate your action (and how accurately), players' club promotions, comps, future mailers, loud music, and comfort level with other patrons are factors too. I'm sure you can probably think of a few others to add to the list. 
Here I have covered many of the factors I take into account when evaluating my play. You may have more or less but, each variable of the multivariable equation needs to be evaluated and combined.

The object here is to get things down to one number. The higher the positive number the better it is. The easiest way to evaluate the total play is through a spreadsheet. Make a column for every variable that adds to or takes away from your trip totals. And then simply use a sum function to determine where you stand.

As you take more trips to various casinos your totals will increase not only because your number of hands increase but because you are also learning how to play the comp to a higher advantage. 

When you hit hard 16 against a dealer's 10 in blackjack, you're playing probabilities. You don't know if the dealer has a pat hand or has to hit and chance busting. You don't know what you'll draw. You just know the percentages favor hitting.

In a blackjack variant called Double Exposure, the guesswork is gone. All dealer cards are dealt face up. You know whether that dealer 10 is accompanied by a 10, a 6, or something else. You have a lot more information as a basis for your play.

There are tradeoffs, of course. Ties don't push -- the dealer wins unless the tied hands are blackjacks. At some casinos, tied blackjacks push, but at some players win blackjack ties.

That means you have to be prepared to make some uncomfortable plays. If you have 20 and the dealer shows 20, you have to hit or you lose the hand. You never face a 21 vs. 21 situation. A two-card 21 is blackjack, and dealer blackjacks stop play. And dealers can only build 21s of three or more cards after player draws are finished.

Winning player blackjacks pay only even money instead of the 3-2 or 6-5 in standard games. At most tables, you can split pairs only once. And some tables restrict doubling down to totals of 9 through 11 or just 10 and 11.

Still, the allure of seeing all dealer cards is strong. You won't see Double Exposure in all casinos, but it sometimes pops up in large live casinos as well as in online casinos that give their players plenty of options.

Details on the Game

Double Exposure first appeared in the late 1970s at Bob Stupak's Vegas World, a casino on the Las Vegas site where the Stratosphere stands today. It spread to tribal casinos, especially those under the Grand umbrella, and later found homes online.

Sometimes alternate names are used, including Dealer Disclosure, Face Up 21, and some games branded with the Grand name.

Even with the compensating rules favoring the house, the ability to see all dealer cards gives the players enough that the house edge is lower than most casino games.

The specific edge depends on which optional rules are in play. In a six-deck game in which the dealer hits soft 17, double downs are allowed on hard 9 through 11, doubling after splits is allowed, multiple splits are permitted, and players win tied blackjacks, the house edge is 0.68%.

If the dealer stands on soft 17, doubles are restricted to hard 9-11, doubling after splits is not allowed, only one split is permitted, and players win tied blackjacks, the house edge rises to 0.96%.

According to Michael Shackelford at wizardofodds.com, the following optional rules can affect the house edge: Dealer stands on all 17s cuts the edge by 0.39%, double after split by 0.32%, and player wins blackjack ties by 0.22%. On the opposite side of the ledger, restricting splits to one time increases the edge by 0.71%, limiting double downs to hard 9-11 by 1.04%, and restricting doubles to hard 10 or 11 by 1.44%.

Basic strategy has to be expanded to give you the average best plays against all dealer two-card totals through 20. It has to account for dealer soft totals.

A Look at Double Exposure Basic Strategy

Let's do a little overview of basic strategy for Double Exposure in the common configuration where the dealer hits soft 17.

Player Hard Totals Strategy:

• Player has a hard 5, 6, or 7 – Note there is no hard 2, 3, or 4, which are soft totals or pairs. So with hard 4-6, double down when permitted against dealer 14, 15, or 16. If doubles aren't allowed, hit. Hit against all other totals, including soft hands.
• Player has hard 8 – Double if allowed, hit if not, vs. hard 12-16. Hit against all other totals.
• Player has hard 9 – Double if allowed, hit if not, vs. hard 5, 6, and 12-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has hard 10 – Double if allowed, hit if not, vs., hard 4-8 and 12-16, and vs. soft 14-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has hard 11 – Double if allowed, hit if not, vs. hard 4-9, 12-16, and soft 13-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has hard 12 – Stand vs. hard 4-6, 12-16, and soft 14-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has hard 13 – Stand vs. hard 4-6, 12-16, and soft 12-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has hard 14 – Stand vs. hard 4-6, 11-16, and soft 12-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has hard 15 – Stand vs. hard 4-6, 10-16, and soft 12-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has hard 16 – Stand vs. hard 4-6, 8-16, and soft 12-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has hard 17-20 – With one exception on these hands, hit if the dealer total can beat or tie yours. If you have 19, you need to hit regardless of whether the dealer has 10-9 or Ace-8. Both are standing hands.

The exception is when you have 17 and the dealer has soft 17. Since the dealer has to hit, it's best for you to stand and let the dealer take a chance at a bad draw. But if the dealer has a hard 17, you need to hit your 17.

Player Soft Totals Strategy:

If your soft total consists of three or more cards and strategy calls for double down if permitted, use the "If not permitted" strategy listed below.

• Player has soft 13 – Double if permitted, hit if not, against hard 12-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has soft 14 or soft 15 – Double if permitted, hit if not, against hard 6 and hard 12-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has soft 16 or soft 17 – Double if permitted, hit if not, against hard 5, 6, and 12-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has soft 18 – Double if permitted, hit if not, against hard 4, 5, and 13-16. Double if permitted, stand if not, against hard 6 or 12. Stand against hard 7 or 17 and soft 17. Hit all others.
• Player has soft 19 – Double if permitted, stand if not, against hard 12-16. Hit against hard or soft 19 or 20. Otherwise, stand.
• Player has soft 20 – Double or stand against hard 13-16. Hit against hard or soft 20. Otherwise, stand. Note that we do not double against hard 12 here, as we do on other soft hands.

Splitting Pairs

That leaves one more segment of adapted strategy for Double Exposure. Splitting pairs can get a little tricky. The basics for regular blackjack don't always apply. In standard blackjack, players are told to always split Aces and 8s and to never split 5s or 10s. That doesn't apply when you can see all dealer cards.

Let's break it down:

• Player has 2, 2 or 3, 3: Split if double downs after splits are permitted, hit if not, against hard 4-5. Also split against hard 6 and 12-17. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has 4, 4 – Split against hard 6 and 12-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has 5, 5 – Split if double downs after splits are permitted, double down if not, against hard 16. Also double – not split – against hard 4-8, 12-15, and soft 14-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has 6, 6 – Split against hard 4-6 and 12-17. Stand against hard 14-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has 7, 7 – Split if double downs after splits are permitted, hit if not, against hard 4. Also split against hard 5-6 and 12-17. Stand against hard 11 and soft 12-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has 8-8 – There are many more twists and turns than the standard "always split 8s" rule. Instead, split against hard 4-8 and 12-17 and soft 16-17. Stand against hard 9-11 and soft 12-16. Hit against hard 19-20 and soft 18-20.
• Player has 9-9 – Split against hard 4-6, 8, 12-16, 18 and soft 16-17. Stand on others except hit against hard 19-20 and soft 18-20.
• Player has 10-10 – Split against hard 13-16. Stand against others except hit against hard or soft 20.
• Player has Ace, Ace – Split against hard 4-10 and 12-16 and soft 12-17. Otherwise, hit.

Summary

If that seems a little more complex than basic strategy for standard blackjack, it is. There are more possibilities to prepare for. But many of those extra possibilities are easy to cope with once you've come to grips with the ties lose rule and are prepared to hit 17s against 17s, 18s against 18s, 19s against 19s and 20s against 20s.

Football Studio Dice is a hot new attraction from Evolution Games. This ramped-up version of Football Studio delivers dice action in a football-themed live casino game. Available at 888 Live, this casino game features Bac Bo dice, intuitive gameplay, and authentic entertainment.

Unlike the original game, which used cards, Football Studio Dice features four dice – 2X red and 2X blue in carefully constructed pockets on the football pitch. Specifically, that means 2X red dice for one team and 2X blue dice for the other.

The gameplay mechanics are simple enough: pick a team that will roll a higher combined dice total, or pick a draw. Naturally, the highest total you can roll is 12 (6+6), and the lowest total you can roll is 2 (1+1).

How to Play Football Studio Dice

The live game studio is set up so that the HOME team is positioned to the left (from the player's perspective), and the AWAY team is positioned to the right (from the player's perspective). The football field takes centre stage on the screen, with the live casino host acting as the referee. The dice shakers complete their actions within seconds, and winners are declared once the totals are tallied.

Football Studio by Evolution is somewhat similar to Football Studio Dice, but there are many differences between the two games. This ramped-up game features two dice for each side. Players are not required to shake the dice. Not even the dealer shakes the dice. A dice shaker automatically does it. Place your bets and wait for the shaker to complete its job.

• Football Studio Dice plays out in two halves – just like a typical football match. That means the 'score' at half-time isn't necessarily the result of the Football Studio Dice match. If your 'team' gets lucky (HOME or AWAY), you can still come from behind to win the match.
• While the betting action is underway, all four dice are automatically shaken simultaneously. But here's the kicker: the dice stop shaking at different points. This boosts player engagement and enhances the excitement in the live game show.
• There are two dice shakers for HOME and two dice shakers for AWAY. The top shakers for each respective side stop first. The bottom shakers stop last. As soon as the shakers have stopped, the totals for each side will be calculated. The side with the highest dice total wins that half or the whole game.
• If you bet on a draw, the payouts can be a staggering 80X your bet amount on a 12-12 result. Other payout values include: wins pay even money (1:1) and standard draws pay 8:1.
• There is a nifty Results Tracker included in the mix. This Evolution Games attraction allows you to see the results (HOME or AWAY wins or DRAWS) of the past 500 rounds of play. Actual dice totals are not presented to players.

Bet Types in Football Studio Dice

This entertaining football-themed game features three distinct bet options. These include the following:

• HOME – winning bets pay even money
• AWAY – winning bets pay even money
• DRAW – winning bets pay 8:1 up to 11:11 but pays 80:1 for 12:12 results

This entertaining live casino game features hundreds of possible outcomes. That's because each die has six sides, and there are two of them for each team. The stats gurus have determined that the HOME and AWAY teams have 133 possible outcomes, with 11 draw possibilities on the field of play. While the number of potential outcomes is significantly less than in slot games, it's still challenging to correctly pick a result.

Like roulette with red and black bets, the probability of HOME or AWAY winning is approximately 48%. The probability of a draw is around 4% (that’s similar to the Green Zero in Roulette). That means it's almost the equivalent of a coin flip (50/50) every time you place a home or away team bet.

The ever-present probability of a draw adds additional volatility to the mix. Given the payout odds at even money for HOME or AWAY wins, larger wagers tend to get rewarded with equivalent payouts.

FAQs

• What is Football Studio Dice?
  Football Studio Dice is a football-themed live casino game by Evolution Games, available at 888casino.
• How is Football Studio Dice played?
  Players bet on a team (Home/Away) that will roll a higher combined dice total.
• What is the range of dice totals in Football Studio Dice?
  The highest dice total possible is 12 (6+6), while the lowest is 2 (1+1).
• On what platforms can Football Studio Dice be played?
  Registered players can play Football Studio Dice live on PC, Mac, and mobile devices.
• What are the bet types in Football Studio Dice?
  The game features three bet options: HOME, AWAY, and DRAW, with varying payouts.
• What are the similarities between Football Studio Dice and Football Studio?
  Both are live football-themed casino games by Evolution, but the Dice version uses dice instead of cards.
• How are the results calculated in Football Studio Dice?
  The dice are shaken, and once stopped, the side with the highest total wins the half or the game.

Power Up Roulette Live is the latest attraction from casino masters Pragmatic Play. This feature-filled live game show ramps up traditional roulette action in a big way. Power Up Roulette live features an incredible 5X bonus rounds, each offering players additional chances of winning. Every time a new bonus round begins, the prize pool doubles on the next spin. By the fifth round of play, payouts are a minimum of 2600X and a maximum of 8000X.

This engaging live roulette attraction showcases multipliers. Similar games include Mega Roulette, but shared features between these games are few and far between. The maximum payout on Power Up Roulette is an incredible 8000X. The game show uses RNGs to randomly generate a multiplier for every Power Up round of play. Existing bets on the roulette deck are rewarded when your number corresponds with the ball's position on the wheel.

Power Up Roulette: Features and Functions

Like other live games with multipliers, Power Up Roulette randomly picks 3, 4, or 5 PowerUp numbers. The live casino game begins once the croupier spins the ball around the wheel – counter to the wheel's rotation. Should the ball happen to land on one of the PowerUp numbers, the bonus round kicks into play. But here's the thing: players are not required to have bet on those numbers for the bonus round to initiate. What is needed is a straight-up bet to win a multiplier. The pay table determines your payout for the PowerUp numbers.

The in-game features and functions are further enhanced by way of power meters. These visual renderings are displayed at the top of each block bearing several numbers. The higher the bars, the greater the multipliers. On the first Power Up, expect multipliers in the region of 50X – 500X. Every spin qualifies for PowerUp numbers, with more in store during bonus rounds. Let's take a look at the multitiered bonus round Power Up system:

• PowerUp #1 – up to 500X
• PowerUp #2 – up to 1000X
• PowerUp #3 – up to 2000X
• PowerUp #4 – up to 4000X
• PowerUp #5 – up to 8000X

Straight-up wagers (bets on numbers) are posted on the betting deck and remain in place during bonus rounds of play. The live game show host spins the roulette wheel for players at home or on the go. The winning multiplier is simply the pocket where the ball comes to rest. You must have a pre-existing bet on that number to win a prize.

Popular Bets and Payouts

• 6-line bets - 5:1
• Corner bets - 8:1
• Street bets - 11:1
• Split bets - 17:1
• Straight up bets - Up to 8000:1
• Low/high bets - Even money
• Odds/evens - Even money
• Red/black - Even money
• Dozen bets - 2:1
• Column bets - 2:1

The Live Casino Action

This live casino game is fashioned on European Roulette with a single zero. That means there are 37 numbers on the wheel (1-36 & 0). Bets placed on numbers have a chance of winning multipliers. Unlike traditional European Roulette, the payout odds are lower with PowerUp Roulette at 24:1 instead of 35:1.

• All numbers on the roulette racetrack are assigned a random multiplier
• The computer system picks PowerUp numbers for each spin
• The croupier spins the roulette wheel

All the action takes place with real dealers in real-time. This game has no mechanized wheels or computer-generated simulations generating ball and pocket results. While the Power Up round is in play, multipliers are randomly assigned to each of the 37 numbers on the track.

The betting action is complete within 20 seconds. All bets must be placed on a table using the Roulette Racetrack and/or Special Bets. Players are reminded that only bets on individual numbers qualify for multipliers in Power Up Roulette Live.

An interesting feature of the game is the concentration of blue gridlines above each block. The heavier the concentration, the greater the likelihood of high multipliers in that block. Note that these blocks can feature multiple columns. Bigger payouts can be expected from blocks of numbers with heavier concentrations of blue gridlines.

Next, the croupier spins the roulette wheel in the opposite direction to the previous spin. If a straight-up number lands, payouts will be made, and the next round of betting kicks into play.

Players with bets on PowerUp numbers win at the multiplier rate. Straight-up bets on multiplier numbers win that specific value.

Measuring Performance in Power Up Roulette

While past performance has no bearing on present performance, evaluating the Last Results in Power Up Roulette is interesting. This gameshow allows players to view up to 500 prior results, with all metrics available. These include 5X hot/cold numbers, sections of the roulette wheel where the ball has landed before, multiplier payouts, PowerUp rounds, and other statistics.

Statistics show that every individual number bet has an equal chance of coming up at any time. However, Power Ups boost your winning chances as much as 8000X. Of course, for bets on straight-up numbers, multiplier wins are required.

Power Up Roulette Useful Tips & Fast Facts

As a live casino game, Power Up Roulette requires a budget. Your budget and bet size determine how long you can play and enjoy this live game show. Straight-up bets have a payout of 24:1, with outside bets offering payout odds of 2 to 1 or even money on good spins.

Roulette players at 888casino tend to focus most of the action on the outside bets on even/odd, high/low, or red/black selections, which are approximately 50/50, except for the green zero. A combination of inside bets and outside bets offers exciting opportunities for generating returns.

• Game-show roulette with bonus multipliers
• Reduced payouts (24:1) on straight-up bets due to multipliers
• Special PowerUP round triggers with 3-5 special numbers for massive prizes
• Up to five PowerUP rounds with multipliers up to 8,000x for Straight Up bets
• 97.19% RTP for single-number wagers, 97.30% for other bets (European wheel)
• Available 24/7 in HD with multiple UI languages

FAQs - Power Up Roulette Live at 888casino

What is Power Up Roulette Live?
It's a feature-filled live game show by Pragmatic Play, with up to 5X bonus rounds and 8000X maximum payout.

How do the bonus rounds work?
The prize pool doubles on each new bonus round, and players win multipliers up to 8000X.

How are PowerUp numbers selected?
The game randomly picks 3, 4, or 5 PowerUp numbers on each spin.

Do I need to bet on PowerUp numbers to trigger the bonus round?
No, a straight-up bet is enough to initiate the bonus round and win a multiplier.

Is Power Up Roulette Live based on European Roulette?
Yes, it's fashioned on European Roulette with a single zero and 37 numbers on the wheel.

How long do bets take in this live game?
Betting actions are completed within 20 seconds on each spin.

Can I view past results in Power Up Roulette?
Yes, players can check up to 500 previous results, including multiplier payouts and statistics.

Card games have always captivated the minds of players seeking entertainment and a bit of challenge. Two popular contenders in the realm of card games are Blackjack and Pontoon. Although they share similarities in their objective to beat the dealer's hand without exceeding a certain total, they also have distinct rules and strategies that set them apart. If you've ever wondered about the difference between these two card classics, look no further. Let's delve into the intricacies of Blackjack and Pontoon to help you make an informed choice for your next card gaming adventure.

I. The Origins

Blackjack, also known as "21," holds its origins in French casinos in the 1700s. The game's popularity soared when it made its way to the United States, where the name "Blackjack" emerged due to the early rule stating that a player instantly wins with an Ace of Spades and a black Jack.

Pontoon, on the other hand, has a murkier history. Some believe it originated in Britain, while others attribute its creation to the Spanish game "Ventiuna." Regardless of its exact origins, Pontoon gained popularity in various forms across different countries.

II. The Card Values

Both Blackjack and Pontoon aim to achieve a hand total as close to 21 as possible without exceeding it. In Blackjack, a hand with an Ace and a ten-value card (10, Jack, Queen, or King) constitutes a "Blackjack" and guarantees a win, usually paying out 3:2.

In Pontoon, the card values differ slightly. While a hand of an Ace and any 10-point card is the best hand, it is not termed a "Blackjack." Instead, it is referred to as a "Pontoon," and it pays out 2:1.

III. The Terminology

While both games utilize specific terminology, the names for certain actions can vary. In Blackjack, players "hit" to take additional cards, "stand" to keep their current hand, "double down" to double their initial bet and receive one more card, and "split" to separate matching cards into two hands. Some Blackjack variants also offer options like "surrender" or "insurance" in specific situations.

Pontoon, being of British origin, uses distinct terms. Players "twist" to take extra cards, "stick" to stand, "buy" to double their bet and receive another card, and "split" to divide matching cards. Similar to Blackjack, Pontoon may have additional rules, such as the "five-card trick," where a hand of five cards totaling 21 or less is unbeatable.

IV. The Dealer's Hand

In both games, the dealer plays a crucial role in the gameplay. However, there are differences in how the dealer's hand is managed. In Blackjack, the dealer receives one face-up card and one face-down card. If the face-up card is an Ace or a ten-value card, the dealer checks the face-down card to see if a Blackjack is achieved before proceeding.

In Pontoon, the dealer's cards remain face-down throughout the game. This increases the house edge and adds an element of mystery and challenge for the players.

V. Doubling Down and Splitting

The rules for doubling down and splitting also vary between the games. In Blackjack, players can double down on any two cards, whereas in Pontoon, doubling down is only allowed on certain hand values.

Similarly, the rules for splitting differ. In Blackjack, players can split any pair of cards of the same value, and they can even re-split up to a certain number of times. In Pontoon, players can split only if they have a pair of cards with the same rank, but resplitting is generally not allowed.

VI. The Number of Decks

The number of decks used in each game can influence the odds and strategies. Blackjack can be played with one to eight decks of cards, while Pontoon traditionally uses a single deck.

VII. The Strategy

Due to the differences in rules, the optimal strategies for Blackjack and Pontoon also diverge. In Blackjack, basic strategy charts are available, guiding players on the statistically best moves to make in each situation. Such charts are harder to find for Pontoon, and players often have to rely on their intuition and experience to make informed decisions.

Summary

In conclusion, Blackjack and Pontoon, though sharing some similarities, are distinct card games with their own set of rules, terminology, and strategies. Blackjack has a well-established set of rules and strategies, making it more approachable for beginners, while Pontoon offers a more enigmatic and challenging experience. Whichever game you choose, remember that the most important aspect is to have fun and enjoy the thrill of playing with the cards dealt in your favor. Good luck and may the cards be in your favor!

It takes strategy – or at least a little study – and sound decision-making to take advantage of the lowest house edges in casino games.

Whether online or offline, you can muddle through blackjack knowing little more than the rules. But to cut the house to less than 1% you need to study basic strategy. And to get an edge over the house, you must learn to count cards, raise your bets in counts favorable to the player and decrease them in counts favorable to the house.

Getting the most out of video poker means learning strategies and strategy variations for each game you play.

Even craps is a challenge to new players because there are dozens of available bets. You need to know which ones to make and which to ignore.

To a large degree, the less there is to learn the higher the house edge. Slot machines have higher house edges than roulette, which has a higher house edge than Three Card Poker, which has a higher house edge than blackjack.

There are exceptions. Craps has BOTH high and low house edges, and it’s up to us as players to know which is which.

What’s a strategy-challenged player to do? If you’re out for a good time but want a fighting chance to win, what bets can you make that keep the strategy demands to the minimum?

Here’s a guide to some easy play that cuts study time and strategy worries to the bone. Just step right up to the table and play.

Baccarat – Banker Bet and Player net

Only two hands are dealt in baccarat, with one labeled “banker” and the other labeled “player.” You may bet on either hand.

Once you decide, that’s the last decision you make. Depending on card values, sometimes one or both hands will draw a third card, but there is no strategy involved. It’s all done according to hit/stand rules posted at the table, with no optional plays.

That leaves a pure guessing game, but one with a low house edge. The edge on banker is 1.06%, while the edge on player is 1.24%.

Per $100 wagered, your average loss is just $1.06 or $1.24, depending on which bet you make. Compare that to the $5.26 on double-zero roulette or the up to $15 on penny slots – with the proviso that some online casinos give you a much better deal, sometimes as low as $5 per $100.

The banker hand wins more often than the player hand, so the house gets its edge by charging a 5% commission on winning banker bets. Even so, including the commission, the house edge on banker is a mere 1.06%.

One caution: A tie bet also is offered. Avoid it. It has a house edge of 14.4%.

If this article interests you, keep reading. Alternatively, explore other topics like How to Win at Slots.

Craps, Place Bets on 6 or 8

Among the dozens of available wagers in craps, those that are the easiest to follow have the highest house edge.

You could bet on 12 and win or lose on the next roll. If the shooter rolls a 12, you win and are paid 30-1. If the roll is anything else, you lose.

It’s as easy as pie. Problem is, the true odds are 35-1 and the house edge is a whopping 13.89%.

What if you want to bet on 7? You win on and lose on anything else. The house edge is even higher at 16.67%.

To get the best the game has to offer, you need to go to multiple-roll wagers. And the simplest multi-roll wagers with low house edges are place bets.

The best of the place bets are those on 6 or 8. They pay at 7-6 odds, so you want to make your bet in multiples of $6. Dealers aren’t equipped to make change, so if you place 6 for $5 and it wins, you’ll be paid only $5. If you place 6 for $6, your winner is paid $7.

 

 

Once you place your bet, you can sit back and watch. If the shooter rolls your number, you win. If the shooter rolls a 7. you lose. If the shooter rolls any other number, there is no decision and you can either let your bet stand or have the dealer take it down for you.

The house edge on place bets on 6 or 8 is 1.52%, so those are the numbers you want. The edge rises to 4% on 5 or 9 or 6.67% on 4 or 10.

Pass and come (1.41%) and don’t pass and don’t come (1.36%) have even lower house edges. However, many new players find those bets difficult to follow. There’s an added level to play as you must wait for the shooter to establish a point number before you know what will be a winner for you.

If you’re going to play craps often, it’s highly recommended that you learn the ins and outs of pass/come and don’t pass/don’t come, along with free odds.

However, for someone dabbling at craps and playing for fun, place bets on 6 and 8 give you a low house edge with no learning curve.

Casino War

Nothing could be easier than the children’s card game “War.” You get one card, your opponent gets one card, and the higher card wins.

That’s just the way it works in Casino War, available mainly in larger offline casinos with a wide range of table games and at a number of online casinos.

You make a wager and then match your card to the dealer’s card, with the higher-ranking card winning.

The wrinkle that gives the house its edge comes when you and the dealer have cards of the same rank. Then you have an option. You can either surrender half your bet and move on to the next hand, or you can “go to war.”

 

 

If you go to war, you must make a second bet equal to your first. Then you each get one more card. If you win, you’re paid on the raise and get your first bet back. If you lose, the house takes both bets.

Michael Shackelford, the “wizard” in question at wizardofodds.com, lists the house edge on Casino War as 2.88% if you go to war and 3.7% if you surrender.

So there is a strategy to playing Casino War, but it’s nearly as easy as the rest of the game: in case of tie, go to war.

It’s a strategy that takes no time to learn. Just as with banker and player bets at baccarat and the place bets on 6 and 8 in craps, you can relax your mind, knowing no study time is needed.

Other than 7, the 6 and 8 are the most frequently rolled numbers in craps. And since 7 is a losing number in most craps bets, 6 and 8 are high on the priority list for players.

There are several ways to have 6 and/or 8 working for you. All are winners if the shooter rolls your number before a 7, but they're not all created equal. Each way has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Place Bets

Among the better bets in the casino, place bets on 6 or 8 carry a house edge of just 1.52%. You can bet on either number, or you can bet on both at the same time -- something that's true of all the ways to bet 6 or 8 listed here.

A place bet on either number wins 45.5% of the time, and winners pay at 7-6 odds provided you bet in multiples of $6. You don't want to place $5 on 6, for example, because if you win, the house will pay you just $5. If you bet $6 instead, the house will pay you $7.

Here's how it works. Imagine you wager $6 on a place bet on 6. If the shooter rolls a 6, you win. If the shooter rolls a 7, you lose. If the shooter rolls any other number, it doesn't affect the outcome. Your wager stays in action unless you choose to take it down.

That leaves 11 rolls that can decide your bet -- the six ways to make 7 and the five ways to make 6.

In a hypothetical sequence of place bets in which each possible outcome happened once, you would lose your $6 six times. Five times, you would keep your $6 bet and get $7 in winnings.

That's a total of $13 on your side of the table for each win, and since there are five winning rolls, you have $65 of your original $66. Divide the $1 on the house side of the table by the $66 in wagers, then multiply by 100 to convert to percentage, and you get the 1.52% house edge.

Place bets on 8 work the same way -- five ways to win, six ways to lose, 7-6 payoffs on winners and a 1.52% house edge.

The house edge isn't quite as low as the 1.41% on pass or come, and you can't back place bets with free odds. But bettors who can't afford free odds like the reasonable house edge while getting the 6 and 8 in play. And some pass-plus-odds bettors will place 6 and/or 8 in addition to the pass bet if a less frequently rolled number is established as the point on the comeout roll.

Put Bets

These are pass line bets after there's already been a comeout. You can then bet on pass and take the point that's there.

It's not a bet that's made often, but if the point is 6 or 8, it's an option to get frequently rolled numbers working for you. There's an upside and a downside.

Downside first: because this is a pass line bet, it pays only even money, not the 7-6 odds you'd bet for placing 6 or 8. And because you've not had your bet down for the comeout roll, you've passed up the portion of the pass bet with eight ways to win and only three ways to lose.

Instead of the normal 1.41% house edge on pass, the edge soars to 9.09% on put bets on 6 or 8.

Now the upside: the put bet status as a pass line bet means you can take free odds. For bigger bettors, the overall house edge can be even lower than on the place bets.

The key is that free odds are paid at true odds and have no house edge. For 6 and 8, winning odds bets are paid $6 for every $5 wagered. The overall house edge on the combination is a weighted average of the 9.09% on the put bet and the zero percent on the odds.

 

 

There's a breakeven point at 5x odds, meaning your odds bet is five times your put bet. At that point, the house edge on put plus odds is the same as on the place bets.

Let's say you bet $5 on the put bet and $25 in odds and get 11 rolls in which each of the decision numbers comes up once.

Your total risk is $330. On the six 7s, you lose the full $30. On each of the five winners, you keep the $30 total wager and are paid $5 for the put bet and $30 for the odds.

At the end of the trial, that leaves $325 on your side of the table. The house profit is $5, or 1.52% of the $330 risked.

If you make free odds bets larger than five times your put bet, the house edge drops even more. In a casino with 10x odds, if you're sufficiently bankrolled to back your put bet with an odds bet 10 times as large, the overall edge plunges to 0.83%.

You can't make put bets on 6 and 8 at any time like you can place bets. You have to wait for a pass-line point to be established as one of your numbers. And if you have a modest bankroll, put bets are not for you. With less than 5x odds, you're better off with place bets.

But for higher rollers, the ability to take free odds makes put bets a way to choose 6 or 8 and dramatically slice the house edge.

 

 

Big 6 and Big 8

On the corners of most craps layouts are a big numeral 6 right next to a big numeral 8.

If you bet in these spaces, you get a wager that works just like place bets on 6 or 8. If the shooter rolls your number, you win. If the shooter rolls a 7, you lose. If the shooter rolls any other number, your bet stays in play unless you choose to take it down.

Problem is, Big 6 and Big 8 pay winners even money instead of the 7-6 you get on the place bets. That leaves a 9.09% house edge.

Big 6 and Big 8 are the equivalent of making the place bets for only $5 instead of $6 and not getting the boosted return. They're the equivalent of put bets on 6 or 8 without the free odds.

In short, they give you the worst of the other ways to bet 6 and 8 without giving you the best.

Bettors who want to specify numbers 6 and 8 should choose place bets if they're not going to take free odds. They should consider put bets when the established point is 6 or 8 if they are sufficiently bankrolled to back their bets with at least 5x odds.

The time to bet on Big 6 or Big 8? Never. Use one of the other options instead.

There has always been a strong streak of superstition in the gambling world, from craps players blowing on the dice to bingo players with lucky charms and markers to the absence of the number 13 at baccarat tables otherwise marked for players 1 through 15. Slot and video poker players have their superstitions, too. They're mostly harmless and can be fun as long as you don't take them too seriously. They run the gamut from ways to find a lucky machine to betting patterns to acting or moving in certain ways designed to bring good fortune. In my own family, my brother Jay does a jackpot dance that is the stuff of legend. We've spent many an hour playing video poker together in Las Vegas, and when it's time for a one-card draw for a royal flush or four of a kind, it's also time for the dance. No one actually believes it brings luck, but there's no way he'd proceed without it. Other players have rituals and habits too. They can't change the results of your spins and draws, but if they make you feel lucky, may the fortunes be with you."

1. Scouting Machines for Symbols on Reels

Some players won't put their money in machines where a previous player has left a winning combination on the reels. They assume a game that has paid off recently isn't ready to pay off for them. There's no truth to the idea. Results are as random as a human can program a computer to be, and past results have no bearing on future outcomes. A more nuanced version of scouting for reel combinations involves looking for near-misses. If a jackpot combination doesn't quite line up, the superstitious scout sees it as good luck coming just around the corner. He'll play in hopes of getting lucky in the next several spins. Even an American personal finance magazine in the 1990s climbed on the scouting for luck bandwagon. It told readers that on three-reel slots, if a cherry was left on the middle reel, the game was ready to pay off. Of course, there was no way to know how long the cherry had been sitting there, and the random number generator could have been running for hours since the last player. Even if you saw the previous player leave, the cherry isn't really an indicator of things to come. But if you enjoy scouting for luck, have fun. It doesn't help, but doesn't hurt, either.

2. Pulling the Handle vs. Pushing the Button

Relatively few slot machines even have handles in an era where video slots rule offline slot floors and increasing amounts of play are online. On three-reel slots and the small numbers of video slots that have handles as well as buttons, it makes no difference which way you play. Either pushing the button or pulling the handle signal the same random generator to generate a result from the same set of possible outcomes. Nevertheless, some players feel luckier with the handle than with the buttons, or with the buttons than the handle, and some switch back and forth. I once played next to a switcher who would pull the handle for 10 spins or so, and if she didn't like the results, switch back, then maybe switch again. I asked her why she kept switching between handle and button.

"It's just for luck," she said.

3. Lucky Hats, Shirts or Charms

No doubt you've seen many players wearing casino logo shirts, hats, or jackets while they play. Most of the time there's no underlying superstition. The player just liked the item and bought it in a gift shop, or it was a promotional giveaway, or maybe a prize in a slot tournament. But every now and then, a player will attach a more supernatural importance to the item. When I've seen players in casino logo gear with a particularly well-worn look, I've sometimes asked if there was a story behind it and come up with these superstitious behaviors:

"The first time I won a big jackpot was with three Double Diamonds on a three-reel, quarter machine," one older woman told me.

"I won $625 – 2,500 quarters, except they paid by hand and gave me five $100 bills, six twenties, and a five. I’ve never been so excited! I’m not sure I’d ever held a $100 bill before.

"They also gave me a casino T-shirt, and the next time I played, I wore it. I decided to take one of my $100 bills and try a dollar machine for the first time. Naturally, I chose Double Diamond. I noticed the pays were a little different. Three Double Diamonds paid 8,000 in dollars.

"I didn’t get the Double Diamonds, but I got a spin with Double Diamonds on the first reel and again on the second, and I kind of held my breath. Then I got a 7 on the third reel! Three 7s paid $240, and the diamonds doubled it twice. This time they gave me nine $100 bills and six twenties.

"That did it. I wore that T-shirt every time I played for 10 years or more." A middle-aged man told me his faded denim casino jacket wasn't any superstition, but the royal flush lapel pin he wore certainly was. "I was playing alone one night," he said.

"My wife had already gone up to the room. I decided to play a little more video poker, and I drew a royal flush in spades. It was amazing, an $8,000 hit.

"While I was waiting to be paid, a woman and her daughter down the row were as excited as I was. They asked all kinds of questions about royals and jackpots. One of them left and said, don't go away, as if I would. "When she came back, she gave me a lapel pin that was a royal in spades. Perfect! Now I wear it every time I play. It's my lucky charm."

4. Good Luck Chants or Rituals

Just like my brother and his jackpot dance, some players have rituals they go through when a big win seems near. While playing video poker one afternoon, I noticed a man next to me staying in the same rhythm most of the time, but occasionally taking a long count and muttering under his breath before drawing. On one of the long counts, I looked over and saw he had four parts of a flush on his screen. He saw me notice, and I didn't even have to ask.

"Call it superstition if you like, but whenever I have four cards to a royal or even other one-card draws, I can't just draw on my normal rhythm. I have to stop, survey the cards, make sure I've held the right ones four or five times. Then I form a mental image of the card I need. Image of Jack of spades in my head, I'll softly chant, 'Jack, Jack, Jack.'

"Does it work? Maybe about one time in 47. Let's put it this way. I've never drawn a royal on a one-card draw without my imaging and chant. To answer your next question, no, I don't try it without all that, so there's no comparison to be made. Why would I tempt fate?"