Released in 1961, to critical acclaim, The Hustler is a drama based on the 1959 novel of the same name written by Walter Tevis. Filmed on location in NewYork City and directed by Robert Rossen, The Hustler stars Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, George C. Scott and Piper Laurie.
‘Fast’ Eddie Felson (Newman), is a minor-league pool hustler, who travels the country with his equally immoral manager Charlie Burns ( Myron McCormick), but seeks to abandon his anonymity by challenging the legendary Minnesota Fats (Gleason). After boasting that he will win $10,000 from Fats, he is $1,000 ahead when he suggests raising the stakes and requests Preacher (Stefan Gierasch) to fetch him some bourbon. Preacher also notifies Fats’ backer, Bert Gordon (Scott), a cold, vicious gambler, who nonetheless quietly pays out as Felson keeps on winning.
However, having been $18,000 ahead at one stage, Felson conspires to lose all bar $200. Thereafter, Felson starts a relationship with Sarah Packard (Laurie), a vulnerable, crippled girl, whom he later discards with tragic consequences. Indeed, in the final scenes, he tells Gordon, ‘I loved her, Bert. I traded her in on a pool game.’
Felson returns to New York to face Minnesota Fats for a second time and wins easily. He tells Fats, ‘Fat man, you shoot a great game of pool’, and Fats replies, ‘So do you, Fast Eddie’. By now his manager, Gordon requests his 75% cut of his winnings and, when Felson refuses, begrudgingly agrees, but warns him never to set foot in a pool hall in the city again.
The late Robert of the Chicago-Sun Times wrote, ‘The Hustler is one of those films where scenes have such psychic weight that they grow in our memories.’ His sentiment was reflected by the fact that all four leading actors, Newman, Gleason, Scott and Laurie, received Academy Award nominations.
Introduction
You will feel like a professional bank robber in WGS Technology’s Beat the Bank video slot game. Get ready to face some of the most sophisticated security systems and potentially steal all the gold from the vaults in the heist of the century.
Symbols
Beat the Bank slot has 25 paylines and 5 reels. The first category of symbols consists of the classic card icons, starting with the number 9 up to the Ace. To trigger cash prizes, you must line them up from left to right. They are worth anywhere from 5 to 200 for these symbols.
Next up are the bank’s blueprints, CCTV cameras, diamonds, and security guards. Despite these rarities, players can still win up to 5,000 credits with Beat the Bank, as the game offers a lot of features.
Bonus Features
Beat the Bank’s thief symbols can be used to replace all of the symbols listed above, making them the wild card of the game. It is only possible for the thief to appear on reels 2 – 4.
In addition to 15 free spins, you also win 3 wilds at the same time. All subsequent wins you make with wilds are tripled automatically during these free games.
Also, the safe symbol pays in any position on the reels as a scatter symbol. Besides a small cash prize, three or more safes trigger the Beat the Bank feature. To double your current wager, choose the right safe on the screen, and keep playing as long as you like.
Verdict
When you consider the free spin feature, the fact that this game offers a variety of bonus features and generous potential payouts to players, you come to a verdict that this video slot is an enjoyable game to play with some great potential for its players.
The Top Five Online Casino Alternatives to Blackjack
Blackjack and poker are two of the most engaging casino games around, but they aren’t the only games worth playing. With a host of incredible options available at most online casinos, you’re certain to find numerous other casino games of equal challenge, enjoyment, rewards, and thrills around.
If you’re keen to diversify your gaming repertoire, learn some additional gambling psychology tricks, or just want to pick up a new skill set, then these are some of the top alternatives to consider.
- Slots
Card game enthusiasts often find slot machines a close second for their attention at online casinos. This is because they offer a diverse array of challenges for players to enjoy. From spin-the-reel slots where you match fruit or symbols, to slot machines that offer card game options such as video poker, you’re certain to find them an enticing draw.
This is because they’ve become the bread and butter of most online casinos and have sought out games from developers that cater to a wide variety of tastes. From ancient Egyptian-themed slots to modern pop singers and movie characters, the choice of which game to play at the slot machines seems limitless.
- Baccarat
A card game that never fails to draw a crowd of players, Baccarat is a “bet on the outcome” styled gambling opportunity that players can’t help but enjoy. The rules are easy to learn, and players need only to place a bet on the Banker, Player, or a Tie. The betting limits online also aren’t as strict, which is why this game is often favored by high rollers at online casinos.
- Craps
For those that are interested in dice games, craps is a lively option that is certain to captivate you and is great if you like social commentary on the side by other players. The aim of the game is for players to place a bet on the rolls of two 6-sided dice. There are numerous types of bets available to make, and plenty of strategies to learn, for those who like some structure. Whether lady luck smiles on you or not, the game of Craps will provide you with hours of fun once you master the basic rules.
- Roulette
The roulette wheel never fails to draw in a crowd, and it’s easy to understand why. The chance to have your bet paid out for simple options such as red or black, odd, or even, or specific number groups makes the winning odds seem as though they can’t help but fall in your favor. Watching the spinning wheel and the ball land never fails to enchant, and lead to a faster heartbeat before the odds are finally revealed.
- Sic Bo
The ancient game of Sic Bo is one that originated in China. In this game, players bet on the rolls of three dice and the outcome thereof. The variety of betting choices makes this a fun one to try at least once. It’s fast-paced, easy to learn, and often draws lively commentary from fellow players.
While card games like Blackjack are often viewed as the main draw and cornerstones of Australian pokies, the online casino world does cater to a much wider range of alternative options. Enough to suit every player’s preference.
The Best Roulette Strategies To Learn And Try
The spinning wheel of Roulette is a captivating sight. It’s a casino game that is well-known for its elegance and its simplicity. While it may appear to be only a game of chance, many players believe that they can employ various strategies to help improve their odds of winning.
So, bring along your favorite lucky charms and good luck items, and test out some of these popular roulette strategies which are said to bring lady luck to your side.
The Martingale System
While this is usually associated with the game of Blackjack, many use the Martingale system when they play roulette as well. It’s a popular strategy due to its simplicity to understand. In short, you double your bet after every loss, as the main goal is to fully recover your losses and make a profit when you do strike it lucky.
While this strategy can be very effective in the short term, it does carry with it a high risk which is compounded when you hit losing streaks.
The D’Alembert Strategy
One of the most low-risk and straightforward betting strategies around, the D’Alembert strategy involves increasing your bet by only one small increment after a loss and decreasing it by one small increment after a win. You can use it in roulette, slots, and even in real money pokies and it works the same way.
In short, the idea is to balance out your wins and losses gradually at a more affordable pace. While it’s unlikely to lead to any kind of huge profits, the DÁlembert Strategy can help you stay in the game longer and enjoy a more relaxing and less frantic roulette experience.
The Split Martingale (The Labouchère System)
The Split Martingale strategy, also known as the Labouchere System or the Cancellation, is fairly complex but rewarding. You start by writing down a sequence of numbers, totaling the amount you wish to win from the game. These numbers then influence your bets, as based on the total of the first and last numbers in the sequence, that is the amount you bet. If you win, those numbers are crossed out, if you lose, the loss total is added to the end of the sequence. The aim of this is to cross out all the numbers on the list, which means you’ve won the amount you wanted to – or if you go bust and cannot wager anymore. The system is named after politician Henry Labouchère who invented it.
The Paroli System
Considered to be the opposite of the Martingale system, the Paroli system aims for players to double their bets after each win, which is said to help players ride their winning streaks and maximize their profits. The main benefit of this strategy is that it minimizes losses during losing streaks since bets only increase after each win. However, having a firm endpoint in mind is necessary to avoid giving your profits back to the game each time.
While there is no guaranteed way of winning at roulette or bettering your odds permanently, these roulette strategies can help to add an element of excitement to your gameplay, even if you’re a beginner. By following predetermined rules, you add structure to the game of chance and allow yourself the ability to add an extra depth of enjoyment to your overall playing time.