Nov 14th & 15 trip report

I was in Vegas for the weekend of the 14th and 15th playing DD blackjack. 88th trip to Vegas since I started card counting in 1990. At one point the TC was +12 with one deck dealt out with all 8 aces left in the remaining deck. In all my playing blackjack this is as good as it has ever gotten, as I recall. I was playing $10 to $90 spread but never had a bet out of over $75 until this +12 situation. Put out $90, doubled down and won. Then when the shuffle came I reduced my bet to $50 (instead of my normal $25 opeaner). Then won the $50 bet too. I kept this session short because a suit was watching intently. Whenever this happens I try to casually notice how on to me the suit is. I figured he didn't know what he was looking at. But you never know. Won $550 for the trip.

On one of my blackjack sessions I was sitting at a table with an Asian guy. He was playing third-base. We both happened to buy in for 300. (I had bought in first and then he bought in for the same amount. Dealer called it out to the suit that we both bought in for 300 and I'm thinking that the suit thinks it's team play.) I could tell that this guy was not counting because his money didn't move with the count. He was playing about $25 a hand or so. When he lost his $300 he bought in for another $300. As the dealer was breaking out chips this guy says, "All green," and he placed all $300 in the betting square and looses. He pulls out $500, and says, "All black." He proceeds to place all $500 in the betting square. I don't recall the dealer's up-card but this guy takes a hit, then another, then he motioned to tuck his cards, but then with a wink just turned them over to reveal that he had busted. He walked from the table $1,100 down in about 15 minutes.

I went to Arizona Charlie's Decatur to check out their double-deck game. I won't be going back. I would never stay at their hotel or go to their buffet or want to play in their casino again. The place is a dive; the kind of place where every few minutes you can't help thinking about what a dive it is. Just to put this into perspective, let it be known that I like the El Cortez.

Interesting session - I thought the El Cortez was a sweat joint?

Quote: aceofspades

Interesting session - I thought the El Cortez was a sweat joint?

Yes, it is. I was referring to the fact that it's nicer than Arizona Charlie's in terms of atmosphere and clientele.

At one point in my playing DD I got two 10s and the dealer's up-card was a 5. TC is plus 8. Suit nearby. I've split 10s many times but today I wasn't feeling bold. Did I mention suit nearby? Dealer has a 6 in the hole and draws a 10 that would have given me a 20 on my first split 10. And with that 10 the dealer drew to a 21 to beat my 20.

Good pic. I think all of us from out-of-town should promise to help Wizard keep that stretch clean when we go to Vegas - if we rent a car anyway. I vow to do so if I ever get back there.

For those that don't know, the Wizard of Odds sign is located on I-15 north at the Nipton exit, and in the photo I took you can see the stretch of highway leading to State Line.

The story behind the sign:

https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/questions-and-answers/advice/17474-should-i-adopt-a-highway/#post340937

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I made a joke. But im afraid it would flame some. Was just a joke

Quote: odiousgambit

Good pic. I think all of us from out-of-town should promise to help Wizard keep that stretch clean when we go to Vegas - if we rent a car anyway. I vow to do so if I ever get back there.

Is the actual cleaning of the roadway contracted out? I just can't picture the Wizard donning his orange vest (& orange steeple hat?) and picking up the wayward Big Mac wrappers & discarded Chicken McNugget boxes all by himself. Maybe suspended members can pick up a bag of garbage to have their WoV sentences commuted!

GJ, did you see any trash by the sign? Did you pick it up? :)

I didn't see much trash by the sign, and there were two CHP vehicles on the side of the road one mile back so I didn't want to stay long. If they saw the wizard hat it would have been difficult explaining that I stopped on the side of the interstate because I thought I had a flat.

This highway stretch is maintained through the $175 monthly fee that WoO pays for in order to have the sign.

(Side note: I've driven to Vegas about 100 times without getting a ticket. Some of the downhill stretches going south towards Baker are a big speed trap--radar from the side of the road. Try to not drive more than 5 miles over the speed limit but definetly not more than 10 over.)

Good report GJ, and a funny picture to boot. I didn't know that sign existed!

I hope you're feeling well and getting better every day!

Quote: Romes

Good report GJ, and a funny picture to boot. I didn't know that sign existed!

I hope you're feeling well and getting better every day!

Thanks, Romes.

I'm getting out of the hospital in about half an hour FROM NOW after my third and hopefully final consolidation chemo. When I went to Vegas two weeks ago I told my Dr that I was going to a family reunion in Solvang (didn't want the doctor to think I was carousing and drinking too much).

Dr said she doesn't recommend a bone marrow transplant as long as I stay in remission. The prognosis couldn't be better than that!

Quote: Greasyjohn

Thanks, Romes.

I'm getting out of the hospital in about half an hour FROM NOW after my third and hopefully final chemo. When I went to Vegas two weeks ago I told my Dr that I was going to a family reunion in Solvang (didn't want the doctor to think I was carousing and drinking too much)...

Didn't want him to think, or didn't want him to know? =P Glad to hear things are going well!

I'll take the 5th.

Quote: Greasyjohn

Thanks, Romes.

I'm getting out of the hospital in about half an hour FROM NOW after my third and hopefully final chemo. When I went to Vegas two weeks ago I told my Dr that I was going to a family reunion in Solvang (didn't want the doctor to think I was carousing and drinking too much).

Dr said she doesn't recommend a bone marrow transplant as long as I stay in remission. The 'verdict' couldn't be better than that!

Hoping your recovery is +EV!!!

Thanks, Ace.