My best night

I've only been going to casinos on a semi-regular basis for the bast 6 months or so, ever since I discovered a casino in Dodge City, Kansas just a little over 2 hours from where I live. I generally play a little craps, 3 card, and Ultimate (I played blackjack a little at first too, but just seem to do better at these other games), and have begun playing Mississippi Stud the past few times, since the casino just added it. I've actually done fairly well, averaging probably about a $100 win per trip (figuring in the losses too), and was up on the casino about $800 or so. I had established a rule for myself that anytime I was up $100 on a table I would quit and move to a different game, since the couple of times I had tried to win more I just ended up losing most of it.

Then I went to the casino last night. I was fairly frustrated for awhile because I couldn't even get into 3 card or Mississippi Stud or Craps, and the dealer at Ultimate was a guy that I refuse to play against (I have never beat him, and he seems to at least get some enjoyment out of beating players.) I eventually got into 3 card, and played for awhile with the dealer who gave the regular dealers breaks that night. I was down slightly when the regular dealer came back, but on either the 2nd or 3rd hand that she dealt she ended up forgetting to deal herself cards before hitting the button that sends all the card out of the machine, which ended up invalidating what was a pair of aces. I was unhappy to say the least, especially when the next hand was worthless, and I left (and that makes two dealers I will have nothing to do with from now on-that's just a silly mistake that probably cost me $20-$30.) I then was able to play Ultimate while the regular dealer was on break, and was able to get back to even for the night, and then made it into craps, played awhile, and once again broke even before deciding it wasn't going to actually make me any money.

Finally I got into Mississippi Stud. I played for a couple of hours, and was down about $250 or so, and was just about to quit, when I hit a couple of hands, including a trips, and got back to even. Over the next couple of hours, I was up and down, being up about $150 at one point and then back to even and then back up again. (I broke my $100 rule mainly because I was having fun and I decided that at this particular game the chance of a huge payout was worth the risk, as long as I wasn't too far down, which I never was.) Finally, at a little after 3 am a pit boss came over and told the dealer to deal just 3 more hands after the current hand (this casino will close all but a couple of blackjack tables between 3 and 4 am every morning, no matter how many are playing-we had 4 at that point.) I lost that hand and was down about $15-$20. I then pushed the next hand. Then on the next to last hand the I got pocket 7s, so I bet 3x on each street for $50 total since I was guaranteed at least a push (the table miminum for the ante is $5, and the table max is $10.) The first card turned over didn't help me (don't even remember what it was now.) Then the dealer turned over another 7, giving me trips and a payout of $150 at 3-1. I told the dealer that the last card needed to be a 7 too, and sure enough he turned it over and the last 7 appeared, giving me quads and a 40-1 payout of $2000. Then just to top it off, I bet $10 on the ante the last hand, and got ace/jack. I bet 1x on the first street, and then 1x again the first card didn't help me. The 2nd card was a jack, so I bet 3x on the last street. I ended up with that pair of jacks, but that got me another $60 on the last hand of the night. I ended up winning about $2100 or so. To say the least, I have a new favorite game.

deleted

Quote: Ibeatyouraces

Just think if you could have played like we do. Where we play, and I wont reveal where, a lot of the dealers will flash the cards. We would have seen the jack as the second card and been able to bet 3x on ALL streets for a $100 pay off instead of only $60. This goes to show, you need to keep your eyes peeled even if you dont play full time or are not an AP. Take any opportunity you get and roll with it. Whether you could have seen this card or not all depends on how the casino deals the 3 cards in front of them.

Oh, I was watching, but this dealer is good enough that I haven't been able to catch any hole cards, at least from where I was sitting. Maybe the guy at the other end of the table, near the shuffling machine, might be able to catch a card as he lifts them out. There are a couple of dealers at that casino that I have been able to catch hole cards at Ultimate and 3 card a few times.

deleted

Interesting about hole-carding on 3CP.
Where I work, the dealing machine is flush to the table (the new I-deal machine), so the dealer's card packet is slid flush along the table to the dealer's position (no pun intended), so that his cards cannot be flashed to the players.
Also, many places now don't even deal the dealer's card packet, leaving them in the dealing machine - until all players have either played or folded, then he deals himself his hand after the players have made their betting actions.

Interested, I spent an hour or so at Mississippi Stud Online. Quite honestly, it's pretty easy to blow through $1000 at $25/bet without hitting anything worth mentioning. IOW, it's just like all the other carnival games.

Now, I enjoy the heck out of the carnival games. But I have no illusions about them, either. You got a nice set of cards, but it could be a really long time before it happens again. One of the worst things that ever happened to me was that I got lucky the first few times I played 3 Card; I thought that was what was supposed to happen, and the poor sap next to me tossing hands and chips like he was bleeding them, there was something wrong with him that he couldn't win anything. Sure enough, I've had more than my share of death marches at all of these games.

Set a win limit and a loss limit, and stick to them both.

And all the tables in PA use the machines that Paigowdan describes.

deleted

Quote: Ibeatyouraces

This is all dealer dependant. Its quite funny because we find the best flashers at blackjack are on the CSM's and not the shoes.

Very interesting! I hadn't heard this before.

I once had a shoe dealer who, not so secretly, asked the person sitting at first base to look at the next card while i was thinking about whether to double down or not. The guy on first was confused but confirmed it was a 10, i doubled and won against her 20. This happened a few times and it was glorious. I don't imagine she still works at the casino.

Quote: casinogeek

I don't imagine she still works at the casino.

Do you think she made a good deal in tips while she did work there?

Quote: casinogeek

Very interesting! I hadn't heard this before.

I once had a shoe dealer who, not so secretly, asked the person sitting at first base to look at the next card while i was thinking about whether to double down or not. The guy on first was confused but confirmed it was a 10, i doubled and won against her 20. This happened a few times and it was glorious. I don't imagine she still works at the casino.

There are certain situations in various Casinos I've been in where the dealers will give you hints on their hands. For instance, some places Casino will pre-look all faces for BJ. I've had certain dealers who give very subtle signs on whether I want to risk a hit on a 16 or lower hand....more times than not, the dealer flopped a hit hand and would bust. Same for scenarios with an Ace up. I've also found tipping early helps make friends behind the table. And sometimes you can catch those non-verbal clues...for instance, I had one dealer that I went to from time to time who was long in the tooth as far as dealing was concern and knew the game...and when situations like the above presented itself, he had a habit of having his draw hand with a finger on the card ready to slide when the player needed a hit and would rest his fingers on the shoe (as if he was going to grab it and pull it the middle of the table.)

I have seen this a lot in brick and mortar type joints where the dealer has to peek because there is no checking machine. This is one of the reasons that ShuffleMaster's gaming devices have become so popular with casinos.