STREETWISE BLACKJACK

Streetwise Blackjack

Alternative Lifestyles, Part II

By Peter Ruchman

      (Author's note: this comes from the "great minds think alike" syndrome. Colleague Bob Dancer stopped by the shop several weeks ago and we chatted. As Bob is primarily known for his outstanding work in the video poker field, I was comparing video and bj with him. I'm not sure if his columns of the last couple of weeks were inspired by that conversation or not, but I was working on this train of thought when he appeared with his. Consider this a different take on a provocative subjectŠ)

     Continuing the thoughts of a column started a few weeks ago, from time to time I will look at other possibilities of casino life, which allow one to utilize the skills developed learning 21 without surrendering too much of an edge in other pursuits. It is worthwhile to immediately note there is no other table game like blackjack. Its unique structure allows the advanced player to gain an advantage of a percent or two depending on variations of the game. That is precisely why casinos remain so petrified of advanced skill levels of play.

     Blackjack continues to be the most popular table game in most locations throughout the United States. In Europe roulette has always superseded 21's popularity and many places in Asia feature a variety of other games as well as baccarat. In the U.S., slot machines and video poker have exceeded blackjack's popularity for quite some time. This appears to be a win, win situation for both casino and player. The best thing to happen to the slot manufacturers has been the discovery and use of American pop culture as a springboard to launch new games, most of which have been embraced by an attentive and willing American public. Monopoly, Family Feud, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, Three Stooges, Elvis, South Park, the list goes on and on and the themes are endless. The obvious next choices here‹Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and Survivor.

     It is important to distinguish these games and the immediate and long-time predecessors, the old three-reel mechanical slot machines with the old-fashioned handle, from video poker. The similarities end with the fact both are combination electronic and mechanical devices. Have you every heard of a professional slot player? It is an oxymoron. On the other hand there are professional video poker players, like Bob Dancer, particularly with machines that have the potential of generating a return of more than 100 percent.

     How can they do this you might ask? Easy‹the same way the casino offers blackjack, with the same card-counting advantages. The reality is that the majority of people don't play perfect or apply optimal basic strategy, no less attain the proficiency of a money-making card counter. In this same respect, few understand the intricacies of optimal strategy for video poker. It all comes down to the same point‹most folks simply want to walk up to their game of choice and get paid while having fun. Or there is some on-going fantasy of reliving the 1985 Albert Brooks movie role in Lost in America, where he asks the casino shift manager for his money back, "We were just messing around, honest."

     A very small percentage of people win. Why is that, do you suppose? Video poker can be beaten. Any number of professional and advanced video players visit Gambler's Book Shop on a regular basis, as do blackjack players in similar categories. The VP people swap ideas, look at the new books and software available, same as the BJ folks. Most will report you don't play video poker with the same strategies as the live game. There are important differences, and there isn't enough time or space to denote these.

     There are numerous books (Video Poker Optimum Play by Dan Paymar; Bob Dancer's 3-Book Set of Deuces Wild, 9-6 Jacks or Better, and 10-7 Double Bonus; Video Poker Answer Book by John Grochowski; and any of Lenny Frome's collection), along with two software programs that remain among the finest products in the land for practicing and perfecting your game: (Bob Dancer presents) Winpoker by Zamzow Software and its companion Video Poker Strategy Master by Tomski with Zamzow Software.

     None of these items cost more than $30.00, and each contains useful information for helping you beat the games. And, yes. they can be beaten. But like anything else worth doing, winning at these games require skill, discipline, and practice. I'm fond of saying that you can go to school and learn to better yourself in almost any field. You should expect to pay your dues: tuition, books, and supplies. You should also expect to spend time in the classroom at home studying, and possibly on the "job," training. It is no different in the casino world. You need to read, study, and practice and then apply your insights to your chosen activity. If you have studied carpentry and are on a job site, you wouldn't think of hitching plumbing tools to your belt would you? So if you've studied blackjack, why mess around with roulette?

     The very same issues which apply to blackjack, work with video poker as well. Sure, a little bit of luck will see you through, but you get luckier when you understand the strategies. Like anything else worth pursuing, there is a commitment to practice‹the more you play, the better you get. Some hands are more troublesome than others, there are situations where your chances of winning are either greater or more reduced‹just like blackjack.

     Unlike blackjack, which offers rules variations but is essentially the same game structure, video poker offers a large variety of games, each one essentially different from the others. But like blackjack, there are substantial differences in the same game from one location to another. Instead of deck penetration and rules variations, there are pay-table differences which one must understand to get the biggest bang for your buck.

     Some relatives visited me recently. These folks were last in the city in 1960. I believe Las Vegas has changed a tad since that time. They last stayed at the Desert Inn when that hotel had been open eight years. This time they stayed at Bellagio and after the buffet, we wandered around the casino as I explained the various games to them. What excited them the most? The slots and video poker, of course. My Aunt Rita won three quarters playing a slot machine and then we went to video land. She tried a quarter Deuces Wild game and drew to a full house. She was so excited that she took her coins, cashed out, and was disappointed when I told her she needed to play the maximum 5 coins to get the full payouts. Rita inserted her coins and watched as the few hands dissipated to nothing remaining. She was just having fun and wasn't interested in optimal strategy. And that's the way most folks approach gambling. With the mathematical edges owned by the "House" there is no way other than sheer luck to win.

     Again, it is essential to understand the possibilities and limitations in order to exploit them. Sure you can get lucky, walk up to a machine, throw some money in the bill acceptor and hit a big one. I believe that is one of the worst things which can occur. The normal reaction is if it happened once, it will once again. It is similar to getting a blackjack the first time you play, followed by a winning session. The natural thought is that you don't need to work at this. You are one of those rare creatures anointed by angels‹you're a natural-born winner!

     BZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTT! That's the sound of the reality-alarmŠ

     Video brings to mind many of the same issues as blackjack: money management and strategy. The best players will tell you that you must play maximum coins‹you don't raise and lower your bet as you do in blackjack but patiently capitalize on the better draws in search of that all-important and elusive royal flush. Video Poker happens to be one of the select group of casino activities to consider when searching for an alternative. We'll look at others as the weeks go by.