Page 25 - October 2012 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Bill Burton: About Gambling
LIearn Before You Play Table Games
just returned from a seven-day cruise to Alaska. e ship o ered many activities to keep guests occupied during the time traveling between ports, and one of the most popular attractions was the onboard casino. e casino o ered most of the games
that you would nd in any land-based casino, although the pay tables on the video poker games were quite dismal, and I’m sure the slot machines were just as tight. is was not surprising, since they had a captive audience. After all, it’s not like a player could leave and go to a nearby casino.
initial fear of sitting down to a new game. Usually the lesson entails an explanation of how the game is played, the rules, and proper table procedures that you need to know. is is then followed by some actual play with “funny money” or non-value chips. By playing these practice hands, you can get a real feel for the ow of the game. Sometimes the casino will also o er a live game with lower table minimums after the lesson. You will be sitting at a table with new players, and it will help you relax.
Bring a Friend
You might want to get a friend or two to join you when you play your rst table game. is will help take away some of the fear of sitting down by yourself. If you have a group of friends who are interested in learning the game, try to nd an empty table and be sure to tell the dealer you are new to the game. e dealer will be glad to help you.
Avoid Crowded Times
You don’t want to sit down at a crowded table during peak times to play your rst table game. As a newbie you will be slower, and this may upset some of the seasoned players. Some players do not take kindly to newer players, and this could lead to a bad experience. You want to have fun, so pick a time when the casino is not busy. Stay away from Friday and Saturday nights. Another reason to avoid these times is that some casinos raise the minimum bets on table games when they are busy. As a new player, you want to play the lowest limits possible.
Playing table games can be a lot of fun. It is also a nice break from sitting at a slot machine for hours on end. A little variety can make your casino visit more fun, and you may just nd a new game that you really like.
Until next time, remember: “Luck comes and goes..Knowledge Stays Forever.”
Bill Burton is the author of 1000 Best Casino Gambling Secrets and Get the Edge at Low Limit Texas Hold’em available online at billburton.com. Burton is also an instructor for Golden Touch Craps: thecrapsclub.com.
e Blackjack tables dealt a decent six- deck game with standard rules that you would nd in most casinos, so a basic strategy player was only facing about a half a percent house edge. is is the game I played during my cruise. During one of my sessions, a young lady sat down in the seat next to me and bought in for $300. She was betting $25 a hand, and after the second hand she played, I knew that she did not know basic blackjack strategy. She would stand when she should have hit, and hit when she should stand. Within 45 minutes, she was out of chips and left the table.
After she left, a few of the other players commented on her lack of knowledge of the game.
I have seen this type of player many times in the years that I have been playing Blackjack, and I am still amazed at the number of people I see at casinos who are willing to plunk down their hard-earned money on games that they haven’t a clue how to play. I often wonder why they don’t bother to learn before they play.
ere once was a time when visitors to the casino had limited resources to help them learn to play the games. All that was available were a few books on the subject. Now that just about everyone has access to the Internet, there are enormous resources to learn any game at home before you visit the casino. Many of the most popular table games have some basic strategy that you can use to keep the house edge to a minimum, and increase your chances of winning. Blackjack, Pai Gow, ree and Four Card Poker, Let it Ride and Spanish 21 are among the games where your decisions matter. You can learn how to play any casino game using three easy steps.
Step One: Reading
Every player who sits down at a gaming table to play any casino game should have
read at least one book on that particular game. ere are many good books by reputable authors that can teach you the basics of the games. If you don’t want to purchase a book, you can nd articles on the Internet that will give you accurate information and show you how to play the game correctly. Spend some time reading about the game you want to learn.
Step Two: Watching
Watching DVDs can help teach you the mechanics of the game. You will actually see how the game is dealt and the bets that are made, so you will be familiar with the procedures and protocols when you sit down at a table. Videos can help reinforce what you have read, and perhaps clear up any questions by showing you how the game is played. ere are many gambling videos available for most casino games.
ese days you don’t even need to purchase a DVD, as there are numerous free videos on the Internet that you can watch to teach you how to play any casino game.
Step Three: Practicing
ere are many good inexpensive tutorial software programs that you can purchase that will teach you table games. With these programs, you play the game, and it alerts you if you make a wrong decision. You learn while you are having fun.
Once you have a basic knowledge of the game, you will be a little more relaxed when you sit down to play your rst table game.
Lessons
Many casinos o er free table games lessons. ese are usually held on weekdays during the morning hours when the casino is not too busy. Taking a free table game lesson is a good way to learn the mechanics of a
game and get a feel for playing at a table. is is an excellent way to get over your
OCTOBER 2012
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
PAGE 25