tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759Sat, 19 Sep 2026 11:49:19 +0000Video PokerGambatriaexpected valueElliot FromeBlackjackThree Card PokerLenny FromepaybackStrategyExpert StrategyShuffle Masterslot machinesRoyal FlushLas VegascasinoslotsBlackjack SwitchCompu-FlyersFour Card PokerRoger SnowSpanish 21Let It RideProgressivesbankrolljacks or betterstrategy table2-Card Royal4-Card StraightCrazy 4 PokerHouse MoneyLow PairRandom Number GeneratorUltimate Texas Hold'embeat the casinodeuces wildfull-payDouble DownG2EGaming TodayHigh CardsMississippi StudQ-6-4RNGStraightsTable Gamesamerican gaming associationcompshouse advantagejackpotlotteryluckmax-coinpaytablesroulettesoft hands4-Card FlushAGA Hall of FameAtlantic CityBonus PokerEVFacebookFull HouseGeoff HallGlobal Gaming ExpoHigh PairJohn FeolaJoker PokerMasqueNew Vision GamingProgressive JackpotsPush 22SandsSplit 10sSurrenderUTHcashbackfull paygamblingsidebetskillvolatility2 High Cards3 High Cards3 to 23-Card Straight3-Card Straight Flush3-Card Straight Flushes4 Deuces6 to 57-Card PokerATMsAces and EightsAction GamingBaccaratBallysBill ParcellsBlackjack shoeBoston 5Boston 5 StudBoston 7Boston 7 StudCanneryCaribbean Stud PokerCasino WarChinese New YearCincinnati 7 PokerCircus CircusDEQDeuces Wild.Don JohnsonDouble BonusDouble Bonus PokerDouble Inside StraightElmer FuddEthel MExpert PlayerFlushesFour Queens Las VegasFrequenciesFrequent PlayerGPAGalaxyGaming Hall of FameGirl Scout CookiesGrand SienaHarrie's BagelmaniaHarry PotterHugo's CellarHundred PlayHunger GamesIGTImperial Pai GowInside StraightInsuranceInventorJackson RancheriaJoe TorreJoker's WildJulius CaesarLVSMarketingMega MillionsMidwest Gaming and TravelMoney MarketMonte CarloMulti-PlayNJ TurnpikeNewarkPai GowPai Gow PokerPairPala CasinoPartial StraightsPat RileyPlayerspalPokerPoker roomPress of Atlantic CityQ64Rabbit HunterRazguRenoRewardsRoyalSHFLSan Lo PokerSequential RoyalSix Card PokerSoboba Indian CasinoSpread the word NevadaStation CasinosStraight FlushStud PokerTexas Hold'emThe CanneryTriple Bonus PlusTriple Bonus PokerTropicanaTrump Taj MahalUNLVUltimate Three Card PokerVideo Poker HeavenVideo Poker Strategy ProWWEWickedWinningYear of the Rabbitacesadrenalineappsbarsbaseballbatmanbirthdayblogsbuy-incap your wagercashpbackcasino gamblingcheap entertainment.cherriescommissioncompuj-flyerscrapscustomer servicedouble double Bonus Pokerdraw pokerexpert playfour of a kindfree playfrequencygambling systemsgradesloss ratematch playmulti-strikenear winsnutritional labelpenalty cardspharos gamingpowerballrebateriggedrisk of ruinsidebetssoundsstar trekstar warsstraight flushestable gametollsvideo kenowild cardswizardGambatria - demystifying the math behind casino gaming.http://gambatria.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (playerspal)Blogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-5769614020559209265Fri, 07 Feb 2014 04:16:00 +00002014-02-06T20:16:43.185-08:00I have a newly designed website and my blog is integrated with in it. You can go to www.gambatria.com for the website or www.gambatria.com/blog/  for the blog.http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2014/02/my-blog-has-moved.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-5089271936308322926Fri, 17 Jan 2014 06:58:00 +00002014-01-16T22:58:24.409-08:00Double Inside Straightexpected valueHigh CardsInside Straightstrategy tableVideo Poker             For the past few weeks, I've been slowly walking through the strategy table for full-pay jacks or better video poker.  I'm about 2/3 of the way though and what's left is well, just not pretty.  The expected values of the rest of the table are below 0.60.  This means you can expect, on average, a return of only 60http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2014/01/getting-ugly.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-4170797399284395718Fri, 27 Dec 2013 06:34:00 +00002013-12-26T22:34:21.672-08:002-Card Royalexpected valueexpert playRoyal Flushstrategy tableVideo Poker             I've spent the past few weeks walking through the strategy table for full-pay jacks or better video poker.  This week, we are in the heart of the table, which is to say we are in the middle of the really bad hands.  But, bad hands are the harder hands to play correctly and are just as important as the good hands in http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/12/distinguished-royals.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-3392732431469823456Fri, 20 Dec 2013 06:23:00 +00002013-12-19T22:23:24.174-08:00draw pokerexpected valueHigh Cardsjacks or betterLow PairPartial Straightsstrategy tableVideo Poker             This week we continue our walk through a video poker strategy table.  Specifically, the strategy table for full-pay jacks or better video poker.  Last week we left off at the 4-Card Flush which was the last of the hands with an expected value of greater than 1.0.  These are the hands that result in net wins in http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/12/stroll-through-strategy-table.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-8933535163365476534Fri, 13 Dec 2013 05:24:00 +00002013-12-12T21:24:15.317-08:00expected valuejacks or betterstraight flushesStraightsstrategy tableVideo Poker             Last week I began reviewing the strategy table for full-pay jacks or better video poker.  I got about 20% of the way through the table by volume, but not very far in terms of useful information.  The top 8 hands were mostly of the no-brainer category as they were the pat hands with the exception of the 4-Card Royal.&http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/12/get-inside-scoop.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-8024044670716579817Fri, 06 Dec 2013 04:44:00 +00002013-12-05T20:44:38.299-08:00expected valueQ-6-4Strategystrategy tableThree Card PokerVideo Poker             Every casino game that is more than pure luck has some strategy associated with it.  This goes beyond the basic strategy that simply says you're better off not playing at all.  For many games, the strategy can be summed up with a simple sentence or two.  For Three Card Poker, it is Play Q-6-4 or better.  http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/12/strategize.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-3387464805517507531Fri, 15 Nov 2013 07:02:00 +00002013-11-14T23:02:51.386-08:00Blackjackexpected valueSplit 10sStrategySurrenderVideo Poker             Last week, I described how all casino game strategy is based on expected values.   You hit or stick in blackjack not because you hope the next card is of a certain value, but because there are certain probabilities as to what the next card will be and how it will affect your hand and your chances of winning or losing.http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/11/table-your-hunches.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-1909040980302749841Fri, 08 Nov 2013 06:22:00 +00002013-11-07T22:22:11.717-08:00expected valueExpert StrategyPairStrategyVideo Poker             This morning, I had a discussion with a friend of mine about a game he is developing.  I explained that playing 'perfect' strategy would be nearly impossible due to some subtle complexities of the way the game is played.  As a result of this, the game would not likely play anywhere near its 'theoretical' payback.&nbsphttp://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-advantage-of-expert-play.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-3976013098406066434Fri, 01 Nov 2013 05:02:00 +00002013-10-31T22:02:11.013-07:00Gaming TodayluckskillStrategyThree Card PokerVideo Poker             It was just over 10 years ago that I started writing for Gaming Today.  I have to be honest, that really blows me away.  That means I've written roughly 500 columns when I take into account off weeks and the fact that for the first 6 or 9 months, my column was bi-weekly.  I remember when I wrote my first few http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/10/video-poker-primer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-4631954205938981739Fri, 25 Oct 2013 04:27:00 +00002013-10-24T21:27:19.419-07:00lotterypowerballroulette (*Note: this column was written on the 3rd day of the recently completed government shutdown)             As we finish Day 3 of the government shutdown, it is hard to find a news story that is about anything else.  I was pleasantly surprised (initially) when my eye caught a story on Yahoo's main news page that dealt with lotteries.http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/10/buy-more-tickets.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-4939442861657421600Fri, 18 Oct 2013 05:28:00 +00002013-10-17T22:28:00.190-07:00DEQG2EGalaxyGlobal Gaming ExpoSandsSHFLslotsUTH             A couple of weeks ago, I two days walking the halls of the Sands Expo at the Global Gaming Expo.  If I had to pick one word to describe the event, it would definitely be "SLOTS".  Like last year, I think they dominated the show.  For those who have been reading me for years, you know my thoughts on Slots from a Player's perspective.http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/10/imitation-is-sincerest-form-of-flattery.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-2612995701194927149Sun, 13 Oct 2013 02:43:00 +00002013-10-12T19:43:35.451-07:00BlackjacklotterypaybackProgressive JackpotsProgressivessidebetVideo Poker             There is a theory in physics that goes for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.  In gambling, there is a similar theory.  For every table game there will eventually be a sidebet.  And, for every sidebet there will be a Progressive version of the sidebet.  The math behind Progressives is http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/10/what-is-allure-of-progressives.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-4842374081772717485Fri, 04 Oct 2013 23:48:00 +00002013-10-04T16:48:22.650-07:00bankrollexpected valuemax-coinpaybackRoyalRoyal FlushVideo Poker             Generally speaking, I advise players to play max-coins when playing video poker.  For most versions, this means 5 coins.  The penny Player puts up 5 cents, the nickel player 25 cents, the quarter player puts up $1.25 and the dollar player has to put up $5 per hand.  This is done for one simple purpose.  On http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/10/why-play-max-coins.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-9055467512856693251Fri, 13 Sep 2013 05:54:00 +00002013-09-12T22:54:02.703-07:00casinoMarketingpaybackVideo Poker             A long time ago, I remember reading an article about product marketing in which it stated that you'll never (rarely?) see a company say that there product is better than a similar product.  Why?  Because if you say something is better you have to prove that it is better.  If you, on the other hand, say your http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/09/better-is-better-than-best.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-648967102615019622Fri, 30 Aug 2013 05:22:00 +00002013-08-29T22:22:33.328-07:00expected valuehouse advantagepaybackQ-6-4Q64StrategyThree Card PokerVideo Poker             How much of a difference is there in terms of payback from one casino game to another?  Most table games have a payback between 97 and 99.5%.  Video Poker can range from about 95% to 101%.  Slot machines probably range from about 85% up to 95%.  Sidebets, quite frankly are all over the place, ranging from http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/08/think-loss-rate.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-762070553565220467Fri, 23 Aug 2013 06:22:00 +00002013-08-22T23:22:35.602-07:00Blackjackcasino gamblingluckpaybackRoyal FlushVideo Poker             I consider myself to be a very competitive person.  Anybody who has ever played against me in a board game or on a sports field is pretty aware of this.   I play fair and hard.  I'll never cheat and don't throw tantrums.  But I really hate to lose.  So, you can only imagine what I feel like when I'm having 'one of thosehttp://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/08/frustration.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-3116463431939539219Fri, 16 Aug 2013 18:08:00 +00002013-08-16T11:08:57.355-07:00nutritional labelpaybackStrategyThree Card Poker             Today's column topic comes from my Freshman college roomate.  He posted a question to one of my old columns on my blog (gambatria.blogspot.com).  He wanted to know if I thought if the casinos would ever have to disclose all the key statistics about each game - a sort of 'nutritional label' for each game.  My http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/08/nutritional-labels-for-casino-games.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-3378410580691745282Fri, 26 Jul 2013 02:03:00 +00002013-07-25T19:03:59.413-07:00barsBlackjackcherriesnear winspaytablesriggedslot machinessoundsVideo Poker             A few years ago, I wrote a column about a story I read in The Economist magazine.  It described a study done testing the impact of near misses on a slot machine on the human brain.  What the researchers found out was that near misses generated almost an identical reaction in the brain as an actual win.  So, if http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/07/psychological-warfare-how-they-rig-slot.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-2411925412830479946Fri, 19 Jul 2013 06:49:00 +00002013-07-18T23:49:17.412-07:00BaccaratcommissionExpert Playerhouse advantagePai Gow Poker             A couple of weeks ago I discussed methods used by game developers to create a house advantage.  I realized that I left off two common one.  They are somewhat related as the second one was created in attempt to get rid of the first.  The first method is called taking a commission, which I've generally thought of http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/07/an-error-of-commission.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-2234018081188109181Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:58:00 +00002013-06-14T10:58:07.439-07:00Expert StrategyFour Card Pokerhouse advantageQ-6-4StrategyThree Card PokerUltimate Texas Hold'em             I don't think this will shock any of you.  Every table game has a house advantage.  Numerous mechanisms are used to build this house advantage.  By now, most Players are probably used to most of these methods, that they barely notice them.  If the game of Three Card Poker were played such that the Player http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/06/advantage-dealer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-203771901675312392Thu, 06 Jun 2013 06:47:00 +00002013-06-05T23:47:58.166-07:00Blackjackexpected valuemax-coinpaybackVideo Poker             My elder son has finished up his year in college and came home the other day.  As we do our best to keep him entertained while in Vegas, we went to the Laugh Factory at the Tropicana the other night.  Invariably, when comedians are in Las Vegas, they will tell jokes about the dry heat and about losing money while http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-nature-of-game.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-7970808941890388591Fri, 31 May 2013 22:27:00 +00002013-05-31T15:27:39.151-07:003-Card Straight FlushesDeuces Wild.High CardsLow Pairslot machinesVideo Poker                          I love getting together with friends.  Invariably, I get asked questions about casino games that becomes fodder for a column.  This past week, I got several possible topics based on some questions I was peppered with.  One dealt with 3-Card Straight Flushes.  http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/05/3-card-straight-flushes-and-deuces-wild.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-3532477713386398787Fri, 24 May 2013 02:38:00 +00002013-05-23T19:38:02.103-07:00Blackjackcap your wagerHouse MoneyMonte CarlosidebetsStation CasinosStrategyThe Cannery             As most of you know, I wear two hats in the gaming analysis world.  There are some that might see my two roles as being opposed to each other.  Quite frankly, at first, so did I.  Over the years, however, I realize that they are more complementary than anything else.  On one hand, I analyze games already http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/05/house-money-breaks-mold.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-640229831441655499Sun, 12 May 2013 04:46:00 +00002013-05-11T21:46:38.726-07:00BlackjackDouble Downexpected valueVideo Poker             Why does a good blackjack Player stick on bustable hands aginst a Dealer 6?  The quick answer is that with a 6 upcard, the Dealer is likely to bust.  Of course, this is not completely accurate.  The Dealer's bust rate with a 6 is 'only' 42%, which means 58% of the time, he won't bust.  So, first he is not 'http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/05/win-frequency-overrated.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6755782906808956759.post-45348093053045768Thu, 02 May 2013 07:04:00 +00002013-05-02T00:04:45.920-07:00Blackjackbuy-incheap entertainment.full-payloss ratemax-coinpaybackVideo Pokervolatility             I received an e-mail this week from a loyal reader who was questioning some of the numbers from my recent column.  The column was discussing the definition of payback and had the amount of the buy-in is irrelevant to the discussion of the payback.  The example I cited was discussing someone who sat down to play 100 http://gambatria.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-cheap-cost-of-entertainment.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (playerspal)0