After a shot of Pepto last night to calm my stomach after a stressful first 2 days in Vegas, I fell asleep on the couch. About 3AM I made my way to the king-sized bed which was super comfortable. The pillows were luxurious and when I woke up, I felt refreshed and ready to tackle a Saturday in Vegas.
I then took a walk on the Strip to enjoy this amazing Vegas weather.
Gathered my last 2500 for the trip up and bought in at a 100min game at Nomad. I won the first hand with a blackjack - lost the next 5, pushed 3 in a row (19, 20, 20), got dealt a natural and then, par for the course, I lost the next 15 out of 17 hands (with the dealer getting 7 naturals during that time) - by the end of the shoe I had lost 2k of the 2500.
Over the next few shoes I managed to get back up to 1300 in chips then a dealer change.
On the first hand I was dealt an Ace, 9 - the dealer had a 5 showing, turned over a 2, drew a 3, then a 2, then a 3, then an Ace then a 5 for 21. I then lost the next 3 hands and was down to my final black chip for the trip.
I put it up and was dealt a blackjack, I left 150 up and won the next hand. Now with 4 chips in my holster, I decided to put 200 up and was dealt a 7, 7 versus a dealer 5 and I split:
First 7 dealt a 3 (I did not have any chips to double it and they would not give me a “table loan”) - so, I hit and was dealt an Ace for 21
Second 7 dealt a 4 (still no chips to double it with) - I hit and was dealt a 10 for 21
Amazing that good hand only come when I have no money to play the hand properly.
I kept the 200 in chips up and made my way back up to 1800, then decreased my bet to one chip and lost 3 hands in a row.
So, from the brink of total annihilation I got back up to 1500.
Trip is -6475
YTD - 2175
So I was in the room relaxing figuring out where this evening will take me when there was a knock at the door. I begrudgingly got myself up off the couch and it the woman, who resembled Anne B. Davis, informed me she was from “mini-bar service” - I told her I have not touched the mini-bar - she retorted that she would like to check it anyway to make sure prior guests did not move anything that I would be charged for. I told her to go for it - she then started describing all the items available such as the chocolates and then asked what I would do if I had a meat and cheese plate brought to the room and forgot to get crackers - I told her I had not really thought about it - she replied that the mini-bar has crackers. I did an internal eye roll as she continued to move objects around the mini-bar (hope I am not charged for them) and finally exited the room.
I freshened up and decided to head over to Aria to check out the scene and what games were open. The Park MGM pool was nicely lit:
Upon arriving at Aria I ran into a pit boss I’ve always been friendly with - he would always ask me what count I had and compare it to his tally - turns out he just got back from medical leave - I wished him well and he told me to “go make some money”. Apparently, all blackjack games with a minimum bet of under $50 only pay 6:5. Let’s see where this evening takes me.
I sidled up to a 50min 6D table and discovered that, all tables on the main floor at Aria now hit soft 17 (including the 100min and 300min tables). I began playing and actually won 3 out of 4 double downs but, whenever I pressed, I would lose the hand. All that being said, I finally had a winning session, albeit only +325
Trip -6150
YTD -1850
Upon arriving back at Park MGM after my first winning blackjack session, I felt the pangs of hunger and decided to get General Tso’s Chicken and steamed brown rice from La La Noodle. It was spicy and delicious - it hit the spot. The line was already forming for the Park Theatre where Aerosmith is performing tonight. I have seen them 4 or 5 times and they always put on a good show but, alas, I was not seeing them tonight.
So, after dinner, I ventured to a 25min table at Park MGM - after a few hands I was even then a woman sat down with 1 green chip, played the one hand, lost and left - thereafter, The dealer made 6 blackjacks, 2 of which I managed to push while I then managed to lose 4 double downs and lose on 5 hands where I was dealt a natural 20 - yup, the dealer made 21 on each of those hands. Well, back to the drawing board.
I then sat down at a 100min 6D game in the high limit pit at Park MGM - I bought in with my final 1500, placed 200 in the betting circle, and the first hand was dealt:
8,8 versus dealer 6 - so, I split
First 8: dealt another 8 (split);
First 8 again: dealt another 8 (split);
First 8 again: dealt a 2 - doubled and dealt a 6 for 16
Second 8: dealt a 3 - doubled and dealt an 8 for 19
Third 8: dealt a King for 18
Fourth 8: dealt a 3 - doubled and dealt a 9 for 20
Dealer had her 6 up - turned over a 5, then drew a Jack for 21
That’s it for the trip folks - that hand would’ve made me 1400 - instead, the outcome was par for the course on this trip.
Trip -7950
YTD -3650
Now I am in Vegas for two more full days - I guess I will get plenty of exercise pacing around my hotel suite.
Thoughts…?