Page 9 - February 2005 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Learn Casino Games—It’s as Easy as 1-2-3! Iby Bill Burton
am amazed by people that I see at casinos who plunk down hard-earned money on games they haven’t a clue how to play. e same people who comparison shop, clip coupons or drive across town to save a few cents on a gallon of gas will sit at a blackjack table and bet
$25 a hand without knowing basic blackjack strategy. I often wonder why they don’t bother to learn the game before they play.
Learning to play casino games on your home computer is fun as well as educational. You receive the enjoyment of playingsoitdoesn’tfeellikeyouareactually“studying”to learn the game. Computer play also gives you a realistic view of your expectations for winning and losing. Some players go into the casino with the unrealistic idea that they will turn a hundred dollars into a thousand with no problem at all. After you play many sessions on the computer you will know that this is not the case. You will have winning sessions and losing sessions. Your computer play will help put it all in perspective.
The Cost of Education
When I advise players to invest in books and software, many people have told me that they are too expensive. How expensive is it to visit the casino and constantly lose money because you don’t know how to play a game correctly? All education comes with a price. Getting your education by betting real money at a gaming table can be a lot more expensive that the price of a book, tape, DVD or software program.
Until next time, remember, “Luck comes and goes... knowledge stays forever!”
Bill Burton is the Casino Gambling Guide and columnist for the Internet portal About.com. He also writes for several national gambling publications. He is the author of Get the Edge at Low Limit Texas Hold’em available for $15 postage paid. Send checks to Bill Burton, PO Box 310299, Newington, CT 06131-0299 or online at www.billburton.com. Bill Burton’s website is located at: http://casinogambling.about.com
ere once was a time when visitors to casinos had limited resources to learn casino games. Just a few books were available on the subject. With the advent of personal computers, more and more gambling software is available. e software ranges from fun games with little educational value, to some really powerful training programs. Now learning a casino game can be as easy as sitting in front of your computer in the comfort of your home.
Actually, you need a little more than software to learn a casino game. I recommend a three-step approach for learning at home: reading, watching and practicing.
Step One: Reading
Everyone who sits down to play any casino game should have read at least one book on that game. A player who buys chips and plays a game without knowing how to play is like a hunter who heads out on safari without any knowledge of the animal he is hunting. e results can be disastrous. ere are many good books by reputable authors that can teach the basics of casino games. Many
of the writers who contribute to this newspaper have books that deliver accurate information and show how to play the games correctly. Spend some time reading a book about the game you want to learn!
Step Two: Watching
Watching videotapes or DVDs can help you learn the mechanics of a game. You can actually see how the game is dealt and how the bets are made so you will be familiar with the procedures and protocols when you sit down at a table. Gambling videos and DVDs are available for most casino games.
Step Three: Practicing
With the availability of tutorial software, you can now practice and play at home to sharpen your skills before you go to the casino. ree of the most popular casino games are blackjack, poker and video poker. Blackjack and video poker each have basic mathematical strategies, which when followed, can reduce the house edge or even give players an advantage over the casino.
February 2005 Table Game and Slot Tournaments
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
SYCUAN RESORT & CASINO MONDAYS THROUGH THURSDAYS
Slot Tournament Trifecta in Sycuan’s Bingo Palace
Every Monday through ursday after evening bingo (approximately 11 p.m.) Sycuan Casino hosts three slot tournaments in the Bingo Palace: Blackjack, Draw Poker and Krazy Ball Keno. Buy-in for each tournament is $20, and the 1st place winner takes home 50% of the total buy-in, 2nd place receives 30%, and 3rd place receives 20%. Sycuan adds $75 to the tournament prize pool.
MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS & THURSDAYS
Video Poker Tournaments at Sycuan Casino Tournaments are exclusively for Club Sycuan members. $20 buy in earns $1,000 in Video Poker Tournament credits, for 30 minutes of paying time. Mondays: Jacks or Better (12 p.m.), Shamrock 7’s (1 p.m.), Jacks or Better (2 p.m.), Deuces Wild (3 p.m.); Wednesdays: Jacks or Better (12 p.m.), Deuces Wild (1 p.m.), Shamrock 7’s (2 p.m.), Jacks or Better (3 p.m.); Thursdays: Jacks or Better (12 p.m.), Deuces Wild (1 p.m.), Jacks or Better (2 p.m.), Shamrock 7’s (3 p.m.). Sycuan adds $50 to each tournament. 1st place wins 50% of buy-ins and an entry in the monthly nals with a top prize of $1,000 cash. 2nd place wins 30% of buy-ins. 3rd place wins 20% of buy-ins.
4th through 6th place wins $20 paid by Sycuan.
GOLDEN ACORN CASINO
Tuesday, February 8 at 6:00 p.m.
Free Mardi Gras $2,500 Video Poker Tournament Registration begins at 5 p.m., nal round at 8:30 p.m. First come, rst play. See Player’s Gold booth for more information.
THURSDAY, February 24 at 6:00 p.m.
$5,000 Guaranteed Blackjack Tournament
Buy-in is $25, and rebuy(s) are $15. Six winners will split $10,000. Free hors d’oeuvres will be served. Registration starts at 4:30 p.m., play starts at 6 p.m. All players are accepted on a rst come, rst play basis.
VALLEY VIEW CASINO
FRIDAY, February 18 & 25 from 11 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
“Fat Tuesday” Slot Tournament
Invitation only slot tournament for Valley View Casino Elite Members, includes a free lunch bu et. Contact Players Club for details on Elite Membership.
TUESDAY, February 22 from 4 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. “Queen of Hearts” Blackjack Tournament
Invitation-only blackjack tournament for Valley View Casino Elite Members, includes a free bu et. Contact Players Club for details on Elite Membership.
FANTASY SPRINGS RESORT CASINO THURSDAYS at 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
$10,000 Progressive Weekly Blackjack Tournament
A 7-week series through February 10, 2005. $10 buy- in receives $1,000 in tournament chips. Top 2 winners each week play in the Grand Finale on February 17.
WEDNESDAYS, Beginning at 5:20 p.m. Fight to the Finish Slot Tournament
A 10-week series, through March 9, 2005. Free to play and enter for Club Fantasy members. Registration at 5 p.m. Nine 10-minute sessions begin at 5:20 p.m. Twenty- ve Grand Finale winners compete for $2,500.
FRIDAY and SATURDAY, February 11 and 12 Big Stakes Blackjack Tournament
$20,000 in total prizes and a Grand Prize of $10,000. $125 entry fee. Call (800) 827-2946 for times.
SOBOBA CASINO
WEDNESDAYS from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
$10,000 Customer Appreciation Slot Tournament Registration begins at 3 p.m. and first round of play begins at 5 p.m. The top 15 scoring players will win cash, and the 1st place winner will take home $3,000 in cash!
FEBRUARY 2005 Page 9
Column: Bill Burton About Gambling Table Game and Slot Tournaments