Sportsbooks

For all of you who like sports betting.  There are several sites such as bovada, bookmaker, and 5dimes.  Now I happen to like 5dimes out of all of those.  I have not had much experience with bookmaker but I can tell you that bovada  is not so easy to follow.  Not only does 5dimes have many ways to fund your account, but it also is the only online sportsbook that allows you to adjust the lines.  Online sports betting has somewhat of a learning curve.  Be sure to do lots of research before you get into it.

My birthday is coming up

I will be travelling to Gulfport, MS.  I will be staying at the Island View Casino because that is where I get my comps.  I will be going back to the Imperial Palace to see what is going on in the poker room.  I am promising myself to hit the slots.  I will keep you guys posted.

Biloxi/Gulfport

I have gotten away from my favorite casino in the Southeast, which was Sams Town in Tunica, MS.  I have now made the Biloxi/Gulfport area casinos my new spot.  I really love the Island View Casino in Gulfport.  In the last year they have added a Beach Hotel on the other side from the casino part.  I can honestly say that they are very generous about their comps and the staff is very friendly.  If you do not get comp rooms the rooms are not that expensive.  I highly suggest if possible that you travel between Sunday and Thursday because it is not as crowded which makes it possible for you to easily maneuver between the table games and slots.

I'M BACK!

I have been on a 3 year hiatus but that doesn't mean that I  have not been playing though.  I am back to inform you on what games are really hot in the casinos these days.  Let's start winning again!

FYI for poker players visiting Tunica, MS

I know that it has been a while since I last posted but after a short hiatus I am back.  On my last visit to Tunica, MS I was shocked to find out that Sam's Town closed its poker room.  I went across the street to the poker room in the Hollywood Casino.  It is dead over there! The best poker room in Tunica, MS right now is the one in the Horseshoe.  Not only are there some good players over there but they have tournaments almost every day of the week.    So check them out.  Good Luck!

7-Card Stud

7-Card Stud is probably the second most popular poker game.  This game is played with up to 8 players

Each player is dealt two hold cards face down.

3rd Street - The next card dealt is placed face up.

1st round of betting - The player who is showing the lowest ranking face-up card.  In the event that players      show cards of similar value the order is determined by the suit.

4th Street - The 4th street cards are dealt face-up.

2nd round of betting - In this round the player with the highest ranking exposed cards begins the betting round.

5th Street - The 5th street cards are dealt face up

3rd round of betting - Same as 2nd betting round

6th Street - The 6th street cards are dealt face up.

4th round of betting - Same as 2nd and 3rd betting rounds

River - The final "River" cards are dealt face down

5th round of betting - This final round of betting proceeds similarly to round 4

Showdown - After the 5th betting round has taken place, it is determine the winner.  The player with the highest ranking five card hand wins the pot.

This game is pretty good.  I recommend this for my die hard hold'em players.  Good Luck!

Sportsbooks

I know that I have been away for a while but I must say that I have been busy venturing out into virgin territory.  I have really started to enjoy sports betting.  At first I was kind of reluctant to participate in this type of gambling because I have never been a big sports fan.  Although sports betting is illegal in most states one in which I currently reside, yet I highly suggest you look into some of the online sportsbooks such as bet us, bovada, and 5dimes.  It may appear to be difficult but trust me it is not.  With a a little research and luck you can be a winner at it.  Good luck!

Limit Hold'em vs. No Limit Hold'em

Now by no means do I consider myself to be an outstanding poker player. I am still an amateur.  I am truly a witness to the maxim "all you need is some chips and a chair." I have been playing for about 3 years now.  One thing I can tell you about poker is it can be a costly learning experience.  Trust me I am telling you this from experience.  I started off playing Limit hold'em, which is the game I highly recommend you play to get your feet wet.  When it comes to No limit hold'em you can get your behind handed to you in a matter of minutes. Now in the game of Limit Hold'em people can really chip bully you like they can in No Limit.  In Limit it is not uncommon to to see more 9 handed play because people tend to play weaker hands.   It is good to watch videos and read literature on the game of poker but you will never get good at it unless you play.  I am talking about live play.  Playing on the internet does not truly give you a good feel on actual atmosphere of the game.  So in closing if you are an amateur like myself hit the tables and improve your skills and make sure you start off on the lower limit games.  Good Luck!

Buster Blackjack

Buster Blackjack is another form of blackjack with what is called a “Buster” side bet.  This bet allows you to win based on the number of cards in a dealers busted hand.  You play your hand like traditional blackjack but you are hoping that the dealer busts.  The more cards that the dealer busts with the more you win.

The rules of the game are as follows: The buster bet must be made along with your blackjack bet before any cards are dealt.  I made this mistake and it cost me almost $500.  So this is very important! Each player receives two cards.  The sealer also receives two cards, one up and one card down.  Each player has the stand on his hat or hit his hand.  After each player stands the dealer reveals his hole card.  If the dealer has 17 or more, he stands, 16 or less he hits his hand until it totals 17 or more.  As in most blackjack games the dealer must hit soft 17.  If the player card total is closer to 21 than the dealer’s the player wins his blackjack bet.  Of course if it is less than the dealer's hand the player would lose the blackjack hand.  If the player’s cards total up to the same amount as the dealers it is neither a win nor a loss but a push, which is another word for a tie.  If the player busts or go over a total of 21 if he bet on the buster side bet it still remains in action.  Your buster bet may not exceed your blackjack bet. 

The payment is as follows on the buster bet:

2 cards 2 to 1

3 cards 2 to 1

4 cards 4 to 1

5 cards 5 to 1

6 cards 16 to 1

7 cards 50 to 1

8 cards are more 250 to 1

With this game you can win lots of money in a short period of time but be careful because you can lose it just as fast.

Pai Gow Poker

Pai Gow Poker, which is also sometimes referred to as double handed poker.  The game is played with a standard 52-card deck plus a single joker.  The game can accommodate as many as six players.  It is the goal of every player to either defeat the banker (who may be the casino dealer or one of the other players at the table).  The object of Pai Gow Poker is for a player to create two poker hands out of the seven-card hand he/she is dealt by the dealer: a five-card hand, and a two card poker hand.  Keep in mind that this game still follows the poker hand ranking structure.  Now according to the rules, the five-card hand’s value must exceed the two-card hand’s, and that’s why the two card hand is after called the hand “in front” or  “on top”, the “small” or “minor” or “low” kind.  The –card hand is the hand “behind”, or the “bottom” or “high” or “big” as they are placed that way in front of the player when the players are done setting them.

When the game starts the cards are shuffled and then dealt to the table in seven face-down piles of seven cards per pile.  Four cards are unused regardless of the number of people playing.  The betting positions are assigned a number from 1 to 7, starting with which ever player is acting as banker that hand, and counting-clockwise around the table.  A number from 1 to 7 is randomly chosen either electronically or with dice then the deal begins with the corresponding position and proceeds counter clockwise.  One common way of using dice to determine the dealer starting number is to roll three six sided dice, and then count betting spots clockwise from the first position until the number on the dice is reached.  If a player is not sitting on a particular spot the hand is still assigned but then placed on the discard pile with the four unused cards.  This game may seem complicated but if you have a full understanding of poker hand rankings you shouldn’t have a problem.  Good Luck!!

Harlow's Casino in Greenville, MS

I had the opportunity to visit the Harlow's casino in Greenville, MS.  I did not have a chance to play any table games but I did play the slots.  First of all let me say that the atmosphere in Harlow's is very dull.  It does not have the same flare of the average casino.  It is a task just finding a $.25 slot machine.  They overwhelm you with both multi-denominational and $1 machines.  Unlike most casinos the bar is not located outside of plain view but instead it is right in the middle of the casino floor.  I even saw a waitress pre-making drinks for customers which probably explains why I heard a few people complaining about their drinks being watered down. If you ever travel to Greenville, MS save your money and by pass the Harlow's casino because it is a joke!

Happy New Year!

Hey everybody lets get out to some of these casinos and win some money.  Stay tuned my next casino visit is coming up in three weeks.

The game of Baccarat

Lots of people think the game of baccarat is so complicated but it's actually rather simple. Baccarat is the French spelling for the Italian word baccara, or zero, signifying the point values of face cards.  The game has been traced back to 1490, when the reign of King Charles VII.  Baccarat was first offered in Las Vegas in 1959.

Baccarat comes closer than most other casino games to offering the player an even break, with house edges of just 1.17 percent for a bet on the banker hand and 1.36 percent for a bet on the player hand.  Unlike most casino games baccarat has no strategy and requires no skills.  This game use to cater to high rollers but now any average player can sit down at a baccarat table for a minimum of $10.

At a full -scale 14 player baccarat table, one dealer (the callman) stands up.  The callman turns cards face up after they are dealt by the bettor holding the shoe.  The callman ks responsible for calling out the point totals of each hand and announcing whether either hand gets another card according to the set hit/stand rules of the game.  Two other dealers remain seated on either side of the callman.  They are responsible for paying off the winning bets and collecting losing wagers as well. 

Regardless of how many people are playing only two hands are dealt.  One is designated the banker hand, the other hand is the player hand.  Any player maybet on either hand, with the exception that the player holding the shoe in the full scale game must either bet banker or pass the shoe. 

Initially two cards are dealt for each hand.  The point totals determine whether wither hand gets a third card.  The player hand is completed first.  A total of 8 or 9 is called a "natural," and the player hand gets no more cards.  Unless the banker has a natural 9 or ties the natural 8 no further cards are drawn making the naturals automatic winners.  The player also stands on totals of 6 or 7.  On any other total, zero through five, player draws a third card unless the banker has a natural, in which case the bank hand wins witht no further draw.

Banker rules are a little more complex.  The banker also stands on 7, 8, or 9 and draws on 0, 1, or 2, but on other hands the banker's play is dependent on the value of the player's third card.  The banker hits 3 unless the player's third card is an 8; hits 4 unless the  player's third card is 1, 8, 9, or 10; hits 5 only if the player's third card is 4, 5, 6, or 7 and hits 6 only if the player's thrid card is 6 or 7.

You can also bet that both the bank hand and player hand will be a tie with an equal number of points.  It pays 8 to 1.  Although this bet is very tempting, yet I strongly encourage you not to make it.  This bet gives the house a 9.5 percent edge.

Like I said this game is rather simple just remember that all cards are equal value except face cards which are 0 and an Ace is valued at 1.  Good luck!

21 + 3 Blackjack

This is another one of my favorite table games. I actually came across this game by accident about 4
years ago. I was trying to play a traditional blackjack game but the tables were always full. This game is basically playing blackjack and three card poker at the same time. The good thing about this game is that no poker skill is required. The three card side bet pays relative to the combination of your first two cards
and the dealer's up card. You receive two cards both face up, and the dealer one face up card. If you

made a 3-card bet and these first three cards from a winning outcome, you are immediately paid according to the side bet pay table. In 21 + 3 blackjack most side bets pay 9 to 1. An example of a winning side bet would be if you had a pair of tens and the dealer's up card was a ten you would have 3 of a kind. This game is a lot of fun. Good Luck!

The Flamingo Las Vegas

The Flamingo Las Vegas is a nice hotel! It is very convenient spot right there on the Las Vegas strip.  What I like about the Flamingo is that it is not too flashy.  I highly recommend the Go rooms, which are retro style rooms that have white leather headboard beds and televisions in the bathroom mirrors.  It is definitely something out of the ordinary that is worth experiencing. Now I wasn’t a big fan of the Flamingo’s buffet but there is a Johnny Rockets in there that is off the chain.  The food is great! They also have another place called The Burger Joint.  I really like this place because not often can you find a spot where you can get turkey burgers.

I love the casino at the Flamingo.  The slots are hot! I think I won about $300 on the slots which is good for me because I am not a big slot player.  The poker room is excellent! They have aces cracked up until 4 p.m. everyday.  If you play 20 or more hours in the poker room you are eligible for a free roll tournament that takes place every Friday.  If you go out to Las Vegas stop by the Flamingo and try your luck.

Let It Ride

This is one of several poker-based games from the creative minds at Shuffle Master Inc.  It was first introduced to casinos in 1993.  Let It Ride is very popular! It has a high payout potential.  Players are not playing against each other or trying to or trying to beat the dealer.  Unlike other games, it brings on fun and friendly competition amongst players. The learning curve is quite simple on this game.

Let It Ride is played on a table similar to blackjack.  There are three circles in front of each player on the table.  The circles are marked with the numbers 1, 2, and $.  To start the game a player places three equal bets in each circle.  The Shuffle Master machine deals out cards three at a time.  The dealer places the three-card hand in front of each player.  After each player received his cards, the dealer discards one card leaving two cards face down in front of the dealer.  The machine counts out the remaining cards into the discard tray.  When this is finished, the players are allowed to look at their three-card hand.  At this point you have the option to take back your bet in circle number one or let it Ride.  To take back your bet you scrape your cards on the table toward you or you make a brushing motion with your hand.  After all the players have made their decisions the dealer will turn up the first of the two community cards, which is in front of the dealer.  This card is used as the fourth card for all the player’s hands.  You now have the option of taking down your second bet or letting it ride.  You make take down the second bet even if you let the first bet ride but you cannot take down or put the first bet back up.  After all the players make their decision for the second bet, the dealer will turn up the second community card.  This card completes the five-card hand for every player.  At this point the dealer will pay all the winning bets according to the pay table.

Let Bet#1 ride if you have:

A winning Hand – Pair of Tens or Better

A three card Royal Flush

A three card Straight Flush

Let Bet#2 ride if you have:

A winning hand – pair of Tens or Better

A four card Royal or Straight Flush

A four card flush

Four High Cards

A four card Open ended Straight

Let It Ride Pay Table

• 1,000 to 1 for a Royal Flush
• 200 to 1 for a Straight Flush
• 50 to 1 for Four of a Kind
• 11 to 1 for a Full House
• 8 to 1 for a Flush
• 5 to 1 for a Straight
• 3 to 1 for 3 of a Kind
• 2 to 1 for 2 Pairs
• 1 to 1 for Tens or better

Although Let It Ride may be a popular game, one thing that I don’t like about it is that if you have pairs of 9’s on down to 2’s you lose.  Unlike Mississippi Stud where a pair of 6’s to 10’s is a push.  Of course, you could keep chancing it trying to make two pair but I assure you that the house edge is going to go against you.  Let’s just face it when the cards are hot they are hot but when they are not they are not.  Good Luck!

Roulette

One thing I can say is that over the years this game hasn’t changed much.  Although I have seen computerized versions of the game, yet I prefer playing it the traditional way.  Let’s take a look at the game of roulette.  The wheel in most American casinos has 38 numbered compartments: the numbers 1 through 36 plus 0 and 00.  Eighteen of the numbers are black and 18 of the numbers are red.  The numbers 0 and 00 are green.  On the wheel layout the red and black numbers change except near the green numbers.  There are two types of bets: Inside and Outside.

Inside bets

• One number bet you win 35 times your bet
• Two number bet you win 17 times your bet
• Three number bet you win 11 times your bet
• Four number bet you win 8 times your bet
• Six number bet you win 5 times your bet

Outside bets

These are even money bets e.g. you bet a dollar and you win a dollar.  These bets consist of red or black, odd or even, 1 to 18 or 19 to 36.  One fact about roulette is just as quick as you win money playing it you can lose it even quicker.  I strongly suggest that if you want to play a game that allows you to pass time and also build up a few comps roulette is definitely the game for you.  If you do play I recommend that you either play on a $.25 or a $.50 roulette table.  There really isn’t a particular strategy for this game.  The best advice I can give you on playing roulette is if you bet straight up on a number (odds are 35 to 1) and win on the next spin make sure you double up on that same number.  Good Luck!

The ROADHOUSE Casino in Tunica, MS

On my last visit to Tunica, MS I went by the ROADHOUSE Casino.  Now I was not impressed with the theme of the casino, which is like one big bar room.  I must say that I played Mississippi Stud for about half an hour off of a  buy in and they were very generous on a buffet comp.  Special thanks to Eloise and Debbie for making sure I got the buffet comp. Now the buffet at the ROADHOUSE is decent.  It does not have a large variety of foods to choose from but I if you get comped as I did I am sure you will make the best of it.  For those of you who are looking to stay at the ROADHOUSE I highly recommend you see Patricia Williams (Guest Service Representative) for your hotel accommodations.  She recieved the Star performer award in September for outstanding customer service.

The slots are pretty good.  They have wheel of fortune progressive slots which are almost up to $2 million dollars.  If you like roulette is your game they have a $.50 table.  Although the ROADHOUSE does not have a poker room, yet they have three poker tables in a desginated area that they open up on the weekends for $4/$8 no limit hold'em games.

The Horseshoe (Tunica, MS)

I know many of you probably can tell that I love playing poker.  I promise in the near future I will take my chances on other games like slots.  I had a chance to play poker at the Horseshoe Tunica,  I was not impress with this particular poker room.  First of all you have to play 3 hours just to get a buffet comp regardless of how much you buy in.  The atmosphere is not that friendly.  During my time playing in there I noticed that there were several locals who sat around soft playing the entire game.  Soft playing is just not good poker.

My experience at the Horseshoe Tunica Casino Hotel. was great! The rooms are spacious with a very serene atmosphere.  I want to personally thank Tyrone Hawkins, who is a casino host at the Horseshoe Tunica for helping me with my hotel accommodations.  I highly suggest that those of you who play mostly at Harrahs properties that if you visit Tunica see him for your accommodations at the Horseshoe.  I also want to Rhonda Henderson (Guest Service Representative) at the Horseshoe for the courtesy room upgrade when I arrived too early for check in when no rooms were available.  Special thanks to Kendra Tolbert and Jennifer Johnson who are also guest service representatives at the Horseshoe Casino hotel.  They provided me with stellar customer service when they assisted me in handling an issue I had with my room.  Thanks ladies! Keep on smiling!

SAM'S TOWN Tunica, MS

Just got back from Tunica, MS.  I had the privilege of playing poker at SAM'S TOWN Poker room.  I started out playing 1/3 Limit Hold'em.  Now I like the poker room at SAM's TOWN because unlike alot of other casino poker rooms you get credit for playing.  You earn $2.50 for every hour that you play poker.  They have daily tournaments as low as $20.  On this particular tournament you have unlimited re-buys for the first hour.  They also have a freeze out tournament with a buy in at $70.  I was very impressed with the atmosphere of the poker room there.There poker room is ideal for not only amateur players but also professionals as well.  They have a $25,000 in guaranteed prizes on November 12, 2011.  The buy in is $220 for this tournament.  To all of my poker heads out there I strongly suggest that you try to play in this tournament.  In the words of the SAM'S TOWN motto "Las Vegas Southern Style."