Cluster Keno Patterns
Selecting Keno Patterns; Keno is a very popular land-based game played in a community format. Most online casinos also offer keno to their customers. In online keno players mark 15 spots from a ticket of 80 numbers. Then 20 numbers are drawn by the casino. These numbers are matched with the spots marked by the players. Keno Numbers Most Drawn gives an insight into what comes out most often, so you can decide whether to risk including these regulars in your selection, or to steer clear of them. The table below provides a unique insight on which balls are drawn most often. The Keno Numbers Most Drawn tool gives you the data to see the draw frequency of any. Answer 11 of 36: I am a huge video keno player and have done quite well playing it over the years. Husband and I are going to Vegas 9/7. Would love to hear from video keno players re which Vegas hotels they had the best luck at and which particular machines they won. Here we are going to discuss how to find the best patterns to play for Video Keno. First we start off by making sure you are aware that that Video Keno machines use an RNG (Random Number Generator) system that turns out the numbers. Basically this means they turn out random numbers with no correlation to previous picks or even the next ones.
There are several aspects to Cluster Keno, but I would like to start with one underlying premise that has remained a foundation of my play strategy for years. And that is that video keno jackpots are most frequently won soon after the machine is “reset.”
By “reset,” I mean that the numbers from the previous game are erased, and new numbers are marked — even though the new numbers may be exactly the same numbers that were played before!
A reader of my book, Cluster Keno, recently wrote and asked whether re-setting meant asking the casino personnel to switch off the machine and re-start, or somehow open the door and re-start the computer program on the inside.
Obviously, that was not my meaning, but it might be worth trying!
Note that I don’t think it is necessary to reset the numbers after every game. But I seldom play the same numbers for more than three games before I re-set the machine. Also, keep in mind that many times after re-setting the machine, I will mark the same numbers.
Let me give you an example. If I’m playing the solid eight numbers in the “nine column,” I may play the numbers for two or three games, then erase and mark the same column of numbers. For some reason, this sometimes leads to hitting, say, a seven out of eight jackpot, more frequently than when simply sitting on the same numbers, game after game.
Because I don’t have any knowledge of how a keno machine operates, or what the computer program consists of, I couldn’t tell you why this seems to work. But keep in mind that the keno program was designed by an engineer who is charged with the task of creating a machine that makes money for the casino. It’s not likely they would ever create a keno game that would pay a jackpot just because you put in “enough” quarters.
In fact, I’ve noticed in recent months, that some keno games go into a losing spiral the more you play the same numbers. Maybe others have noticed that, on some occasions, the numbers continue to be “bad,” that is, return little or nothing at all, no matter how long you play them. I’ve found that re-setting the machine is the only way to “stop the bleeding.”
Of course, changing your method of play, that is, experimenting, is always worthwhile. But at the same time, it’s important to be consistent. By following your system, whatever that happens to be, you give yourself a chance to keep up with, if not overcome, the odds of the game. In order to make the odds work for you, it’s best to be consistent and follow your system.
Cluster basics
Anyone who has played video keno has seen how numbers form certain patterns. or instance, there are eight rows of 10 numbers on a keno screen, and if you play long enough, you’ll see that most of the eight rows eventually hit seven or even eight of the ten numbers.
In addition, there are ten columns of eight numbers, and during the same session you might note that several columns line up seven of the eight. Occasionally, all eight will fill up. The key is being there when they do — and re-setting the machine frequently has been a method to do so.
Other clusters that I’ve found have paid off include sold eight boxes, two by four boxes, either above or below the center line, and three-by-three boxes of nine numbers, again marked above or below the center line.
A good way to illustrate the various clusters is taking a closer look at Four Card Keno. I suppose Four Card Keno can be construed as video keno’s answer to the immensely popular multi-hand video poker, such as Triple Play, five-hand, 10-hand poker and more.
Its concept is very simple: players can play up to four different keno cards on the same keno game. That is, you can mark one to four cards (you don’t have to play all four), picking any number of spots on each card. Then the game proceeds as in regular keno, with 20 numbers being drawn.
The obvious advantage is that you can cover a lot more numbers than with one card. Equally, the disadvantage is that you’re betting four cards instead of one, and the costs can mount.
I’ve noted a few popular patterns that I like to play — and have actually won with! — but Four Card Keno really lends itself to playing these clusters because so often we see our pattern, whether it be a box, an “H” or whatever, occurring next to or near our numbers.
This is where the cluster system pays off. Many long time video keno players will probably agree that numbers always seem to land right next to their chosen numbers, almost as if they had “eyes” and knew how to just miss! Well, by playing numbers in clusters that are in close proximity to each other, you are often able to catch those numbers and hit a jackpot.
Here are a couple of examples: A 10-spot player often bets the entire horizontal row, which is fine. But you can get a lot more mileage out of playing two 10-spot rows on top of each other (such as the 20’s and 30’s rows), as well as the two 10-spot cards made up of 21-25, 36-40 numbers and the 31-35, 26-30 numbers. This way you have an overlap, in which you can sometimes hit, say two seven out of 10, or even two eight out of 10 jackpots.
Similarly, I like to play two solid eight columns (vertical), such as the 3 and 4 columns, coupled with the two 8-spot cards made up of the 3, 13, 23, 33, 44, 54, 64, 74 and the 4, 14, 24, 34, 43, 53, 63, 73 numbers. Again, you have overlap, opening the possibility of “doubling up” on a six out of eight or even seven out of eight jackpot.
Another winning combination that has come up for me has been the overlapping 9-spots consisting of four 3 by 3 boxes. Specifically they include these four cards: 45, 46, 47, 55, 56, 57, 65, 66, 67; plus 55, 56, 57, 65, 66, 67, 75, 76, 77; plus 46, 47, 48, 56, 57, 58, 66, 67, 68; and finally, 56, 57, 58, 66, 67, 68, 76, 77, 78.
(L.J. Zahm is the author of “Cluster Keno: Using the Zone Method to Win at Video Keno.” For information about this valuable guide, write to Cluster Keno, P.O. Box 46303, Las Vegas, NV 89114.)
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Originally Posted by by L.J. Zahm for Gaming Today / Edited by The Mystic Gambler
One of the great things about playing video keno in Las Vegas or Laughlin casinos is the variety of people that you meet while chasing those keno jackpots.
There’s a certain “gambler’s mentality” shared by keno players. By that I mean we all share in the excitement when one of our own hits the big one and, conversely, everyone understands the frustration that goes along with long periods of waiting for the the big hit.
Similarly, you’re never at a loss for conversation with other video keno players, especially the ones who have been at it awhile.
While there’s a lot of keno chit chat about the jackpot that “almost” hit, or the numbers that filled in immediately after the machine was reset, once in awhile you find a player with some solid, worthwhile ideas on the best ways to play the game.
Some time ago I met one of those players at a “locals” oriented casinos. The gentleman, let’s call him Chuck, is a longtime Las Vegas keno player and he’s won just about everything you can win. One of his favorite plays is Four Card Keno Clusters.
Chuck has hit almost everything over his past 25 years, including huge keno progressives in the six-figure range.
And, like myself, Chuck is a huge fan of the Four Card Keno game from IGT. In fact, Bob says he doesn’t play “straight” keno any more; he exclusively plays Four Card Keno. That sounds a lot like The Mystic Gamble.
Of course sticking to Four Card Keno Clusters is completely understandable. Looking at video poker as a comparison, Triple Play and Five Play poker have developed a loyal following of believers, and I’m told there are many players that love the multi-hand games so much they rarely go back to single-hand games.
One of the obvious attractions for playing the multi-card keno games is the increased likelihood of hitting a jackpot. Plus, as The Mystic Gamble will tell you, it allows creative strategy plays.
Just as in poker, if you’re dealt three aces on the bottom hand, you have two additional chances of drawing that fourth ace when playing Triple Play.
The same is true with Four Card Keno.
Chuck understands this, and he’s made it pay off. I won’t get into all the jackpots he’s won, but he’s nearly a daily player and he seldom leaves the casino with empty pockets.
What I can do is reveal the cluster of numbers that Chuck says he plays every time. And, he adds, he never deviates from playing these same numbers.
Chuck’s four cards consist of two 9-spots and two 7-spots. The 9-spots are adjacent to each other with a small amount of overlap; one of the 7-spots partially overlaps the first 9-spot; and the second 7-spot is far out in left field, away from the other numbers.
Chuck says one of the best hits with this configuration (see the charts) is catching 8-out-of-9 on the A ticket while catching 7-out-of-7 on the first 7-spot.
While he says he has hit this double jackpot, it doesn’t happen often.
20 Card Keno Patterns
What does happen often, and I know this from playing the configuration myself, is that there are lots of 7-out-of-9 and 6-out-of-7 hits. And while these payoffs won’t rouse the IRS, they can add up and give you a nice profit.
5 Spot Keno Patterns
I’d like to thank Chuck for sharing his special patterns. And I’d encourage keno players to give his Four Card Keno Clusters a try.
I’d also suggest trying a few variations of your own. You might want to move some of the numbers around, or alter the configuration.
That’s half the fun – adapting the cluster to your own system. I know I have tried a few variations, with limited success.
4 Card Keno Patterns
One of the most efficient ways of putting together your own system is to use the Mystic Keno Charts. Similar to Chuck’s method, but your selected numbers will be distributed across the Keno board for maximum effectiveness. Read about the Four Card Keno Chart HERE.