Playing Baccarat Last Night

I was playing Baccarat last night with my brother-in-law Tommy and his wife Suzie and I want to tell you another classic tale of gambling when you're pissed off.

Tommy was up about $8 grand when the cards started to turn, he lost back about $5 grand, he was playing level headed and okay and decided to sit out; waiting for the right time to get back in and win some more cash.

The problem starts when his wife gets pissed off and takes all his chips off the table including his Stake Money ranting on about how he didn't know how to play. LOL! Typical relationship squabbles. Tommy is one of the best players I have ever known. Cool headed even when he's down $100 grand, I've seen him win it back.

Suzie who is also an excellent gambler decides to play at another table and starts to lose right off the bat because she's so pissed off she can't focus. Personally, I think there were other things on her mind. So Tommy tells her not to play angry but she won't listen to him and ends up losing all their money. She then gets up and leaves the casino alone and won't even talk to him! They've since kissed and made up LOL! It's only money and they usually play very professionally and within their limits.

Meanwhile the cards on our table change for the better and I end up playing till the casino closes and come out ahead. Tommy would have also won except his wife had already lost all his money. Cool heads would have prevailed and prospered.

Cheers and Lots of Luck!

Gambling when your upset

I've been gambling online for a couple of days this week in my spare time and I was fortunate enough to more than double my stake playing Texas Hold'em.

I received some bad news about the cherry crops and it totally threw off my game and I ended up losing it all back last night. I'm usually better than that! After all I'm no rookie! I work seasonally a few weeks a year exporting cherries around the world LOL! Great business but this year a few growers will face a tight battle to keep their farms going with the low prices. I have made many loans in bad years to growers to help them over the tough months. This is turning out to be the worst year ever.

I like to believe I have a conscious and tend to believe there is good in everyone albeit harder to find in some than others. It's hard looking into the faces of some of these people who have become my friends over the years and see their looks of resignation...is that the right word?

Things have a way of working out for good people.

Even good players can lose their focus at times and one of the golden rules of gambling is NEVER LOSE YOUR COOL and don't get distracted. If you're having a run of bad luck, another player is riling you, or work or personal problems are weighing heavily on your mind, it's not a good idea to be gambling.

Gambling is supposed to be fun. I wasn't having fun and therefore started losing. So I've stopped gambling for a few days until I can help resolve these problems to the best of my ability.

Have fun and wins lots!

Playing Craps The Basics

Craps is the most exciting game in the casinos, as a Player you are constantly yelling and screaming; it really gets your blood flowing. If you've visited a casino before you know what I'm talking about and probably wondered what all the excitement is about. Maybe you were tempted to get in on the action. LOL! Many people shy away from this thrilling game because of a lack of knowledge, but it's actually an easy game to learn.

What other games can you play and constantly yell at the top of your lungs and not get kicked out! Maybe roulette...but in craps you can control the dice and your destiny. There can also be a lot of camaraderie between players whether you're a people person or not <)

Most casinos offer free craps tutorial classes during the day and I suggest you spend a 1/2 hour learning the basics. You can either enquire at the Player's Booth or check your in-room tv hotel channel for scheduled times.

The best odds of winning in the casino is playing craps with less than 2% in favor of the House when betting on the "Passline". Betting the Passline is the easiest bet while you're learning to play and want to gain some experience. If the Shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on their first roll you win; if they roll a 2, 3 or 12 you lose. If they roll any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) that becomes the "Point" number and they must roll this number again to win. If they roll a 7 before hitting the "Point" number they lose.

If the Shooter rolls a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 you have the option of making an additional bet called the "Odds Bet" on the outside of your Passline bet. The Odds Bet pays true odds if the Shooter rolls again and hits his Point number. You can usually wager 2 to 5 times your Passline bet depending on the casino ($5 Passline Bet, $10 - $25 Odds Bet). If the Point number is 4 or 10 and the Shooter hits his Point number the payout is 2 to 1; 5 or 9 the payout is 3 to 2; and 6 or 8 is 6 to 5.

The "Don't Passline" and "Come" line is the opposite and you're betting against the Shooter which may cause some friction with the other players. I would only suggest using this strategy if the Shooter has been up a few times and consistently crapped out (lost).

While there are other bets that can be placed on the table, the odds are not as good and you should gain some experience before trying more difficult strategies. Have fun!

Playing Blackjack The Basics

Gambling always gets my adrenaline flowing and I get a rush everytime I sit down at a table. Gambling is in my blood, I'm Asian.

I recommend only playing with money you can afford to lose. Gambling is supposed to be a fun experience not nerve racking. Do not play with the rent money, you will be too uneasy and unable to play properly.

There are so many books written on blackjack strategies out there it gets confusing. I've played a lot of blackjack and to win consistently there are 3 rules I follow:

1. Play Basic Blackjack Strategy
2. Change tables if I hit a run of bad luck
   
3. Betting Habits
   

Blackjack can be played with a single deck of cards up to several decks at once. A round of blackjack is called a "shoe".

There is a lot of truth to the bad luck/good luck myth when you gamble. Some dealers consistently win for the house no matter what table they're playing on or how many decks of cards are used in the shoe. When I recognize one of these types of dealers I get up and leave immediately no matter how lucky the table has been thus far. Call it what you will LOL!

This kind of dealer is normally a serious person and hates to lose. Even though it's the casino's money they act as if it's their own. Rightly so since they are being employed by the casino. But not good for us.

There are basic rules to playing blackjack that anybody can learn easily and the only player on the table who should ever break these rules is the Anchor (last player on the table) who watches the cards and decides when a extra card should be drawn or when to pass on a card. Don't sit in the Anchor position if you are not a good player. You may be ridiculed and get yelled at by the other players if you make bad decisions. Using basic strategy improves your overall odds of winning and all the players on the table too.

I've sat down at tables and watched selfish players refuse to take cards when basic strategy calls for them to take a card because they're afraid of busting. What they don't realize is how this changes the cards for the next deal and can screwup the deck. You can't win every hand of blackjack, so losing a few is to be expected. Changing the cards by refusing to take a card means you've changed the cards for the entire shoe. I usually play at a $25 or $100 minimum bet table to avoid these type of players. Consistently I will say this type of player has a "cheap" personality. Not a bad test to use on your better half.

The odds are almost even between the House and the Player. Slightly in the House's favor. I don't recommend playing at tables where the Dealer must hit "Soft 17" (Ace used as 11 to make 17) as your odds of winning decrease.

The object of the game is to get Blackjack (ace and a face card) or 21. Casinos will usually have a "Basic Blackjack Strategy" card available for players to use and keep so just ask the dealer. It's simply laid out and easy to use.

If the Dealer deals himself a 7 or higher, basic rules say you hit your cards until you get 17 or higher. If he deals himself a 2 thru 6, you can pass on your cards 12 thru 16. If you're dealt 17 or higher you always stay your hand. 11 or less and you always take a hit.

There are 16 face cards and 4 aces per deck so there is an average amount of face cards that should show up each hand. Multiply this depending on how many decks are being used and how many players are sitting at the table. For example 4 decks means 64 face cards and 16 aces; if there are 9 players at the table (including the Dealer) that means about 7 face cards per hand.

If the dealer draws a 2 or 3 and you have 12 or 13 you have the option of drawing additonal cards. If the average number of face cards has not been drawn so far in the shoe there's a good likelihood you will bust if you draw an additional card.

Splitting cards is a great way to double your money or lose twice as fast. It's not wise to split 9's or face cards because you already have 18 or better. I always split Aces.

1. Dealer draws 2 or 3 - Split 2's/3's
2. Dealer 4 thru 6 - Split 2's thru 6's
3. Dealer 7 or 8 - Split 7's/8's
   

Some players always double down regardless of the dealer's hand which in my opinion is wrong. There's a better chance you will lose if the face count is high or the Dealer has a 7 or better. I only double down on 10 or 11 if the Dealer has 2 thru 6 showing. Some casinos allow you to double down on anything, this is a strategy that requires a player to gain some experience before trying.

Insurance is a strategy some players like to use if the Dealer draws an Ace. If you play Insurance and the Dealer gets Blackjack you only lose half your initial bet. If the Dealer does not draw Blackjack you still lose half your bet but have the opportunity to win it back if your hand beats the Dealers. Most players consider Insurance a sucker's bet including myself. I never bet Insurance and consistently I have won more times than lost.

Betting consistently and not wildly is a safer way to play. But if the table is beginning a winning streak sometimes it's a good opportunity to make some extra cash. Watch the face/ace count and if it's low your odds of winning can increase. Also watch the more experienced players on the table if they are increasing their bets. Normally players don't like to give betting advice because if you lose your bet you may just put the blame on them. So watch, be attentive and have fun. Don't drink so much that you lose focus, save that for after the game.

I could drone on but these are some basics to playing Blackjack and I like I said earlier in this post...pickup a card with the basic rules from the Dealer when you sit down at the table; and don't be afraid to ask the Dealer or another Player of the basic rules if you're unsure how to play your hand. The consensus is usually right or the person winning all the money.

Getting Comped in Vegas

Vegas is the ultimate party town that never sleeps and often I'll spend 22 hours a day gambling, partying, and if I'm with a girl, shopping for purses and shoes

A few months ago I took 2 girls to Buenos Aires for 3 days to shop for shoes. It was quite the experience walking around with armfuls of bags of shoes all day. I had to return to the hotel several times a day to make dropoffs. The way to a girls heart...shoes LOL!

I usually get everything comped (complimentary) when I'm in Vegas and by following a few tips you can take advantage of the first class service and hospitality Vegas has to offer too.

First, always signup for a Player's Club Card in every casino you walk into even if you're not gambling. The casino will give you a complimentary gift for registering like $50 - $100 Free Play Money, free meal, coffee mug, robe, towel, you get the gist and most importantly you'll be on their mailing/email lists and receive free room offers, free show & concert tickets, free spa treatments, free gift cards, free airline vouchers, on a regular basis, just for being a member.

Don't worry if you're not a high roller, 50% of visitors to Las Vegas spend their time shopping and enjoying the world class dining experiences instead of gambling. The casinos know you're there to spend money whether it's gambling, shopping, or eating out.

By the way, drinks are free if you're gambling at the tables or playing slots but remember to tip your server or you may get lousy service.

Getting comps and cashback is part of the Vegas experience. Always present your Player's Card when you sit down at a table or insert your card in a slot machine, or else you won't get your rewards. A portion of the total dollar amount you gamble is comped against your hotel bill. For example, cashback is usually 2% of whatever you gambled, if you inserted a $100 bill into a slot machine and after 2 hours of going up and down the total gambling dollar value was $800 you would get $16 cashback; plus your comps. It can add up quickly. Remember if the hotel has given you a free room, the cost will be applied against your comps but not against your cashback.

$500 in a video poker machine may end up being $5,000 in gambling dollar value after 3 hours of playing, so you'd get $100 cashback plus your comps. The best part is, even if you leave a winner you still get your comps and cashback. The casinos want you to win sometimes or you'd never come back.

If you're gambling, make sure you charge all your meals and shopping to your hotel room and when you checkout the hotel will deduct the dollar value of your comps against your bill and you may endup paying nothing at all. You can visit the Player's Club Booth anytime to check your balances.

You will get comps and cashback at every casino you play at even if you're not staying there. Always stop at the Player's Club booth before you leave to get your cashback and free comps. Don't be shy ask for a free meal. If you're staying at a different hotel, the casino may say hmmm...lets apply some of that free hotel room comp that you're not using towards a nice meal. Comps are good for a year so if your value is low you can save it for your next visit.

I used to stay at Caesar's Palace alot and they'd give me a nice 1000 sq./ft. suite in their Augustus Tower and free meals, but lately I've been luckier playing at The Venetian; so I stay there instead. I still get my comps at Caesers, last time free Elton John concert tickets 3rd row from the stage $700 value. They still love me!

Flash is a big, big, BIG part of the Vegas culture so if you got it FLASH it! If you're sitting at a table gambling and you ask the Pit Boss for a free meal, they'll look you over and assess how much they think you're worth to the casino. I've gotten as much as $700 comped for 1 meal, but it can go into the thousands depending on how much you're gambling. I normally wear my rolex president and my 3 carat diamond pinky ring. You just get better overall service.

If your on a small budget I suggest staying downtown and enjoying the Fremont Experience. You'll have a fantastic time if you don't mind being surrounded by everyday joes and drinking lots of beers and my favorite Tequila. The hotels aren't as nice as on The Strip but the service is great, the food is cheap and it's a really friendly down home kinda experience.

Last thing, when you're checking out ask for a complimentary trip in their hotel limo to the airport, they usually have a fleet so if one is available normally they'll accommodate you (check out early for a better chance).

Playing Baccarat in Vegas

In Vegas a few years ago I met some asians from Taipei at a strip club and we partied it up together. They convinced me it was time I learned to play Baccarat and so I joined them all at a High-Limit Table before I even played my first hand. LOL!

The first thing you have to know is how superstitious asian gamblers are, they really believe in face (honor), good luck and BAD luck. The high bettors on a table get pissed off if you bet against them. They may even accuse you of working for the casino. So I suggest if you're going to join a table already in play, keep this in mind or get up and play somewhere else. You may save yourself a beating. I knew this when I sat down, All for one and one for All!

I had about 8 grand in my pocket to gamble with for 3 days and I had left all my credit and debit cards at home except a low limit card to cover the hotel and expenses. So when these guys started betting 10 grand per hand I was stunned but kept my cool (they all had lines of credit with the casino). I pulled out 5 grand and played a grand per hand with them, it was so funny my 1 chip against their 10. After an hour I was only down 3 grand! LOL! I got up and left and decided these guys were too rich for my blood.

Baccarat is a really fun game and easy to learn. Whoever gets 9 or closest to 9 wins. You have 3 choices to bet, either on "Banker", "Player", or "Tie". Both hands are dealt 2 cards each to start and you add up the card totals, if the PLAYER hand totals less than 6, he draws a third card. If the banker hand totals less than 7, he draws a third card. Face cards are worth 0, only Ace (1) thru 9 are counted. If you had 5 + King = 5 total, and drew a 9 as your third card = 14 this would count as 4. The 10 is counted as zero.

PLAYER WINS = 1/1 PAYOUT (Bet $10 win $10)
BANKER WINS = 9.5/10 PAYOUT ($10 win $9.50)
TIE WINS = 8/1 PAYOUT ($10 win $80)

If you bet on PLAYER or BANKER and TIE wins, it's a push and you keep your original bet just like blackjack. But if you bet on TIE and either PLAYER or BANKER wins you lose your bet.

When you're learning to play a new game, I recommend starting at a $2/$5 minimum bet table. This way you will only lose a little while learning the basic rules and strategy of the game. Of course there is a lot of Beginner's Luck out there, which I think only gets you hooked on gambling even more. Always remember to set yourself a limit you can afford. That's what keeps gambling fun.

Playing Slots Part 1

The problem with gamblers is the itch to play as soon as they walk in the door of the casino; but if you slowdown and take a few minutes to walk through the casino and survey where the action is, your chances of winning have just improved immensely.

Play where it's busy and the machines are getting some action. Stay away from the dead areas. Pay attention to the machines paying out and which ones aren't; also, ask the slots girl which machines you should play. If you win, don't forget to tip her.

All slot machines have their little quirks, recognizing patterns and experimenting with different play methods will help increase your chances of a payout. Betting maximum credits (5 credits and 9 lines) on a 25 cents slot sometimes gets you nowhere and betting 2 credits per line on 3 lines wins you $500 bucks. All machines are not the same so develop different techniques when you find the machines you enjoy best.

When you're playing Progressive Jackpot machines always bet maximum credits otherwise don't play these types of slots. You'll cry if you hit the jackpot and didn't bet the max. I've seen it happen many times.

I love the flashing lights and all the bells and whistles, but play level headed too and you will have a more enjoyable playing experience and profitable too.

Jackpot Capital Casino

If you're looking for an online casino with lots of content this site has over 300 games of chance to play. Their Progressive Jackpot is over $1,000,000 and they offer comp points on every play. They have a promotion on right now to match your deposits of up $800 bucks for joining and they offer $50/head for every friend you refer to their site too. Not a bad deal.

Gambling Common Sense Basic Rules

Hello and welcome to my first post!

I was speaking to my good friend Larry in California a few days ago about our last time in Las Vegas together at the tables and he said... you know, you should start a blog and give people tips on winning at gambling. Answer their questions.

I can't count how many times I have seen the face of some poor guy or gal that just lost their paycheck gambling at the tables or on the slots. It's really sad and most of us (gamblers) have all been there at one time or another. So here I am offering free advice that may help some of you make a little money and have fun doing it.

The only credentials I can offer as a gambler is my experience and my success. I have made hundreds of thousands of dollars consistently during my years as a gambler. Though it hasn't always been that way, I have suffered, really suffered, been broke, hungry, learned many hard lessons...simply put, before I became successful.

I have been a gambler all of my life, since my father first taught me Mah Jong, 13 cards and Blackjack at the age of 5 (at times I have cursed his name). I don't condone teaching children gambling, but 40 years ago chinese culture and North American values differed. My father would have me take his seat at the table to fill in while he took breaks, which I loved to do sometimes playing for a hour or two. Mah Jong games would usually last until the early hours of morning.

I have played just about every Game of Chance out there, though I am better at some than others. It's better to specialize or familiarize yourself and get really good at a few games then try to be the best at all of them.

Common Sense Basic Rules to Gambling:

1. Always set an amount of Money to start with (stake) and don't exceed it.

Be realistic in your stake, you have groceries to buy, rent to pay, car payments, kids... Only play with money you can afford to lose. Betting money you can't afford to lose, psychologically you are already at a disadvantage because of the stress factor. The odds are against you at the onset. Leave your ATM & Credit Cards at home or in the hotel in-room safe. Have fun and play at ease.

2. Always set a goal, the amount of cash winnings (be realistic) you want to win.

Don't get greedy! Whether you hit your goal in the first 10 minutes or 2 hours later, know that it's time to leave. The majority of the time, gamblers who don't get up and leave when they've reached their goal usually end up losing it back.

3. Never borrow money when your losing.

You are stressed out because your having a run of bad luck, worse possible moment to press your luck. Know that it's time to leave and come back another day when you're refreshed and don't have a monkey on your back. Most gamblers end up losing the money they've borrowed chasing their original stake.

4. Never borrow money unless you intend to repay it.

The fastest way to lose a friend or drive a stake between you and a family member is to borrow money you can't repay. If you are driven to borrow money to continue your gambling habits, you are having a run of bad luck. The best possible advice I could offer to you is to take a break (at least 1 month). If you can't stop gambling you have a problem and should seek help before the problem overwhelms you.

5. KNOW WHEN TO LEAVE!

6. HAVE FUN!

I will add more posts and some funny stories. If I can offer any advice please ask. I gamble in the winter months about 5 days a week today and usually travel during the warm months and don't gamble. Thanks, Richie!