Frommer's Las Vegas 2004

indications of probable future spins of the wheels. Bearing in mind that those
wheels are carefully monitored to detect any biases or defects, we should conclude
that finding clues in past performances is futile.
I recall that when I worked in Wiesbaden, Germany, just after World War II,
I stuck around late one night after closing at the “Spielbank” and watched as an
elderly gentleman removed all the rotors of the 12 wheels they had in operation,
wrote out the numbers 1 to 12 on separate scraps of paper, and reassembled the
wheels according to the random order in which he drew each slip of paper from
a bowl. He was ensuring that any inconsistencies in the wheels would be essentially
nullified. Yet, as he told me, the front desk at the casino continued to sell
booklets setting out the results of each of the wheels, because patrons insisted on
having them, and persisted in believing that there just had to be a pattern there,
if only it could be found.
We’re only human. We can’t escape certain defects in our thinking mechanism,
but we can resist reacting to them. When we see Penn and Teller, Ayala,
Siegfried & Roy, or Lance Burton doing their wonders, we smile smugly and
assure ourselves that those miracles are only illusions. But if we haven’t solved
those illusions, and we haven’t, how can we assume that we aren’t being fooled
by our own self-created delusions? Let’s get a grip on reality and enjoy Las Vegas
for what it really is: a grand illusion, a fairyland, a let’s-pretend project, but not
one in which the laws of nature are suspended or can be ignored.
Enjoy!
2 The Games
THE GAMES 207
by Alex Kraus
Alex Kraus is a freelance writer and tournament-level card player.
The former Las Vegas resident currently lives in New York City.
As you walk through the labyrinthine twists and turns of a casino floor, your
attention will likely be dragged to the various games and, your interest piqued,
your fingers may begin to twitch in anticipation of hitting it big. Before you put
your money on the line, it’s imperative to know the rules of the game you want
to play. Most casinos offer free gambling lessons at scheduled times on weekdays.
This provides a risk-free environment for you to learn the games that tickle
your fancy. Some casinos follow their lessons with low-stakes game play,
enabling you to put your newfound knowledge to the test at small risk. During
those instructional sessions, and even when playing on your own, dealers in
most casinos will be more than happy to answer any questions you might have.
Remember, the casino doesn’t need to trick you into losing your money . . . the
odds are already in their favor across the board; that’s why it’s called gambling.
Another rule of thumb: Take a few minutes to watch a game being played in
order to familiarize yourself with the motions and lingo. Then go back and
reread this section—things will make a lot more sense at that point Good luck!
BACCARAT
The ancient game of baccarat, or chemin de fer, is played with eight decks of cards.
Firm rules apply, and there is no skill involved other than deciding whether to bet
on the bank or the player. No, really—that’s all you have to do. The dealer does
all the other work. You can essentially stop reading here. Oh, all right, carry on.
Any beginner can play, but check the betting minimum before you sit down,
as this tends to be a high-stakes game. The cards are shuffled by the croupier and