The main attraction with this bonus game is that it has a count down featuring one or more bonuses (often $10,000), if the coverall is hit within a certain number of balls.

The other benefit, often overlooked, is that the bonus strip gives the player three extra cards for not only the coverall, but also any other games played on this card.  This usually includes single and double hardway bingo, plus the coverall.  The strip pays as a blue card (other than the jackpots).  While three blue cards may not be much, it really is quite a steal at just $1.

Well, first, remember that you can box several horses.  A Quinella is limited to two horses.

Second, they are different pools of money, which means it is possible that they will pay differently.

Finally, the payouts and cost of the bet are different.

Remember that when you bet an Exacta Box, you are actually making two bets.  So, a $2 Exacta Box with two horses will actually cost $4 to place.  The payout, however, is on the $2.  The Quinella, on the other hand, is a single bet, and therefor only costs $2.

The Exacta Box, on the other hand, allows you to bet that the horses will come in first and second, regardless of the order.  In fact, you can actually “box” more than two horses.  The cost of the bet rises with more horses, and the payout gets lower, however.  When you bet the Exacta Box, you are actually playing multiple bets.  For instance, a $2 3-10 Exacta Box actually will cost you $4, because it is actually a 3-10 Exacta and a 10-3 Exacta.

The minimum bet for this is usually $2, and the bet will pay out as listed on the tote board or printed on the ticket.  This will vary with the horses chosen, based on what the bookmakers think the outcome of the race will be.

So even this fancy-sounding bet is really not that tough.

On any particular race, a better can bet that a certain horse will “win,” “place,” or “show.”

Winning is pretty self explanatory and is a bet that that horse will come in first place.  Placing is a bet that the horse comes in first or second, and show pays when the horse comes in first, second, or third.

So, despite all the fancily named bets, there are at least three bets that any of us can make and understand.

In reality, though, the fancy bets are not as fancy as they sound.  Over the next few posts, I’ll try to explain them so that you can bet them properly.

In terms of how to win your bets at the track, it gets a little tougher.  The race program will let you know what horses are racing with what jockey that day.  Then they sell race sheets which help betters handicap the various races.  The real pros also are familiar with the horses, and their previous performances.  They also watch as the horses are brought out to the turf to examine their gait, their features, and their reaction to the type of turf they will be running on.

But with bets starting at $2, the track could be a much worse place to bet just on a hunch.  Not only that, but the tracks are beginning to reinvent themselves.  I always had the impression growing up that the track was for old, rich people.  This is no longer the case.  Del Mar is a great example of the new track.

It is very affordable to get into the races, including trackside open seating where people bring coolers and folding chairs.  After the races on Fridays, there is a free concert on the track grounds.  On a recent trip, the track was very busy, and people were dressed in everything from shorts and flip flops to the traditional white hats.

So go to the track and have a good time!

The payout, of course, varies from bingo hall to bingo hall, but it is usually tiered.  If a player gets bingo on the double action coverall within a certain number of balls (often 34), they win an incredibly large jackpot (often $25,000).  Otherwise, they are playing for the “guarantee,” which is usually around $200.

The first ball of each session is known as the Ace Ball.  Although at some Bingo Halls this ball does not count for the first game, it usually does.  If a player gets a bingo when the Ace Ball is called, they win a bonus jackpot.  This is a progressive jackpot for the session, which means, for instance, that the 3 a.m. Ace Ball jackpot goes up every day that nobody at the 3 a.m. session wins the Ace Ball bonus.

Now you know what the option to validate your bingo cards means.

When you first walk into the bingo hall, you will see the “menu” so to speak.  It lists different types of packs, their prices, and their pays.  Each color of card pays differently, which is why there is a price difference.

You will also have to decide whether to play paper, machine, or some combination of the two.  If you play paper, you will need to purchase a dabber, usually located close to the window where you purchase your cards.  If you play machine, you will need to save your receipt and get a machine from the racks where they charge between sessions.  Turn on the machine, and enter the information from your receipt to load your cards into the machine.

A card is the individual square with 25 numbers on which you play.

A game is the “round” you are currently playing.  A game ends once a player gets bingo.

A sheet is the set of cards you are playing.  Sometimes more than one game is played on the same sheet, so it is important to pay attention, or you might throw out your sheets early.

If more than one player gets bingo on the same ball, the prize is divided by the number of winning players.

It’s just that easy.

As cards are dealt, the counter keeps a “running count” using the values above.  It is actually easier to wait until the hand is fully dealt out, and play begins to count the cards.  Each player now has a pair of cards which range in value from +2 to -2.  The player then counts individual cards as players “hit,” as well as counting the dealer’s hand when it is exposed.

The “true count” is where experience in blackjack comes in handy.  The true count is the running count divided by the estimated number of decks still left in the shoe.

The common misconception is that strategy significantly changes when counting cards.  This is not actually true.  First, players who play with the level of strategy of most card counters would be very easy to notice changing their strategy according to the count.  For instance, if there is a very low count, meaning a lot of small cards remain in the shoe, it may make sense to hit against a bust card.

Where counting comes in is money management.  When the true count is 2 or more, there are a lot of face cards left in the shoe.  Remember that basic strategy is based largely on the assumption that any card you cannot see is a 10.  With a high count, this is even more true.  So a card counter increases their bet dramatically when the true count is 2 or more, and plays the hand with perfect strategy.

On the other hand, when the count is extremely low (-2 or lower), there are few face cards and a lot of small cards in the shoe.  Assumptions like the dealer busting if they show a 6 go out the window, and the game becomes less predictable.  At this point, a counter is likely to decrease their bet, or sit out entirely.