Memorial Day weekend...here we go again
Good morning and welcome aboard the nonstop to VegasJust at airport waiting at the gate here in rainy NY.
So, upon landing in Vegas, I turn on my phone and already have two messages from a new client with an "emergency".
Golden Nugget sends a limo for my first trip there - very nice. I am all checked in
I headed down to the casino ready to play some cards. Uh-oh Houston--we have a problem--EVERY TABLE AT GN HITS SOFT 17. I just spoke to a party pit dealer at GNLV who informed me EVERY blackjack table in Vegas is H17 -- when I told her she was wrong she said that I must not play that often -- hmmmm ok After some smelling salts, I got into the Vegas spirit and decided to play some cards.
Session 1: Sat down to play 2dPlayed my usual 100-200/hand - Guy to my left won about 80% of his hands over the course of an hour. I lost or pushed every hand the first shuffle and, within 4 shuffles, was down 2k. It Took the better part of the last 30 minutes to gain it all back. The floor person told me to double a 12 v 7 saying he had a feeling - of course I didn't and of course I won the hand lol - Back to even now and taking a dinner break.
I had some dinner and then played some more. I started out nicely with a mini-run up about 1500...then the roof caved in. at one point I lost every single hand in a shuffle of 2d Then sat at a table with a guy who was apparently drinking heavily and decided to double. 6,3 v dealer 7 (despite his asking the dealer and me if the book says to double). He pulled a 4. I had my double at this time...an 8,3 v the dealer 7 - I doubled and was dealt a 4. Of course, the dealer had an ace under for 18. On the next hand the first card out was a ten, which would have allowed me to win my double. I switched tables at this point and, right as I was about to play, guess who wanders over and says: "I gotta play with my partna'". Countless bad decisions and I move again...again he follows me. I was down about 4800 at this point and he finally left. I ended up getting a mini-run back up to 2k but was exhausted and called it a night. Going to bed after a loooooong night of playing blackjack and witnessing a drunk patron throw a stantion at a bartender in the bar just outside the GN pool area - security grabbed him and LVMPD were called.
Good morning - This morning I played one shuffle of 2d and picked up 600Now having a protein bar and going to play some moreTrip is -2400 Sat down to play still down 2400Started with a blackjack and was able to capitalize on it with a second one to follow. A woman next to me was playing 1k/hand and was winning and winning - Guy at third base was still remaining from last night when I was playing at 3am and had still not gone to bed. In that shuffle I got another 500 back and, after a few shuffles of up and down I then hit a nice shuffle where I was dealt 4 doubles and won each of them - That gave me another 1k - Trip is now -900
an aside
So I was sightseeing on Fremont Street to get the full downtown experience
Upon walking towards the "Mermaids" casino one of the girls dressed like Carmen Miranda approached and asked if she could lei/lay me (as I did not see any leis I looked at her quizzically) -- she said well, really I will bead you but lei/lay is more fun to say
I asked if I had to flash her to earn the beads and she informed me that it was not required but that if I returned at 6pm when she was getting off her shift we could make other arrangements to earn the beads
Lol gotta love it
Just lost or pushed every hand in the shuffle on 6 of 8 shuffles of double deckEvery single hand I pressed the dealer had an Ace showing (not exaggerating--roll back the tape and it will be shown as true)Trip is -5kI stopped my sulking and headed back to the tablesThe first couple of shuffles and I had regained a whopping 400However...all was not to be rosy as I hit another downturnOf course, the others at the table were enjoying multiple blackjacks and winning double downs while I endured losing the 400 then another 1kIncluding the following:I had 200 upDealt an 8,8 v dealer 6Split got another 8First 8: 10 for 18Second 8: 3 then double dealt a 9 for 20Third 8: Ace for 19Dealer has 6 turns over 8...then Ace...Ace...5 for 21However, by the beard of Zeuss I hit some positive variance and was able to press and regain the 1k plus another 1kTrip now -4k
Just played first shuffle of the dayTold the dealer every time I pressed yesterday dealer got 21He said no wayI pressed and he pulled a 3 card 21 then I lost 8 in a rowJust lost 5 out of 6 double downs, including:I had 500 up got a 6,5 v 3Doubled got. 9 for 20Dealer has 3 turns over 2...then 2...then 2...then 4...then Ace...then 7 for 21Trip is once again -5k
Sometimes it feels as if the casino has David Copperfield dealing the cards using sleight of hand to ensure the dealer always gets the card they need or:
Took a brief respite and gathered my thoughts - let's get this backjust played four shuffles of double deck and regained 1k hit for 550Taking a breakGoing to try my tried and true technique of getting back to even via several little winsTrip -4k
Lol walked down Fremont and the Mermaids girl called out to me asking why I didn't come back at the end of her shift yesterday
In other news...just played 2 shuffles for another 500Trip is now -3500 Sat down to play some more on my quest for getting back to even and a guy refused to hit his 12 v 2I had split 3 3Got 7 doubled for 18Second three got 10 for 13If he hits the 12 dealer breaksThird guy at table asks me and "no hit 12 guy" whether he should split 77 v 2I say yesNo hit 12 guy says NEVERthird guy listens to "no hit 12 guy"We all would've won if he had played it rightI left the table I couldn't deal with itThat guys ridiculous play and horrific advice annoyed me too muchCost me 1k swing(And yes I know over one billion hands it's meaningless I am venting though)Played one shuffle at new table got 500Just ended a session with 3 naturals in a rowGot another 75bucks lolTrip is -2925I was back another 400 and had a 20Dealer went 6, 10...5I then lost the next 7 handsAfter all was said and done through 3 shuffles...I had regained another 550Trip is -2450 Just picked up another 500 followed by a "disagreement" with a pit boss who informed me I should not have hit my 10,2 v 4I told him it is a composition dependent hit
He said he was barred from the El Cortez
10 years ago and he knows all there is to know about blackjack and card counting as his doctoral thesis was on the mathematics of card countingHe then said the Wizard of Odds agrees with himI told him to have a good night and switched pits where I regained another 500Trip is -1500Just split 9 9 9Got 14 15 16Dealer had 3 5 3 3 3Then lost 4 doublesThen pushed a handThen lost 3 doublesTrip is now again -3kGot a quick 2300 back in 3 shuffles of double deckTrip -700Crazy roller coaster!!!
Buenos dias. Today is the day I switch over to the Aria -- let's see if we can't get something going thereLast session before heading to Aria:Just had a double that would've completed the comeback BUT NOOOOOOOOOwhy should I win that one or any of the next 5 handsGeez can I catch a break at allI'm ragingTrip is yet again -1k but not so bad considering how much I've played - would have been so nice to win that hand and head to the Strip even
So I am all checked in and was just about to head to the Forum Shops to get a pair of jeans but, ended up talking with a dealer I am friendly with and decided to buy-in and play...Just lost 9 double downs in 20 minutes
Then
a guy comes in midshoe and gets a blackjack and yells out "PERFECT TIMING"F!U!Trip is now -2200Taking a break to go to the Forum Shops now - but, I won't treat myself to the new jeans I wanted until I get back to evenOK - all showered and refreshed and ready to play some more blackjack: Well well well:Dealer just pulled20202020BJ202020BJ2021Trip is -3kSwitched tables:Started a new shoe she getsBJ2020I had a 65 double I get a 9 for 20She goes 6 5 3 7Trip is -3400switched tables won 5 hands in the entire shoeTrip is -4150 approaching tiltI had 500 up I had 20Guy next to me has 12 dealer has 2 showing he refuses to hitDealer turns over 10 for 12 then hits for a 9 BAM 21Next card out was a 10 dealer would've bustedDown 5kDealer started shoe just now withBJBJ20BJI walked awayTrip is -5400Just lost EVERY SINGLE HAND in a 2d gameTrip is -7kDealer just made 5 twenty-ones in a rowTrip -8kI am going to lose my mind Dealer just got 5 blackjacks in half a 6deck shoe - then, I finally won 3 hands in a row so I pressed to 200Got 9,9,9Then 2 K 2On the doubles I got 7 and 8So my hands were18 19 19Dealer has 4 turns over 7 then 10 for 21 I am going to have a breakdown - I feel like I am not in my body I am down 9k and can neither mentally nor emotionally handle any more playing tonight - I am going to watch television and see if I can regroup and try again mañana
Good morning everyoneLast night, I went on tilt and my play decisions and bet amount decisions were being filtered through my emotional stateI am feeling refreshed and focused and plan on enjoying my vacation and regaining at least some of the losses back. morning session:Was up 400Dealer then got 4 bj in a 2d game and I lost 4 dblsDealer just made 6 twenty ones in a rowSwitched tables dealer first 5 hands were 21Won the first 5 hands at new table then the first hand I press is dealer bj lolDown another 2k at this pointSwitched tables again and in four shuffles of 2d got it back plus 2100Trip is now -6900 Dealer just made 6 twenty ones in a rowGuy jumps in midshoe for 3 hands I lose all three and next 5 afterI had 500 up and got 20 dealer pulls a 9 card 21I switched tables won 5 in a row a guy walking by says "I'm getting in on that" he wins next 4 I lose all 4I am so out of my gameJust doubled ace 6 v dealer 4 I get a 3 for 20Dealer goes 4 4 5 ace ace 6Split aces v dealer 5She goes 5 5 3 7But I got a ten on each YAY!!!Just lost two more doublesJust lost 7 doublesJust lost 3 splits and a doubleI'm now down 10kHonestly how is it possible for every dealer at every table I play at to make every hand against me and for me to lose 99% of my doubles...?!?!?!? It makes no fng senseI feel like I just got hit by a bus. Ok played 2 shoes of 6DGuy next to me jumped in mid-shoe playing 500-1k/hand each time the dealer was shuffling his Reserved 2D gameAfter two shoes I had won 400 lolCould there be a comeback in the works?Got another 550 back then dealer says let's see why would've happened next hand I said no and he did it anyway of course I would've wonTrip -9450 Shower and dinner break:I am sitting down to a nice filet mignon with truffle mashed potatoes:
I am going to bed - "Highlights" of the evening: Losing 8 hands in a row; An older lady refusing to hit any 12-16 but then hitting 17 against a dealer 7 because "I need at least an 18 to beat the dealer on this one"---and then, not understanding what doubling down meant
I am Going to sleep with high hopes for daybreak. If there is any little solace in this, it is that this places me at even steven for blackjack for 2014.
Well, I am about to cease all play for the trip...not only did I lose the 12k I was up for 2014 (to this point) but an additional 3k on top of that, therefore, I'v lost 15k this trip. I just asked my host for 10% back in free play and was denied without thought. While it is true down 3k for the year is nothing but the total trip loss itself -- and the way in which it was lost (with dealer's pulling 21s almost at will and most of the time when I had doubles, splits or my own 20s) makes it a tough pill to swallow
Happy Memorial Day everyone!
