Longest blackjack Session Played?
February 10th, 2016 at 7:26:10 PM
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What is the longest blackjack session you have ever played at one casino? Seems like after 4 hours it gets harder to keep the count and by that point a wide bet spread would probably already have resulted in a back off. Just curious to hear any stories.
February 10th, 2016 at 8:18:51 PM
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My first trip to Vegas I stayed at the Circus Circus and went across the street to play $1 blackjack at the Silver City. A $10 buy-in lasted me about eight hours playing basic strategy that I copied from a book and referred to many times. I left drunk and up about $5. Never tipped anybody, as I had no idea of the etiquette. A very enjoyable experience at the time. I'm sure others can beat eight hours, but that is the best I can do.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
February 11th, 2016 at 12:53:21 AM
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Quote: WizardNever tipped anybody, as I had no idea of the etiquette.
This sounds about right to me. :)
February 11th, 2016 at 3:53:57 AM
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18.5 hours during Mohegan Sun's Triple Down promotion. Arrived at 5:30 AM to get a seat at a $5 table for the start, back when they had a 12 table pit dedicated to $5 play in the Earth casino. Was armed with the strategy chart the Wizard derived and published on this site. Had bags of nuts is my pockets for food. Drank only water for first 10 hours of play, then had an occasional coffee for the next few hours. Missed only two hands the whole time, getting back late from the rest room at shuffle time. When I felt I was about out of gas I had a few glasses of Scotch which rejuvenated me for a few hours, but when I started to misplay hands I colored up and called it a day. Variance/luck was not in my favor, lost $50 not including tips. Fell short of my goal to play the entire 24 hours the promotion was offered in it's various forms as rule changes were issued on-the-fly as the casino bled money. To their credit, Mohegan Sun continued the promotion even when they knew they were on the losing end. Raised a few eyebrows on some of the recommended plays, such as one that called for tripling down on a soft 19.
“You don’t bring a bone saw to a negotiation.” - Robert Jordan, former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia
February 11th, 2016 at 4:25:51 AM
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I thought I was extreme, BleedingChips got me beat.
March 2015
Fri night -8 hours
Sat - 10 or 12 hours
Sun until 3:30 AM -15.5 hours, no food, just scotch.
Then a 3 hour drive home, got there with 15 min to spare.
Won big Sun, but lost more Fri and Sat ;-(
Went Diamond with several bonuses.
March 2015
Fri night -8 hours
Sat - 10 or 12 hours
Sun until 3:30 AM -15.5 hours, no food, just scotch.
Then a 3 hour drive home, got there with 15 min to spare.
Won big Sun, but lost more Fri and Sat ;-(
Went Diamond with several bonuses.
Youuuuuu MIGHT be a 'rascal' if.......(nevermind ;-)...2F
February 11th, 2016 at 4:56:22 AM
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My story probably technically doesn't qualify, but first trip to Vegas, around 1987, my wife and I were on a junket. We were going to be there 5 nights, and to get everything free we had to each play 4 hours a day of BJ at a $5 table. They handed us each a card that the pit boss would fill in our play and initial, and when we completed the card for the 20 hours we would turn it in. We were nervous that our meager bankroll would not last, and we would either be overbetting what we planned on losing, or paying for our rooms and food and airfare. I don't remember the exact time we sat and started playing, but we had finished our 20 hour requirement 28 hours after we started.
February 11th, 2016 at 10:13:43 AM
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My longest time was over a dozen years ago at Treasure Island, pre-Katrina. It was about a 4 hour stretch and the only time I remember making more than $100 bucks.
I just can't stay seated that long. Legs get restless after an hour. No counting, just following basic strategy, and I had the friendliest shoe ever. Not that many blackjacks, but that dealer busted like crazy.
I just can't stay seated that long. Legs get restless after an hour. No counting, just following basic strategy, and I had the friendliest shoe ever. Not that many blackjacks, but that dealer busted like crazy.
"Those who have no idea what they are doing, genuinely have no idea that they don't know what they are doing." - John Cleese
February 11th, 2016 at 10:33:02 AM
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I don't remember my longest single session. No interesting stories associated with long a marathon session. Early in my career, back in Atlantic City, when I was playing low limit, I played the lone $5 table at Borgata 7 or 8 hours overnight several times. Getting a seat at that table was too valuable, so I wanted to get in some meaningful time.
But for a card counter longer sessions are very bad. Each time you show your spread and retreat back to a small wager at the shuffle, you are practically SAYING "LOOK AT ME, I AM A CARD COUNTER". It is then only a matter of if the casino believes you are playing a winning game.
As a non-counter type player, it is a really good feeling to play a long session and dig out of a really big hole. Getting back to even can seem like a win. But when a card counter does this, it is a disaster. He has likely shown his spread numerous times and been exposed.
Counters often think losing buys some sort of cover. RECORDING a losing session can. But playing too long and digging out of a losing session does not. It does just the opposite. It exposes you. And often the consequences occur not during that long, 'dig out' session, but upon returning for your next session.
But for a card counter longer sessions are very bad. Each time you show your spread and retreat back to a small wager at the shuffle, you are practically SAYING "LOOK AT ME, I AM A CARD COUNTER". It is then only a matter of if the casino believes you are playing a winning game.
As a non-counter type player, it is a really good feeling to play a long session and dig out of a really big hole. Getting back to even can seem like a win. But when a card counter does this, it is a disaster. He has likely shown his spread numerous times and been exposed.
Counters often think losing buys some sort of cover. RECORDING a losing session can. But playing too long and digging out of a losing session does not. It does just the opposite. It exposes you. And often the consequences occur not during that long, 'dig out' session, but upon returning for your next session.
February 11th, 2016 at 10:39:39 AM
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I don't have marathon counting sessions anymore, but like kewlj early in my career playing very low limit tables I would log some hours... especially because getting on the $5 table was indeed difficult to do at times. I think my longest session back in the day was probably about 10-11 hours. If I recall correctly (probably not) I don't think I was digging out either. I think I was up a little down a little over and over. Once the table kind of cleared out I was established with the dealer and he even said "now you can do crazy stuff if you want no one else is here..." So I started spreading to multiple hands and playing a bit more aggressively. I figured this was the best EV situation I was going to get for a while and I had zero heat, so I just wanted to log as many hands as I could. Played like a machine by myself for at least 4-5 hours of that marathon session. Even at the $5 table I made some good CE that night =)... and yes, I ended up a winner. Still have no heat at this joint, so my read on them ignoring the $5 table (and my $5-$60 spread) was accurate.
Playing it correctly means you've already won.
February 11th, 2016 at 11:27:23 AM
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17 hours plus. $5 game as was stuck over $400 at one point in time. Late night and I asked if I could play at 7 spots. They opened a table for me, and talk about getting lucky. They had a poker dealer dealing to me. This was back in the 90's and she had to peek for blackjack. 3 times she did double peek under a 10 to be sure.
Thinking she has a 2 under, I acted that way on all hands and she busted all 3 times. Finally got $40 ahead and gladly bailed out. Toking her the $40.
Thinking she has a 2 under, I acted that way on all hands and she busted all 3 times. Finally got $40 ahead and gladly bailed out. Toking her the $40.
never smarten up a chump
February 11th, 2016 at 8:02:54 PM
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21 hours of BJ play, I was mostly betting table min while locking up my seat waiting on a promotion to start.
I've booked over 30 straight hours on 1-2 NL poker at Binion's.
23+ on Video poker
18+ on Video keno
16+ on reel slots
I have fallen asleep at many machines. A few months back after a long day on while on a slot play(I actually wasn't playing myself for very long) I dosed off at a machine for about 10-20 min while waiting on a hand-pay.
I've booked over 30 straight hours on 1-2 NL poker at Binion's.
23+ on Video poker
18+ on Video keno
16+ on reel slots
I have fallen asleep at many machines. A few months back after a long day on while on a slot play(I actually wasn't playing myself for very long) I dosed off at a machine for about 10-20 min while waiting on a hand-pay.
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
February 11th, 2016 at 8:54:47 PM
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about 12 hours or so .....
February 12th, 2016 at 10:03:32 AM
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That's pretty incredible. During a promo or certain plus ev plays its like the human body can overcome tiredness for a long time because the situation is so good. Doing jumping jacks and drinking coffee between shuffles helps.
February 12th, 2016 at 10:03:54 AM
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That's pretty incredible. During a promo or certain plus ev plays its like the human body can overcome tiredness for a long time because the situation is so good. Doing jumping jacks and drinking coffee between shuffles helps.
February 12th, 2016 at 1:47:38 PM
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I was in a casino for 24 hours, before that had been up for 30 hours. That sucked.
"Man Babes" #AxelFabulous
February 12th, 2016 at 2:00:06 PM
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Quote: djatcI was in a casino for 24 hours, before that had been up for 30 hours. That sucked.
LOL. How on earth can you maintain the true count with all those skid marks?????
February 12th, 2016 at 2:29:37 PM
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Quote: BW21During a promo or certain plus ev plays its like the human body can overcome tiredness for a long time because the situation is so good.
Oh wow the promo marathon session! I completely forgot about a 24 hour, blackjack promo that one of the Connecticut casinos was running about 6 or 7 years ago. Made the game +EV off the top. It turned out to be the equivalent of a card counter/BJ AP convention. I didn't do the full 24 hours as most AP's did, but I did about 17 or 18 hours I think, before boarding the train home.
Funny thing about that promo. Out of dozens and dozens of players from two message boards that I participated on at the time, I think I was the only one that didn't make money that day. :( (At least I am the only one that admitted it). I dug myself a massive hole in the first 3-4 hours and spent the next 12 hours digging out getting back close to (but not quite) even.
February 12th, 2016 at 2:37:38 PM
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Quote: DMSCRLOL. How on earth can you maintain the true count with all those skid marks?????
Oh I don't do any of that card counting/cheating stuff, just machine promos :)
"Man Babes" #AxelFabulous
February 12th, 2016 at 4:15:14 PM
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Quote: kewljOh wow the promo marathon session! I completely forgot about a 24 hour, blackjack promo that one of the Connecticut casinos was running about 6 or 7 years ago. Made the game +EV off the top. It turned out to be the equivalent of a card counter/BJ AP convention. I didn't do the full 24 hours as most AP's did, but I did about 17 or 18 hours I think, before boarding the train home.
Funny thing about that promo. Out of dozens and dozens of players from two message boards that I participated on at the time, I think I was the only one that didn't make money that day. :( (At least I am the only one that admitted it). I dug myself a massive hole in the first 3-4 hours and spent the next 12 hours digging out getting back close to (but not quite) even.
I feel your pain, I was on an incredible promotion and we lost not once but twice. First week was over 140% edge. Due to not enough time to prepare and someone arriving late we didn't get though enough cycles. 3 more hours probably would've made a big big difference. - thousands
2nd week it was hard to evaluate the EV. This time we were prepared. We were betting over 1k per spin on a slot machine for many hours. I believe 12+ hours, but I can't remember. Of course there was lots of down time due to hand-pays and delays. Everyone else made money but not us, we actually lost 10's of thousands on something that was worth a sh*t ton.
Of course there's always times you run way above EV.
---------------------------------------------------
DJ was this the promo you are talking about where you spent 30 hrs, I can't remember?Thanks to you I had a good nights sleep on that particular occasion ☺. Your Penance for something prior.
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
February 12th, 2016 at 8:47:58 PM
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Not very long at Blackjack, maybe a couple hours at best. I've played live poker for up to 13 hours at a time though.
February 13th, 2016 at 5:35:01 AM
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Cactus Pete's.
1995 or 1996.
2:1 promo
27 hours
1995 or 1996.
2:1 promo
27 hours
February 13th, 2016 at 8:48:53 AM
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If you remember and don't mind telling. How did you do and what was your bet size?Quote: TXLouderCactus Pete's.
1995 or 1996.
2:1 promo
27 hours
2:1 promos would pop once in a while in the 90's I can't even remember the last one.
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
February 13th, 2016 at 9:40:23 AM
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First trip to vegas in 2003. Stayed at Hilton. I was just a good Ole ploppy. Sat down after dinner and played, can not remember what the limit was, maybe $10. We were drinking and playing all night. I had no idea what time it was since I didn't have a watch and my cell phone didn't work in vegas so it was in the room. Good old roaming days. Anyways, it was early morning when another guy started ordering Irish coffees. He said it was ok to drink in the morning if coffee was mixed in. I ended up back at the room around 9am for a 15 hour session. I was a zombie the next day and my gf was pissed the rest of the day.
Expect the worst and you will never be disappointed.
I AM NOT PART OF GWAE RADIO SHOW
February 13th, 2016 at 10:00:42 AM
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Quote: AxelWolfIf you remember and don't mind telling. How did you do and what was your bet size?
2:1 promos would pop once in a while in the 90's I can't even remember the last one.
I'm not giving anything away. It was twenty years ago and it was a veritable AP convention.
The table limit was $500 and my friends and I were each playing three spots at table limit on various tables. When it started to get crowded the regular customers complained, so they asked us if we wouldn't mind limiting ourselves to two spots each. They were willing to raise the limit to $1K if that was OK. We said we didn't mind. ☺
Results were close to EV.
-TX
April 20th, 2016 at 8:23:27 PM
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The longest BJ session I have ever played was when Jupiters Casino in Broadbeach, (Queensland's Gold Coast) Australia first opened in 1983. (They had $2 tables back then; now min bet is $10). The place was packed to standing room only around most of the tables. I sat down at about 5pm as a first time player, but already had a thorough knowledge of basic strategy. Still playing the $2 table at 6am next day, tired but very pleased with $3500 of their money in my pocket. Not bad, considering I started with $500.
Jupiters has undergone many changes in the intervening years, including ownership. These days Jupiters Casino is a sad, empty shell of it's former self. Now, it is really just a poker machine (slots) palace and nothing much more. They used to have 2 levels filled with gaming tables with big crowds, plus a classy high rollers room downstairs under the main floor. Now it is all on one level. Last time I was there just before July 2015, there were roughly 8-10 BJ tables open. A couple of $10, a couple of $15 & $25, Maybe 2 $50 and one $100, and that was on a Friday or Saturday evening!! I approached the gaming manager on duty and asked him why so few tables, and why so many slot machines. All he could reply was, with a shrug of the shoulders, "Well, that's what the public wants". Never been back since.
Jupiters has undergone many changes in the intervening years, including ownership. These days Jupiters Casino is a sad, empty shell of it's former self. Now, it is really just a poker machine (slots) palace and nothing much more. They used to have 2 levels filled with gaming tables with big crowds, plus a classy high rollers room downstairs under the main floor. Now it is all on one level. Last time I was there just before July 2015, there were roughly 8-10 BJ tables open. A couple of $10, a couple of $15 & $25, Maybe 2 $50 and one $100, and that was on a Friday or Saturday evening!! I approached the gaming manager on duty and asked him why so few tables, and why so many slot machines. All he could reply was, with a shrug of the shoulders, "Well, that's what the public wants". Never been back since.
April 21st, 2016 at 3:00:16 AM
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Sounds like over 100k just for you and your friends. Brave and generous casino.Quote: TXLouderI'm not giving anything away. It was twenty years ago and it was a veritable AP convention.
The table limit was $500 and my friends and I were each playing three spots at table limit on various tables. When it started to get crowded the regular customers complained, so they asked us if we wouldn't mind limiting ourselves to two spots each. They were willing to raise the limit to $1K if that was OK. We said we didn't mind. ☺
Results were close to EV.
-TX
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
