The Fremont Street Commando & The Golden Nugget Deuces
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April 16th, 2014 at 5:55:25 AM
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Part 1
The Fremont Street Commando rolled out of bed, walked to the window, and threw open the curtains. The sunlight cut through the room. It was April, 2003, in downtown Las Vegas. The Commando was ready for action. The WSOP was just starting up. The side games were always juicy the first week of the WSOP. From there it tailored off. The Commando was living at the Nevada Hotel, 232 S. Main St. It was a flea bag joint but the rent was only $140 a week. And he was close to the downtown action.
He showered, shaved, put on some clean threads, and took one final look in the mirror. Then he hit the door. He walked down the hallway to the back door. Outside, he turned the corner and headed for the hotel entrance of the Golden Nugget. Inside the door, he stopped at the cart for his morning coffee. He tipped the cart attendant a buck to which the attendant said "Thank you! And good luck out there!" The Commando had once stiffed the attendant and didn't get a "Good luck out there." He never stiffed the guy again.
He walked down the hallway around the pool and into the casino. He was on his morning lap around the advantage slots in the Nugget, 4 Queens, Fremont, Horseshoe, Vegas Club, California Club and Main Street Station. The first stop at the Nugget was the Temperature's Risin.' No play. Next stop was the two Cherry Pies up by the front bar next to Starbucks. No play. The next stop was the Golden Nugget Deuces.
The Golden Nugget Deuces was an 8 machine linked bank of quarter Deuces Wild six-way progressive video poker. It was the 16/13 payscale that some people called Colorado Deuces. Lenny Frome called it Illinois Deuces. But the Nugget game was a six-way progressive so the Commando called it Golden Nugget Deuces. The payscale looked like this:
RF..........800+ .3333% meter
4D.........200+ .5% meter
WR.........25+ .3333% meter
5K..........16+ .5% meter
SF..........13+ .3333 meter
4K...........4+ .5% meter
FH...........3
FL...........2
ST....... ...2
3K...........1
In the past the Commando didn't pay much attention to the bank unless the 4 Deuces meter was way up because the meters rolled in quarter increments. But one day the meters started traveling in pennies. That changed everything. The base payscale had a return of only 96.76%. But with the meters now traveling in pennies it meant that when a 4K was hit at $5.01, since it was a quarter game, it rounded it up to $5.25. So the 4K was actually worth 4.2 for 1. This was a 1.24% add-on. That brought the base game up to 98%. One just had to make sure the 4K meter wasn't sitting on a flat $5.00 before hitting the draw button.
The Commando paid attention to all the meters. He would play when the 4 Deuces meter was in the high $300's. Or play when the Wild Royal meter approached $45. With the other meters at reset a $45 Wild Royal put the game at breakeven. But with the action from the other players on the bank the other meters were never at reset. All the extra money in those meters was the Commando's edge. He played when the 5K meter approached $29 or the Straight Flush meter was at $21. Whatever meter he keyed on he played until that meter was snapped off. He had shown a healthy profit on the game since the meters started traveling in pennies.
With no plays on the Cherry Pie's the Commando moseyed over to the deuce bank. There were four people playing. He looked down at the meters on the vacant machine at the end of the row. The Wild Royal was at $48. He shoved a twenty in, grabbed a seat, and started playing like a bat out of hell. He came off with the Wild Royal at $49.25. He started to hit the cashout button but something stopped him dead in his tracks. The meter didn't reset to $31.25. It was still at $49 and climbing. "Holy crap" he muttered to himself "This frickin' meter is broken!" He started playing like a bat out of hell again. When he hit 4K's the meter didn't reset. But it was resetting when others hit it. He hit a Straight Flush and the meter didn't reset. Finally, the lady next to him hit a Wild Royal and the meter on his machine reset to $31.25. He leaned back and thought for a second. Then he grabbed a bucket and hit the cashout button.
With the quarters in tow he walked around the bank and looked at the meters rising on the machines then resetting when someone hit a hand. So the meters are only broken on the machine I was playing, he thought. There was one thing he knew for sure. If he was going to exploit the situation it would have to be on graveyard when the bank wasn't getting any action. The meters would keep on rising on his machine, that is, if no one else came along and sat down on the game. I'll deal with it tonight, he thought.
After cashing the quarters he marched out the door and over to the 4 Queens where he caught a nickel Good Times play, and a play on the Diamond Thief. And he observed a tourist playing Bonus Playoff on one of the Odyssey's. The number was at 220. At the Fremont he caught a play on the Times Pay, a Good Times play and a Five Card Instant Bingo play. His next move was over to the Horseshoe to check the poker action from the early arrivals at the WSOP. Then he would lap through the Vegas Club, California, and Main Street looking for advantage plays....
Short Stack Jack folded his 7-3 under the gun and looked up just in time to see the Commando approaching the poker room. He jumped up from the table and walked to the rail.
"Hey, Jack. What's up?"
"I got me a soft spot in the fifteen-thirty" Jack said "But I wanted to ask you something."
"What's that?"
"You know the Downtown Deuces at the Vegas Club. I wanted to ask you how much payback does the 4 of a Kind represent."
The Commando was automatically suspicious. Jack was a stone cold hustler. He didn't play thin edge stuff. The Downtown Deuces had the same payscale as the Golden Nugget Deuces, except the Deuces payed 500 for 1.
"About 25%" the Commando responded. Jack's eyes got big around.
"25%!" Jack said excitedly.
"Yeah, 25%."
"Hey, thanks, Commando."
"You know, don't you?" the Commando gave Jack a wary look.
"Know what?" Jack asked, avoiding the Commando's eyes.
"About the broken meter on the Nugget Deuces."
"Broken meter on what?"
"Don't try to B.S. me, Jack. You know damn well what's going on over there. You wouldn't be asking me about the Downtown Deuces otherwise. Both games got the same payscale except the Quad Deuces. And you know damn well the 4 of a Kind is gonna be the big moneymaker across the mall. That's why you asked my about the payback. Jack, one of these days you are going to have to learn that you can't get over on me."
"Well, I was going to tell you" Jack stammered
"When? After you torch it? Well....there's only one machine....so how are we going to work it?"
"Well....actually....there's another machine" Jack said sheepishly.
"There is? Where?"
"The broken meters are on the same side, opposite ends."
"You know we gotta work it on graveyard.?"
"Yeah, that's pretty obvious."
"Okay, I'll be back out at midnight" the Commando said as he walked away.
The Commando went through the Vegas Club, California and Main Street picking up plays here and there. Then back to the Deuce bank at the Nugget where he stopped and watched the action. They were oblivious. Back at the hotel he stopped by the desk to get an 11:00 PM wake up call. In his room he sat down at his laptop and brought up Winpoker. He ran some payback percentages and analyzed some hands. Then he hit the rack.
To be continued....
The Fremont Street Commando rolled out of bed, walked to the window, and threw open the curtains. The sunlight cut through the room. It was April, 2003, in downtown Las Vegas. The Commando was ready for action. The WSOP was just starting up. The side games were always juicy the first week of the WSOP. From there it tailored off. The Commando was living at the Nevada Hotel, 232 S. Main St. It was a flea bag joint but the rent was only $140 a week. And he was close to the downtown action.
He showered, shaved, put on some clean threads, and took one final look in the mirror. Then he hit the door. He walked down the hallway to the back door. Outside, he turned the corner and headed for the hotel entrance of the Golden Nugget. Inside the door, he stopped at the cart for his morning coffee. He tipped the cart attendant a buck to which the attendant said "Thank you! And good luck out there!" The Commando had once stiffed the attendant and didn't get a "Good luck out there." He never stiffed the guy again.
He walked down the hallway around the pool and into the casino. He was on his morning lap around the advantage slots in the Nugget, 4 Queens, Fremont, Horseshoe, Vegas Club, California Club and Main Street Station. The first stop at the Nugget was the Temperature's Risin.' No play. Next stop was the two Cherry Pies up by the front bar next to Starbucks. No play. The next stop was the Golden Nugget Deuces.
The Golden Nugget Deuces was an 8 machine linked bank of quarter Deuces Wild six-way progressive video poker. It was the 16/13 payscale that some people called Colorado Deuces. Lenny Frome called it Illinois Deuces. But the Nugget game was a six-way progressive so the Commando called it Golden Nugget Deuces. The payscale looked like this:
RF..........800+ .3333% meter
4D.........200+ .5% meter
WR.........25+ .3333% meter
5K..........16+ .5% meter
SF..........13+ .3333 meter
4K...........4+ .5% meter
FH...........3
FL...........2
ST....... ...2
3K...........1
In the past the Commando didn't pay much attention to the bank unless the 4 Deuces meter was way up because the meters rolled in quarter increments. But one day the meters started traveling in pennies. That changed everything. The base payscale had a return of only 96.76%. But with the meters now traveling in pennies it meant that when a 4K was hit at $5.01, since it was a quarter game, it rounded it up to $5.25. So the 4K was actually worth 4.2 for 1. This was a 1.24% add-on. That brought the base game up to 98%. One just had to make sure the 4K meter wasn't sitting on a flat $5.00 before hitting the draw button.
The Commando paid attention to all the meters. He would play when the 4 Deuces meter was in the high $300's. Or play when the Wild Royal meter approached $45. With the other meters at reset a $45 Wild Royal put the game at breakeven. But with the action from the other players on the bank the other meters were never at reset. All the extra money in those meters was the Commando's edge. He played when the 5K meter approached $29 or the Straight Flush meter was at $21. Whatever meter he keyed on he played until that meter was snapped off. He had shown a healthy profit on the game since the meters started traveling in pennies.
With no plays on the Cherry Pie's the Commando moseyed over to the deuce bank. There were four people playing. He looked down at the meters on the vacant machine at the end of the row. The Wild Royal was at $48. He shoved a twenty in, grabbed a seat, and started playing like a bat out of hell. He came off with the Wild Royal at $49.25. He started to hit the cashout button but something stopped him dead in his tracks. The meter didn't reset to $31.25. It was still at $49 and climbing. "Holy crap" he muttered to himself "This frickin' meter is broken!" He started playing like a bat out of hell again. When he hit 4K's the meter didn't reset. But it was resetting when others hit it. He hit a Straight Flush and the meter didn't reset. Finally, the lady next to him hit a Wild Royal and the meter on his machine reset to $31.25. He leaned back and thought for a second. Then he grabbed a bucket and hit the cashout button.
With the quarters in tow he walked around the bank and looked at the meters rising on the machines then resetting when someone hit a hand. So the meters are only broken on the machine I was playing, he thought. There was one thing he knew for sure. If he was going to exploit the situation it would have to be on graveyard when the bank wasn't getting any action. The meters would keep on rising on his machine, that is, if no one else came along and sat down on the game. I'll deal with it tonight, he thought.
After cashing the quarters he marched out the door and over to the 4 Queens where he caught a nickel Good Times play, and a play on the Diamond Thief. And he observed a tourist playing Bonus Playoff on one of the Odyssey's. The number was at 220. At the Fremont he caught a play on the Times Pay, a Good Times play and a Five Card Instant Bingo play. His next move was over to the Horseshoe to check the poker action from the early arrivals at the WSOP. Then he would lap through the Vegas Club, California, and Main Street looking for advantage plays....
Short Stack Jack folded his 7-3 under the gun and looked up just in time to see the Commando approaching the poker room. He jumped up from the table and walked to the rail.
"Hey, Jack. What's up?"
"I got me a soft spot in the fifteen-thirty" Jack said "But I wanted to ask you something."
"What's that?"
"You know the Downtown Deuces at the Vegas Club. I wanted to ask you how much payback does the 4 of a Kind represent."
The Commando was automatically suspicious. Jack was a stone cold hustler. He didn't play thin edge stuff. The Downtown Deuces had the same payscale as the Golden Nugget Deuces, except the Deuces payed 500 for 1.
"About 25%" the Commando responded. Jack's eyes got big around.
"25%!" Jack said excitedly.
"Yeah, 25%."
"Hey, thanks, Commando."
"You know, don't you?" the Commando gave Jack a wary look.
"Know what?" Jack asked, avoiding the Commando's eyes.
"About the broken meter on the Nugget Deuces."
"Broken meter on what?"
"Don't try to B.S. me, Jack. You know damn well what's going on over there. You wouldn't be asking me about the Downtown Deuces otherwise. Both games got the same payscale except the Quad Deuces. And you know damn well the 4 of a Kind is gonna be the big moneymaker across the mall. That's why you asked my about the payback. Jack, one of these days you are going to have to learn that you can't get over on me."
"Well, I was going to tell you" Jack stammered
"When? After you torch it? Well....there's only one machine....so how are we going to work it?"
"Well....actually....there's another machine" Jack said sheepishly.
"There is? Where?"
"The broken meters are on the same side, opposite ends."
"You know we gotta work it on graveyard.?"
"Yeah, that's pretty obvious."
"Okay, I'll be back out at midnight" the Commando said as he walked away.
The Commando went through the Vegas Club, California and Main Street picking up plays here and there. Then back to the Deuce bank at the Nugget where he stopped and watched the action. They were oblivious. Back at the hotel he stopped by the desk to get an 11:00 PM wake up call. In his room he sat down at his laptop and brought up Winpoker. He ran some payback percentages and analyzed some hands. Then he hit the rack.
To be continued....
"Quit trying your luck and start trying your skill." Mickey Crimm
April 16th, 2014 at 7:27:34 AM
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Mickey, can't wait to read the rest. Not only are your experiences fascinating, the way you relate the stories and build the characters makes for great reading. Can't thank you enough for sharing.
April 16th, 2014 at 7:45:28 AM
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Quote: MidwestAPMickey, can't wait to read the rest. Not only are your experiences fascinating, the way you relate the stories and build the characters makes for great reading. Can't thank you enough for sharing.
+100
April 16th, 2014 at 7:49:20 AM
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deleted
DUHHIIIIIIIII HEARD THAT!
April 16th, 2014 at 11:30:10 AM
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Quote: MidwestAPMickey, can't wait to read the rest. Not only are your experiences fascinating, the way you relate the stories and build the characters makes for great reading. Can't thank you enough for sharing.
Thanks, Midwest. I had to go spin off a couple of plays today. I'll get the rest of the story out in the next couple of hours.
"Quit trying your luck and start trying your skill." Mickey Crimm
April 16th, 2014 at 12:43:49 PM
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Part 2
The Commando walked into the Golden Nugget at a few minutes past midnight. The place was semi-busy. There were still three players on the deuce bank. He looked over to see Short Stack Jack spinning off a Bonus Cherry Pie. He went to the bar and got a cup of coffee, then walked over to Jack.
"Jack, what's the poker action looking like tonight at the Horsheshoe?"
"A lot of fresh meat in town. I can't wait to tag 'em. This deuce play ain't gonna last to long. We're gonna blow them out of the park pretty quick."
"Yeah, but it's gonna be a huge hourly while it's working. I ran some numbers when I got back to the room."
"What's it look like?" Jack asked "The quad meter is the key meter, right?"
"Yeah, it's got the shortest cycle, 16 games. And we're gonna improve on that. Every dollar into that meter adds at least 5%. It only takes $200 in action to move it a dollar. Plus the other meters are going up. But when the quad meter is at $10 the payback is 106% just up through the four of a kind. When you throw in all the hands and meters above it you're at 130%."
"How hard do you want to hit 'em tonight, a few thousand?" Jack asked.
"Yeah, that sounds reasonable. Jack, when that quad meter gets up forget the straight flush cards with the deuces. It's a straight up four of a kind draw."
"Gotcha."
Jack finished spinning off the Cherry Pie and they both sat at the bar waiting on the lone straggler to leave the deuce bank. At 12:45 AM the straggler finally left. Jack got up and moved to the deuce bank. He slipped a bill in and started playing. A few minutes later the Commando walked over but Jack was just sitting there not playing.
"What's wrong, Jack?"
"The frickin' meters ain't moving on this machine. Check yours."
The Commando stuck a bill in and played some hands.
"This one ain't moving either, Jack."
"Well, the best layed plans of mice and men. It looks like we can go play poker now." Jack said.
"No, not yet, Jack. Let me think a minute....I think we got a plan B. The meters are working on these other machines. It'll require some investment....it's a little risky. And it's gonna stretch the play out some. We can jump to these two inside machines and hammer the meters up, then jump back over to the broken meters."
"We can't do that" Jack said "Anytime we hit a hand it'll reset the meter."
"Not if we short coin it, Jack. Just bet 4 coins."
"I knew that! I was just seeing if you were up to snuff." scoffed Jack.
"Yeah, right. So whaddya say? You want to hit it?"
"Time's a wastin.' Let's get to it."
They jumped to the two inside machines and started banging away. When the quad meter reached $9 Jack jumped over to recoup the investment before someone came along and sat down on the bank. The Commando kept playing until he ran the quad meter up to $11.26. That put the game over 150%. Then he jumped over to the broken meter machine and started banging away. The credits started mounting up. An hour later they were both approaching the 2000 coin cap, at which point the machines would start spitting quarters.
"Time to start taking some handpays, Commando."
"Yeah, dammit. You go first." The Commando cupped his machine. "I'm going to the bathroom while you cash."
Ten minutes later and it was Jacks turn to use the restroom. Then they started over.
The Glitter Gulch Greenhorn entered the east door of the Golden Nugget. He walked along until he reached the deuce bank. He looked down to see the four of a kind meter at $11.26. There were two old guys playing on the other side. He stuck a ten dollar bill into a machine. The olds guys on the other side were peaking over the bank at him. I'll just pick those idiots off, he thought. He played until he hit a four of a kind, then grabbed a bucket and hit the cashout button. He headed for the change booth grinning at his good fortune as he went.
To be continued....
The Commando walked into the Golden Nugget at a few minutes past midnight. The place was semi-busy. There were still three players on the deuce bank. He looked over to see Short Stack Jack spinning off a Bonus Cherry Pie. He went to the bar and got a cup of coffee, then walked over to Jack.
"Jack, what's the poker action looking like tonight at the Horsheshoe?"
"A lot of fresh meat in town. I can't wait to tag 'em. This deuce play ain't gonna last to long. We're gonna blow them out of the park pretty quick."
"Yeah, but it's gonna be a huge hourly while it's working. I ran some numbers when I got back to the room."
"What's it look like?" Jack asked "The quad meter is the key meter, right?"
"Yeah, it's got the shortest cycle, 16 games. And we're gonna improve on that. Every dollar into that meter adds at least 5%. It only takes $200 in action to move it a dollar. Plus the other meters are going up. But when the quad meter is at $10 the payback is 106% just up through the four of a kind. When you throw in all the hands and meters above it you're at 130%."
"How hard do you want to hit 'em tonight, a few thousand?" Jack asked.
"Yeah, that sounds reasonable. Jack, when that quad meter gets up forget the straight flush cards with the deuces. It's a straight up four of a kind draw."
"Gotcha."
Jack finished spinning off the Cherry Pie and they both sat at the bar waiting on the lone straggler to leave the deuce bank. At 12:45 AM the straggler finally left. Jack got up and moved to the deuce bank. He slipped a bill in and started playing. A few minutes later the Commando walked over but Jack was just sitting there not playing.
"What's wrong, Jack?"
"The frickin' meters ain't moving on this machine. Check yours."
The Commando stuck a bill in and played some hands.
"This one ain't moving either, Jack."
"Well, the best layed plans of mice and men. It looks like we can go play poker now." Jack said.
"No, not yet, Jack. Let me think a minute....I think we got a plan B. The meters are working on these other machines. It'll require some investment....it's a little risky. And it's gonna stretch the play out some. We can jump to these two inside machines and hammer the meters up, then jump back over to the broken meters."
"We can't do that" Jack said "Anytime we hit a hand it'll reset the meter."
"Not if we short coin it, Jack. Just bet 4 coins."
"I knew that! I was just seeing if you were up to snuff." scoffed Jack.
"Yeah, right. So whaddya say? You want to hit it?"
"Time's a wastin.' Let's get to it."
They jumped to the two inside machines and started banging away. When the quad meter reached $9 Jack jumped over to recoup the investment before someone came along and sat down on the bank. The Commando kept playing until he ran the quad meter up to $11.26. That put the game over 150%. Then he jumped over to the broken meter machine and started banging away. The credits started mounting up. An hour later they were both approaching the 2000 coin cap, at which point the machines would start spitting quarters.
"Time to start taking some handpays, Commando."
"Yeah, dammit. You go first." The Commando cupped his machine. "I'm going to the bathroom while you cash."
Ten minutes later and it was Jacks turn to use the restroom. Then they started over.
The Glitter Gulch Greenhorn entered the east door of the Golden Nugget. He walked along until he reached the deuce bank. He looked down to see the four of a kind meter at $11.26. There were two old guys playing on the other side. He stuck a ten dollar bill into a machine. The olds guys on the other side were peaking over the bank at him. I'll just pick those idiots off, he thought. He played until he hit a four of a kind, then grabbed a bucket and hit the cashout button. He headed for the change booth grinning at his good fortune as he went.
To be continued....
"Quit trying your luck and start trying your skill." Mickey Crimm
April 16th, 2014 at 1:54:16 PM
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I think these stories are what makes the WoV great! I am envious of you, not for the actual money you make doing it, but the feeling you must get when you first find the opportunity! I hope you can be in Vegas during the get together a week from Saturday!
April 18th, 2014 at 8:13:31 AM
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Part 3
Jack and the Commando watched the kid walk away.
"What an idiot" Jack said "That dumb ass kid thinks he snapped us off."
"He DID snap us off." the Commando responded "He just doesn't know what's going on. The other meters are up high too. He didn't see that. Or at least he doesn't know enough."
"Well, what do you want to do now. That damn kid might be hovering around?"
"It almost 5:00 AM. We probably only have about a 2 hour window before someone else sits down. Maybe we should bag it for the night. But not before we knock these other meters down."
They played until the hit the SF, 5K, and WR meters then quit for the night.
Jack and the Commando were back up at the Golden Nugget at midnight the next night waiting for the action to die down on the deuce bank. The last player quit at 12:30. So they went back to the bank and went through the same process, hammering the meters up using the two middle machines, then jumping over to the two broken meter machines. Within an hour they took their first handpays.
The Glitter Gulch Greenhorn entered the east door of the Golden Nugget. He walked along until he reached the deuce bank. He looked down and seen the quad meter on $11.26.
"There's that idiot kid again" Jack said.
"We're gonna have to offer him a job, Jack." The Commando got up and walked around the bank. The kid was sticking a bill in a machine.
"Hey, kid. Stop what you're doing there for a second and let me talk to you." The kid looked up at the commando.
"Do you want to make a couple of dollars there? Or would you like to make a couple hundred dollars for a few hours work?"
"Doing what?" the kid asked.
"Playing with us."
"I could sure use the money."
"Then leave that machine alone. Cashout and come around here with us. I'll show you what to do."
The kid took his quarters to the change booth then went back to the deuce bank.
"Grab a seat at this machine, kid." The Commando handed him a hundred dollars "Now play betting just four coins."
"What's the purpose of that?" the kid asked
"The meters on these two machines Jack and I are playing are broken. They don't reset but they also don't go up by playing them. It's that machine you are playing that moves the meters up on these two broken meter machines. By betting just four coins you won't reset the meters when you hit a hand."
The kid started playing away but he was awful curious who these two old guys were.
"What do you guys do for a living?" he asked
"We gamble for a living" said Jack. "How did you learn to play for the quad meter?"
"My uncle told me about it. He said he would sometimes play but only when the four of a kind meter was above $5.50."
"A guy would sit around watching a lot of paint dry on a play like that. Keep playing until you run that quad meter up to $22.51 kid. That should put us up above 200%."
The handpays started coming fast and furious. If the floor person knew what was going on she sure wasn't showing it. And they were greasing her up with a $20 tip for each handpay. The kid was asking a lot of questions between handpays.
"Do you guys just play video poker."
"No, we play a lot of things."
"Like what?"
"Anything we can beat, kid."
"Where do you guys live?
"Right now we both live downtown."
"Where did you guys meet?"
"We met in a cathouse in Winnemucca. Jack stole my girlfriend there."
"Well, I had more money on me at the time, Commando."
'What the hell's that girl doing nowadays, Jack?"
"I think she's the Lieutenant Governor." said Jack. The kid laughed.
"You guys are a couple of jokers. You don't have regular jobs?"
"Gambling is our job, kid. What do you do for a living?"
"I just finished my first year at University of California-Santa Barbara."
"Keep going until you get that degree."
"I don't know. You guys are sure making a lot of money. I'm thinking about becoming a full time gambler."
"Get the degree first. Gambling isn't going anywhere. It'll still be here after you get the degree."
"Do you have a degree?"
"No, that's why I'm stuck in gambling. Don't make the same mistake."
"So I should keep going to college?"
"Yes, and take some math classes to. Gambling is all math, kid. It's the key to the whole thing."
It was getting on to 6 AM.
"Start betting five coins, kid. We're gonna knock the meters up through the Wild Royal down and call it quits for the night."
They knocked the meters down and took their last handpays.
"What do you think this kid was worth, Jack?"
"I'll give him a couple hundred if you do?"
"Okay, you made $400 for a couple hours work, kid. Meet us back here at midnight tonight if you want to work again."
"I'll sure be here."
They went their separate ways for the day.
To be continued....
"
Jack and the Commando watched the kid walk away.
"What an idiot" Jack said "That dumb ass kid thinks he snapped us off."
"He DID snap us off." the Commando responded "He just doesn't know what's going on. The other meters are up high too. He didn't see that. Or at least he doesn't know enough."
"Well, what do you want to do now. That damn kid might be hovering around?"
"It almost 5:00 AM. We probably only have about a 2 hour window before someone else sits down. Maybe we should bag it for the night. But not before we knock these other meters down."
They played until the hit the SF, 5K, and WR meters then quit for the night.
Jack and the Commando were back up at the Golden Nugget at midnight the next night waiting for the action to die down on the deuce bank. The last player quit at 12:30. So they went back to the bank and went through the same process, hammering the meters up using the two middle machines, then jumping over to the two broken meter machines. Within an hour they took their first handpays.
The Glitter Gulch Greenhorn entered the east door of the Golden Nugget. He walked along until he reached the deuce bank. He looked down and seen the quad meter on $11.26.
"There's that idiot kid again" Jack said.
"We're gonna have to offer him a job, Jack." The Commando got up and walked around the bank. The kid was sticking a bill in a machine.
"Hey, kid. Stop what you're doing there for a second and let me talk to you." The kid looked up at the commando.
"Do you want to make a couple of dollars there? Or would you like to make a couple hundred dollars for a few hours work?"
"Doing what?" the kid asked.
"Playing with us."
"I could sure use the money."
"Then leave that machine alone. Cashout and come around here with us. I'll show you what to do."
The kid took his quarters to the change booth then went back to the deuce bank.
"Grab a seat at this machine, kid." The Commando handed him a hundred dollars "Now play betting just four coins."
"What's the purpose of that?" the kid asked
"The meters on these two machines Jack and I are playing are broken. They don't reset but they also don't go up by playing them. It's that machine you are playing that moves the meters up on these two broken meter machines. By betting just four coins you won't reset the meters when you hit a hand."
The kid started playing away but he was awful curious who these two old guys were.
"What do you guys do for a living?" he asked
"We gamble for a living" said Jack. "How did you learn to play for the quad meter?"
"My uncle told me about it. He said he would sometimes play but only when the four of a kind meter was above $5.50."
"A guy would sit around watching a lot of paint dry on a play like that. Keep playing until you run that quad meter up to $22.51 kid. That should put us up above 200%."
The handpays started coming fast and furious. If the floor person knew what was going on she sure wasn't showing it. And they were greasing her up with a $20 tip for each handpay. The kid was asking a lot of questions between handpays.
"Do you guys just play video poker."
"No, we play a lot of things."
"Like what?"
"Anything we can beat, kid."
"Where do you guys live?
"Right now we both live downtown."
"Where did you guys meet?"
"We met in a cathouse in Winnemucca. Jack stole my girlfriend there."
"Well, I had more money on me at the time, Commando."
'What the hell's that girl doing nowadays, Jack?"
"I think she's the Lieutenant Governor." said Jack. The kid laughed.
"You guys are a couple of jokers. You don't have regular jobs?"
"Gambling is our job, kid. What do you do for a living?"
"I just finished my first year at University of California-Santa Barbara."
"Keep going until you get that degree."
"I don't know. You guys are sure making a lot of money. I'm thinking about becoming a full time gambler."
"Get the degree first. Gambling isn't going anywhere. It'll still be here after you get the degree."
"Do you have a degree?"
"No, that's why I'm stuck in gambling. Don't make the same mistake."
"So I should keep going to college?"
"Yes, and take some math classes to. Gambling is all math, kid. It's the key to the whole thing."
It was getting on to 6 AM.
"Start betting five coins, kid. We're gonna knock the meters up through the Wild Royal down and call it quits for the night."
They knocked the meters down and took their last handpays.
"What do you think this kid was worth, Jack?"
"I'll give him a couple hundred if you do?"
"Okay, you made $400 for a couple hours work, kid. Meet us back here at midnight tonight if you want to work again."
"I'll sure be here."
They went their separate ways for the day.
To be continued....
"
"Quit trying your luck and start trying your skill." Mickey Crimm
April 18th, 2014 at 8:20:53 AM
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Quote: SOOPOOI think these stories are what makes the WoV great! I am envious of you, not for the actual money you make doing it, but the feeling you must get when you first find the opportunity! I hope you can be in Vegas during the get together a week from Saturday!
Thanks, SOOPOO. I won't be able to make it down for this one. But I'll try to make it one of these days. Maybe next winter.
"Quit trying your luck and start trying your skill." Mickey Crimm
April 18th, 2014 at 8:36:53 AM
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And it turns out that kid was . . . :)Quote: mickeycrimm
"I just finished my first year at University of California-Santa Barbara."
Great stories, Mickey!
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
April 18th, 2014 at 8:41:01 AM
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Mickey , these stories are great. Looking forward to the rest of this one. You really should write a book.
Happy days are here again
April 18th, 2014 at 10:34:03 AM
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Part 4
The Fremont Street Commando walked in the hotel entrance of the Golden Nugget just a couple of minutes past midnight. He took the hallway around the pool and into the casino. Jack was spinning off another Cherry Pie play. He got a cup of coffee at the bar and walked over.
"It's down and gone." Jack said as the Commando walked up.
"So it over with?"
"Yeah, they must have fixed it sometime today."
"Where's the kid?"
"I told him. He left."
"Well, I guess we can play poker now."
"That's what I'm gonna do when I finish spinning this play off."
"Okay, I'll see you over there."
The Commando walked out the door by Starbucks and across the mall to the Horseshoe. He walked back to the poker room. Wisconsin Robbie was at the podium.
"You got a spot for me, Robbie?"
"The thirty-sixties are rocked down pretty good. But that fifteen-thirty over there is wide open. Got a live one in the game. He's already blown through a few racks. Derek is over there too. I got two seats open."
"Okay, I'll take a couple racks of red." the Commando said as he pulled out a wad of hundreds. Robbie took the money and went to the cage.
The Commando walked over close to the table but stood back and watched. He looked at the chips stacks--about $13,000 on the table. Hawaiian Derek was in the two seat. The live one was in the five seat, chips stacked half-hazardly, a half empty bottle of Bud on the stand beside him, with a couple of empties behind it. The rest of the players looked to be pretty snug. The three seat and the seven seat were open. Robbie, already knowing that the Commando was going to sit down to the left of the live one, sat the two racks of red down in the seven seat.
The Commando sat down and posted behind the button.
"Where the hell have you been?" asked Hawaiian Derek.
"I've been playing some 200% video poker."
"Yeah, right. And I've got some property just east of Miami you might be interested in." Derek scoffed.
The dealer dealt the cards. Derek folded from under the gun.
"So where was this play at?" Derek asked
"At the Nugget. It was a broken meter job."
"You could have called me."
"There were only two machines, Derek, and the other one was taken, or I would have called you."
The four seat limped. The action reached the live one in the five seat.
"Let's make it two bets, gentlemen" the live one said as he shoved the chips forward. The six seat folded. The Commando looked down at the Ace-Queen of Diamonds.
"No, let's make it three bets" the Commando said as he reached for a stack of red.
The Fremont Street Commando walked in the hotel entrance of the Golden Nugget just a couple of minutes past midnight. He took the hallway around the pool and into the casino. Jack was spinning off another Cherry Pie play. He got a cup of coffee at the bar and walked over.
"It's down and gone." Jack said as the Commando walked up.
"So it over with?"
"Yeah, they must have fixed it sometime today."
"Where's the kid?"
"I told him. He left."
"Well, I guess we can play poker now."
"That's what I'm gonna do when I finish spinning this play off."
"Okay, I'll see you over there."
The Commando walked out the door by Starbucks and across the mall to the Horseshoe. He walked back to the poker room. Wisconsin Robbie was at the podium.
"You got a spot for me, Robbie?"
"The thirty-sixties are rocked down pretty good. But that fifteen-thirty over there is wide open. Got a live one in the game. He's already blown through a few racks. Derek is over there too. I got two seats open."
"Okay, I'll take a couple racks of red." the Commando said as he pulled out a wad of hundreds. Robbie took the money and went to the cage.
The Commando walked over close to the table but stood back and watched. He looked at the chips stacks--about $13,000 on the table. Hawaiian Derek was in the two seat. The live one was in the five seat, chips stacked half-hazardly, a half empty bottle of Bud on the stand beside him, with a couple of empties behind it. The rest of the players looked to be pretty snug. The three seat and the seven seat were open. Robbie, already knowing that the Commando was going to sit down to the left of the live one, sat the two racks of red down in the seven seat.
The Commando sat down and posted behind the button.
"Where the hell have you been?" asked Hawaiian Derek.
"I've been playing some 200% video poker."
"Yeah, right. And I've got some property just east of Miami you might be interested in." Derek scoffed.
The dealer dealt the cards. Derek folded from under the gun.
"So where was this play at?" Derek asked
"At the Nugget. It was a broken meter job."
"You could have called me."
"There were only two machines, Derek, and the other one was taken, or I would have called you."
The four seat limped. The action reached the live one in the five seat.
"Let's make it two bets, gentlemen" the live one said as he shoved the chips forward. The six seat folded. The Commando looked down at the Ace-Queen of Diamonds.
"No, let's make it three bets" the Commando said as he reached for a stack of red.
"Quit trying your luck and start trying your skill." Mickey Crimm
April 18th, 2014 at 12:06:01 PM
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The year 2003 was maybe the apex year for a casino hustler in downtown Las Vegas. All the joints had advantage slots like the IGT Vision Series, Silicon Gaming's Odyssey machines, and the Williams machines like X-Factor. There were video poker progressives that went positive. And the ten-twenty poker game at the Horseshoe. If you wanted to play higher limits at poker you had to go out to the Mirage which spread 10-20 and 20-40 or Bellagio which spread 15-30 and 30-60.
There were hustlers of all varying degrees downtown, from the bustout crackhead credit hustlers who never had enough money to spin anything off but a nickel Blue Screen Bingo, or a nickel Five Card Instant Bingo, or a nickel Vacation, to guys like me who kept enough bankroll to throw down on anything from a middle limit holdem game to a video poker progressive. A lot of the bustouts would come and get me when they had an advantage slot play that was to big for their meager bankrolls. I'd give them a guaranteed cut of the money.
I usually had about a weeks worth of room comps when I hit into downtown. Then I would rent at either the Budget Inn or Nevada Hotel. My rent was $140 a week, $20 a day. The meals were either free or cheap. Most of the food comps came out of the 4 Queens, the Fremont, and Main Street Station. And I got a meal comp out of the Horseshoe poker room everyday that I played.
I always looked forward to the WSOP. They spread higher limit cash games during the WSOP. Poker players from towns all over the country would save their money up all year and come to Las Vegas for the event. They made the cash games juicy. But it only took about a week for most all of them to bust out and head back to their hometowns. When you showed up for the WSOP you went to a booth and signed up as a tournament player. They gave you an I.D. card that was good for one buffet per day. So the Horseshoe fed all the downtown hustlers for free during the WSOP.
Little did we know things were going to start changing. In January, 2004, federal marshalls and the IRS seized the Horseshoe bankroll. They had the authority to seize up to 1.9 million dollars that Becky owned on employee pensions. The marshalls found only 1 million dollars. Becky had the right to re-bankroll the Horseshoe but if she did she was going to get almost another million dollars seized. She was between a rock and a hard place. She padlocked the doors.
There was a lot of subterfuge leading up to the closing. The place was filled up with undercover Gaming and FBI. Becky's husband, Nick Behnen, was barred off the property by Gaming after he was seen leaving the place with a briefcase they figured was filled with money. I flew to Reno the day before the closing. Al was still there figuring to fly to Reno a few days later. There were a lot of juicy video poker plays in Reno at the time and we figured to hit it.
"What the hell happened at the Horseshoe, Al?"
"You know, when I came down from the room that morning I noticed that Benny's rifles were gone out of the display cases. I thought "these broke ass bums are down to hocking Benny's rifle's.' So I was in a poker game and this marshall walks up and tells us "You got 15 minutes to cash out or you won't be able to cash out. I loaded up and ran for the cage."
We were all wondering what the hell was going to happen to the WSOP. Becky sold out to Harrah's. The place opened back up in early April. The WSOP was back on so I flew back down to Vegas. I had been watching the main event since 1992 when there were just 220 players. The number of players kept going up every year until 2003 when there were 839 players. The Moneymaker effect and the online poker craze sent the 2004 main even through the roof. There were like 2600 sign-ups for the main event. The line to sign-up came out of Benny's Bullpen, down the escalator, and out the door down the street. I was thinking Jesus Christ, how in the hell are they going to seat that many players. The WSOP had outgrown the Horseshoe.
There were more changes coming to downtown Las Vegas. The 4 Queens stripped all of the advantage slots out. They were slowly disappearing from the other places. The video poker progressives were all about gone too. The WSOP moved out to the Rio in 2005. But they came back down to the Horseshoe to play the final table of the main event.
Downtown Las Vegas wasn't so attractive to me anymore. Reno was still going strong. But that was all gonna change in the next couple of years. Skip Hughes had published that Reno was the number one destination for video poker in the United States. More and more knowledgeable players started piling in. To many pigs at the trough. The plays started disappearing. I haven't been to Reno in several years but I'm still plugged in with the video poker scene. Word is a $100,000 bankroll might make you $50 an hour. That's not my cup of tea. I never was a big fan of thin edge stuff.
I just turned 61. I'm not so ambitious as I once was. It looks to me like my Nevada days are over for good. But I can always say that I was there. And I was there when it was damn good.
There were hustlers of all varying degrees downtown, from the bustout crackhead credit hustlers who never had enough money to spin anything off but a nickel Blue Screen Bingo, or a nickel Five Card Instant Bingo, or a nickel Vacation, to guys like me who kept enough bankroll to throw down on anything from a middle limit holdem game to a video poker progressive. A lot of the bustouts would come and get me when they had an advantage slot play that was to big for their meager bankrolls. I'd give them a guaranteed cut of the money.
I usually had about a weeks worth of room comps when I hit into downtown. Then I would rent at either the Budget Inn or Nevada Hotel. My rent was $140 a week, $20 a day. The meals were either free or cheap. Most of the food comps came out of the 4 Queens, the Fremont, and Main Street Station. And I got a meal comp out of the Horseshoe poker room everyday that I played.
I always looked forward to the WSOP. They spread higher limit cash games during the WSOP. Poker players from towns all over the country would save their money up all year and come to Las Vegas for the event. They made the cash games juicy. But it only took about a week for most all of them to bust out and head back to their hometowns. When you showed up for the WSOP you went to a booth and signed up as a tournament player. They gave you an I.D. card that was good for one buffet per day. So the Horseshoe fed all the downtown hustlers for free during the WSOP.
Little did we know things were going to start changing. In January, 2004, federal marshalls and the IRS seized the Horseshoe bankroll. They had the authority to seize up to 1.9 million dollars that Becky owned on employee pensions. The marshalls found only 1 million dollars. Becky had the right to re-bankroll the Horseshoe but if she did she was going to get almost another million dollars seized. She was between a rock and a hard place. She padlocked the doors.
There was a lot of subterfuge leading up to the closing. The place was filled up with undercover Gaming and FBI. Becky's husband, Nick Behnen, was barred off the property by Gaming after he was seen leaving the place with a briefcase they figured was filled with money. I flew to Reno the day before the closing. Al was still there figuring to fly to Reno a few days later. There were a lot of juicy video poker plays in Reno at the time and we figured to hit it.
"What the hell happened at the Horseshoe, Al?"
"You know, when I came down from the room that morning I noticed that Benny's rifles were gone out of the display cases. I thought "these broke ass bums are down to hocking Benny's rifle's.' So I was in a poker game and this marshall walks up and tells us "You got 15 minutes to cash out or you won't be able to cash out. I loaded up and ran for the cage."
We were all wondering what the hell was going to happen to the WSOP. Becky sold out to Harrah's. The place opened back up in early April. The WSOP was back on so I flew back down to Vegas. I had been watching the main event since 1992 when there were just 220 players. The number of players kept going up every year until 2003 when there were 839 players. The Moneymaker effect and the online poker craze sent the 2004 main even through the roof. There were like 2600 sign-ups for the main event. The line to sign-up came out of Benny's Bullpen, down the escalator, and out the door down the street. I was thinking Jesus Christ, how in the hell are they going to seat that many players. The WSOP had outgrown the Horseshoe.
There were more changes coming to downtown Las Vegas. The 4 Queens stripped all of the advantage slots out. They were slowly disappearing from the other places. The video poker progressives were all about gone too. The WSOP moved out to the Rio in 2005. But they came back down to the Horseshoe to play the final table of the main event.
Downtown Las Vegas wasn't so attractive to me anymore. Reno was still going strong. But that was all gonna change in the next couple of years. Skip Hughes had published that Reno was the number one destination for video poker in the United States. More and more knowledgeable players started piling in. To many pigs at the trough. The plays started disappearing. I haven't been to Reno in several years but I'm still plugged in with the video poker scene. Word is a $100,000 bankroll might make you $50 an hour. That's not my cup of tea. I never was a big fan of thin edge stuff.
I just turned 61. I'm not so ambitious as I once was. It looks to me like my Nevada days are over for good. But I can always say that I was there. And I was there when it was damn good.
"Quit trying your luck and start trying your skill." Mickey Crimm
April 18th, 2014 at 6:33:55 PM
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Quote: mickeycrimmI just turned 61. I'm not so ambitious as I once was. It looks to me like my Nevada days are over for good. But I can always say that I was there. And I was there when it was damn good.
My best days might be behind me now. I don't care. I look forward to growing old with the simple knowledge I have. With a ton of arrogance and a ton of humility I can always say to the world that I AM and will always remain the Fremont Street Commando.
"Quit trying your luck and start trying your skill." Mickey Crimm
April 18th, 2014 at 7:22:15 PM
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Quote: mickeycrimmMy best days might be behind me now. I don't care. I look forward to growing old with the simple knowledge I have. With a ton of arrogance and a ton of humility I can always say to the world that I AM and will always remain the Fremont Street Commando.
Speaking for nearly everyone here, I don't read all the threads but if I see it's one of MickeyCrimms I say Hell Yeah, what's up with that. So that right there is another accomplishment on your part. Thanks Mickey you are a bright spot in many of our days.
April 18th, 2014 at 7:25:30 PM
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You're right about Fremont. I can't see a hustler making a living here nowadays, maybe just enough to make a few bucks a day. I have a route here which there is heavy competition for.
"Man Babes" #AxelFabulous
April 18th, 2014 at 7:27:27 PM
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Quote: mickeycrimmWith a ton of arrogance and a ton of humility I can always say to the world that I AM and will always remain the Fremont Street Commando.
Did you call yourself that, or someone else give you that name?
Great story though, as usual.
April 18th, 2014 at 8:50:26 PM
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Quote: mickeycrimmThanks, SOOPOO. I won't be able to make it down for this one. But I'll try to make it one of these days. Maybe next winter.
Really great story! I am look forward to reading more.
Too bad you won't come this time. Winter in Vegas is not as nice as in April, I am sure you know that.
winning streaks come and go, losing streak never ends.
April 18th, 2014 at 11:50:47 PM
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Quote: tringlomaneDid you call yourself that, or someone else give you that name.
"Fremont Street Commando" was a derogatory term amongst the hustlers. It meant a low life piece of garbage that just rips everyone else off. But somehow the downtown hustlers applied it to me but not in the derogatory way. Their thinking on gambling plays didn't meet my snuff test. And I proved it to them. I showed all them kind folks how it should be done. They called me the Fremont Street Commando and laughing the whole time that they did.
I heard the name again when I was going around Lake Michigan with Stu Churchill. I thought it had a ringy tone to it. I started calling myself the Fremont Street Commando. I think the moniker fits. I AM the Fremont Street Commando, Tring.
"Quit trying your luck and start trying your skill." Mickey Crimm
January 7th, 2015 at 4:43:36 PM
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I have now upgraded. I have a windows phone. It gives me great pleasure. Because now I can show my friends in Great Falls, Montana, what a dangerous man I am in the gambling world. They get to read my stories now. I came off the tracks to be one of the most famous and brilliant in the gambling world. I know that. I know that I am that good. But I never forgot where I come from. I wish I could go back to the days when I was jumping off a freight at Ogden, or thumbing a ride through the Idaho rain. The best I ever was was when I was a drifter roaming from town to town working day labor.
"Quit trying your luck and start trying your skill." Mickey Crimm
