Not All Table Games are Scientific

Not All Table Games are Scientific

           The table game landscape has changed quite a bit in the past few years.  At the top of the food chain, the name of the company has changed, but the core hasn't.  Scientific Games (which purchased Bally Technologies which purchased Shuffle Entertainment) is still the 800 pound gorilla.  But there is a new player in the industry now.  I don't know where in the rank they fall, but they had the 2nd largest table game display at the Global Gaming Expo two weeks ago.  This week, I'll give a brief review of the games of AGS.

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Global Gaming Expo 2016 - Table Games Part 1

Global Gaming Expo 2016 - Table Games Part 1

            Last week, I discussed some of the Blackjack variants and sidebets that will be on display at the Scientific Games booth at the Global Gaming Expo that begins today.  This week, I'll give a preview of some of their poker-based table games.  For those of you who are regular readers, you know that I will not find it surprising that virtually all of their table games are fitting into one of these two categories - Blackjack and Poker.  Many inventors have tried to break this mold, and none have succeeded.  So, you can question whether the issue is that they haven't hit the right formula yet or if they are fishing in the wrong pond.  The latter still seems to be the likely answer.

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Let It Ride Primer

Let It Ride Primer

            Let It Ride is certainly not as popular of a game as it once was.  But, you'll still find it in most casinos.  In reality, it is a relatively slow moving game as casino games go.  It might be a bit deceptive because to start each deal, you have to put up three wagers.  But unlike other games where you might do the same (Ultimate Texas Hold'em), the three units is the maximum you can wager and you will very rarely wager all 3 and not win.

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Ultimate Texas Hold'em Complexity

Ultimate Texas Hold'em Complexity

           This past week, I received 2 e-mails regarding Ultimate Texas Hold'em.  That's a good sign that I have found my topic for the week.  The first e-mail was from a reader who saw my column from several weeks ago about the strategy for UTH for the 4x wager.  I have frequently written that Players are too timid when making that 4x wager.  I understand the reasons why.  If you are at a $10 table, you already have $30 on the table (ante, blind and Trips Bonus).  $40 more will make you a $70 Player and that might not be what you bargained for.  But, the strategy dictates that you should make this wager about 45% of the time, which means you can either be prepared for it, or prepared to earn nowhere near the 99+% payback that UTH can offer.

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Don't Get Envious

Don't Get Envious

          I don't think I've ever covered the concept of tipping (also known as a toke) the Dealer in my column before.  For some it's a relatively boring subject.  To others, it is topic that evokes much emotion from what I've seen on some on-line postings.   Since most of these electronic bulletin boards attract a lot of 'advantage' Players, that is Players who play games that are over 100% payback or very close to it, it is probably no wonder that many of these Players are not big on tipping Dealers very often.  If you give the Dealer a nice portion of a big win, this might represent your total net win on an evening. 

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