Trip report and Rock Around the Clock at Borgata
February 15th, 2018 at 12:39:33 PM
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It's a trip report of a short trip, but I had an interesting experience with a RAtC machine.
Mrs and I had to get out of the house, and the cold weather, so we drove down to AC for a 3-Day. We didn't have the bankroll that we usually do for these, but the Olympics is on, so we figured to play, watch TV, eat, play, show, etc.
Sunday afternoon was playing slots with Mrs Mosca, and some Criss Cross Poker, which I am flat out addicted to. She likes some game with mermaids on it: Mermaids' Gold, it's called. You know what I hate? When you get the bonus game and win back your bet. Those damn things are almost impossible to hit, and then you get stoogatz. We played that, then Wheel of Fortune. With WoF, the kick in the teeth is playing $65 or so to get a spin, then the spin is only $35. But hey, they're slots. It's what they do. Giant's Gold used to be a great slot at the Borg, you could go up and down and play a long time on a C-note at $2.50 per. But they moved it so Giant's Gold are the two machines that you sit at waiting for whomever is in the bathroom, and they stink. No more "Fe-fi-fo-fum" for us. You gotta let the player win a little bit, if they aren't sit-and-run while waiting.
Mrs went her own way, and I sat at Criss Cross. Honest to god, if you like games with huge variance (Mosca raises hand) this is the place to be. I was neither super lucky, nor super unlucky; I hit some hands, lost some hands, and the dealer dealt TWO full houses on the board, each paid 15-1 ($75 on a $5 bet). By dinnertime I'd won back $175 of the $200 I lost playing the slots.
We hit the buffet for dinner, I used my new Pearl Mlife card to cut the line and I felt really special. (Not really, the only thing I like is the free valet parking and faster comps.) Borgata buffet is good, though. I think it would be about average in LV; it's not as good as Wynn or Bellagio, but it's better than any other buffet we've eaten at in AC, or anywhere in PA, IN, IL, MI, NY, or anywhere else we've played. We played a little after dinner, I lost about $100 or so.
We had 9PM Comedy Club freebies, and these guys were all good: Greg Vaccariello, Buddy Fitzpatrick, Rodney Laney. Usually the first guy is lame but has a couple okay jokes, the second guy is decent, and the third guy is good. But all these guys were funny. After the show we went upstairs and watched the Olympics.
Monday's breakfast buffet was comped. Borgata has a good breakfast. The east coast does some things better than anywhere else: bagels, sausage, stuff like that. They've learned by watching, too: yes, there was regular bacon, but they were also cutting slices off a smoked slab. Good breakfast!
We walked around, and I saw a Rock Around the Clock slot, with the hand at 2 minutes to midnight! Holy heck, here it was! I slipped a hundo in the slot and said to Mrs, "Watch this!" And, about the 4th spin, I hit the bonus... but it was the reels bonus, not the clock bonus! And, third spin of the reels bonus, it retriggered! $193, in the pocket... then the next spin, the clock struck midnight! And.... NOTHING. No Mini. No Major. No Maxi. No Mega. BUMMER. Still, I'll take the $190ish. But damn, that clock was a cold, cold hearted hound dog! I hit a couple other slots with Mrs and lost the $190 back. But, that's the way slots work.
Criss Cross tables were packed, I played some 4 Card while Mrs played slots. The cards weren't running my way: first hand was a straight, dealer got a higher straight. I lost $200 of my $300 buy in and went back to Criss Cross. Now, I'd been playing CC for a couple days, and got NO pairs. And while I'd seen some nice hands, I'd only seen one other player start with a pair as well. I bought in for $300 and lost another $200 or so, then went up to the room and we watched some Olympics again, until dinner.
Dinner was Old Homestead, when they're on it's one of our favorite meals. I had the Gotham ribeye, 32oz on the bone and medium rare, Mrs had crab stuffed lobster tail. There's something to be said about a classic steak house experience, that's why they persist and are so popular. Done playing for the night, we went upstairs and watched the athletes play in the snow.
Tuesday the buffet was closed. We ate at The Metropolitan, huevos rancheros. After brunch (11AM) she played more slots and the only Criss Cross table was a smoking table, so I played 3 Card. And, it was a nice table, good folks. 3 Card is probably the most social game, with the friendliest people. Borgata has the 6 Card bet, which I generally don't play, but I tried it a few times then stopped. And, of course everyone is telling me that that's where all the money is, blah blah blah, and I shrugged and said, "But every time I don't play I keep $5, and that's already $100 that I didn't lose." And then I get Q-Q-9, and the dealer gets Q-Q-5. Oh, well. And then I get K-K-5, and the dealer gets K-5-x. Oh, well. But I was getting my share of straights and flushes and little wins, and after about an hour I was only down maybe $50. And, Criss Cross opened a non smoking table.
I finally caught some nice pairs: a couple Ks, a couple Js. I caught 3-3, played 3 times on the raises, and was rewarded with 2-2-x on the down bet. But still it was one of those, "18 more times and I'm even for the trip" situations. Then about 1:30, I got 8-8, and played 3 times on all spots, and the across cards were 8-x. and the down cards were x-x. and the middle card was...
The last 8! 40-1 on the across $15 and the middle $15. 3-1 on the down $15. 1-1 on both antes, and 1-1 on the board. $1260 in the pocket! LOVE those big purple chips! And now I'm going home a WINNAH! I played another couple dozen hands, in there were some wins, losses, pushes, and a flush. And then we cashed in and left. I walked into Borgata with $2400, I left Borgata with $2405, after meals and tips and sundries.
Mrs, well, I don't ask, and she doesn't tell unless she wins, and she didn't say.
That's it. My best strategy for carnival games: GET LUCKY. It works. If you don't do it, try to have a good attitude, and remember, if you wanted to make money you should have gone to work instead.
Mrs and I had to get out of the house, and the cold weather, so we drove down to AC for a 3-Day. We didn't have the bankroll that we usually do for these, but the Olympics is on, so we figured to play, watch TV, eat, play, show, etc.
Sunday afternoon was playing slots with Mrs Mosca, and some Criss Cross Poker, which I am flat out addicted to. She likes some game with mermaids on it: Mermaids' Gold, it's called. You know what I hate? When you get the bonus game and win back your bet. Those damn things are almost impossible to hit, and then you get stoogatz. We played that, then Wheel of Fortune. With WoF, the kick in the teeth is playing $65 or so to get a spin, then the spin is only $35. But hey, they're slots. It's what they do. Giant's Gold used to be a great slot at the Borg, you could go up and down and play a long time on a C-note at $2.50 per. But they moved it so Giant's Gold are the two machines that you sit at waiting for whomever is in the bathroom, and they stink. No more "Fe-fi-fo-fum" for us. You gotta let the player win a little bit, if they aren't sit-and-run while waiting.
Mrs went her own way, and I sat at Criss Cross. Honest to god, if you like games with huge variance (Mosca raises hand) this is the place to be. I was neither super lucky, nor super unlucky; I hit some hands, lost some hands, and the dealer dealt TWO full houses on the board, each paid 15-1 ($75 on a $5 bet). By dinnertime I'd won back $175 of the $200 I lost playing the slots.
We hit the buffet for dinner, I used my new Pearl Mlife card to cut the line and I felt really special. (Not really, the only thing I like is the free valet parking and faster comps.) Borgata buffet is good, though. I think it would be about average in LV; it's not as good as Wynn or Bellagio, but it's better than any other buffet we've eaten at in AC, or anywhere in PA, IN, IL, MI, NY, or anywhere else we've played. We played a little after dinner, I lost about $100 or so.
We had 9PM Comedy Club freebies, and these guys were all good: Greg Vaccariello, Buddy Fitzpatrick, Rodney Laney. Usually the first guy is lame but has a couple okay jokes, the second guy is decent, and the third guy is good. But all these guys were funny. After the show we went upstairs and watched the Olympics.
Monday's breakfast buffet was comped. Borgata has a good breakfast. The east coast does some things better than anywhere else: bagels, sausage, stuff like that. They've learned by watching, too: yes, there was regular bacon, but they were also cutting slices off a smoked slab. Good breakfast!
We walked around, and I saw a Rock Around the Clock slot, with the hand at 2 minutes to midnight! Holy heck, here it was! I slipped a hundo in the slot and said to Mrs, "Watch this!" And, about the 4th spin, I hit the bonus... but it was the reels bonus, not the clock bonus! And, third spin of the reels bonus, it retriggered! $193, in the pocket... then the next spin, the clock struck midnight! And.... NOTHING. No Mini. No Major. No Maxi. No Mega. BUMMER. Still, I'll take the $190ish. But damn, that clock was a cold, cold hearted hound dog! I hit a couple other slots with Mrs and lost the $190 back. But, that's the way slots work.
Criss Cross tables were packed, I played some 4 Card while Mrs played slots. The cards weren't running my way: first hand was a straight, dealer got a higher straight. I lost $200 of my $300 buy in and went back to Criss Cross. Now, I'd been playing CC for a couple days, and got NO pairs. And while I'd seen some nice hands, I'd only seen one other player start with a pair as well. I bought in for $300 and lost another $200 or so, then went up to the room and we watched some Olympics again, until dinner.
Dinner was Old Homestead, when they're on it's one of our favorite meals. I had the Gotham ribeye, 32oz on the bone and medium rare, Mrs had crab stuffed lobster tail. There's something to be said about a classic steak house experience, that's why they persist and are so popular. Done playing for the night, we went upstairs and watched the athletes play in the snow.
Tuesday the buffet was closed. We ate at The Metropolitan, huevos rancheros. After brunch (11AM) she played more slots and the only Criss Cross table was a smoking table, so I played 3 Card. And, it was a nice table, good folks. 3 Card is probably the most social game, with the friendliest people. Borgata has the 6 Card bet, which I generally don't play, but I tried it a few times then stopped. And, of course everyone is telling me that that's where all the money is, blah blah blah, and I shrugged and said, "But every time I don't play I keep $5, and that's already $100 that I didn't lose." And then I get Q-Q-9, and the dealer gets Q-Q-5. Oh, well. And then I get K-K-5, and the dealer gets K-5-x. Oh, well. But I was getting my share of straights and flushes and little wins, and after about an hour I was only down maybe $50. And, Criss Cross opened a non smoking table.
I finally caught some nice pairs: a couple Ks, a couple Js. I caught 3-3, played 3 times on the raises, and was rewarded with 2-2-x on the down bet. But still it was one of those, "18 more times and I'm even for the trip" situations. Then about 1:30, I got 8-8, and played 3 times on all spots, and the across cards were 8-x. and the down cards were x-x. and the middle card was...
The last 8! 40-1 on the across $15 and the middle $15. 3-1 on the down $15. 1-1 on both antes, and 1-1 on the board. $1260 in the pocket! LOVE those big purple chips! And now I'm going home a WINNAH! I played another couple dozen hands, in there were some wins, losses, pushes, and a flush. And then we cashed in and left. I walked into Borgata with $2400, I left Borgata with $2405, after meals and tips and sundries.
Mrs, well, I don't ask, and she doesn't tell unless she wins, and she didn't say.
That's it. My best strategy for carnival games: GET LUCKY. It works. If you don't do it, try to have a good attitude, and remember, if you wanted to make money you should have gone to work instead.
Last edited by: Mosca on Feb 15, 2018
A falling knife has no handle.
February 15th, 2018 at 1:08:28 PM
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Once got on a ratc at 11:59 with a spin to go. The guy was putting in one dollar at a time. He finally got down to 30c in the machine and opened up his wallet. When he saw there was nothing there he cashed out the 30c, ripped up the ticket and threw it in the trash. If I would have hit a big bonus I would have chased him down and split it with him, I swear ;)
100% risk of ruin
February 15th, 2018 at 1:31:02 PM
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Nice report, sounded like a good weekend.
Expect the worst and you will never be disappointed.
I AM NOT PART OF GWAE RADIO SHOW
February 15th, 2018 at 2:42:12 PM
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Quote: GWAENice report, sounded like a good weekend.
Only got one phone call from work, early Monday. I passed it off to my counterpart at another store to handle for me, and got the rest of the trip to chill.
A falling knife has no handle.
February 16th, 2018 at 6:30:27 AM
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Quote: MoscaCriss Cross Poker, which I am flat out addicted to...
Great trip report.
I had somehow overlooked Criss-Cross Poker. Thank you for calling it to my attention. Played a bit on the AGS Internet site. Seems like a fun game.
Does anyone know whether any Biloxi-area casinos have Criss-Cross Poker? I cannot recall having seen it when I visited previously.
February 16th, 2018 at 10:12:22 AM
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Quote: LuckyPhowGreat trip report.
I had somehow overlooked Criss-Cross Poker. Thank you for calling it to my attention. Played a bit on the AGS Internet site. Seems like a fun game.
Does anyone know whether any Biloxi-area casinos have Criss-Cross Poker? I cannot recall having seen it when I visited previously.
They don't.
Far as I've heard, the AC install is the only one, but I'd be interested to hear of any others.
If the House lost every hand, they wouldn't deal the game.
February 16th, 2018 at 10:49:39 AM
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There's a single table at Canterbury Park here in MN. It's in the secondary/spill-over pit. So its open 2pm-6am most days, depending on staffing, events, etc.
"So as the clock ticked and the day passed, opportunity met preparation, and luck happened." - Maurice Clarett
February 16th, 2018 at 11:59:35 AM
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I have to have seen at least a half dozen to dozen placements of criss cross. Del Lago, isle of Capri boonville for sure I remember. I think more common in northeast.
February 16th, 2018 at 2:18:40 PM
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Quote: beachbumbabsThey don't.
Far as I've heard, the AC install is the only one, but I'd be interested to hear of any others.
Sands in Bethlehem has it as well.
Addendum to the report: we actually stopped there on the way home to eat at Carnegie Deli, but Carnegie Deli was closed permanently. We ate at Buddy V's instead, which was mediocre. I went to the Criss Cross table, but it was $10 minimum, the shoe kept throwing a red light, and the dealer was sneezing into her hand. I didn't play. Mrs and I played about $100 in free slot play and left.
A falling knife has no handle.
February 16th, 2018 at 2:22:46 PM
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Quote: beachbumbabsThey don't.
Far as I've heard, the AC install is the only one, but I'd be interested to hear of any others.
Criss Cross is crazy. Strategies keep saying that you can gain information on the across cards that helps you with the down bet, but I can't see how, because you can't fold the down bet without folding the across bet that you already made; anything that would influence you to fold the down bet would also help the across bet. I can see folding the middle bet if all you have are a bunch of non-pay possibilities, but that is rare. I'd fold it if the situation was the same as the last decision in Mississippi, I suppose, but with all those cards in play that is unlikely. So, I follow the strategy for the first decision, then hang in until the end.
A falling knife has no handle.
