TR: Back in the LV groove
So...left a cold NY morning behind and ventured out west to Las Vegas for a mid-winter getaway
For those of you following the action from my SLS or Golden Nugget thread...the update is that both casinos sent limos to the airport but I informed SLS that their host had not gotten back to me despite numerous calls/texts/emails and that when I called their reservations they had nothing reserved in my name...as such, I reached out to my new GN host who was happy to ensure I had accommodations...
I have checked in and am now unpacking...I need some caffeine badly--I believe my dad is already wandering around Fremont street and getting a lay of the land...
I will keep everyone here updated and will be sure to take plenty of photos along the way
as I have not yet played, the trip is EVEN
Was up about 500 within the first 15 hands.
Raised bet to 200 and was dealt a 6,5 v dealer 9
I doubled and was dealt an 8 for 19
Dealer turned over an Ace for 20
Things then went back and forth and I pushed two hands of 20 in a row followed by a third 20 where the dealer had an Ace,6 and drew a 4 for 21
Got a natural the next hand then played the roller coaster for about 20 hands - I was eventually dealt a 5,5 v dealer 10
I doubled and was dealt an Ace
The dealer had a Queen underneath
YAY!
Taking a dinner break...
Trip is +1k
How long are you in town?
Ouch! Seek better rules...Quote: aceofspades... dealer had an Ace,6 and drew a 4 for 21
Quote: BleedingChipsSlowlyOuch! Seek better rules...
Thems the rules at GN
Quote: RSLook forward to your TR.
How long are you in town?
Til MLK day
2D, S17 has been very cold to me.
I closed out this afternoon with a $200 20 being taken by a four card dealer 21. I started complaining, vehemently, about losing or pushing ALL my 20s. Hesitating about placing another bet following this loss I said: I surrender. The pitboss, unknown to me, was standing behind my right shoulder and said: You're not allowed to surrender In this game.
I will try to find a 6D S17 game tonight.
Quote: robbiehoodGood Luck Ace.
2D, S17 has been very cold to me.
I closed out this afternoon with a $200 20 being taken by a four card dealer 21. I started complaining, vehemently, about losing or pushing ALL my 20s. Hesitating about placing another bet following this loss I said: I surrender. The pitboss, unknown to me, was standing behind my right shoulder and said: You're not allowed to surrender In this game.
I will try to find a 6D S17 game tonight.
Ughhhh re: the pit boss taking you seriously about the suurrender
Read about my next session below as I went through another round of crazy 20s
After a brief respite to digest, I adjourned to the blackjack table once again
There were two guys at the 2D table who were already playing so I joined in on the next shuffle...
It was bad from the start
In the first shuffle I lost or pushed every hand but the last one
In the second shuffle I lost or pushed every hand but the last one
In the third shuffle I lost or pushed every hand but the last one
There went the 1k I was previously up
The two guys decided to cut their losses (at least at that table) and moved to a 6D
I stayed and played head's up
Things got a bit better and I was soon back in the plus column up 500
However, (cue dramatic music)--the gods of blackjack deemed me to be unworthy of winning any splits or double downs...
The first was ACE, ACE split and dealt a 4 and 5---lost to dealer 17
The second was 4,7 v dealer 10...dealt a 6---lost to dealer 20
The third try was 5,5 v dealer 5...dealt a 7---lost to dealer 19
The fourth was a 8,8 v dealer 10...dealt a queen and jack---lost to dealer 21
Trip was now down 900 overall
Ok, not all was bad as the gods began to smile upon me yet again
I split 8,8,8 v dealer 10 and was dealt a 10, 9, 3
I doubled the 8,3 and was dealt a 7 for 18
The dealer had a 10 and turned over a 7---woohoo!
The next shuffle I split ACE,ACE and was dealt a King,King
I was now even for the trip and kept playing
It became a roller coaster ride...at one point I had regained 800 of the 1k I was up
I then lost it back
I then got a nice run and picked up 600
I decided to take a break as my phone needed to be charged (I guess taking notes during shuffles uses up the battery)
So, as it stands, the trip is +600
Quote: aceofspadesHad a nice dinner at Grottos - the lasagna was excellent as well as the service
After a brief respite to digest, I adjourned to the blackjack table once again
There were two guys at the 2D table who were already playing so I joined in on the next shuffle...
It was bad from the start
In the first shuffle I lost or pushed every hand but the last one
In the second shuffle I lost or pushed every hand but the last one
In the third shuffle I lost or pushed every hand but the last one
There went the 1k I was previously up
The two guys decided to cut their losses (at least at that table) and moved to a 6D
I stayed and played head's up
Things got a bit better and I was soon back in the plus column up 500
However, (cue dramatic music)--the gods of blackjack deemed me to be unworthy of winning any splits or double downs...
The first was ACE, ACE split and dealt a 4 and 5---lost to dealer 17
The second was 4,7 v dealer 10...dealt a 6---lost to dealer 20
The third try was 5,5 v dealer 5...dealt a 7---lost to dealer 19
The fourth was a 8,8 v dealer 10...dealt a queen and jack---lost to dealer 21
Trip was now down 900 overall
Ok, not all was bad as the gods began to smile upon me yet again
I split 8,8,8 v dealer 10 and was dealt a 10, 9, 3
I doubled the 8,3 and was dealt a 7 for 18
The dealer had a 10 and turned over a 7---woohoo!
The next shuffle I split ACE,ACE and was dealt a King,King
I was now even for the trip and kept playing
It became a roller coaster ride...at one point I had regained 800 of the 1k I was up
I then lost it back
I then got a nice run and picked up 600
I decided to take a break as my phone needed to be charged (I guess taking notes during shuffles uses up the battery)
So, as it stands, the trip is +600
I'm inspired to find me a ---woohoo!
Quote: robbiehoodI'm inspired to find me a ---woohoo!
You can do it - think positive thoughts and make it happen!
Played 2D with a gentleman from Boston - we talked sports of course and we're both immediately treated by the dealer as if we just invested in No No Nanette
At one point, the dealer had an Ace up 3 hands in a row (of which 2 were dealer blackjacks)
The gods of blackjack then decided to reinstate there ban on me winning any double downs or splits
I won't bore you with the details but, Suffice it to say that I was down 200 for the trip rather quickly
A dealer change happened about 20 minutes into the session and things got to the "fair" level at least
I was once again on the roller coaster and rode it until my jet lag kicked in and I decided to call it a night
The trip is once again +1k
Quote: PerditionIs the Peruvian Flute Guy out? That is the only guy that I have ever given money to on Fremont. If not for him, Vegas would be crawling in giant Guinea Pigs.
He was playing guitar and playing the pan flute at the same time.
Quote: AcesAndEightsI like the Chucks. Good luck and good cards.
Hear, hear!
Quote: aceofspadesYou can do it - think positive thoughts and make it happen!
Got the ---woohoo working. 6D, S17. Heads up with dealer. Split 2s four times against a dealer 4. Hit, double, double, hit. Dealer busts. She must have read the same book as me. Towards the end of the shoe, double 7,3 for a 14 against dealer 7 . Dealer draws 2, 2, 3, 8. She utters a low, sympathetic moan, whispers "21", takes my chips ($100) and starts to rake the cards. I just ordered a black coffee and drank a mouthful expecting to be paid. Spit or swallow? I have to admit I swallowed and then immediately, purposefully, with some volume and emphasize said: WAIT!!! You Busted!!! The cards were still on the table. After some explanations and reconstruction of the hand, the pitboss paid. Colored-up following the cut card three hands later.
Positive thoughts and variance to you, Ace.
Quote: aceofspadesOk back again for another session...
Played 2D with a gentleman from Boston - we talked sports of course and we're both immediately treated by the dealer as if we just invested in No No Nanette
At one point, the dealer had an Ace up 3 hands in a row (of which 2 were dealer blackjacks)
The gods of blackjack then decided to reinstate there ban on me winning any double downs or splits
I won't bore you with the details but, Suffice it to say that I was down 200 for the trip rather quickly
A dealer change happened about 20 minutes into the session and things got to the "fair" level at least
I was once again on the roller coaster and rode it until my jet lag kicked in and I decided to call it a night
The trip is once again +1k
Love the No No Nanette reference...for those that don't know that was the Broadway play that the owner of the Red Sox wanted to finance....so he sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees for 100K. Good trip report as always ace....keep going.
1) Any chance you'll venture the 300 feet down to the El Cortez for one of the best games you've ever played? (p.s. if you do I would recommend raising your bet from 100 to 200 in a NEGATIVE count first as the PB will undoubtedly count down the discards as soon as you do)
2) Are you planning to concentrate your play downtown then? Or are you planning/willing to go off the strip/downtown? Obviously the strip would have some good games for your high roller action =p.
Great pics of downtown. To think, while I was at my indoor soccer game last night, Ace was wondering around downtown Vegas! Good variance and good cards Ace!
The trip moves to the Strip on Friday-so, the second half of the TR will be Strip-based
I am glad you are enjoying the TR
Once I am fully awake I will venture out and begin my gambling day!
I had very strange dreams about some secret organization investigating me
Woke up and had a protein bar to start the day before venturing to the casino
Sat down to play with a guy from Saratoga, NY so that was nice to discuss the east coast
Lost the first 3 hands then got on a beautiful run of doubles and splits over the course of the next 20minutes
It was not even that I was getting dealt anything good...such as:
Dealt 4,7 v dealer 10...drew a 3 for 14...dealer turned over a 6 and busted out
Dealt ACE,ACE v dealer 5...drew a 6 and 6...dealer turned over an 8 for 13 then a 3 then busted out
Dealt 8,8 v dealer 9...drew a 3 and doubled on the first 8 then a 7 for 18...second 8 drew a 2 and doubled and drew a 5...dealer turned over a 3 then a King to bust
By the end of this short session I had another 1150
Time for lunch
Trip is +2150
Quote: BozWhat, no trip to Mermaids this time?
Should I go get some beads or be propositioned...? Lol
Quote: aceofspadesShould I go get some beads or be propositioned...? Lol
Oreos?
And that pic of fremont looks dead (day of week; time of day? Tues. at 11:50PM according to the post...) compared to the mess I have seen it in the last two times I went to fremont. Keep the good shoes coming!
This session started out with some losses then began getting better until...
I had 300 up and was dealt a 3,8
I doubled and was dealt a 9 for 20
The dealer had a 2 showing, turned over a 9...pulled a 4...pulled an Ace...then..........a 5 for 21
I quickly recovered, however, by getting into a nice little run over the next couple of shuffles
Trip is +3200
an aside...
I forgot to mention that last night, while playing blackjack, there was quite an uproar at the baccarat table...
The BANKER had come in 18 hands in a row
AMAZING...but, even though the gentleman playing rode the streak the entire way, he never pressed his bet above the 200/hand he was playing
What would you have done?
Was playing head's up and immediately began getting destroyed...here are the lowlights:
Dealt an ACE,7 v dealer 6...doubled and dealer placed card facedown...dealer had 6 turned over 5 then drew a 10 for 21...luckily, the facedown double down card was a 3---push on 21
Lost every hand in a 2D shuffle (yes, every hand, no pushes, no exaggeration)
During the session, had a few shuffles of only winning a couple of hands
After an hour, I had lost back 2k of the 3200 I was up
an aside...
Another player joined me and bought in for 5k
He immediately began destroying the table...he was up about 10k in ten minutes
However, his final hand was his make or break hand...
He had bet 2k and was dealt an 8,8 v dealer 5
He split and was dealt a 7 on the first 8 for a 15
His second 8 he was dealt a 3 and doubled...he was dealt a 6 for 17
His third 8 he was dealt a 10 for 18
The dealer had. 5, turned over another 5, drew another 5...then a Jack to bust
The guy colored in with 20k--very nice
Upon his leaving I rode the roller coaster and finally climbed back like the little engine that could...
On four occasions I was within 500 of getting back to the 3200 mark but, each time, as is typical of my blackjack experience, I am dealt a split/double hand which backfires
It seemed
The dealer was pulling blackjacks with ease and I could not get over the hump...
I had stayed within 1k of getting back to 3200 and finally caught a nice run of cards in a few shuffles and got back 1800 of the 2k
Had 200 up and was dealt an ACE,8 v dealer 6
I doubled and the dealer gave me a quizzical look followed by asking if I was sure...I said "yes" and he dealt the card face down
The dealer had a 6, turned over a Queen, then drew another Queen
My dealt card was an ACE
At that point, I was getting hungry and grabbed dinner with my dad
Trip is now +3k
Bought in for 2k and played with the Boston guy from last night
We both got pounded quickly
We both had a case of "lose by one-itis"
After two shuffles, Mr. Boston adjourned to another table and proceeded to be jokingly superstitious by changing my seat every few shuffles until I found the "perfect seat"
However, before I found such a seat (lol), I felt as if I was in (in the words of Norm Peterson), "a dog eat dog world wearing milk bone underwear"
The doubles and splits again eluded me--drawing virtually squadoosh each time
After about 30minutes, I had lost 1500 of the 2k buy-in
Of course, once I found the "perfect seat" all became right in the blackjack world
I was in a nice run and put up 200 and dealt a nice split...
I split 9,9 v dealer 2 and was dealt another 9
First hand: 9, dealt a 2 doubled and dealt a 10 for 21
Second hand: 9, dealt an 8 for 17
Third hand: 9, dealt a 10 for 19
The dealer had. 2, turned over a 10 and drew a King
No fuss, no muss
I was able to complete a nice run
The trip is now +3450
I figured I would venture downstairs and see how the early morning tables would treat me -- saw a pit boss who is just as cynical as a NY'r (love her)
Sat down to play with two older gentleman from Big Sky country and we had the usual ups and downs
I got on a nice little streak, including the following three hands in a row
Dealt a 4,3 v dealer 7...dealt a 6 then an 8...however, the dealer kept pace by turning over a 3 4 then drawing a 10---push on 21
Dealt a 5,9 v dealer King...dealt a 7 for 21...dealer turned over a 10---won on 21
Dealt a 9,2 v dealer Ace...doubled and dealt a 10...dealer turned over a 9---won on 21
After a brief session, trip is now +4050
Quote: aceofspades
After a brief session, trip is now +4050
Wow
Ever considered dropping the whole lawyer gig and moving to Vegas?
Quote: terapinedWow
Ever considered dropping the whole lawyer gig and moving to Vegas?
Are you forgetting my past two Memorial Day trips...? Lol
Quote: aceofspadesAre you forgetting my past two Memorial Day trips...? Lol
Gamblers with selective memory? Unheard of!
Quote: VenthusGamblers with selective memory? Unheard of!
Haha - I am still waiting to see if the "lady in red" makes an appearance this weekend :-)
Quote: aceofspades
After a brief session, trip is now +4050
All's well so far. Four more days to go
if you're leaving Monday. The BJ train
is chugging up BJ mountain, is it near
the top, only one way to find out..
Quote: aceofspades
I don't get this...they have those bowls of candies and snacks by the elevator that everyone just sticks his hand in? Especially coming back from the casino with grossly unwashed hands handling currency and chips?
That's so gross. Health inspector should not allow this.
My dad and I headed to the Strip to meet a childhood friend of mine who works at the Venetian for lunch at Grimaldi's
It was a good time catching up and enjoying amazing pizza - I ordered the personal pizza with spicy chicken sausage and extra sauce
DE-LI-CIOUS!
After lunch, headed back to the GN
Sat down and played for about half an hour
Things were pretty good from the start...no complaints
However, on one run, it seemed as if every time I bet 300 I would lose the hand
It reminds me of the old joke--"hey doc it hurts when I move my arm like this...well, don't move your arm like that!"
Nothing crazy really to write about
Trip is +5k
Quote: aceofspades
Trip is +5k
If you quit now, think how good you'll
feel on the way home. You're ahead
5K and you robbed me of schaden..
Isn't that worth it?
Quote: EvenBobIf you quit now, think how good you'll
feel on the way home. You're ahead
5K and you robbed me of schaden..
Isn't that worth it?
Why would anyone quit early being so ahead? If you're willing to GO on the trip with $N, now you have $N+5000.
Quote: sodawaterWhy would anyone quit early being so ahead? If you're willing to GO on the trip with $N, now you have $N+5000.
Well, there's a few reasons for it..
If you're an APer, you might want to stop before winning so much that they look into it and 86 you.
If you're a sucker, not playing at all is the best idea, but quitting while ahead if you actually get lucky and win is also a solid idea.
Also some people go with a goal in mind, and if they hit that goal they stop.
Quote: sodawaterWhy would anyone quit early being so ahead? .
I always quit when I reach my win goal
for the session or day. I never go even
one unit beyond it, why would I.
Quote: sc15Well, there's a few reasons for it..
If you're an APer, you might want to stop before winning so much that they look into it and 86 you.
If you're a sucker, not playing at all is the best idea, but quitting while ahead if you actually get lucky and win is also a solid idea.
Also some people go with a goal in mind, and if they hit that goal they stop.
And here is where the comps factor in.............
If AoS were to quit now, you can be fairly sure GN will not be offering a room and limo pick-up for his next trip. And this is the trap of the comps. Accepting the comps is nice, but it comes with the expectation that you are going to give the casino a certain amount of play, so 'quitting while you are ahead' is not really an option. You can certainly scale back some, and try to preserve a win, but not much more than that.
Quote: RaleighCrapsAnd here is where the comps factor in.............
If AoS were to quit now, you can be fairly sure GN will not be offering a room and limo pick-up for his next trip. And this is the trap of the comps. Accepting the comps is nice, but it comes with the expectation that you are going to give the casino a certain amount of play, so 'quitting while you are ahead' is not really an option. You can certainly scale back some, and try to preserve a win, but not much more than that.
Well I leave GN tomorrow and head to the Strip
Quote: RaleighCrapsAnd here is where the comps factor in.............
If AoS were to quit now, you can be fairly sure GN will not be offering a room and limo pick-up for his next trip. And this is the trap of the comps. Accepting the comps is nice, but it comes with the expectation that you are going to give the casino a certain amount of play, so 'quitting while you are ahead' is not really an option. You can certainly scale back some, and try to preserve a win, but not much more than that.
Yeah, well, unless you're specifically doing a comp strategy, playing for comps is a horrible idea.
I have a maximum win I'll take from a property on any given trip. If I hit it, I stop. If I get backed off guess what I'm going to get comped? I'd rather have a host who's unhappy with the play rather than management showing me the door.
I don't know how effective AoS's AP system is, or the tolerance of GN, so I won't comment on that.
Now, for a sucker, any action they give doesn't justify any comps they're getting out of the deal.
Quote: sc15I have a maximum win I'll take from a property on any given trip. If I hit it, I stop..
Exactly. Playing any other way makes no
sense, you're asking for trouble. Why
do we have stop goals for everything
else we do in life, but not gambling.
Is it too late to get your money back on this one?Quote: aceofspadesDealt a 4,3 v dealer 7...dealt a 6 then an 8...however, the dealer kept pace by turning over a 3 then drawing a 10---push on 21
