Vegas Blackjack 11/09/2008

What are your other favorites at the casino?
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MikeA
Video Poker Master
Posts: 1615
Joined: Tue Oct 24, 2006 3:50 pm

Vegas Blackjack 11/09/2008

Post by MikeA »

Southpoint exacted it's revenge on me today with the 100.017% DDB VP machines.  However, I cleaned up quite well on their Blackjack tables.  It has been one of two casinos on this trip that I've been able to wipe up on the blackjack tables this trip.
 
I almost always do well at BJ down at El Cortez and this trip was no exception other than in HOW I won.  Down at the Tez, my only regret was that I wasn't betting $1,000 a hand...okay, $500 since that is their table max.  I went through an hour down there where I simply couldn't loose! 
 
The dealer could have a face or an ace showing and I could be setting on any "stiff hand" and it didn't matter.  I'd hit it and draw enough to beat whatever the dealer had!  I was only betting a flat $5 a hand though yet in that short time, I doubled the $100 I bought in for.
 
So, this has been another one of those trips where Video Poker has removed itself from my skillset.  Only found full pay at Texas Station and Southpoint for nickels.  Actually, Texas Station is Dimes.  Didn't matter.  I haven't hit a quad the entire trip!  I got one straight flush at Southpoint drawing it after holding only 2 cards <sigh>.  The "cards" just weren't there for me!  Southpoint exacted it's revenge on me today with the 100.017% DDB machines. 
 
However, I did some housecleaning on their Blackjack tables.  It has been one of two casinos on this trip that I've been able to wipe up on the blackjack tables this trip.
 
Tonight is my last night out here.  I plan to spend quite a bit of time at Binion's on their single and double deck tables unless  The Fitz has their $5 table open.  Our flight leaves at 9am so we'll have to leave the hotel at 6:30am.  Either I stay up all night if I'm having a good run (I've done THAT before!) or I get back to the room by midnight and wake up a an unholy witching hour! Either way, tonight's it!
 

MikeA
Video Poker Master
Posts: 1615
Joined: Tue Oct 24, 2006 3:50 pm

Post by MikeA »

Sounds like I'm "ghosting" here, but actually this is a followup on the last post in which I said I planned to play quite a bit at Binion's my last night out.
 
I did.  Very close to 5 hours worth after my round with Southpoint earlier in the day.
 
Started it off around 5pm I guess bouncing around on three $5 tables.  I really don't like going heads up with the dealer any more.  It was fine when I was playing AP blackjack and in fact desirable to go heads up.  But when I am playing straight Basic Strategy as I do these days, I'd rather play with a full table on Double Deck and maybe a total of three at Single Deck.  Binions had both DD and SD tables at $5 and both with 3:2 payoffs on Blackjacks.  Depending on the dealer, I was getting good pen.  One Rookie (cowboy!) dealer was cutting the deck at 50% until I asked him to cut it closer to 75% so we wouldn't shuffle as often <LOL>.  He didn't hesitate.  He started giving that deeper penetration!
 
I held my own for a good hour and 15 minutes just flat betting $5 as was mo MO this trip.  But that last 45 minutes, I lost $75 in probably no more than 5 shoes!  Couldn't get anything but stiffs and if I did get a decent hand, the dealer was beating me.  With a $75 loss, I left and grabbed dinner with my Wife.
 
But I went back after dinner, sat at the same table and stayed there from 8pm until 11pm still betting only $5.  I had rebought for $100 and by the end of my session (I'd set 11pm as a good quitting time because of the early flight out Thursday Morning) I had recouped my earlier losses.
 
All in all, I was up on Blackjack and down on Video Poker for the trip.  I came home with $100 less than I went out to Vegas with and at least that much was eaten up in valet tokes, tips on meals, a few odds and ends here and there.  My BJ wins more than offset my VP loses. 
 
I did have some large $100 and $200 swings with Blackjack, but nothing like the variance with Video Poker...even JOB at 9:6 varies at least 3 times as much as Blackjack!
 
Oh, one other item....I'd been making frequent trips to Fitzgerald's all week long.  On some mysterious schedule, they would have a $5 Double Deck game going that was actually better than Binion's.  The rules were the same as Binions, but their consistent 70% penetration made it a better table.
 
This morning as I was finishing my packing, I had the TV on and heard that Fitzgerald's had been robbed of an unknown amount of money.  Some character stepped up to the Cashier's Cage this morning at 4am, presenting the Cashier with a note saying something like "This is NOT a joke.  Give me your money!"  He took the money, left the casino, got in a cab and took off.  No one was hurt and the robber was apparently unarmed.  They had not apprehended him by the time we left for the airport.
 
I doubt that he'd have tried that at the Tez!  Probalby would have had twenty guns cut loose on him had he tried!
 
 

shadowman
Video Poker Master
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Joined: Mon Oct 23, 2006 5:42 pm

Post by shadowman »

Mike, I need you to come to LV more often. While Mike was in town I had two royals. I had another one the last time he was in town. So, get back here pronto!

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