I put this here because it’s about games, but it’s really about books and such about games, so frankly I have no idea.
As I’ve said in other threads, 'im indoors and I are going to Vegas in March. When I’ve gambled in Reno and on cruises I’ve always just played slots because the table games look, you know, intimidating. (I’ve always come out ahead, too.) But I know the odds at craps and such are better, and they look like so much fun with all the yelling and such, and it’s obviously much more glamorous. I’ve read a few web pages, and what’s in my guidebook, and I kind of feel I have a vague grasp on craps now - also, I know they have lessons at the casinos, but we’ll be arriving Friday night and that seems like more of a weekday thing from what I’ve read.
Anyway, what are the best books and websites for beginners? I don’t just want “this is how it works”, I want “this is how you need to bet so as not to lose all of your money without having any fun with it”. A simple formula would be nice. Are there any good videos? (We have Netflix, if there’s anything there.)
You should be off to see the wizard. Wonderful website; gives you all the odds for every kind of bet, the basic strategy tables for blackjack under various rules, and so on.
FWIW, many casinos have mid-day “lessons” where they explain the rules of various games to newcomers. On my last trip there I went to a couple on poker* and one on craps. By the end I knew most everything I needed to know about craps and enough to do relatively well at poker.
I already knew how home-style poker works quite fine. What I learned at the first “lesson” was how to bet hands in Vegas, what the house takes, etc. In the second lesson, at the Excalibur where we stayed, there was a much more interesting lesson where the guy got a bit more into stuff like the buttons, why to bet them or not, pot odds, stuff like that. I really don’t recall if they went over stuff like which hands win, but assume that they probably did.
From your last paragraph I would recommend learning Pai Gow Poker. House edge is a bit higher, but the game can be so slow you can get some mileage out of your money. Relatively easy strategy too. Unfortunately, because its so slow, it can be tough finding tables for <$20 a bet.
Paigow poker is a good game and the dealers will help you set your hand. Most hands are straight forward but others require a strategy. The most common dilemma is having two low pair. Whether to split them or keep them together.
its a 53 card deck with a “joker” (it can count for Aces, Straights, and Flushes).
I have heard there is a 6-card Paigow now in Vegas but I haven’t seen it.