Gambling

The 2006 World Series of Poker season is set up to surpass what was achieved in 2005 by Harrah’s. With the start of the WSOP Circuit Tournament series on August 11, 2005 and ending with the regular WSOP tournament that will begin on June 26th, Harrah’s put into motion the basis for giving the world top level poker action year round. The number of WSOP Circuit Tournament events was increased from last year’s 5 events to 12, allowing basically an event each month. Each winner of the Main Event from these WSOP Circuit Tournaments besides winning a nice sum of money and a beautiful ring, received a freeroll entry into the Tournament of Champions.

For 2006, the World Series of Poker tournament that begins on June 26th at the Rio in Las Vegas, Nevada, will feature 44 separate events verses last years 45. But there will be sizable changes in Event 38 which is the Main Event. Harrah’s is gearing up for 8000 poker players to descend on the tables with the first day being split up into four rounds, (Day 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D), each round handling 2000 players per session. With the entry fee still at $10,000 per person, the potential prize pool for the Main Event could reach $80,000,000! This would surpass the figures for 2005 in which 5,619 entrants and a prize pool of $52,818,610 were the final statistics. Expect a huge portion of players to win their seats from online poker rooms. Beginning on July 28th, the Main Event action will continue over a period of 13 days ending on August 10th.

Harrah’s also plans to host the World Series of Poker Lifestyle show that will be held during the first week of the Main Event from July 27th to the 31st. It will happen in the Rio’s 55,000 square foot Pavilion Convention Center, so attending won’t keep anyone too far away from the table action. Last year there were 100 vendors that featured the biggest online poker rooms, poker magazines, poker gift shops some with poker jewelry and even a booth hosting Marcel Luske, the Flying Dutchman. 55,000 visitors came through the aisles in 2005 to learn, see and experience everything related to poker.

The only group of people who could have a better perspective on the poker industry would be the fortunate few who become champions. These lucky players have not only received offers of endorsement, partnership in online poker rooms, but have begun to achieve celebrity status. Book deals, video games, TV shows, freeroll tournament invitations to big money poker tournaments overrun these individuals. Why? Sponsors who anxiously want to sink big money into poker related events want these people on their side. Joseph Hachem, the 2005 Main Event winner, recently announced his decision to leave Australia to live in Beverly Hills, California because of the earning potential of opportunities received since becoming champion. This came after winning a major victory in Australia’s courts that let him keep his $7,500,000 won in the WSOP Main Event — tax free! He even has top level talent agency William Morris helping him to sort out the best offers.

With the allure of money, status and celebrity fame, the World Series of Poker has become one of the premier events on the planet to follow. And 2006 will be no exception, giving the public more of what it has been waiting for.

If you have watched enough poker games, you will have noticed players doing it. If you have played enough poker games then you are likely to have done it yourself. Nobody who plays poker can ignore that it exists and almost everyone has acted on it at some point in their game.

I am of course talking about the dreaded tilt. It’s that irrational feeling you get when as a player you suffer one too many bad beats which swings you into overkill. You begin to play too aggressively, suddenly you are raising 7-2 before the flop, going all-in on a small pair and ultimately tilting like it’s going out of fashion!

It is quite funny to watch players try to avoid it or try to act as though they are not doing it after losing a few hands. The tilt is often initiated after a few bad hands, but ultimately is acted upon when a player loses their focus. Focus on the game is often lost when a player is irritated or tired. If you lose your patience, you are likely to tilt when you become agitated and feel you are not getting the rub of the green.

The players who remain focused may be less likely to tilt during a poker game, but they too can cross over the line should they become stressed during a tournament. Poker is a discipline that is a learned craft. Players must practice control to overcome the possibility of a tilt.

It is tough to do in some games, especially if you are not getting any decent hands and your opponents chips are stacking up around you. Sometimes more experienced players will watch for the opportunity to encourage a tilt by drastically changing their own play. They know they have the upper hand and will do whatever it takes in order to benefit from the situation.

Before giving into the tilt epidemic, make sure to check your own style of play. Ask yourself if you are controlling your own behaviour or are you letting someone else at the table disrupt it?

When another player tilts it can be fun to watch, but when it is you, the word loses its appeal. Try to remember to regain your composure after suffering a few bad beats, it happens to everyone at some point. You still control your own game even if you can’t control what appears on the river.

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Inside the Boxscores is a weekly feature from Matt Fargo that has been widely recognized as the best summation in college football. He takes an in-depth look at each game and pulls out the most pertinent information that will help you handicap games in the future. College football is filled with quirky plays, misleading scores and surprise endings. Fargo takes you inside the action.

ARIZONA STATE 38 Stanford 3

The Sun Devils held Stanford to just 145 total yards and 11 first downs. Arizona St. scored on five of its first six possessions and was in Cardinal territory in all but one of its drives. The Sun Devils only passed for 175 yards but were very efficient, completing 17 of 19 passes while five of their six scoring drives were 57 yards or more. Both teams committed 10 penalties.

(12) CALIFORNIA 31 Washington 24

Washington nearly pulled off the huge upset as the Huskies scored on a 40-yard pass as time expired in regulation but they were intercepted in overtime to fall short. Washington ended with five interceptions but only one of those led to points for the Bears. California was forced to punt on its first five possessions but made it inside Washington territory on each of its last seven possessions but did miss two scoring chances.

(2) MICHIGAN 20 Iowa 6

Michigan only outgained the Hawkeyes 291-238 but Iowa was forced into two short field goals while fumbling inside the Michigan 40-yard line and turning it over on downs at the 15-yard line. Neither rushing game excelled as Iowa rushed for 41 yards on 24 carries (1.7 ypc) while Michigan rushed for 88 yards on 39 carries (2.3 ypc). The Wolverines won the clock battle by close to 10 minutes.

TENNESSEE 16 Alabama 13

Tennessee outgained the Crimson Tide 359-211 but had to rally from a seven-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter. The Volunteers were hurt by three interceptions, a missed field goal and a turnover on downs. Alabama took the lead at the end of the third quarter and got the ball back four more times but gained only 39 yards and never crossed midfield.

T-C-U 31 ARMY 17

TCU outgained the Black Knights 359-196 and after Army scored on its first possession, the Horned Frogs ran off 31 unanswered points to pull away. 24 of those points were off turnovers in the first half as Army committed four in consecutive possessions in the second quarter in a span of just four plays. The Horned Frogs also committed four turnovers and missed two field goals.

WYOMING 24 Colorado State 0

Wyoming pitched the shutout despite allowing 259 yards but the defense forced three big turnovers. The only scoring in the first half was a field goal but the Cowboys broke it open in the second half to pull away. Wyoming did hold the Rams to 42 yards rushing on 22 carries (1.9 ypc) while the offense used the big play as all three touchdowns were 25 yards or longer.

Rice 40 U-C-F 29

Central Florida actually outgained Rice 482-420 but two costly turnovers did the Golden Knights in. They fumbled deep in Owls territory while tossing an interception deep in their own territory setting up a short Rice touchdown. Central Florida was also forced into three short field goals. Rice regained the lead midway through the third quarter by scoring four of the next five touchdowns to pull away.

WASHINGTON ST 34 (25) Oregon 23

The Ducks won the total yardage battle 471-372 but they missed numerous opportunities while committing too many turnovers. In its first nine possessions, Oregon had four turnovers, missed a field goal and turned it over on downs at the Cougars eight-yard line. By that point, Washington St. had a 24-point lead and the Ducks couldn’t recover. Both teams registered defensive touchdowns.

(15) Boise State 42 IDAHO 26

This game was close throughout as Idaho outgained the Broncos 397-353 and pulled to within two points midway through the fourth quarter but missed the two-point conversion that would have tied the game. Boise St. then took advantage of a long kickoff return followed by a Vandals failed fourth down attempt to put up two more scores. Boise St. held Idaho to 69 yards on 28 carries (2.5 ypc).

(16) Rutgers 20 PITTSBURGH 10

Rutgers outgained the Panthers 340-236 as the defense pitched a first half shutout by allowing Pittsburgh to cross midfield only once. The Panthers pulled to within three points early in the fourth quarter but the Scarlet Knights needed only four plays to score on the next possession for the final margin. Rutgers rushed for 268 yards on 48 carries (5.6 ypc) while holding Pittsburgh to 67 yards on 26 caries (2.6 ypc).

AKRON 24 Miami-Ohio 13

Miami had the lead for a majority of the game until the Zips scored the final two touchdowns of the game to pull out the win. After a fumble that led to a RedHawks field goal to take a one-point lead, Akron drove down the field on its next two possessions while the defense forced two punts and a turnover on downs. Miami rushed for only 57 yards on 30 carries (1.9 ypc).

Oregon State 17 ARIZONA 10

Oregon St. outgained the Wildcats 332-183 but the defense needed two late interceptions to pull out the win. The Beavers scored two early touchdowns but led by only four points midway through the fourth quarter after Arizona returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown. The Beavers held the Wildcats to just 22 yards rushing on 28 carries (0.8 ypc) which included three sacks for 27 yards.

VIRGINIA TECH 36 Southern Miss 6

The Golden Eagles trailed by just a point after the first quarter but Virginia Tech ran off 29 unanswered points to pull away. The Hokies outgained Southern Mississippi 398-216 and following two first quarter field goals, the Golden Eagles mustered only 94 yards the rest of the way. Virginia Tech rushed for 284 yards on 39 carries (7.3 ypc) while holding Southern Mississippi to 82 yards on 37 carries (2.2 ypc).

LOUISIANA TECH 48 Utah State 35

The Bulldogs racked up 570 total yards of offense including 344 yards rushing on 47 carries (7.3 ypc). Utah St. threw an interception on the first play of the game and could not get onto the scoreboard until the second quarter after spotting Louisiana Tech a 17-0 lead. The offense then put up four solid touchdown drives while the defense returned a fumble for a score.

NEVADA 23 San Jose St 7

Nevada outgained the Spartans 408-239 but the game was still in question until late in the fourth quarter. The Wolf Pack threw an interception with 18 seconds remaining in the first half and San Jose St. scored on the next play to pull within three points. The Spartans returned the favor by fumbling on their first play of the second half setting up a short Nevada touchdown. Nevada iced it with an 88-yard scoring drive.

(19) OKLAHOMA 24 Colorado 3

Oklahoma held the Buffaloes to just 113 total yards, including a mere 39 yards passing and only five first downs. Colorado’s only score came on a late field goal on its 11th possession after gaining only 48 total yards up to that point. Despite that, the Sooners had just a 10-point lead going into the fourth quarter before icing it late. Oklahoma controlled over 13 more minutes of the clock and finished 9-18 on third down.

HOUSTON 34 Texas-El Paso 17

UTEP held a seven-point lead at halftime before the Cougars scored the only 24 points of the second half. The Miners had 213 yards in the first half but were held to just eight total yards after the break. Houston finished with 412 total yards and crossed midfield on every possession while going 10-16 on third down and 4-4 inside the redzone. UTEP finished with only 30 yards rushing on 23 carries (1.3 ypc)

Marshall 31 U-A-B 24

Marshall outgained the Blazers 473-342 and had 317 yards rushing on 46 carries (6.9 ypc). The Thundering Herd led the entire game as they scored touchdowns on four of their first five possessions while the defense forced two UAB interceptions deep in its own territory. Marshall went 8-11 on third down conversions but went only 1-3 inside the redzone.

Middle Tennessee 35 UL-MONROE 21

UL-Monroe had a seven-point lead at halftime before the Blue Raiders dominated the second half. Middle Tennessee scored three touchdowns on its first four possessions after the break while the defense held the Warhawks to just 44 total yards in the second half. Middle Tennessee outgained UL-Monroe 449-286 and the Blue Raiders used a balanced offensive attack with 215 yards rushing and 234 yards passing.

(22) Texas A&M 34 OKLAHOMA STATE 33

Texas A&M scored the tying touchdown with just three seconds remaining in regulation while the defense blocked an extra point in overtime to pull out the win. The Aggies outgained Oklahoma St. 423-359 and controlled the clock for over 10 more minutes but needed to rally twice in the final quarter. Both teams went 6-13 on third down conversions and 2-2 on fourth down.

ARKANSAS STATE 29 North Texas 10

North Texas took a three-point lead in the second quarter but then the Indians dominated the rest of the way. Arkansas St. put up 466 yards of offense while the defense held the Mean Green to 94 total yards after their final score. The Indians finished 11-15 on third down conversions while going a perfect 4-4 inside the redzone. The offense ran 23 more played while putting up 279 yards on the ground.

(10) CLEMSON 31 (21) Georgia Tech 7

This game was all Clemson as it outgained the Yellow Jackets 426-205 despite running only 54 plays from scrimmage. The Tigers rushed for 321 yards on 38 carries (8.4 ypc) while holding Georgia Tech to 88 yards on 37 carries (2.4 ypc). The Yellow Jackets missed a field goal on its opening possession and crossed midfield only once in its next eight possessions.

Hawaii 49 NEW MEXICO ST 30

The Warriors outgained the Aggies by just 60 yards, 508-448 but three turnovers by New Mexico St. led to 14 points for Hawaii. New Mexico St. trailed by just four points heading into the fourth quarter but Hawaii scored a touchdown on a 90-yard drive and then returned a fumble for a score three plays later to pull away. Hawaii was inside the Aggies 31-yard line on all of its possessions.

SAN DIEGO ST 19 Air Force 12

Air Force actually outgained the Aztecs 344-284 but the Falcons missed a field goal on their opening possession and then threw an interception at the San Diego St. seven-yard line on their second. San Diego St. was able to kick the game-winning field goal with two seconds remaining and then recovered a fumble in the endzone on the kickoff for the final margin of victory.

Tulsa 35 MEMPHIS 14

Tulsa scored touchdowns on its first three possessions and never looked back. The Golden Hurricane held the Tigers to 232 total yards including 75 yards rushing on 29 carries (2.6 ypc). Tulsa was very efficient in the passing game, completing 17 of 20 passes while going 8-10 on third and fourth down conversions. Memphis was in Tulsa territory on four if its final five possessions but came away with only one score.

(14) L-S-U 38 Fresno State 6

The Tigers held Fresno St. to 211 total yards and only 11 first downs while forcing eight punts. The second punt was returned for a touchdown giving LSU a 14-0 lead. The Tigers offense stalled, gaining only 73 yards on their next five possessions before exploding for 280 yards in the second half and scoring three touchdowns. Fresno St. went 1-13 on third and fourth down conversions.

CINCINNATI 23 So Florida 6

The only scoring in the first half was a safety by Cincinnati as the Bearcats defense held the Bulls to 44 total yards before the break. Cincinnati missed a field goal and turned it over on downs at the South Florida 21-yard line thus shutting out its own offense. The Bearcats returned a fumble for its first score of the second half while the defense didn’t allow the Bulls to score until 51 seconds remaining.

Many players make playing mistakes based upon a lack of understanding of how the RNG works.

If you read this article you won’t make these mistakes and increase your chances of winning the big payouts.

The Random Number Generator

All Slot machines contain a (RNG) which is a microchip that constantly (even while the machine is not being played) constantly generates combinations of numbers at a rate of around a hundred every second.

These random numbers correspond to positions on each of the reels in the machine. When you play, you aren’t really doing anything other than spinning the reels for visual effect.

A player is simply seeing reel positions that correspond to the last set of random numbers in the sequence at the time of the spin.

So what are the common errors that players make?

Here are the most common ones and the influence the RNG has:

1. Using a Slot Machine System

Many players believe they can predict the next spin by using mathematical systems to put the odds in their favor.

The RNG however makes slots a game of chance and there is no way of predicting in advance when the next jackpot is due.

Winning comes down to the precise moment that you play and this dictates which set of random numbers your play generates.

While the RNG is not purely random it is impossible to tell the sequence and even if it were at 100 calculations a second the chances of you being able to hit the pay at the exact time of a winning spin are remote to say the least.

Never use a slot machine system!

2. Looking at the reels and calculating odds

The number corresponds to the symbols on the Reel. There can be hundreds of Virtual stops on each reel even though you see far fewer symbols.

Let’s assume a player sees 15 reels and then calculates the odds as follows:

15 x 15 x 15 1:3,375. This however is only part of the odds what the player does not see are the virtual stops, and this could be a 100 or more per reel!

At 100 per reel, it would be 100 x 100 x 100, or odds of 1:1,000,000. Generally the bigger the payback of a machine the larger the number of virtual stops.

If the jackpot is big the odds of winning it are small as the jackpot obviously has to be financed from somewhere!

3. A Machine has not paid for a while and is due a payback

A machine is never due to payout at a certain time as the payback percentage and payout frequency are calculated longer term.

The RNG is a longer term calculation and there is no reason why it can’t go a long time without paying out, or do two or three payouts in quick succession.

4. Playing Fast increase chances of success

There is no advantage to playing the machine faster!

The RNG will generate hundreds of numbers between the spins of even the fastest player and there are no players who can play a hundred spins a second, so take your time.

The RNG

The RNG is a marvel of modern technology and makes any slot machine a game of chance.

The above common playing errors are based around the idea that slots can be predicted and of course this is not true.

Increasing your chances of winning at slots

While slots are a game of chance, there are some sensible ways of playing them to increase the odds of success.

Week one is almost on the books and the team taking the most shots in the media certainly has to be Joe Gibbs’ Washington Redskins. With the addition of Al Saunders as the offensive coordinator, Brandon Lloyd and Antwann Randle El at wideouts, and an explosive defense, the Skins were highly regarded.

It is widely acknowledge around the NFL that running back Clinton Portis is the real deal and as long as aging Mark Brunell does not cough up the rock too many times, that Washington will be favored in the majority of the games.

I was ecstatic, of course, then this past weekend when they looked horrible against the Cincinnati Bengals the boys in the nation’s capital began to leap off the bandwagon. Their star Portis got hurt and will be out for several weeks, the backup Betts has a questionable knee, and the third stringer Kerry Carter is gone for the year with a knee injury suffered Saturday as well.

Hopefully, Gibbs has his team tank the preseason games against the Jets, Patriots and Ravens as they lead in to their opener against the Vikings. With Minnesota opening on the road with a new coach and attitude, it is paramount that Washington has a bad preseason, so that the public jumps on the dog, Vikings. I see Washington being favored by 6 and I will lay the wood! Sports betting at it’s safest in my opinion.

On the flip side is the San Francisco 49ers who opened with a bang against the Bears this past weekend and 2005 1st pick QB Alex Smith looked outstanding in Norv Turners new offense. The 49ers will open on the road in the new Arizona stadium and will be sizable underdogs. The spread presently sits at -8 and I like the home side, so here I would like to get more distressing news from the Cardinals’ camp.

Hopefully, back Edgerrin James looks less than stellar in the next few games and just maybe fans will grab the bait with Smith and the 49ers. While I do not care for betting heavy favorites, the Cardinals will roll in their new digs! If you’re not into online gambling, this is a pretty good time to try it out.

Bob Acton

Sports Betting

There are a number of people involved in the world of gambling but surprisingly, these people are still unable to turn valuable knowledge into a consistent stream of gambling profits. Sadly, they will never be able to.

They just want to play to “have fun”. Fair enough you may think, but what is so fun about losing money? Furthermore, what is so fun about losing money when, with a little discipline and diversification, you could leave the casino a winner?

The average person spends two to three nights when visiting a gambling destination and plays 80% of the time while there. Some punters play without taking a short siesta and even worse, some without pausing to eat. These people are involved in an ongoing losing process from the time they step foot onto the casino floor.

It is even more surprising when these people continue to sit at a losing blackjack table or continue to play the passline in a craps game without any viable shooters. In a word, it is careless. Why would anyone enjoy gambling under these circumstances?

The reason so many people lose their money when they gamble is because they are there to lose. Subconsciously, from the time the pack their bags they have in mind what they are “going to lose” before they come home.

Think about it. In the casino, often one of the things heard on the casino floor is, “After I lose this, I’m going to…” If that is the attitude of gamblers before going to a casino, they deserve to lose. On the other hand if they go with a winning attitude, they deserve to win.

Take note of the people in casinos who appear to be winning, they are winning because that is exactly the reason they are there.

Being Able to distinguish the Cards of a player would help you to save you’re money when you have a bad hand and win you the pot when you have a good hand. Of course, you can’t see what cards you’re opponents have. The only thing you have is there facial and body expressions. In this 2 part guide, I will teach 10 of the best tips on the net. These are amazing secrets that will help you win every dollar on the table you are playing at.

The tells of a player range from what they do to how they act. You have to look at what you’re opponents are doing AT ALL TIMES. Pay attention to there every move and look for the following signs which will help you win every Texas hold’em game. Read the following 5 tips very carefully and please print it out as a reference.

The way the a player arranges his chips is one of the main signs you have to look for. This is a tell that can help you identify and classify you’re opponents before the game begins.

Now the secret is whether or not the player keeps there pile of chips neat or messy. If the player keeps there pile neat, 9 times out of 10 that is a tight player. This means that they will not bluff often and you have to expect that they call with strong hands. If they have a messy pile of chips, you know that they that is a loose player and you can be sure that they will be bluffing and playing rambunctiously.

The way a player places the chips from his stack to the pot is a sure tell. If the player throws his chips in nervously, they spill over, and he cleans them up he is bluffing. The fact that he cleans them up means that he is trying to cover it up. He wants to make sure you wont call so that he can win the pot. This means that you should call because you are competing against a weak hand.

Another tell hat is amazingly obvious but not understood by many as the way someone will pay is the way they buy chips. If a person yells to the dealer that he wants chips and he openly waves his money and is very showy with his money, he is a loose aggressive player.

If the player is quiet and asks for chips politely, you have a conservative tight player.

This is an audible tell. This one you have to listen to carefully because it is not easy to spot since it’s a noise a player makes. When a player makes a sad sound like a sigh or a tisk sound, they are obviously bluffing. Make sure not to bet because they, most likely, have a strong hand. When a player sees the flop and makes that sad “tisk” sound, it means they completed a good hand, they are trying to cover up there happiness.

The final tip of the day has to do with the flop. This is THE MOST IMPORTANT TIP;

DON’T LOOK AT THE FLOP WHEN IT COMES! What you want to do is look at the players reactions to the flop. If a player looks away from the flop, they have a good hand because they are trying to keep from looking like they have a good hand. They want to seem uninterested. The players who stare at the flop have a weak hand.

These are top secret poker tells that you can use to help you win money in any casino. You can probably take these 5 tips and win at table with an advanced skill playing level right now.

I hope you enjoyed these tips and I hope you will read the other 5 tips because those are the better of the 10.

If you are like the average, recreational Blackjack player, you may play Blackjack in a casino a few times per year and you want to play in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere and have fun.

But at the same time, you don’t want to play a game where the odds are greatly against you and you want a good chance of beating the house on any given day. And you’re willing to invest a reasonable amount of time learning to play properly.

Does this describe you? If so, you’re not alone. About 99% of Blackjack players can very likely be described as “recreational” players. If you invest the few hours it takes to lean Basic Strategy and good money management you will reduce the casino’s edge down to about a half percent. This is the closest to playing even with the house that you’ll find in any game in the casino.

However, for those of you for whom playing almost even with the house is not good enough and you want the edge, you must become a card counter.

It is an irrefutable fact that you can have an advantage over the casino in Blackjack by counting cards. There are dozens of books this subject and card counting has been mathematically proven - literally thousands of times - as a method to more accurately determine the odds that your next hand will have favorable cards.

The long-term advantage gained by card counting is about 1%, versus the one half percent disadvantage from simply playing Basic Strategy.

So why isn’t everyone a card counter and why are casino Blackjack profits at an all- time high and climbing?

Two reasons:

* Casinos have made the playing conditions very difficult for card counters.

* Becoming an expert card counter requires hundreds of hours of practice and a monstrous bankroll. Even then, a small lapse in concentration at the table will wipe out the small advantage gained by counting.

This does not mean there aren’t professional Blackjack counters who make a living playing Blackjack - there are.

However, to be able to make a full time living by counting cards, you’ll need to be able to do the following:

* Spend hundreds of hours, and play thousands of hands, to learn to count cards expertly, plus learn the many subtle variations to hitting and standing that vary with the count.

* Play 100 hours plus per month of actual table time, with average bets of $50 - $100. You can probably double this amount of time - or more - to allow for breaks, finding good tables, changing tables and casinos frequently, travel, etc.

* Learn how to constantly conceal your card counting skills when playing, to avoid being asked to leave.

* Play at odd hours – usually very late at night into the early hours of the morning, because it’s best to play one-on-one with the dealer or with as few other players as possible at the table.

* Change tables and casinos frequently, to avoid being detected.

* Have a very large bankroll. As a professional, you will need about 300-500 times your average bet, to be able to take advantage of the count by stepping up your bets dramatically and playing multiple hands, while also being able to weather the wild swings in your bankroll that will frequently happen in the short run. This translates to a working bankroll of about $30,000 - $50,000, based on average bets of $50 - $100, which is what you’ll need to earn a full time living.

If you are indeed able to do all of the above flawlessly, then congratulations! You are an expert card counter and you will make money in the long term.

For the 99% of us who are recreational players and unable - or unwilling - to make the substantial effort required to count cards expertly, then playing Basic Strategy is the next best thing. This will give a very low edge against you of about one half of one percent, while still providing the chance to come away a winner in the short term.

Learning perfect Blackjack Basic Strategy takes only a few hours and can be mastered by virtually everyone. You can play any table, any time, for as long as you like, without having to worry about being noticed by the Pit Boss. In fact, the Pit Bosses will welcome you with open arms. You’ll still have the lowest odds against you of any table game in the casino and you’ll have a fighting chance of beating the casino with a good run of cards.

This is the best way to play for casual, recreational players who want to have fun but not lose their shirts.

Don’t get me wrong: the bottom line is that if you want to be a serious, dedicated Blackjack player, who gets the most thrill out of beating the casino and is willing to work hard to do it, then by all means learn card counting.

However, for the recreational player, Blackjack should be easy to learn and fun.

With Basic Strategy, it is.

Pai Gow is a truly fascinating game. There is something undeniably exotic about the manner in which it is played. And the name itself is just fun to say. Go ahead, say it a few times, out loud. Don’t be a wimp. If you’re feeling self-conscious, worried that the kids might hear you and either bust out in hysterics or tell your spouse you’re having a nervous breakdown, just close the door and turn up the stereo to mask the sound of your voice.

Ready? Good, let’s start. “Pai Gow… Pai Gow… Pai Gow…”

Continue this for as long as you want. It can be a quite soothing form of therapy. In fact, gambling lore claims that Pai Gow is actually an ancient form of sacred Zen meditation that some shrewd casino owner cynically turned into a money-based game of chance. Hey, are you done chanting yet? We have some important information to cover before this article runs out.

Now that we’re back, let’s take a look at some basic Pai Gow strategy. In game play, tiles are randomized on the table, and are stacked into eight stacks of four each. This is referred to as ‘the woodpile.’ Various ritualistic shuffles are made, rearranging the tiles in the woodpile in a number of different ways that result in a new woodpile. It is at this point that bets are made. Most commonly, seven players constitute a game. Each player’s hand will be compared only against the dealer’s hand to determine winners and losers.

Next, each player (including the dealer) is given four tiles with which to make two hands of two tiles each. The hand with the lower value is called the ‘front hand,’ and the hand with the higher value is called the ‘rear hand.’ If a player’s front hand beats the dealer’s front hand, and the player’s rear hand beats the dealer’s rear hand, then that player wins the bet. If a player’s front and rear hands both lose to the dealer’s respective hands, the player loses the bet. If one hand wins and the other loses, the player is said to” push,” (meaning, tie) and receives in return only the money he or she bet.

Except for a few high-scoring exceptions, the best score a hand can have is nine. To find the value of a hand, simply add the total number of pips on the two tiles, and drop the ‘tens place.’ For instance, a 1-3 tile used with a 2-3 tile will score nine, since four plus five is nine. However, a 2-3 tile with a 5-6 tile will score six, and not sixteen. Why? Because you drop the 1 (which is in the tens place). Furthermore, a 5-5 tile with a 4-6 tile will score zero, since ten plus ten is twenty, and twenty reduces to zero when you drop the tens place.

Tricky, ain’t it? That’s all part of the fun. If you find yourself getting frustrated, just start chanting again (but now while operating heavy machinery).