The Intelligent Gamblertm ©1999, ConJelCo. All Rights Reserved Number 8, November 1997

regularly contribute original essays cov- consider the new product when it Publisher’s Corner ering all aspects of gambling. In addi- becomes available. by Chuck Weinstock tion to original essays the site is the It seems like only yesterday that we had home of The Gambling Forum, an on- An Exclusive Interview with the idea to send out a newsletter written line discussion group that you can par- Editors note: in the last issue Mason especially for ConJelCo’s customers. ticipate in. , Mason Mal- Malmuth answered the question of ConJelCo customers tend to have fun muth, Ray Zee and other luminaries of whether a serious newcomer to is when they gamble, and yet treat the the gambling community join in the better off with stud or hold’em. For this subject seriously. They want to know discussion regularly. issue I thought it would be interesting to how to get the largest edge out of beat- Oh yes, there is one final reason we’re get another leading figure in the poker able games, and the most fun at the telling you about the Two Plus Two web communities thoughts on the same least cost out of those unbeatable games site. ConJelCo maintains it, and we’re question and others. they decide to play. We decided to name rather proud of both the content and IG: You’re a new player and you have our newsletter The Intelligent Gambler the design. to reflect this attitude. decided to become fairly serious about A Holiday Gift from ConJelCo poker. So, should you try to concentrate Nearly four years later you are holding Steve Jacobs (author of our Percentage on seven-card stud or hold ’em poker? the eighth issue, in your hands. Along Hold’em) and ConJelCo would like to MC: You asked this question of Mason the way you’ve read articles by some of give you a video poker program as a Malmuth in the last issue, and he made the top gambling authors writing today. holiday present. Video Poker Freebie, as some excellent observations. This actu- This issue is no exception with articles we’re calling it, can be configured to ally arises when I advise new players. by Mike Caro, Bob Ciaffone, Nolan play nearly any video poker machine First, let me point out that the choice Dalla, Lou Krieger, Jean Scott, and Bill available today, including those with might not be limited to seven-card stud Zender. wild cards. As you play, Video Poker or hold ’em. There are areas of the The issue is a little poker-centric, but I Freebie will tell you if you make mis- country where hold ’em is still little think that are non-poker playing read- takes and tell you the correct way to known. When I served as spokesperson ers will find plenty to interest them as play a particular hand given a particu- for Canadian Mist whiskey, and we held well. lar pay-off schedule. The software runs charity tournaments in on Windows 3.1, OS/2, Windows 95, Distribution of This Issue and Miami, we asked local players what and Windows NT. After our experiement of net distribu- the game should be. Few understood tion of the last issue, we decided to go If you’d like Video Poker Freebie, Con- hold ’em, and poker was the pre- back to hard-copy distribution to all JelCo will send you a copy for only the ferred game among those questioned, readers who are on our mailing list and cost of distribution. Video Poker Freebie followed closely by seven-card stud. will be available after November 16th. who we’ve heard from since mid-1994. That seems almost laughably alien to A PDF version of this issue will also be If you have access to the Internet you can download a copy absolutely for free us—that draw poker would be a available on our web site at www.con- favored game—because we all seem to jelco.com. by going to URL http://www.con- jelco.com/vpfreebie.html. If you would agree that it is a dinosaur. Dead as a If the last time we’ve heard from you like to receive Video Poker Freebie on a doornail and petrified. Actually, draw was in 1994, you’ll be dropped from 3.5” diskette, send us your check or was the staple of California public our mailing list unless we hear that you money order for $2.00 (U.S.), $3.00 poker before hold ’em and stud were are still interested in receiving The (Canada), $4.00 (Europe) or $5.00 finally legalized not too many years ago. Intelligent Gambler. (Elsewhere), payable in US dollars and Anyway, if draw is an alternative for The Gambling Forum drawn on a US bank. No phone or you, then that might be the game you should start with. You can master many We’d like to call your attention to a new credit card orders please unless you are key concepts by playing draw poker site on the World Wide Web. Two Plus ordering other products as well. Orders and take these concepts with you into Two Publishing, publishers of top gam- for diskettes must be received by more sophisticated games. bling books by David Sklansky, Mason December 1, 1997. The online version Malmuth, Ray Zee, and Lynne Loomis, will remain available indefinitely. If the choice is really limited to limit is on the web at www.twoplustwo.com. So what’s the catch? There really isn’t stud and limit hold ’em, then I believe Why are we telling you this? Because one. We’re in the process of developing The Intelligent Gambler is published on an the site provides lots of useful informa- a commercial video poker program that irregular basis by ConJelCo, 132 Radcliff tion for the intelligent gambler. In addi- we hope will take the gambling commu- Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15237. 412-492-9210, tion to complete information about nity by storm. We hope that you’ll like 800-492-9210. Fax: 412-492-9031. their books (including excerpts), they Video Poker Freebie so much that you’ll www.conjelco.com., [email protected] ♠ Intelligent Gambler 1

hold ’em is easier to teach a beginner. hold ’em games get worse and worse the possibility that I may be right about Because of the communal cards, there under these circumstances. The first this. It may be harder to accept from are simply fewer combinations of reason is that the weak players who someone who is only interested in the meaningfully different situations that may like hold ’em run out of money and psychological aspects of poker. arise in hold ’em. Additionally, a begin- can’t continue. The second is that the ner doesn’t have to interpret the cards survivors figure out what they were The reason most very good analytical exposed in other players’ hands—some- doing wrong and stop doing it. minds undervalue tells and psychology thing that can be quite difficult. in poker is that their brains don’t walk One other thing to consider is the rake. the human interaction path comfort- Nowadays, I advise players to learn If your games are raked, rather than ably. Getting them to grasp it is like hold ’em first. Where the most profit charged rent, and the rake is capped at explaining blue to blind person. exists is another question. Getting a lit- a maximum, then seven-stud may have tle off track here, I’ll tell you a secret a slight advantage at the same limit. What should we put second on the list? about professional poker players that The pots tend to be larger in stud, Things you should master to be a great they themselves don’t know. Their main mostly because of the extra betting player. I’m thinking. Maybe it would be profit, sometimes all of it, comes from round, so the rake may be less of a per- the ability not to become frustrated those rare games during their careers centage penalty. However, many casi- when the cards run bad and turn a when the live one, the real producer, sits nos charge less or have a lower cap in $2,352 loss into a $4,903 loss. That’s so down and unloads a bundle. For most hold ’em. In that case, hold ’em wins the hard to master, because when you tack second-tier professionals, all the ses- advantage on the rake factor. that extra $100 onto a $9,400 loss, so sions between these paydays result in that it becomes $9,500, it doesn’t feel Anyway, the answer to your question is any different. But at the end of the year, very little profit, no profit at all, or even hold ’em. That’s the game a beginner slight losses. I know that’s a daring that $100 matters exactly the same as should learn first, provided it’s available any other $100. assertion, worthy of challenge. Fine to him. Stud is more complex, but nov- with me. Challenge it. But, I’m saying ices make costlier mistakes in hold ’em. Third, I’ll pick the ability to convey a that among lifelong winning players, Even after you’ve mastered both games, likeable, but bewildering, image. Actu- most are not day-in and day-out win- usually choose to sit in the hold ’em ally, this could be included under the ners. They’re just not stable enough to game when opponents are weak in both first item. The more opponents are con- be. They need those unusual days when games. Choose to sit in the stud game fused by you, the more they will waste extremely weak players land at their when the opponents seem average in mental energy and the more profits they tables with big money to lose. either case. You’ll make more money will supply. The word likeable is key I’ve already said that beginners should against average opponents in stud in here, because if you simply confuse start with hold ’em, but seven-stud is the long run, although it may be more your opponents by being unfriendly fine, too. Of course, I teach that the of a roller coaster ride, due to higher and belligerent, you’re no fun to pay off most successful players are ones who fluctuations in day-to-day profit. There and your opponents may be motivated can play all major forms of poker suc- is more of a gap between an average to play better. You need to make losing cessfully. You never know where that stud player and a great stud player than to you as painless as possible, and get- weak player will decide to unload that between an average limit hold ’em ting lucky and beating you as happy as million dollars, and you certainly need player and a great hold ’em player. possible. That way, opponents will con- tinue to pursue bad hands against you to be able to play the game he does IG: What are (in order of importance) when it happens. For that reason, the specifically. Lose pots graciously, and the three most important skills an aver- remember that if you’re a superior best specialists don’t earn as much at age poker player should master in order poker as the best utility players. player you’re supposed to get drawn out to become a great player? on, because you’re the one who usually Back to stud versus hold ’em. Hold ’em MC: Ask me tomorrow and I might give gets involved with the better hand. The gives you more control over the out- you a different answer, but here’s how it higher percentage of hands that you come. Contrary to the complaints of seems to me right this minute. lose are bad beats, the better you’re some players, you won’t be drawn out playing and the more you’ll earn. on as often in hold ’em as in stud. And, If you want to become a great player, as I keep pointing out, there tend to be not just a good player or an excellent That’s my list. All of those things were more medium-weak players in seven- player, but a great player, then you need psychological. That doesn’t mean that card stud. This is not because weak to understand people. That means the basics aren’t critically important players at first prefer stud (although understanding tells and human nature. along the road to mastering poker. The perhaps they do), but because they I’ll put that number one on my list. basics, statistics, strategy, logic, and can’t survive hold ’em. If you have little You’d be surprised how many astute analysis without much regard to psy- clue what you’re doing, it’s easier to get students of the game spend most of chology are things everyone needs to lucky for a day or two in seven stud. their analytical energy trying to eke out learn. Probably first. That’s why I spend Thus, weak stud players live the illusion an extra two cents worth of value. They so much time teaching them. But, your of having a chance, although in the long use statistical and first-level strategic question was about what you need to run, they do not. analysis while at the same time saying master to become a great player. Those things or using body language or choos- things are always going to be psycho- When hold ’em is new in town, that’s ing an attitude which is costing them logical, because there’s not that much the game you should play. Most players two dollars, ten dollars or even a hun- difference in terms of profit against typ- shifting from stud or other games to dred dollars or more on that very play. ical opponents between an excellent hold ’em have very poor feel for how to Since I’ve researched and written exten- non-psychological player and a perfect play, and for weeks or months these sively on both statistics and psychology, non-psychological player. But there’s an games can be very lucrative. However, maybe the skeptics will at least consider enormous difference in profit between ♠ Intelligent Gambler 2

an otherwise excellent player not using he is keeping track of the types of cards of them didn’t know card counting. psychology and an excellent player that have been dealt from the deck as They might know how to count down a using it well. the game is being played. By identifying deck, but they had no idea at what That’s why many serious students of which cards are no longer in the deck count the player should increase his bet, poker, lacking the right human insights, the counter has an idea which cards how the player should vary from basic go up against players with seemingly remain in the now depleted subset of strategy with the count, and other weaker strategic and statistical skills the original deck. If the remaining sub- information they should know to prop- and lose again and again and again. Out set is rich in ten value cards and aces erly evaluate a customers ability. Many of frustration, they may decide to ignore the counter knows he has a slight of the previously described “game pro- psychology and stick to their game advantage. If the subset is not rich in tection measures” were not always plan, but they are invariably brought ten the counter is playing either with a implemented because of card counters, under the spell of the masters. And even slight disadvantage or even with the but because of gambling superstitions. I when they’re not, they don’t win nearly house. The “card counter” can use this remember executives pulling “unlucky” as much money against average oppo- information to raise and lower his bets, dealers from the game before their nents as they should. What you need to and alter his strategy when playing breaks, and changing “unlucky” decks master to become a winning player are each hand. Since Dr. Ed Thorp pub- of cards after ten minutes on the table. basic concepts and discipline. What you lished, Beat the Dealer, every member Some casinos had the dealers, “deal the need to master to become a great player of the general public has had available cards all the way out,” in hopes of are psychology, psychology, and psy- information which could allow them to changing the flow of the cards. chology. But I’m not sure about the turn the tables on the casinos. Are play- My first experience with actual prefer- order. ers the only casino combatants counting ential shuffling occurred when I was the cards? Mike Caro is often regarded as today’s dealing at a small “break in” casino. foremost authority on , What happens if the casino also counts The lone player on my table was ahead psychology, and statistics. He is pub- cards? If the casino also counted they several thousand dollars and the casino licly known as “the Mad Genius of could shuffle the cards when the players was nervous. As I was preparing to deal Poker” through his books, columns, vid- has advantage, and they could keep a third round from the deck I felt the pit eos, and seminars. dealing deeper into the deck when the manager kick me in the heel. I was sur- house’s advantage rises higher then prised that he would kick me for no normal. Usually the casinos instruct apparent reason but I kept dealing. As I Preferential Shuffling: The Inside their dealers to deal cards until they was preparing to deal the next round I Scoop have reached an established point in the got kicked again, but this time it was by Bill Zender deck. Once reaching that point the deal- much harder. I stopped dealing to gri- Lately the big “buzz” in the gambling ers will break the deck and shuffle. This mace and shake off the pain. The pit periodicals, websites and newsgroups is established shuffle point occurs either manager leaned in to me and whispered the alleged wide spread “casinos cheat- after the dealer deals a certain number in my ear, “that means shuffle you ing” in the game of twenty one through of hands, when a certain percentage of idiot!” I later found out the pit manager the use of preferential shuffling. I the deck is remaining, or when an indi- had taken classes on card counting. He haven’t read a gaming magazine, cator card (cut card) appears. was assigned to count down the deck on reviewed a web bulletin board or In all the previous examples the shuffle any big play and have the dealer shuffle scanned a newsgroup thread that hasn’t point, which is part of the casino’s pro- on positive counts. This, of course, was batted around preferential shuffling at cedure, has been designated before the done by kicking the dealer on the foot. least a dozen times over the last year. I dealer pitches a card. However, when a Fortunately there were twelve tables just finished reading several threads on dealer breaks the deck, not at a desig- and only one of him so I didn’t get the newsgroup “rec.gambling.black- nated shuffle point, but because of kicked that often. jack”, where several “news-groupies” other situations, the he is shuffling at Since “breaking in” I have witnessed intend to take to the newly formed Fed- the dealer’s or the casino’s preference, other forms of preferential shuffling. eral Gaming Commission their claims i.e., “preferential shuffling”. Several casinos employed the tactic of (among many others) that the casinos shuffling the deck when a player bet throughout the country are illegally How Would a Casino Use Preferential three to four times his original wager. deceiving the public by employing pref- Shuffling? This was usually performed on hand erential shuffling. They claim to have Is it true that casinos use preferential held games, but I have known casinos to documented evidence to this effect. shuffling? When I started dealing blackjack in the 70’s, casinos primarily shuffle up shoe games as well. It was Are casinos in New Jersey, Mississippi, used single and double deck games. It assumed the player increasing his bet Illinois, and Nevada actually cheating was at a time when card counting was did it based on the “rich” cards remain- the average everyday customer so they “the new way” to beat the casinos, and ing in the deck. Usually all the casino may fatten their greedy little coffers? most casino executives were naive to the accomplished was upsetting an unsus- First, let’s start by understanding what “ins and outs” of card counting. “If a pecting player, not to mention the other preferential shuffling is and how it player was winning he must be count- players at the table. could be used against the blackjack ing cards”, seemed to be the standard Very rarely have I found a dealer that players. claim. Several times a night I would could count and deal at the same time. What is Preferential Shuffling? hear, “shuffle up”, “break the deck”, I used to practice counting while I was Simplified the term “preferential shuf- “deal two hand and shuffle”, in retalia- dealing and discovered I made too fling” refers to a casino’s technique that tion to a player’s winning streak, or a many errors. I accomplished this math- allows the casinos to “count cards” on big bet placed late in the deck. The ematical feat by keeping the count in the players. When a player counts cards problem with these executives was most my head and change the total when a ♠ Intelligent Gambler 3

player busted out. I would then finish shoe and then shuffling, have been casino could employ preferential shuf- the hand, taking and paying, and as I abandoned because they decrease the fling on every active table. The shoe picked up the cards I would finish number of results on the table. Casinos could be programmed to alert the dealer counting the remaining cards on the know they can’t make money while the whenever the deck became “plus” after table. If I had to hold a conversation dealers are shuffling the cards. The half the cards have been used. At that with a player or I was interrupted for modern casino executive understands point the dealer would be required to whatever reason I would use half dollars that his increase in profits due to the “break” the shoe. By using shuffling to mark the count in the chip tray. How- increase in results more than offsets any machines, down time between decks ever, they were several occasions when I loses to a “herd” of card counters. would be kept at a minimum. The had to stop what I was doing because I - Dealers are not trained to count and shuffling machine would eliminate the took down a winning bet or forgot to deal, or manipulate cards. They are unnecessary loss in time and motion pay a player. But if I could count and trained to deal the games, to get out as normally experienced when the cards deal, doesn’t every dealer? many hands as possible without making are hand shuffled. I have only heard of a couple of casinos mistakes, and through proper customer Breaking the shoe every time the deck in the area that trained deal- relations provide the players with an became “rich” in tens and aces would ers to deal and count. These dealers entertainment value for their buck. make card counting obsolete and put all would only count when placed on big Floor supervisors, who could be count- players at a definite disadvantage. games and it wasn’t that often. I doubt ing down decks, are needed for more Today, either wide spread or occasional if one in five hundred blackjack dealers important functions like handling cus- casino use of preferential shuffling is in Nevada know how to deal and count tomers credit requests, sustaining something I think players don’t need to at the same time. In almost all cases of proper table chip levels, and servicing worry about. Tomorrow, who knows? preferential shuffling the counting is the customers. For a number of years, Bill Zender has done by someone on the floor, not the - Since most hand held games don’t uti- run a “counter friendly” blackjack dealer at the table. lize a cut card to determined the shuffle game at the Aladdin Hotel and Casino Should Preferential Shuffling Be A Con- point, preferential shuffling on double in Las Vegas. He is also the author of cern to Blackjack Players? decks and single decks can be accom- the landmark Card Counting for the I believe that forms of preferential shuf- plished easier and without too much Casino Executive, which Arnold Snyder fling are used very rarely. When prefer- notice. The shoe game is a different sit- says is one of the must -read books on ential shuffling occurs it will most likely uation. Breaking the shoe before the cut blackjack. appear in small casinos, and on tables card comes out could create some where a player is winning a large unhappy customers. Twenty years ago Beating a Loose Game amount of money. Smaller casinos have 90% of all twenty one games in Nevada by Bob Ciaffone a greater motivation to get every edge were hand held. Today, at least 80% are I think there are a lot of players that possible on their games, especially dealt from the shoe. take a seat in a loose game, get a bad when large wagers are involved. There - Hold percentages in twenty one don’t result, and then wonder how such a col- are several reasons why preferential reflect the use of preferential shuffling. lection of weak players could ever get shuffling isn’t being used by the casinos Hold percentage in Nevada vary their money. To be sure, there is a to any great extent; between 12% to 14%. If preferential greater luck factor concerning swings in - Casinos are now being operated in a shuffling was wide spread as some have a loose game, in that the fluctuations more competitive market. The old alleged the hold percentages should be are likely to be bigger. The idea is when adage, “for every customer we chase at least 2% to 3% higher. you beat the game, a good bit of the out two come in to replace him,” doesn’t Future Concerns With Preferential Shuf- time, the result will be a huge win. But happen anymore. The competition will fling maybe another factor is also at work. take who you throw out, but won’t give Recently, Mikon Gaming has been test- Perhaps you are not playing in an opti- up any of the players they have. Casinos ing an optical dealing shoe which reads mum way to take advantage of what are very customer service conscious and the cards as they are being delivered on appears to be a very favorable gambling go to great length to provide a comfort- the table. After the cards are read by the situation. able atmosphere in which the customer shoe a computer determines if the play- A typical reaction to playing in such a can play. ers won or lost based on the cards they game is this thought process: “These - Casinos executives are more aware of and the dealer were delivered. The com- fools are playing such garbage, I can how difficult it is to make a profit puter is programmed so the dealer isn’t and should play more hands, because counting cards at blackjack. Because of required to peek under the hole card I'll still have an overlay. How can you the card counting slight advantage over with an ace or ten showing. The com- stay out of the pot on a reasonable the game of twenty one, it takes numer- puter informs the dealer when his first hand, when you are getting such a good ous hours of play for the counter to two cards are a “blackjack”. At present, price to play?” This kind of thinking make a decent return on his bankroll. the entire package which includes opti- may be getting you into big trouble, The casinos also understand not every- cal shoe, computer, table and chip tray depending on the character of the one is a card counter, and many that do is quite expensive and I doubt if the game. won’t noticeably hurt the casino’s bot- casinos, at present, are prepared to There are actually two types of loose tom line. spend money on this type of equipment. games; we'll call them “Type A” and - Executives understand the importance However, there has been some talk “Type B.” In a Type A game, few pots of time and motion when dealing casino about using the shoe separate. By com- are being raised. As a result, a lot of games. Many anti-counter measures, bining the optical shoe, computer, and people are entering the pots on mar- like dealing only half the cards in the the card shuffling machine, every ginal hands. There is a lot of five-way, ♠ Intelligent Gambler 4

six-way, and even seven-way action. In The odds on flopping a set are over loose wild game. Tighten up to beat the such a game, you can lessen your values seven to one against you. That set will wild ones. a little bit, and still be playing better get cracked about a quarter of the time. Bob Ciaffone is a regular columnist for hands than most of your opponents. One thing you can depend on; if you Card Player magazine and the author Note that the two ingredients needed for flop a set and lose, it will cost you of several books on poker including Pot- playing drawing-type hands are both plenty. Limit and No-Limit Poker, a book present. You can get in cheaply, and will I like to see the flop on pocket sixes, but called “by far the best information on be facing a large field, insuring a nice these games in print” by Mason Mal- payoff if your ship comes in. cannot afford to pay through the nose to do it. The long-run odds say that in an muth. This article is an adapted from It is the Type B game where the prob- unraised pot I need to win about a Bob’s latest book Improve Your Poker. lems arise. In this game, there are also a dozen half-bets just to break even. (We lot of players in the pot on their starting use the term “half-bet” because in a hands (good for drawing hands), but normal betting structure the bet will be by Lou Krieger most of the pots are getting raised, and twice as much –a full bet –later on in A philosopher by inclination and a even reraised (very bad for drawing the deal). If I were guaranteed that it poker player by choice, Dennis Jones hands). A lot of players use the same would only cost me one half-bet to play, has often been quoted as saying: “I’d style of play for both situations, when in I would take a chance. But if the pot is rather ask forgiveness than permis- fact our two scenarios are vastly differ- raised, it costs me two half-bets, and I sion.” It’s a terrific expression — an ent. In a Type B game, you must have now need to win a couple of dozen half- updated rephrasing of Carpe Diem, an great restraint in entering pots, because bets just to break even for the times I old Latin maxim meaning “Seize the the entry fee is two or three times miss the flop or get a set cracked. This Day,” and one I wish I could have taken greater than normal. Naturally, most is much harder to do. If I had to call a credit for. But credit belongs where it is players have the good sense not to be raise cold, I have a clear fold. But if due: to Dennis. making cold calls in raised and reraised most of the pots are being raised or pots. But it is easy to get trapped into reraised, it is foolish to tell yourself, Not only does his catch-phrase hold paying an exorbitant entry fee if the “Maybe I can sneak in for a single bet.” true for a variety of endeavors, it is par- payments are put on the installment ticularly pithy when applied to poker. If plan. This is another area where poker The thinking on any drawing hand you’ve read much poker literature, you resembles real life! should be much the same as your think- know that just about every credible ing on our example hand of 6-6. To authority recommends aggressive play. Perhaps this is an appropriate moment have an overlay, you must see the flop But how aggressive you should be, when to discuss how we are using the term cheaply. This entails not calling a dou- you should be aggressive, and when you “drawing hand,” and why it is so ble bet before the flop. In a game where ought to play passively, are playing important to be paying a cheap entry most pots are being raised, it means not techniques worth revisiting every so fee when holding one. Lets use a limit falling for the “installment payment” often. hold’em game as an example. Having trap. Fold for even a single bet if the pot “I’d rather ask forgiveness than permis- the best hand before the flop is not nec- will likely be raised behind you. sion,” implies a willingness to throw essarily mean you can win without oneself headlong into some gray and improvement, or have a better chance Note that what kinds of hands are rais- murky area where the rules of engage- than the other players to win the pot. A ing the pot scarcely enters into your fig- ment are not quite clear, and the only small pair must buy help to get the uring. If you have a drawing hand, the certainties are “to get there first” and cheese. A pair of sixes is a higher-rank- fact that the raiser might have a trashy “possession is nine-tenths of the law.” ing hand than an A-Q, but in a multi- looking hand like ace-ten offsuit does Possessed of any common sense what- handed pot the A-Q is much superior. A not help you. Even if the raiser is a soever, few of us are willing to run “drawing hand” is the way I describe maniac with total junk, the fact remains headlong into some vastly superior any hand that must improve to win. that you need to help in order to win. It force regardless of how valorous or actually might be better for you if the Let's discuss that pair of sixes a bit aggressive we might imagine ourselves raiser had a big pair, as then you figure to be. more. It is clearly a drawing hand, to get paid off handsomely if you buy because even if nobody has a higher help on the flop. Dennis’ expression holds as true for pair in the pocket, it will seldom win poker as for life itself. In low-limit without improvement in multihanded As you can see, in a game where a lot of games, you’ll find players at both raised pots. The extra money holds pots are being raised, you must resist extremes of the passive-aggressive spec- many of the other players in until the your impulse to go with the flow. When trum. Some are timid regardless of the end of the deal; the chances are slim the entry fee is a lot higher, you need a circumstances, while some are rocks on that nobody will be able to beat 6-6 at much better hand to play. A loose wild the order of Mt. Rushmore who won’t the finish. Even if a miracle happens game calls for you to tighten up your come out swinging unless they hold the and the sixes are good, you don't figure starting requirements considerably. nuts. Still others are kamikazes who to be still in the pot to claim your win- Otherwise, the overhead you pay to see can’t wait to gamble it up, firing raise ner. How can you call a bet at any point the flop will be too much to overcome. after raise at the pot regardless of the after the flop, when there are only two The fact that there are a lot of other cards they’re holding. You’ll even find cards in the deck that will help your players in is helpful, but not helpful such players in bigger games, but hand? To win a multihanded raised pot, enough to overcome the high cost of they’re fewer and farther apart because you need a two-event parlay. First you seeing the flop. A smart poker player those at the polar edges of the passive- must flop a set of sixes, and then you knows there is a huge difference aggressive bell curve are prone to go must have them hold up. between a loose passive game and a broke. ♠ Intelligent Gambler 5

So if you’d rather ask forgiveness than What should you do? If you’re aggres- your aggression selectively. And if you permission, it is important to realize sive, a raise in this position can be a want to seize the day, remember that you can’t play every hand aggressively. strong play for a couple of reasons. aggression — like discretion — is fre- You have to pick your spots. Aggression First, you may have the best hand — quently the better part of valor. has to be meted out selectively. Remem- and probably the best ace — since no Lou Krieger is also a regular columnist ber, it’s “seize the day,” not “seize every one raised in front of you. Your raise for Card Player. This is an excerpt from day.” One of the most important steps will place more money in the pot from Lou’s latest book More Hold’em Excel- in becoming a good player is learning the five prior callers, since having called lence, a Winner for Life. which hands to play aggressively — and once they are unlikely to abandon their why. hand before the flop. Video Poker—My Meat and Potatoes If you’re playing hold’em and are dealt Your raise also stands a good chance of by Jean Scott a big pair before the flop, you already dropping the blinds, adding some dead This is a nuts-and-bolts look at my know you should raise, but do you money to the pot. Suppose you flop two game of choice: video poker. This is the know why? This is not a trick question, diamonds. Even if there is bet in front game I use to get the things that I want and the answer is obvious: to get more of you, a raise can be a good play. While from casinos. Since the freebie system money in the pot. Plain and simple, if you probably no longer have the best in Las Vegas is designed to reward gam- you’ve got what figures to be the best hand, you do have the best draw, and if blers, you have to be a player if you hand, getting more money in the pot another diamond falls on the turn or expect to tap into the richest veins in the produces a bigger reward when you river, and it does not pair the board, you system. And to come out ahead, you win. On those occasions when you hold will have the nuts. have to play positive-expectation a big hand before the flop but lose, you games. Blackjack is an obvious candi- might come away thinking you could Aside from additional money in the pot, there’s another advantage. Most of your date, but I’ve found that I can do even have saved an additional bet if you better playing video poker. By playing hadn’t raised. If that’s the case, just stop opponents will not put you on a flush draw because you raised before the flop. the schedules that return 100% or right there, sit down, and start over, more, and milking the benefits of good because when you win, each additional Most likely they’ll suspect two pair and presume you’re raising to drive out any- slot clubs, I can pretty much write my bet draws in extra money from the own ticket in Las Vegas. But it all comes opposition. one holding a low or medium pair, or a backdoor draw. If a diamond falls on back to playing the game well enough Raising also provides a golden opportu- the turn, anyone else making a flush so I don’t lose back everything I gain nity for your opponents to make mis- will probably bet, and you, of course, (like 99.9% of players do). takes by calling when they shouldn’t. can raise. If the turn card is a blank and Of course, the most important aspect of Suppose you hold a pair of kings but the pot is checked, you can check too winning at video poker is studying the didn’t raise before the flop. If the flop and see the river for free. While you game-learning how to pick the did not help any of your opponents and could bet, it seems unlikely that your machines with greater-than-100% you bet, reasonable players who haven’t bet would cause all your opponents to returns, then playing them optimally. picked up at least a draw will probably fold. And a bet on the turn, which is You can accomplish this by studying the fold. Why? They have a bad hand and twice as expensive as that bet on the work of video poker experts like Lenny there’s not enough money in the pot to flop and unlikely to garner as many Frome, Dan Paymar, and Bob Dancer. make it worth chasing. The result is callers, may no longer be justified when After learning the playing skills, how- that your opponents have all folded and you compare the odds against making ever, many find that the realities of you’re left with a big hand — and a your hand to the . actual play are a little daunting. In this small pot. But if you raised, your oppo- With a hand like this, the river should section, I discuss a few of the more nents will have an investment of two practical concerns of the average (and bets. Now some of them will chase you. play itself. If you make your flush, of course you’d raise if someone else bets, low-rolling) video poker player. I play a They might make the mistake of chas- lot and I talk to a lot of other video ing with as little as a backdoor draw to or bet if it is checked to you. If you miss your hand, you’ll have to determine poker players. They ask me questions a flush — where they have to catch two about things like perfect play, low-roller running suited cards to win. whether a bet stands enough of a chance of dropping all your remaining bankroll requirements, when to change Your raise created a larger pot and gave opponents to make it worth while. For machines, and when it’s proper to devi- your opponents the opportunity and example, if there is $40 in the pot, ate from video poker’s basic strategy. motivation to play badly. Some, most you’ll have to decide whether a $4 bet Here are a few answers. assuredly, will do just that. They’ll pur- will cause your opponents to fold more When Full-Pay is Not Full-Pay sue you even when the odds against than 10 percent of the time, since the One of the most common questions that making their hand substantially exceed pot is offering 10–to–1 odds. If you people ask me is, “Why would a casino the odds offered by the pot. When they think your opponents will fold one time offer a machine that pays more than chase under circumstances which usu- in five, go ahead and make the bet. If 100%? Doesn’t the casino have to have ally prove futile, your subsequent bets you think they’ll fold only once in 20 an edge on every game? How are they will keep them calling until they run out times, save your money. going to pay for all the lights?” (It’s of hope or money. Aggressive play In the final analysis, aggressive play amazing how concerned people are gives your opponents an opportunity to about the casinos pay their light bills.) make mistakes, while allowing you to pays a wide variety of dividends. It manipulate the size of the pot. enables you to build the pot while influ- The fact is, the casinos retain a healthy encing your opponents’ behavior — edge on machines that have the poten- Here’s another example. You’re on the often giving them extra opportunities to tial to pay back over 100%. How is that button with A◆ 10◆. Five players call. make mistakes. But you have to apply possible? Two reasons. First, the 100% ♠ Intelligent Gambler 6

payback is for max-coin play only (the around. As chance would have it, I lost Do I ever change machines? Sure I bonus for a max-coin royal flush is consistently during that week, nearly change machines. I change machines if worth 1.5%-2%). Secondly, the positive reaching a $3,000 loss point. (For the the seat’s not comfortable, or the but- payout assumes the players employ a record, I recouped the money and tons are sticking, or the air-condition- perfect playing strategy. Most regular redeemed myself when I won an ing is blowing cold air on my neck, or players understand at least a little $18,000 automobile in a drawing that the person playing next to me is a about video poker strategy, but perfect “48 Hours” caught on camera and aired grouch or a smoker. And I don’t mind play is a tall order. on national television.) admitting it, but I occasionally change I’ve seen full-pay deuces wild machines machines just because I’m disgusted There’s no guarantee that you’ll hit the with the one I’m playing, when it hasn’t in more than one casino with signs that jackpot before exhausting a $3,000 say, “This machine pays back 98%.” given me anything good for a long stake, but 99% is good enough for me. while. Again, it doesn’t have anything Now, I know that full-pay deuces If you have a partner and two of you are returns 100.6%, so why are they adver- to do with the math. It’s just that losing playing, you don’t both have to have is making me angry and I want to walk tising it as paying back 98%. Here’s that much; between the two of you, you why. The casino knows that in the past, around, clear my head, and start fresh figure to hit the royal flush twice as fast. in a different part of the casino. when it’s tallied all its wins and losses If you want to have a little more than from that machine, the bottom line has the minimum bankroll, just in case, you Go ahead: hop from one machine to been a profit of 2%. This is due to might feel better with $4,000 or $5,000 another. But as you do, remember that “short-coin” and sub-optimal play. for two players. I do. it’s for a psychological feeling, not for a Almost no one plays at a positive level, mathematical reason. so the casino wins its 2%-or more. Well, I don’t have $3,000 to lose,” you might say. Neither do I! I mean, I have Deviating from Basic Strategy A lot of 100%+ video poker machines- it, but I certainly don’t want to lose it. People ask me if, on occasion, I ignore deuces wild and double bonus progres- This bankroll that I’ve been talking the strict rules of video poker’s basic sive, for example-have such strange about is not $3,000 that I intend to lose strategy. They want to know if I some- strategies that if you don’t know and permanently. I like to think of it as a times have a feeling or a hunch that abide by them, you could be playing at gambling bankroll that I sometimes something’s going to happen, and several percentage points below the loan back to the casinos while I wait. whether or not I act on it. My answer is 100%-return level. Some play so poorly “NO, NO, NEVER.” If you don’t trust they’d be better off playing slot Slot Club Benefits the strategy charts, which have been machines. In the conversation above, I’m talking derived by mathematicians and com- How Much Money Will I Need? only about winning and losing on the puter scientists, then there’s not much machines themselves, which doesn’t This is another common question I’m hope for you. take into account the cash-back from asked, though a lot of people just Think about it. When you buy a video slot clubs and promotions. This is where assume I can do what I do in the casinos poker strategy book for $20, you’re much of your profit (and your reserve in because I have all the money in the purchasing the results of thousands of case of poor luck) will come from. world. Everyone wants to know how dollars worth of research conducted by When you take a 100%+ machine and much money is necessary to allow the high-priced experts. Once you own it, add in slot club cash and promotional percentages to bear out. My answer is, all you have to do is spend a few hours, winnings, you are playing at well over “Not too much.” Let’s not forget that at most, learning the strategy for your 100%, and the profits add up fast. One we’re talking about a low-roller playing game. of my goals is to play a good enough pay quarter video poker and making $1.25 schedule, combined with a good enough And there’s another benefit. Playing wagers here. slot club and a good enough promotion, perfect strategy is actually comforting. In his book, Video Poker—Precision so that if I never hit the royal, I’ll still It cushions the blow when you lose. And Play, Dan Paymar has a chart that’s break even. When that’s accomplished, you will lose. Everyone who plays video very useful. It’s labeled “Bankroll Nec- the royal flushes represent pure profit. poker loses more sessions than they win. essary to Hit a Jackpot.” That chart But when you’re in a losing session, or indicates that if you’re playing quarter Changing Machines even a series of them, it’s very comfort- deuces wild, you should have a bankroll One thing that many people agonize ing to know that the math is correct. of at least $2,850 to be 99% sure of hit- over is when they should change You can say, “I may be losing now, but ting the royal flush before going broke. machines. The answer is, it doesn’t I know that I’m doing the right thing. I My own experiences confirm this. I’ve really matter. But it’s amazing how also know that I have a small edge, and been playing video poker for more than many people refuse to believe it. The that eventually I’ll come out ahead. math, remember, is based on play over six years, three to six hours a day, at Jean Scott is one of the country’s most least 100 days a year, and I’ve never the long term, and it will take you 40,000 hands, on average, to hit a royal renowned and successful low rollers. needed a “bankroll” (the amount of How does she do it? She belongs to slot actual money I have to gamble with) flush. So it’s all the same whether you play 40,000 hands on one machine or clubs. She participates in promotions greater than $3,000. In other words, my and drawings. She uses funbooks. She longest losing streak never resulted in 1,000 hands on 40 different machines or 100 hands on 400 machines. befriends slot hosts. The Las Vegas total losses greater than $3,000. Advisor pegged her the Queen of Ku The one time that I came close to accu- Of course, in real life you could get zero Pon in 1994 and in 1995, the CBS news mulating losses of $3,000 was the most royals in 80,000 hands or five royals in magazine “48 Hours” aired an entire inopportune time of all for Lady Luck 20,000 hands. Still, it makes no differ- hour-long segment revolving around to leave me. It was the week the “48 ence how many machines it takes you to her, in which Dan Rather dubbed her Hours” video crew was following me do it. the Queen of Comps. ♠ Intelligent Gambler 7

This is adapted from her new book The Someone once professed that poker is He would have to find a very different Frugal Gambler. not a game of cards....it’s a game of peo- kind of game with new playmates. ple. In a game as deceptively simple as Las Vegas seemed the natural next step. Texas Hold’Em, the complexity of the Searching for : But in Vegas, gin wasn’t where the game derives from picking up “tells,” by Nolan Dalla money was. It was in poker. Arriving in knowing how to play position, and in 1976, Ungar came, saw, and eventually The Rise, Fall, and Comeback of the carefully managing a stack of chips. conquered. In a flash, he was playing in World’s Greatest Poker Player Make one single mistake at this level of the biggest games in town against the play and you’ll be busted and broke, Stu Ungar is a man of striking contra- best players in the world. They gathered “playing for the world title one minute dictions. He’s known as “the Kid,” yet every night at the Dunes or the Golden and standing at valet parking the next,” bares all the wear and tear of every Nugget. The greats must have won- as Tournament Director Jack McClellan poker war won and personal battle lost. dered where the new marvel had come likes to say. In the long run, everyone He has been called the world’s greatest from. Who was this kid in his early 20s? usually gets the same quality of cards— poker player, while occasionally teeter- Poker was not supposed to be a game a few good hands and plenty of bad ing on financial bankruptcy. He’s a one could master in such a short time. If ones. It’s how you play all those hands devoted father susceptible to trite senti- he was so good he would have to prove collectively that matters. Although it’s mentality, yet is a brutal cut-throat it by playing in the World Series. competitor at the poker table. important to catch helpful cards at crit- ical moments, more than anything else In 1980 at age 24, Ungar decided to Indeed, sitting across from Ungar with tournament poker is a game of psycho- enter his first world championship. He the cards ready to be dealt is not an logical warfare. won. A few critics thought it was a appealing predicament. It’s a poker fluke. It wasn’t. A year later, he won it player’s worst nightmare, sort of like “I really think Ungar is the greatest again. Some observers began calling being trapped inside a lion’s cage. player in recent history when it comes Ungar the greatest player in the game, Ungar outwardly displays lion-like to making the right move after the already placing him on a pedestal with tranquility, seemingly harmless on the flop,” said Mickey Appleman, one of the the legends—Sailor Roberts, Puggy surface. He’s a far cry from what might top professionals on the circuit. “I’ve Pearson, , and Doyle Brun- be expected of someone who’s made been watching him and he just doesn’t son. millions of dollars outplaying, outwit- ever seem to make a mistake.” If Apple- ting, and destroying people both finan- man were talking just about poker deci- Two years after his second consecutive cially and mentally. Ungar plays a very sions, he would probably be right. Away championship, his daughter Stephanie unique style of poker, the kind played from the felt it hasn’t been so easy. was born. Ungar seemed full of hope by only a select few. Like the lion, when and had a new sense of purpose in life. the hunt starts or the game begins— There were signs early in Ungar’s child- The sky seemed the limit. But some- natural instinct seems to take over. hood that he wouldn’t be living the life thing went wrong. As quickly as success of a Norman Rockwell portrait. A New came, it ended. What followed was a I first met Stu “the Kid” Ungar last May York native from the Lower East Side, long and painful slide into the depths of inside Binion’s Horseshoe, on the eve of Ungar was the son of a bar owner. Early depression and personal struggle. his third world poker championship. on, he became acquainted with the Ungar admits that he didn’t play it With eyes shielded by trademark blue- “wise guys” who frequented his father’s smart. “I really did some stupid tinted sunglasses he looked conspicu- tavern. things,“he said looking back. ous, even in a city as jaded as Las Vegas. He looked boyish despite his 43 Men in fancy suits staked with wads of The roller coaster of gambling highs years. Ungar waltzed amidst the gallery cash and colorful stories only whetted and lows were extraordinary. Once he of high-limit poker superstars indiffer- Ungar’s passion for life on the edge. lost $900,000 playing $5,000-$10,000 ent to the fact that the next day he Naturally, gambling was a part of daily limit stud and —in only six hours. would play for $1 million in cash. Polite life. He showed an uncanny gift for Another time he is reported to have lost but covetous encouragement came from numbers and an incredible memory for over a million dollars in a single craps the biggest names in the game: Chip cards. By age five he was beating his session. He gambled away countless Reese, one of the few living members of mother at gin rummy. While other stu- fortunes in race and sportsbooks. But the ; , a dents were doing their science projects, there were a few high points along the high-stakes player and Grand Casinos Ungar was playing cards, learning way too—which helped Ungar sustain CEO; , a two-time world games of chance, and picking-up street himself. With a small group of investors champion; and , a smarts that would serve him—and he shared in a pick-six payoff that paid former world champion and now Presi- derail him, at times—later in life. $1.8 million. He accepted a private challenge to play poker against contro- dent of The Mirage. All were eliminated As a teenager Ungar established himself versial publisher, Larry Flynt, and did early in this year’s championship and as a sort of child prodigy at gin rummy. so four times. Ungar reportedly won could only watch the final table from He played the local New York circuit more than $5 million from the porno the rail—looking toward Ungar with and catapulted himself into the most kingpin. envy, like the rest of us. feared player in the city. After he beat Despite his public confidence, Ungar’s them all, he moved to Miami. Southern But the money never stayed with Ungar private life has been far less certain. Florida was widely acknowledged at the very long. It always found its way into He’s a virtual recluse—part Howard time to be the hotbed of big-time gin. the wrong hands, into dirty pockets, Hughes and part Bobby Fischer. Bril- Not even twenty years old, he won there running around with the wrong crowd liant and eccentric. Cold and calculat- too. Ungar won so often that finally one on a merry-go-round of delusion, until ing one minute—unpredictable and day, he looked round and nobody finally Ungar seemed a shadow of his aloof the next. wanted to play against him anymore. former self. ♠ Intelligent Gambler 8

By late 1996 Ungar had gone seven player. Roepke pushed all of his chips years without winning a major tourna- into the pot (about $47,000). Ungar What’s New? ment. He was seen around town playing contemplated his action. He called and by Chuck Weinstock small-time poker in the $20 buy-in won the showdown with a king-high, There have been lots of new products daily tournaments—a far cry from con- snapping-off his opponent’s . “No introduced since the last edition of The tending for world titles. Most who cared other player at the table would have Intelligent Gambler. They are high- enough to notice wrote him off. He was called in that spot,” Ungar would say lighted in the catalog itself, but here is a forgotten. Not only did Ungar seem later. quick summary. inconsequential as a serious threat— At the final table, Ron Stanley, a popu- Remember that unlike other retailers, but some thought he might not even lar Las Vegas pro came within we only add items to The Intelligent show up at this year’s World Series. The $200,000 of taking the lead back from Gambler Catalog that we feel will pro- glory days were long gone. Ungar. But on a critical hand Ungar vide a good value for our customers. We An hour before the 1997 World Series blew the audience away with a pure haven’t seen some of the items listed of Poker began, Ungar didn’t have bluff that severely crippled Stanley— below at press time, but based on the enough money to post the required who held the best hand but failed to authors’ other works we expect that $10,000 buy-in. It took a last second make the correct decision to call on the they will all measure up. telephone call from an anonymous end. It was a devastating blow not so Blackjack backer to finally raise the money. Ungar much financially, but psychologically. George C has issued two new books, was the 308th to sign-up in a record In military terms, it was like getting Advanced Card Counting, and The field of 312. stunned with nerve gas. Stanley never Unbalanced Zen. In addition to his new recovered. The comeback began Monday, May Blackjack Wisdom (which includes 12th at 10:00 am. Ungar thrust into his Two hours later it was over. Stu Ungar reprints from The Intelligent Gambler), aggressive style early, blasting oppo- became only the second player in his- Arnold Snyder is revising Blackbelt in nents relentlessly with pure intimida- tory to win three world titles (the late Blackjack for the first time since it was tion and well-timed raises. At the Johnny Moss is the other). Piles of $100 originally issued. Allan Pell has issued beginning stage of big tournaments bills were stacked before the new cham- Blackjack Bootcamp, a three volume many players are fearful of making a pion and the Dom Perignon was video—the first blackjack video that mistake that will risk elimination. cracked open. Ungar and Horseshoe we’ve seen that is good enough for us to Ungar’s aggressive tendencies combined owner raised fluted glasses recommend to our customers. Finally, with his opponents’ (generally) more and toasted for a flurry of photogra- John Auston has augmented the simula- passive style of play gave him a signifi- phers. The Las Vegas Review-Journal tions he did for Blackjack Attack with cant advantage. He slowly but steadily added to the epic melodrama the next The Worlds Greatest Blackjack Simula- built a stack of chips. At the end of the day, giving Ungar a new nickname: tion. first day Ungar was in seventh place “The Comeback Kid.” Poker with $47,175. “The only person capable of beating Mike Caro was one of the original Players continued to fall by the way- me—is me,” he said afterward. Watch- authors and a behind the scenes editor side. After the second day only 27 ing Ungar—both at and away from the of Super System. His Guide to Super remained. Ungar was second in chips table —that may be an understatement. System will help anyone reading the with $232,000. As the third day con- book for the first time today to get the After the victory Ungar departed Las cluded, there were only six players most out of the classic. Hot on the heels Vegas and went to Florida where his left—with Ungar firmly established as of his acclaimed Pot-Limit and No- daughter now lives. During the World the leader with $1,066,000 in chips. Limit Poker comes Bob Ciaffone’s new Series he kept a picture of Stephanie, The buzzing around the room was evi- book Improve Your Poker. Lou Krieger’s now age 14, in his shirt pocket for inspi- dent....everyone knew the Kid was More Hold’em Excellence was excerpted ration. A few weeks after that, Ungar back. in this issue. David A. Daniel has writ- disappeared again, making the compar- ten Poker: How to Win at the Great Down to six players at the final table on isons to chess’ Bobby Fischer inevitable. American Game, a companion to which the last day, Ungar displayed the raw A few weeks after his victory, I spoke is the new software PokerWiz. Wilson nerve and old magic that won him pub- with Ungar. During our conversation, Software has issued Windows versions lic exaltation and two previous world we talked about the personal costs he of Turbo Seven Card Stud and Turbo titles. He appeared self-assured and has paid during his course of achieving Texas Hold’em. And by the time you eager, yet was careful never to underes- poker immortality. It’s a reputation read this the 1997 timate his opponents. Ungar seems to relish as he is extremely video should be available. “I just played so perfect —so perfect,” candid when asked the most personal of Video Poker Ungar said later. It would be difficult to questions. I asked him about his future Jazbo Burns has issued a new set of argue. Perhaps Ungar’s poker genius plans and what next he had in mind. large format Video Poker Strategy can be summized in one single hand. He paused. There was silence. Then and Cards. Masque Publishing has released Midway through the third day Ungar there, I had my answer. It was a silence Video Poker Strategy Pro. made an unbelievable call that that spoke a thousand words. unnerved his opponents and later pro- Other pelled him into the chip lead. His oppo- This article was originally printed in Jean Scott’s The Frugal Gambler will nent, David Roepke with a K-T (suited) Midwest Gaming and Travel Magazine. help you to maximize the value of your opened for a $35,000 bet. Ungar with Nolan Dalla is a regular columnist for gambling vacation. Lyle Stuart on Bac- K-Q (suited) called. The flop came 7-6- Card Player magazine. He writes fre- carrat is an entertaining look at that 2 (offsuit), presumably no help to either quently on poker and gambling issues. high-stakes game. ♠ Intelligent Gambler 9