The Slots

Now when I go to casinos I mostly like playing table games but it is a known fact that slot machines are the lifeblood of most casinos.  Most people have their own strategies when it comes to playing lots.  For example, some feel that slots take in most of the money all day and night and pay off jackpots during the early morning hours.  There are some people who even believe that when the machines start clicking a certain way that they are about to pay off.  I assure you that most of those beliefs are just myths.  Occasionally I play the slots and sometimes when I want to slow down my inner gambling man.  Here are a few things that I recommend when playing the slots.  First, if you play $.25 slots make sure that you bet the maximum amount of coins on every spin because this will ensure the maximum payoff.  Secondly, stay away from the progressive slot machines because they rarely payoff.  Lastly, don’t be afraid to play the higher denomination slots such as $5, $10, and $25.  Believe it or not these slots pay off a little more frequently than the smaller denomination slots because people hardly play them. Most of these slots are either in what they call high limit rooms or they are in secluded areas away from the sometimes overcrowded groups of other slot machines.  Now as far as penny slots I am not really a big fan of them but they have had a major impact in casinos.  You have to be careful because although they may say a penny for every spin the average  bet for every spin may be $.25, which means that you can see your money leave just as fast as some of the higher amount slot machines.  For those of you who frown at slot machines because they are much slower pace than table games I just want you to know in case you didn’t that slots generate comps much faster.  Good luck!

Review of Beau Rivage casino in Biloxi, MS

The Beau Rivage is a hotel casino located in Biloxi, MS.  Now this place has class! I haven’t actually stayed at the hotel but I have played there.  I do know that the price of the rooms range from $149-$199 a night, it really depends on what day of the week you stay there.  First let me say that the slot play is decent but the table games are great! The Poker room is outstanding! It is always packed and full of action.  They have Omaha, No Limit, and Limit Poker.  I was impressed by the $200 Aces cracked, which I won within my first two hours of play.  They have a buffet that will surely have you coming back for more.  It contains a variety of food and to top things off it off there is complimentary wine and draft beer.  The Beau Rivage is one of the few casinos in the South that has the ambiance of Las Vegas.

Crap less craps vs. Regular Craps

Crap less crap table

Regular craps table

This is for my craps players.  Now as far as crap less craps this  game can be very deceptive! Unlike regular craps the house edge is a little greater in crap less craps.  Now in the traditional craps on the come out role if the shooter tolls a 7 or 11 you win.  If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12 you lose.  Normally on the come out in regular craps I recommend you make a $5 world bet.  This allows you to bet on the 2, 3, 11, and 12.  This particular bet is a one roll bet.  If the shooter rolls a 7 it will push.  If a 2, 3, or 12 are rolled although you will lose your pass line bet you will get your money back.  You can consider that world bet on regular craps to be insurance on your pass line bet.  In crap less craps if the shooter rolls a 2, 3, 11, or 12 they become the point number.  This is when a pass line bet gives the house a serious edge.  Think about it; there is only one way to roll a 2, 3, 11, and 12.  You are almost certain to see a seven out before making those numbers as points.  When playing crap less craps I strongly recommend making place bets on the 6 and 8 instead of making a pass line bet.  I would bet those two numbers until I had a bad feeling about the luck of the shooter.  Then I would take my bets on both numbers all the way down.  I would also make place bets on the 2, 3, 11, and 12.  Unlike the proposition bets there are not one roll bets.  They pay off on the place bets are nice!  Crap less crap tables are kind of hard to come by.  I have seen one at the stratosphere in Las Vegas and I have also seen one in Tunica, MS at the Roadhouse Casino (formally the Sheraton).  You can do pretty well on crap less craps.  Walk up to a table and try your luck!

Mississippi Stud

Mississippi Stud is a fairly new five card poker game that lets players put it all on the line by betting up to 10 units on a single line.

To play players make an ante bet to receive their first two cards.  The dealer will place 3 community cards face down in the middle of the layout

Once they receive their cards, players may either fold or make the 3rd Street bet of one to three times their ante.  The dealer then will reveal the first community card, and players may either fold or make the 4th Street bet of one to three times their ante.  The dealer will then reveal their second community card, and players can fold or stay in the game by making the 5th Street bet from one to three times their ante.

After the dealer turns over the final community card, he/she resolves all bets left in action.  Players win their five-card hand that contains a pair of 6's or better.

Now when you first look at this game it can be a little intimidating but I assure you that it is not as hard as it looks.  It does help to have a basic understanding of hand rankings in poker because if you don't you may have a slight problem following the game.

Whenever you go to a casino the Mississippi Stud tables are rarely unoccupied.  This game is extremely popular! When I first played this game I did terrible! I turned around and played it again in Vegas and was able to turn a $200 investment into $2,600.  I played heads up with the dealer for two hours.  There are many people that believe that it is taboo to play heads up with the dealer on certain games.  I personally feel that when playing Mississippi Stud your odds might just be a little better playing heads up with the dealer.  Here are the pay table odds.  Good Luck!

Royal Flush            500 to 1
Straight Flush         100 to 1
Four of a Kind         90 to 1
Full House               10 to 1
Flush                          6 to 1
Straight                      4 to 1
Three of a Kind          3 to 1
2 Pairs                        2 to 1
Pair of J's or better      1 to 1
Pair of 6's - 10's          Push
Everything else is a loss

The Fred Ogletree "Standing 16 Blackjack rule"

The game of blackjack has been around for a very long time. The object of the game is to get cards totaling 21, or as close as possible without going over and to get a better total than the dealer.  There are some people that believe that it is a game based solely on luck.  When playing blackjack there is a very small percentage of the game that requires skill.  Almost every casino has at least four different versions of the game of blackjack.  The different types of games are: single deck, double deck, lucky ladies, and twenty one plus three.  The basic rules of the game of blackjack are for players to get as close to the number twenty one beating the dealer without going over that number. There are rules that say that aces and eights should always be split into new hands.  One rule in particular that is questionable is always taking a mandatory hit on your hand when the dealer is showing ten on the up card.  There is an exception to this rule.  I call it the standing 16 rule.  Whenever a player gets dealt a card totaling 16 there are only four cards that he/she will be safe with. If the dealer up card is a 2, 3, 4, and 5 there is a strong possibility that the dealer will bust out the hand.  Be careful though because sometimes although the dealer up card may be a 2 it is called a dealer ace and a hand can be made out of that 2 without busting.  In most cases that is exactly what will happen. Now it is not mandatory for a player to take a hit becoming a sacrificial lamb for the rest of the players at the table.

In my experience using the standing 16 rule I have at least 3 times in a shoe that contained 8 to nine decks of cards when I did not take the hit on the 16. In some cases it can even save the other players on the table by not hitting the 16 which may lead to the dealer busting his/her hand. The standing 16 rule will work in every blackjack game regardless if it has a side bet or not. Always remember to play at your own pace. Don't worry about the comments of other players. Playing blackjack is a social task. Nobody can tell you how to play with your own money.

Blackjack is a card game that is more than luck. It requires a little skill, especially when using the standing 16 rule. There is no guarantee that it will work every time it is used, but it will reduce the house edge slightly considering the fact that it is expected for you to take a hit on 16. A great maxim is to play smarter and not harder in the game of blackjack.

Review of Island View Casino in Gulfport, MS

I had the pleasure of staying and playing at the Island View Casino.  Now this casino is only five years old but I assure you that although it may still be in an infancy stage, yet that does not minimize its ability to compete with some of the larger casinos in the Biloxi area.  It is actually located in Gulfport, MS, which is about 20 minutes from Biloxi (depending on the traffic).  Island View is very accessible and the area where is located unlike the other casinos is not congested at all.  Now its staff such as: front desk, table game dealers, floor supervisors etc. provide exemplary customer service! I was very impressed with the hotel rooms! The slots are hot! Table games such as "Lucky Ladies blackjack, Flop Poker, and one of my favorites Mississippi Stud.  If you are tired of being forced to use your comps in casino buffet don't worry because Island View Casino has a restaurant called the cg&grille.  This place has very reasonable prices with excellent food; they also gladly accept your hard earned casino comps.  Every month Island View Casino has something going on whether it is slot tournaments, blackjack tournaments, or just live entertainment.  If you are planning to visit the Biloxi area and are planning to do a little gambling I highly recommend that you visit the Island View Casino.  Here is the contact info for the Island View Casino http://islandviewcasino.com/

The Grand Biloxi Casino is in desperate need of improvement

I visited the Grand Biloxi casino about 3 months ago.  I was very disappointed! Now for the past 8 years I have thoroughly enjoyed Harrah's properties.  Unfortunately, the Grand Biloxi property leaves little to be desired.  Let me start by saying to my poker players that it does not have a poker room.  There is a small amount of table games and slot machines.  The staff I came in contact with were not friendly at all.  This is definitely one casino that I do not recommend for my serious casino people.