Chicago Sun-Times: Time for me to cash out after 11 years at this table

Not quite 11 years ago, the features department honchos at the Sun- Times had a concern. They wanted me to start a weekly casinos column but needed a 52-week commitment. They were worried that I might not be able to find enough to write about to sustain it that long.

Well, we've seen 11 years of constant change in the casino industry, and a lack of topics has never been a problem. Since beginning in February 1994, and writing twice a week for most of that time, I've never missed a column.

Still, all things must pass, and this ends my run as casinos columnist in the Sun-Times. I'm not going far, and I won't be hard to find. A revised edition of my Slot Machine Answer Book will be out any week now, with a companion, The Video Slot Machine Answer Book, to follow as soon as Bonus Books can get it into print. I'll still be a regular in Midwest Gaming and Travel and other magazines. A Travel Channel special I've taped, "Las Vegas: What Would You Do If ... " is to premiere Jan. 10. I'll still be writing weekly for Frank Scoblete's Casino City Times site (http:// grochowski.casinocitytimes.com/) and other outlets, and my own Web site is in the design stages.

I've learned as much about gaming as I've spouted off about over the years, and I'm grateful to readers whose questions have guided me down roads I'd never have thought to take myself. I'll leave you with a few disparate thoughts on making your trips to the casinos more fun and, hopefully, less expensive:

For slot machine players: Let's start here, because slot players, after all, make up the majority of casinogoers.

Slots are fun and offer the chance at a big instant win, but they also are the fastest way casinos have to take your money. Understand that there will be more losing sessions than winners. Have a good time and enjoy the jackpots when they come, but make sure you're not betting the ranch here.

Slot players also need a grasp of the differences between reel- spinning games and video machines. Winning spins are much less frequent on reel-spinners, but most wins are for several times bet size. You can win big but you can lose fast on reel games. Video games have a higher percentage of "winning" spins, but many of those bring back less money than your wager. Video slot games are designed to extend your play -- give you "time on device," as they put it in the casino industry -- but large jackpots are rarer on these machines.

Choose the game that suits your personality and goals. Do you want a game that offers a shot at a big bonanza but often will take your money fast? Reel-spinners are for you. Do you just want to play a while, have some entertainment and make your play last? Then you're a video player.

For video poker players: Strategies and pay tables matter. If you're playing 9-6 Jacks or Better, each full house or flush gives you one extra chance to chase a bigger hit than the same hands do on 8-5 Jacks or Better.

Video poker is a game of chance, but there are strong elements of skill. If you're going to be serious about the game, buy some good tutorial software -- either "Frugal Video Poker" or "Bob Dancer Presents WinPoker" -- and practice.

For blackjack players: If you haven't learned basic strategy, take some time and bone up. You'll save yourself a lot of money in the long run. On an average six-deck game, a basic-strategy player loses 50 cents per $100 wagered in the long run, while an average player loses $2 to $2.50.

Basic strategy isn't the finishing point for the skilled player. There are close-call hands for which we sometimes change plays depending on what has been dealt to the rest of the table, and there is card counting. But the vast majority of players will improve their chances enormously just by learning basic strategy.

For craps players: Stick to the wagers that give the casinos their lowest mathematical edge -- pass or come, don't pass or don't come, free odds, place bets on 6 or 8. Don't go chasing the high payoff bets such as the one-roll proposition on 12. That one will win once per 36 trials, but the casino pays you as if it wins only once per 30 or 31 trials, depending on house rules. One-roll props are a good way to go broke fast.

Understand that combination bets don't reduce the house edge. Attempts to cover up weaknesses of one bet result in taking on the weaknesses of the additional wager or wagers.

For other table players: Caribbean Stud, Let It Ride, Three Card Poker and other relatively new games can be fun, relaxed and easy to play, but you pay for your fun. All have much higher house edges than the best bets at craps or blackjack for a basic-strategy player.

If you enjoy the games, that's fine, but understand there's a price.

For everyone: A Merry Christmas, Happy New Year -- and good luck. See you in the casinos!