Okay, I've never gambled. . .not even bingo, but am going to Las Vegas this weekend for a conference at the MGM. Should I stick to the slots, or is there something easy that I can learn without losing every cent I take with me?

Hi,

Blackjack is pretty easy. There are about 10 rules you should always follow, and if you stick to that, you can play for awhile and not lose everything. The reason to stick to them is so that you don't get emotional and start thinking that you can beat the house "just this once" by breaking the rules.

This website: http://beginners-blackjack.virtualav...-strategy.html gives you the basic rules to follow.

Blackjack has one of the best odds for the player of any game. Also, look for the hotels that have the $5 tables. They are rare, but they DO exist!
Karen

Blackjack is fairly easy to learn--if you find a slightly empty table dealers are more than happy to help you learn how to play. Look at the link Karen gave you--she is right, follow the rules not your emotions. Pai Gow is also easy to learn--the minimum bet is often higher ($10-$25). We always do better on the tables then the slots.

Give Bill Bennett a call at Empower America, (202) 296-3187 or (202) 452-8200. He's an expert at Dumbie Gambling.

Why not practice Blackjack online so you know what you're doing when you get there? Blackjackinfo.com has a tutorial that tells you when you make a mistake, but it can be a bit complicated to set up if you don't understand the preferences but you can just accept the defaults and you will learn the game. Or play on Yahoo.com. The only things you'll need to know for playing in person are:

A) Never touch the cards
B) Always motion with your hands, tap for a hit, flat palm for a stand
C) When you split, the chips go side by side, when you double you can put them behind.
D) WHen the dealer gives you the solid blank card, you stick it in the middle of the deck to cut it.
E) Tip the dealer on occasion by placing a second bet next to yours and they'll probably coach you a bit.

Anything I missed?

Watch a game for 10 minutes and you'll have it figured out.

Look around for gaming lessons that many of the casinos offer. It might be difficult to find them on the weekend, though. I know the Imperial Palace offers them, and so did Aladdin. You won't find any low limit tables on that end of the strip (except maybe at Boardwalk), but if you go down to the other end, there will be plenty.

I definitely agree that blackjack is one of the easiest games to learn and play well. It's also my favorite! You might want to invest in a computer casino software that has tutorials, too. That's a good way to practice.

Personally, I find playing slot machines to be extremely boring...

You could practice on the video blackjack machines first at the casinos. Also, Sahara at the end of the strip had $1 craps & blackjack as of last fall, so that might be a good place to experiment if you don't want to deal with the higher minimum bets at the glitzier casinos.

I forgot until I saw Loki's post--do NOT pull the cards over the table, do NOT touch your money once the hands have been dealt, and only use ONE hand to hold the cards.

Loki...How and when do you place a second bet next to yours to get that bit of coaching???

Sahara DOES have $1 blackjack, but it is played VERY fast, like 90 hands per minute, and can be difficult for even an experienced player to keep uo with! BTDT...

Hey iceeu2,

You can tip the dealer when you make your regular bet at the start of a new hand....just put an extra chip just outside of the circle where the bet is placed.

Blackjack is one of the easiest games to learn and has some of the best odds in the house. Only craps has higher odds. If you really are the type of person that does not want to think, then stick with the slot machines.

Ice,

It's common and expected for players to tip the dealer. The way it's done is by placing a bet for the dealer on your own hand, so if you win, the dealer takes the bet and winnings as a tip and dumps it in the tip jar. If you loose, the dealer takes the bet and it goes to the house, essentially no tip, but they appreciate it all the same because in the end, they essentially get almost the same amount of money (-2%) as if you just handed them a tip. I tip more often when I'm winning and that is expected also. If you're getting taken to the cleaners by the house, the deealer should understand if you're skimping on the tips. Place your regular bet and then about and inch to the side, place another bet, usually smaller. If I'm playing $10-25 a hand, I'll place $5 bets for the dealer as tips. The dealer should know exactly what you're doing but if for some reason they seem clueless (or if the table is so stingy they forgot what a tip is), just say "for the dealer" after you place the bet. Most dealers in Vegas are very grateful for tips and they will usually:

-call the cocktail waitress for me to get another drink (so I'll get drunk and tip more)
-sometimes I'll be yapping or not paying attention or be drunk and motion for a hit when I should stand and they'll pause and give me that look so
I can change my mind
-they may adavise on some more difficult to memorize strategy like splits and surrenders
-hold my seat and watch my chips if I need to leave the table
-also, when you're rated, the dealer may advise the pit boss as to your average bet and if you're fluctuating your bets he/she will certainly err in your benefit
-etc...

Do what my wife did when she wanted to play craps and I wasn't around to teach her - stand next to the person with the biggest pile of chips and bet what they bet (although it'd be wise to stick to smaller dollar amounts!) She couldn't tell you how she won, only that she won a few hundred.

Two things to remember in craps, NEVER break the mojo of the table. Make your first bet only when the table is clear and all new bets are being taken. Trust me, if you plop your money down in the middle of a hot shooter and they throw a 7 - You will be blamed.

Second, know when to hold em, know when to fold em. Kenney's mantra applies to craps, as well. Stay with a hot table and ride the streak. Move on if the table is cold, ie. people are tossing 7's time and time again.

Sorry, 3 rules. When you've won a few bets, make a bet for the dealers. Toss a dollar chip and say "Yo bet for the dealer". (A better tip is a passline bet, but I won't complicate it.) In craps tipping the dealer does work to your benefit. On a crowded table with chips spread seven ways to Sunday and multiple bets running everywhere, you definately want the dealers to be your friend.

Wow reading all this makes me wish I was a Vegas blackjack dealer. It sounds so exciting. Has anyone here ever been a dealer?

The slots will eat up your $$ in no time unless your very lucky. IMHO blackjack is your best bet for the novice. Craps is easy once you know how to bet, but can be a little overwhelming for the first timer..
Do a little reading before the weekend on basic Strategy for blackjack. Find a $5 table with a friendly dealer, sometimes a little hard to find in Vegas. And yes, tipping works wonders.
The trick to blackjack is to up your bets if your on a hot streak. Sitting and betting $5 each time (flat betting)
will see your chips slowly moving to their side of the table over time.
If you get ahead..go to $10, then $15, adding $5 with each win,,,loose a hand and start again at $5..many times I've won six or 7 hands in a row..it adds up fast. Don't be afraid to double down when called for. Go for their throat when they are weak!!!! and one more thing NEVER EVER split 10's!!! that is, unless you want the table all to yourself..good luck but leave a little for me..

If you go to the downtown casinos, you may be able to find $2 blackjack tables.

One VERY important rule for craps. Watch the shooter!! NEVER have your hands on the table in the way of the dice If the dice hits your hand you WILL get lots of stares and glares and posibly a few cuss words .
Actually if the shooter could he/she would probably cut your finfers off.

Circus Circus has $2 blackjack tables. Usually at $2 tables you will find other novice players learning the game. You can also buy a blackjack card/chart that will tell you what to do based on the dealers hand and your hand.