Fight night - Las Vegas

Big fight nights are a special time in Vegas. For a blackjack, card counting AP, they are real big. There are two schools of thought.

One: for a mid level player like myself, that tries to specialize in playing certain limits, playing within the casinos comfort or tolerance level, it is a chance to play bigger. On big fight nights (or any big event, including certain holidays like NYE), you can play in the shadows of the many 'whales' in town. This means a player such as myself that normally max bets in the mid black range, can go to high black or even into 4 figures (if your bankroll supports it). The down side is crowded conditions and the games often slow to a crawl, so while you are able to bet bigger (higher EV), you get fewer rounds in (lower EV). That's sort of a trade off. Also, if you are a player like myself, that likes to jump around (wong in and out) that's difficult in crowded conditions.

But then there is a second negative. All the 'crud' of Vegas is out on these nights. The pickpockets, scammers, leaches...you name it......also playing to the cover of crowded condition For anyone carrying money....that's a risk. For someone at my level that's the tipping point, to negative as a whole for these fight nights (which is why I am home typing). :)

But there is a second avenue. Playing the shifts just before and just after the big fight, meaning Saturday late morning to about 6 or 7pm and/or Sunday morning and afternoon. The advantage: The casino puts it's best personnel, pit and surveillance on the big fight or event shift, so the shift just before or after is like going against the second string. :) A secondary advantage is that often there are 'extra' tables open both the shifts before and after (especially before) as the casino anticipates bigger crowds. Sometimes those big crowds are not playing at the tables, but hanging at the pool, bar, or just sleeping off a hangover.

So, at my level, I opt for option number 2. For players that play larger than me, playing in the 'shadows' is probably a bigger advantage.

Didn't work out particularly well today....climbed almost back to even...but there's still tomorrow. :) I should rephrase that. It didn't work out particularly well today as far as PROFIT, but I did rack up some strong EV numbers, and in my world EV is king. Profit always catches up to EV at some point....and vice versa. (see signature below) :/

Now, my younger brother...who I am trying to mold into the greatest card counter ever, chose neither option A, nor B. He chose to spend the afternoon at a pool party with Justin Bieber (and a couple thousand others). I have no idea why? And this evening he chose to watch the fight (not at the arena) and go clubbing with the hopes of getting laid. We'll see how THAT works out. Lol. Young boys....always thinking with the wrong head.

Quote: kewlj

Now, my younger brother...who I am trying to mold into the greatest card counter ever, chose neither option A, nor B. He chose to spend the afternoon at a pool party with Justin Bieber (and a couple thousand others). I have no idea why? And this evening he chose to watch the fight (not at the arena) and go clubbing with the hopes of getting laid. We'll see how THAT works out. Lol. Young boys....always thinking with the wrong head.

Oh to be young again. As long as your brother doesn't have any regrets, whatever. The tables will be there tomorrow, and the day after, and.....

Anyone that paid any money to see this was ROBBED!

Quote: Ibeatyouraces

Anyone that paid any money to see this was ROBBED!

Why were they robbed? If you are any type of boxing fan the fight went exactly as expected.

Floyd is the more talented boxer. He is a master at defensive boxing and picking a fighter apart while not taking too many risks.

Manny is past his prime and doesn't have the will to win like he once did. Movies, politics, money and other outside interests have stripped him of his hunger. He is now 3-3 in his last 6 fights and hasn't had a knockout (or TKO) win since 2009.

Non fans think they got robbed because they wanted an epic brawl. That was never an option in this fight. They paid for a Floyd Mayweather fight, not Mike Tyson.


ZCore13

Quote: Zcore13

Why were they robbed? If you are any type of boxing fan the fight went exactly as expected.

Floyd is the more talented boxer. He is a master at defensive boxing and picking a fighter apart while not taking too many risks.

Manny is past his prime and doesn't have the will to win like he once did. Movies, politics, money and other outside interests have stripped him of his hunger. He is now 3-3 in his last 6 fights and hasn't had a knockout (or TKO) win since 2009.

Non fans think they got robbed because they wanted an epic brawl. That was never an option in this fight. They paid for a Floyd Mayweather fight, not Mike Tyson.


ZCore13

In no way are these next comments based on whether he should've won or not. But Floyd did nothing but run and hide like the thug is. Boring!

Quote: Ibeatyouraces

In no way are these next comments based on whether he should've won or not. But Floyd did nothing but run and hide like the thug is. Boring!

Agreed. But that's what he does. He picks his fights very carefully and takes no risks during them.


ZCore13

Sometimes playing at a whale table can be a detractor:

http://www.blackjackapprenticeship.com/watching-high-roller-ploppy-blast-casino-lesson-learned/

Just an anecdote but still interesting

Quote: kewlj

And this evening he chose to watch the fight (not at the arena) and go clubbing with the hopes of getting laid. We'll see how THAT works out. Lol. Young boys....always thinking with the wrong head.

If he didn't get laid last night (or any night in Vegas as young clubgoer), he has no game :)

This will come as a surprise to exactly nobody, but I agree with ZCore13.

Floyd Mayweather is a defensive specialist and technician who UFC President Dan White has described as engaging in, "Artful dodging." That's an absolutely true description, but it should be construed as more of a term of endearment than an insult. I was actually talking to someone staying at the hotel about the fight (which I didn't even see, just followed the round-by-round breakdown online) and he was complaining about it being boring. My response was, "That's because you, and many other people, wanted a fight. If you want a fight, go find a seedy bar in one of the big cities relatively close to this area, wait around outside, and soon enough one will break out. If you want to see good boxing, nobody boxes as well as Floyd Mayweather right now, whether it be a fight or a boxing match, you can't lose if you don't get hit."

I'm far from a boxing aficionado, in fact, I care almost nothing about boxing; but if there is anyone who wants to take anything away from Floyd Mayweather for, 'Dodging...Running..." or what have you, then I would contest that the person does not understand what boxing is supposed to be.

If it was a Tyson fight, wouldn't the fans be complaining that the fight went too fast?

Did the people who traveled to a $500+/night hotel bed and paid $150 for admission to a television room get a t-shirt?