Vegas Vega$ VegAce

So I just got to the airport and the flight is delayed by one hour - time to grab some food and take a nap (does that count as schaden Bob?)

Go get 'em, Ace! Positive monkey variance!

Quote: Joeman

Go get 'em, Ace! Positive monkey variance!

Thank you kind sir - I am watching CNN (the only channel they have showing in the airport - I wonder if that is contractual?) and eating a Powerbar

I thought it was just the Atlanta airport that exclusively had CNN at the gates because, well, it is Atlanta. Actually, in Atlanta, it isn't even the "real" CNN, but an "airport" version, which has even less news than the regular CNN.

Wandering around the duty free shop - came across this:



Most expensive item in the shop - you know what, let's set the trip win goal based on this

Goal = +9150

Ace,

As you are in route to Vegas for yet another adventure, I have some thoughts:

Enthusiasm is a good thing, but being realistic is important too. Because in blackjack the negative swings can be really bad, almost cruel.

As you might know, I’ve been playing a mock game of blackjack at home for the last 4 years and three months. This has amounted to about 850 hours of play. This game I’m playing is SD, H17, DOA, DAS, RSA. My count is Hi-Opt I with an ace side count. Playing $25 to $200 a hand, opening for $100. I never more than double my bet or reduce it by more than half. Once I reach 50% pen I play the rest of the hands at $25 each and use basic strategy. That way I can check to see if I’m counting accurately.

So I started this mock game in Jan., 2011. I was playing about an hour a day (I’ve cut back in the last year to about half-an-hour a day). I Won $ $1,500 in the beginning and then went on a 60-day losing streak that eventually ended with me being $9,500 down. After about two more months I was back to even. Then, for the next couple months I switched from being in the red to being in the black thirteen times. From this point on, after about 6 months of play, I’ve maintained being in the black. But then a few month later I had a $20,000 loss. I had been up about $34,000 just before this point, but lost $20,000 before I was able to win it back and climb above the $34,000 mark.

It was in August in 2013 that I reached my all-time-high of $86,200. As of today I’m at $67,100. That’s a loss of about $19,000. Now, of course, I didn’t lose the $19,000 straight away. I had gone down to $74,000 then back up to $84,000 then down to $72,000 then back up to $83,000 then back down to $67,100. (Obviously you don’t go on a losing streak that is continuous. For that to happen you would have to lose every hand. And that hasn’t even happened to you, Ace:)

What I’m pointing out is, is that losses (granted mock losses) of about $20,000 have happened to me at the $25 to $200 a hand level. In my 87 trips to Vegas as a card counter I’ve never had a losing streak of greater than $9,500. But it took 16 trips until I made up for that loss and won back the $9,500. That $9,500 would be a $23,000 loss at your level of play with a $500 max bet. And playing over 850 hours the two approximately $20,000 losses I suffered in my mock game would EACH translate to a $ 50,000 loss at your level of play.

I know that you have taken it hard when you’ve had losses of about $14,000 (if I recall the figure correctly). Just bear in mind that, really, you have been lucky to have not had greater losses.

You’re on a roll right now and you’re optimistic. That’s a good thing. But in baseball, a really great batter may think the next pitch is going to be low and outside, but he also knows it might be in his ear.

I would not say I am on a roll seeing as how I am down for 2015

Quote: aceofspades

I would not say I am on a roll right be as I am down for 2015

I was referring to your last two wins in a row. Don't they total about 8K?

Quote: Greasyjohn

I was referring to your last two wins in a row. Don't they total about 8K?

About 7200 but remember I am down 5k from January Vegas (with a 5k FSP to go) and had lost 14k
So I am down about 11500 right now (plus 5k FSP to go)

Quote: aceofspades

Thank you kind sir - I am watching CNN (the only channel they have showing in the airport - I wonder if that is contractual?) and eating a Powerbar

It must be contractual, because it's in a lot of airports and I can't imagine that more than 25% of visitors actually want to watch it. Every time I get sucked into watching CNN at an airport, I can feel myself getting dumber. It's really loud at Washington-Natl.

For those of us living vicariously, can you preview the hotels/plans?

Quote: aceofspades

Wandering around the duty free shop - came across this:



Most expensive item in the shop - you know what, let's set the trip win goal based on this

Goal = +9150

Do you drink it or wear it, or both?

Quote: Greasyjohn

Do you drink it or wear it, or both?

That expensive I would presume if you actually drank all of it you'd then end up wearing some of it. =)

Love the idea for the trip win goal ace! I hope you come out swinging and SMASH them up this trip!!! Requesting as many pics as possible, of course, lol.

There's the AoS trip report! I was looking for it last weekend, must have been ahead of myself. Apparently others were watching for it too.. If you reach the $9150 goal, you probably should pass on the Remy Louis XIII at the airport on the way home. You can get it cheaper online ;-) i just looked and 2K to 3K seems to be the going price.

Go get-em Ace!

Quote: TwoFeathersATL

There's the AoS trip report! I was looking for it last weekend, must have been ahead of myself. Apparently others were watching for it too.. If you reach the $9150 goal, you probably should pass on the Remy Louis XIII at the airport on the way home. You can get it cheaper online ;-) i just looked and 2K to 3K seems to be the going price.

Go get-em Ace!

Of course the one you buy online might be a fake, and the one you buy at the duty free shop might be a fake too.... Best to stick with moderately priced liquor. Johnny Walker works.

Quote: aceofspades

Wandering around the duty free shop - came across this:



Most expensive item in the shop - you know what, let's set the trip win goal based on this

Goal = +9150

That is ridiculous. On our cruise last week they had it for $3300 and a bottle of Johnny for $3700

Quote: TwoFeathersATL

Of course the one you buy online might be a fake, and the one you buy at the duty free shop might be a fake too.... Best to stick with moderately priced liquor. Johnny Walker works.

On the cruise I was drinking Johnny Blue label. How can I go back to well liquor, sigh!!

Quote: aceofspades

So I just got to the airport and the flight is delayed by one hour

It's a SIGN, Ace! Get back home as fast
as possible.

Quote: GWAE

Quote: aceofspades

Wandering around the duty free shop - came across this:



Most expensive item in the shop - you know what, let's set the trip win goal based on this

Goal = +9150

That is ridiculous. On our cruise last week they had it for $3300 and a bottle of Johnny for $3700

I'm guessing that people that would pay $9,150 for it don't care if they could get it for $3,300. And they can impress people with the fact that they don't care. When you're worth $100,000,000 $9,150 is a tip.

AoS said he is going to post a trip report, actually started one briefly, and has 16 replies before the plane lands? I'm thinking stardom and the need for a professional 'manager'. Where can I apply?

Landed
My bag was first on the conveyer
In limo heading downtown!

Will take and post pics once I'm checked in

Quote: harvson3

It must be contractual, because it's in a lot of airports and I can't imagine that more than 25% of visitors actually want to watch it. Every time I get sucked into watching CNN at an airport, I can feel myself getting dumber. It's really loud at Washington-Natl.

For those of us living vicariously, can you preview the hotels/plans?

Golden Nugget for 3 nights followed by 3 nights at Aria
MonkeyFest on the 24th

Brass Monkey, that funky Monkey

Quote: aceofspades

Landed
My bag was first on the conveyer
In limo heading downtown!

Will take and post pics once I'm checked in

Glad you arrived safely and from the sounds of it mostly on time =). Best of luck Ace!

Quote: Greasyjohn

I'm guessing that people that would pay $9,150 for it don't care if they could get it for $3,300. And they can impress people with the fact that
they don't care. When you're worth $100,000,000 $9,150 is a tip.

I bet it's hard to accumulate $100,000,000 when you are willing to throw away $10,000 on 1 bottle of liquor that you could get for $3,000.

Obligatory free snacks by the elevator photo (let the over/under on bacteria betting begin)




Host sent me a fruit and nut basket and plenty of FIJI water

Can you do a TR of the Chicken Ranch?

Quote: djatc

Can you do a TR of the Chicken Ranch?

Not my scene - I'll leave that up to you

Quote: aceofspades

Golden Nugget for 3 nights followed by 3 nights at Aria
MonkeyFest on the 24th

How do you get away with it at aria. I thought surveillance was top notch there.

Quote: aceofspades

Obligatory free snacks by the elevator photo (let the over/under on bacteria betting begin)




Host sent me a fruit and nut basket and plenty of FIJI water

Is your host a man or woman? That basket looks a bit suggestive.

Also who is watching your dog while you are off jet setting in Vegas?

Quote: Avincow

How do you get away with it at aria. I thought surveillance was top notch there.

I have lost so much at Aria I do not think they fear me

Quote: Perdition

Quote: aceofspades

Obligatory free snacks by the elevator photo (let the over/under on bacteria betting begin)




Host sent me a fruit and nut basket and plenty of FIJI water

Is your host a man or woman? That basket looks a bit suggestive.


Also who is watching your dog while you are off jet setting in Vegas?

I have a male host and I was waiting for someone to notice that banana lol

The big guy is being taken care of by my mom and dad with the help of my 4 year old nephew at times :)

Quote: aceofspades

Golden Nugget for 3 nights followed by 3 nights at Aria
MonkeyFest on the 24th

Will the Monkeyfest go on with or without
B79? Did you bring a spare monkey?

Quote: aceofspades

Quote: Perdition

Quote: aceofspades

Obligatory free snacks by the elevator photo (let the over/under on bacteria betting begin)




Host sent me a fruit and nut basket and plenty of FIJI water

Is your host a man or woman? That basket looks a bit suggestive.


Also who is watching your dog while you are off jet setting in Vegas?

I have a male host and I was waiting for someone to notice that banana lol

The big guy is being taken care of by my mom and dad with the help of my 4 year old nephew at times :)

That banana looks about two day older than it should be.

Quote: EvenBob

Will the Monkeyfest go on with or without
B79? Did you bring a spare monkey?

I believe we are still calling it MonkeyFest whether or not Bacc79 shows up

Quote: aceofspades

I believe we are still calling it MonkeyFest whether or not Bacc79 shows up

Nothing from him? Isn't he supposed to be
in Vegas already, or is that tomorrow.

Got my comped bottle

Quote: EvenBob

Nothing from him? Isn't he supposed to be
in Vegas already, or is that tomorrow.

I believe tomorrow and nope haven't heard word one

Quote: Greasyjohn

That banana looks about two day older than it should be.

Actually, bananas with brown spots are better for you

Quote: aceofspades

I believe tomorrow and nope haven't heard word one

Not even in the capacity of his attorney?
That's what he calls you. I guess that
would be private, you can't talk about
it.

Quote: EvenBob

Not even in the capacity of his attorney?
That's what he calls you. I guess that
would be private, you can't talk about
it.

I am not his attorney so please do not proliferate that falsehood.

Quote: aceofspades

I am not his attorney so please do not turn a proliferate that falsehood.

I see some hurt feelings coming. So
harsh, Ace, so harsh..

Quote: EvenBob

Quote: aceofspades

I am not his attorney so please do not turn a proliferate that falsehood.

I see some hurt feelings coming. So
harsh, Ace, so harsh..

Firstly--I must be harsh is order to quash any idea that anyone, especially B79, would believe it to be true and
Secondly, B79 hates attorneys

Quote: aceofspades

B79 hates attorneys

He was just saying that, because I accused
him of having a man crush on you. He
loves attorneys.

Hey EB, quit dragging down the thread with your BS. No one cares.

Ace, do you use cash when you play or do you have a LoC? What's your usual buy-in / marker?

Quote: RS

Hey EB, quit dragging down the thread with your BS. No one cares.

Should I send my posts to you first
so you can approve them? Thanks.

Quote: RS

Hey EB, quit dragging down the thread with your BS. No one cares.

Ace, do you use cash when you play or do you have a LoC? What's your usual buy-in / marker?

I do not use LoC - I send front money and keep it on account so I do not have to carry cash
Usually buy in about 1500 then take it from there and see where the session leads me

So I went to the cage to collect my $90 in free chips and the lady stated they do not have $5 denomination fake chips so they rounded up to $100 (4x25)

Quote: aceofspades

So I went to the cage to collect my $90 in free chips and the lady stated they do not have $5 denomination fake chips so they rounded up to $100 (4x25)

So may I be the first to report:

TRIP + 10 !

Quote: JohnnyQ

So may I be the first to report:

TRIP + 10 !

EXCELLENT - I didn't think of it that way