Poker Forums

Virtually all games at a casino are games of chance, and in nearly every instance the odds are in the house's favor. It's possible to get lucky and win sometimes, but nearly impossible to win in the long run. However, there are a couple of notable exceptions to the rule, where you can gain a slight advantage over the house.

1. Avoid roulette, keno, slots because of the enormous house advantage. Craps, video poker, and blackjack have considerably better odds, and depending on the variations in the rules blackjack can actually give the player the advantage (although this is rare).
2. Steer clear of newfangled table games, virtually all of which are constructed to give the house a real advantage.
3. Polish your poker skills. Poker is unique amongst casino games that you play against the other players, not the house. So if you develop some good poker skills, and get seated at a table with poor players, you could have a significant advantage and high probability of winning.
4. Learn to count cards in blackjack. Card counting is technically legal but casinos often do not allow it. If they suspect you are counting cards, you will be asked to stop playing or leave the casino. Counting cards involves paying attention to every single card turned over by the dealer, realizing by implication which cards are left in the deck, and increasing your bet when the remaining cards offer you a mathematical advantage.

I want to elaborate:

Craps always have a house advantage - the best you can get is a break-even bet. I think Dan harrington said "you never see a craps professional or a video poker pro".

regarding video poker, the only way to get a positive edge is to play for the highest stakes (biggest betting unit) and even then if and only if you play a perfect mathematical game you have but a fraction of an odd over the house, which you will need a lot of time to exploit.

Could you explain "new fangled table games?"

isnt there a method to beating the house where you can actually count the cards and somehow win. i have heard of people doing this and getting kicked out because it is an easy way to win and beat the house.