I was associated with WinPoker for many years. It was, and is, a good product. Our breakup happened when Video Poker for Winners invited me along and promised to have a strategy calculator — a feature I think is important. So I left WinPoker. I’ve remained on good terms with Dean Zamzow, the man in charge of all things related […]
Posts in category Advice for Players
An Unusual Requirement
I received an offer from a Vegas casino for a 7-day NCL cruise. The offer stated that I had to take a room for two nights to get the cruise. I called to sign up for the offer. I told the lady I spoke with that I’d take the room if I had to, but […]
In Case of Recession
Richard Munchkin and I received the following question for our mailbag show on Gambling with an Edge. I think my complete answer is too involved to answer on the podcast, so I’m going to attempt it here. The question was: Both of you were active APs (I think, anyway) during one of the worst recessions […]
It Might Not Scratch My Itch
I was walking through Sam’s Town here in Las Vegas on a Tuesday in June. The casino offers 10x points (worth 0.5%) for seniors on Tuesdays and I was scouting the place looking to see if anything might be of interest. Even after all these years, scouting is part of my routine. I’ve been restricted […]
I Get By with a Little Help From My Friends
The last week in May, Bonnie and I will spend aboard a railroad traveling through the Canadian Rockies. We’re scheduled to travel east from Vancouver and fly home from Calgary eight days later. Although we will be back in Vegas before you read this, and I may well write about that trip, I’m writing this […]
How Do I Prepare to Stay Awake?
I received the following question for Richard’s and my mailbag show on Gambling with an Edge. It’s too involved to answer on the air. I thought I’d give it a go here. Can you describe the steps you take to prepare for a play that may require you play during a time of day (graveyard […]
Card Pulling Revisited
I was asked to answer a Question of the Day sent to The Las Vegas Advisor. My answer was “too long” for a QOD, but appropriate for one of my blogs. Since LVA hosts my blog and they have plenty of QOD questions “in the hopper,” I was allowed to answer this question here. Is […]
Figuring It Out
I received an email to be answered on the podcast. Here it is: I have a strategy question about 8/5 ACE$ bonus. I’ve been told that you play it the same as you would 8/5 bonus with the following exception: when dealt a full house with 2 or 3 aces where ACE$ is possible, you […]
What Would I Be Doing?
I’ve been a professional video poker player for 28 years and played backgammon and blackjack semi-professionally before that. Someone asked me what I’d be doing with my life if I weren’t a professional gambler? My initial answer was, “I have no idea.” I haven’t had a serious backup plan for decades. I’m confident that I […]
Was It Worth It?
I’m now 75 years of age. I have mild COPD, which is a lung disorder partially caused and/or exacerbated by second hand smoke. I’ve been in casinos averaging more than 50 hours a week for the past 30 years. Before that, I played backgammon at a smoky club for more than 15 years. A case […]