I left a cold NY morning behind and ventured out west to Las Vegas for a mid-winter getaway with my Dad - We had originally been booked at the SLS through a host I knew back from my Revel days - However, for the 2 weeks leading up to the trip, he was incommunicado reading my sending front money and the booking in general - as such, I called my host at Golden Nugget and had him book my stay there - so, my dad and I arrive at McCarran and there are limos from both SLS and GN - I informed SLS driver that their host had not gotten back to me despite numerous calls/texts/emails and that when I called their reservations they had nothing reserved in my name...as such, I had reached out to my new GN host who was happy to ensure I had accommodations...
I have checked in and am now unpacking...I need some caffeine badly--I believe my dad is already wandering around Fremont street and getting a lay of the land...
Sat down for my first session: I was up about 500 within the first 15 hands - Raised bet to 200 and was dealt a 6,5 v dealer 9 - I doubled and was dealt an 8 for 19 - Dealer turned over an Ace for 20 - Things then went back and forth and I pushed two hands of 20 in a row followed by a third 20 where the dealer had an Ace,6 and drew a 4 for 2 - 1Got a natural the next hand then played the roller coaster for about 20 hands - I was eventually dealt a 5,5 v dealer 10 - I doubled and was dealt an Ace - The dealer had a Queen underneath YAY! Taking a dinner break...Trip is +1k
Had a nice dinner at Grottos - the lasagna was excellent as well as the service
After a brief respite to digest, I adjourned to the blackjack table once again - There were two guys at the 2D table who were already playing so I joined in on the next shuffle...It was bad from the start - In the first shuffle I lost or pushed every hand but the last one - In the second shuffle I lost or pushed every hand but the last one - In the third shuffle I lost or pushed every hand but the last one - There went the 1k I was previously up - The two guys at my table decided to cut their losses (at least at that table) and moved to a 6D
I stayed and played head's up - Things got a bit better and I was soon back in the plus column up 500
However, (cue dramatic music)--the gods of blackjack deemed me to be unworthy of winning any splits or double downs...The first was ACE, ACE split and dealt a 4 and 5---lost to dealer 17The second was 4,7 v dealer 10...dealt a 6---lost to dealer 20The third try was 5,5 v dealer 5...dealt a 7---lost to dealer 19The fourth was a 8,8 v dealer 10...dealt a queen and jack---lost to dealer 21Trip was now down 900 overallOk, not all was bad as the gods began to smile upon me yet againI split 8,8,8 v dealer 10 and was dealt a 10, 9, 3I doubled the 8,3 and was dealt a 7 for 18The dealer had a 10 and turned over a 7---woohoo! The next shuffle I split ACE,ACE and was dealt a King,King - I was now even for the trip and kept playing
It became a roller coaster ride...at one point I had regained 800 of the 1k I was up - I then lost it back - then got a nice run and picked up 600
I decided to take a break as my phone needed to be charged (I guess taking notes during shuffles uses up the battery)
So, as it stands, the trip is +600
Ok back again for another session...Played 2D with a gentleman from Boston - we talked sports of course and we're both immediately treated by the dealer as if we just invested in “No No Nanette”. At one point, the dealer had an Ace up 3 hands in a row (of which 2 were dealer blackjacks) - The gods of blackjack then decided to reinstate their ban on me winning any double downs or splits - I won't bore you with the details but, Suffice it to say that I was down 200 for the trip rather quickly - A dealer change happened about 20 minutes into the session and things got to the "fair" level - at least, I was once again on the roller coaster and rode it until my jet lag kicked in and I decided to call it a night
The trip is once again +1k Sweet dreams
Ok so I woke up at 6am and was still feeling tired so promptly fell back asleep until 11am - I had very strange dreams about some secret organization investigating me - Woke up and had a protein bar to start the day before venturing to the casino and Sat down to play with a guy from Saratoga, NY - It was nice to discuss the east coast
I Lost the first 3 hands then got on a beautiful run of doubles and splits over the course of the next 20 minutes - It was not even that I was getting dealt anything good...such as:Dealt 4,7 v dealer 10...drew a 3 for 14...dealer turned over a 6 and busted out; Dealt ACE,ACE v dealer 5...drew a 6 and 6...dealer turned over an 8 for 13 then a 3 then busted out; Dealt 8,8 v dealer 9...drew a 3 and doubled on the first 8 then a 7 for 18...second 8 drew a 2 and doubled and drew a 5...dealer turned over a 3 then a King to bust - By the end of this short session I had another 1150
Time for lunch - Trip is +2150
I had a chicken Caesar salad for lunch and then hit the tables for another session
This session started out with some losses then began getting better until...I had 300 up and was dealt a 3,8I doubled and was dealt a 9 for 20The dealer had a 2 showing, turned over a 9...pulled a 4...pulled an Ace...then..........a 5 for 21I quickly recovered, however, by getting into a nice little run over the next couple of shufflesTrip is +3200
an aside--
last night, while playing blackjack, there was quite an uproar at the baccarat table...
The BANKER had come in 18 hands in a row
AMAZING...but, even though the gentleman playing rode the streak the entire way, he never pressed his bet above the 200/hand he was playing
What would you have done?
Sat down for a pre-dinner session: I was playing head's up and immediately began getting destroyed...here are the lowlights: Dealt an ACE,7 v dealer 6...doubled and dealer placed card facedown...dealer had 6 turned over 5 then drew a 10 for 21...luckily, the facedown double down card was a 3---push on 21 - Lost every hand in a 2D shuffle (yes, every hand, no pushes, no exaggeration) During the session, had a few shuffles of only winning a couple of handsAfter an hour, I had lost back 2k of the 3200 I was up
an aside...
Another player joined me and bought in for 5k
He immediately began destroying the table...he was up about 10k in ten minutes
However, his final hand was his make or break hand...
He had bet 2k and was dealt an 8,8 v dealer 5
He split and was dealt a 7 on the first 8 for a 15
His second 8 he was dealt a 3 and doubled...he was dealt a 6 for 17
His third 8 he was dealt a 10 for 18
The dealer had. 5, turned over another 5, drew another 5...then a Jack to bust
The guy colored in with 20k--very nice
Upon his leaving, I rode the roller coaster and finally climbed back like the little engine that could...On four occasions I was within 500 of getting back to the 3200 mark but, each time, as is typical of my blackjack experience, I am dealt a split/double hand which backfiresIt seemedThe dealer was pulling blackjacks with ease and I could not get over the hump...I had stayed within 1k of getting back to 3200 and finally caught a nice run of cards in a few shuffles and got back 1800 of the 2kHad 200 up and was dealt an ACE,8 v dealer 6I doubled and the dealer gave me a quizzical look followed by asking if I was sure...I said "yes" and he dealt the card face downThe dealer had a 6, turned over a Queen, then drew another QueenMy dealt card was an ACE - At that point, I was getting hungry and grabbed dinner with my dadTrip is now +3k Evening session:Bought in for 2k and played with the Boston guy from last nightWe both got pounded quicklyWe both had a case of "lose by one-itis" - After two shuffles, Mr. Boston adjourned to another table and proceeded to be jokingly superstitious by changing my seat every few shuffles until I found the "perfect seat"However, before I found such a seat (lol), I felt as if I was in (in the words of Norm Peterson), "a dog eat dog world wearing milk bone underwear" - The doubles and splits again eluded me--drawing virtually squadoosh each timeAfter about 30minutes, I had lost 1500 of the 2k buy-in - Of course, once I found the "perfect seat" all became right in the blackjack world - I was on a nice run and put up 200 and dealt a nice split...I split 9,9 v dealer 2 and was dealt another 9First hand: 9, dealt a 2 doubled and dealt a 10 for 21Second hand: 9, dealt an 8 for 17Third hand: 9, dealt a 10 for 19The dealer had. 2, turned over a 10 and drew a KingNo fuss, no mussI was able to complete a nice run - The trip is now +3450 Sweet dreams
I Woke up early due to a jack hammer doing what it does at 7am - I figured I would venture downstairs and see how the early morning tables would treat me -- saw a pit boss who is just as cynical as a NY'r (love her) and Sat down to play with two older gentleman from Big Sky country and we had the usual ups and downsI got on a nice little streak, including the following three hands in a rowDealt a 4,3 v dealer 7...dealt a 6 then an 8...however, the dealer kept pace by turning over a 4 then drawing a 10---push on 21Dealt a 5,9 v dealer King...dealt a 7 for 21...dealer turned over a 10---won on 21Dealt a 9,2 v dealer Ace...doubled and dealt a 10...dealer turned over a 9---won on 21 - After a brief session, trip is now +4050
My dad and I headed to the Strip to meet a childhood friend of mine who works at the Venetian for lunch at Grimaldi's
It was a good time catching up and enjoying amazing pizza - I ordered the personal pizza with spicy chicken sausage and extra sauce
DE-LI-CIOUS!
After lunch, headed back to the GN
Sat down and played for about half an hour - Things were pretty good from the start...no complaints - However, on one run, it seemed as if every time I bet 300 I would lose the hand - It reminds me of the old joke--"hey doc it hurts when I move my arm like this...well, don't move your arm like that!" Nothing crazy really to write about - Trip is +5k
Well, the 5k is gone Going Gone - Dealers at 6 different tables ranging from 2D to 6D all pulled 20s, 21s and naturals at will
Got 1k back - going to eat - The last 3 hours have been extremely frustrating and I am sure if I listed all the nonsensical hands I encountered nobody would believe me--perhaps after dinner I will give the lowlights but right now I am starvin' like Marvin - I Had dinner and my first 2D shuffle back lost every hand but two that I pushed - Dealer just made 20 or 21 in 12 hands of 2D shoe - Dealer started off the next shoe with natural, 20, natural, 20 4-card21, 5-card19, natural -Trip is -2k
Took a break and walked around the casino a couple of times- Sat back down and got the 2k back in about 10minutes -Trip is yet again EVEN
Tomorrow I head to the Strip
So I woke up early and headed down to the casino to see if I could restart my winning ways...All did not go according to plan as things picked up where they left off last night...plenty of 12s-16s for me and plenty of 20s and 21s for the dealer - After an hour of abuse I had lost 2k and was beyond hungry so I wandered over to the Claim Jumper - Upon being seated, I waited about 10 minutes with nary a head nod from the waitstaff--I got up and left, telling the hostess what had happened--she apologized but I knew it was not her fault - I grabbed a protein bar and headed back to the pit - In about 20 minutes the ship was righted and I was once again EVEN - I continued to play and, after a couple of more shuffles, was once again north of the Mendoza lineTrip is +1250
an aside...
Got in the elevator with a gentleman mumbling to himself--he was decked out in black sweats, black tank top and a gigantic diamond necklace that read "SWAG"
He proceeded to flex his arms and attempted to shadow-box me
I laughed and he went on to tell me he is 60 years old, quicker than a rabbit and that if he decides to take me out it would be over in a few seconds
I laughed and agreed with him--at that point the elevator doors opened and he exited with nary a word
time to head to the Strip (my mom arrives this afternoon)
All checked in at Aria Sky Suites - now going to pick up mom at the airport
I just woke up from an afternoon napHeading to dinner with my parents then will hit the tables this evening!
After an amazing dinner (as usual) at Delmonico's, my dad collapsed getting out of a cab at Aria
He is awake and alert but on the way to hospital in ambulance
My mom went with him
I'm hanging at hotel on standby
PHEW! Possibly only dehydration
His BP was 76/40
On an IV of electrolytes it has gone back to 107/80
EKG was good
Ok, my dad is on the mend and should be back in the mix in about an hour
He was severely dehydrated and it took about 2 hours of fluids before he could even urinate (the doctor said his body was basically soaking up every bit of moisture provided)
In celebration thereof I played a session - Lost the first 9 of 13 hands and promptly (although maybe not promptly enough) changed tablesA pit boss I am friendly with was working and we chatted while I played -- the second table was much bette than the first and I got about 400 of the 1k lost at the first table backA passerby decided to jump in on a shuffle and he bet erratically and was gone in about 7 handsI then was back to head's up and got on a mini-runTrip is still +1250I'm calling it a night -- back to the tables in the morning
Morning sessionJust played 2 shuffles of 2DLost every hand but 4 pushes and one blackjackTrip is -600Just finished a session:the lowlights:(Consecutive hands)Dealt A,6 v dealer 5...doubled and got a 3 for 20...dealer had 5, turned over a 2, drew a 9, drew a 5 for 21Dealt 7,4 v dealer King...doubled and got a 9 for 20...dealer had King, turned over a 4, drew a 7 for 21The Highlights:Dealt 8,8 v dealer 8...splitFirst 8 dealt another 8 (suspicious shuffle lol)...split that outStill first 8 dealt a 10 for 18Second 8 dealt a 3...doubled drew a Queen for 21Third 8 drew a 7...hit and drew a 2Dealer had an 8, turned over a 9 for 17Dealt 4,4 v dealer 5Split and dealt another 4First 4 dealt a 7...doubled and drew a 10 for 21Second 4 dealt a 6...doubled and drew another 6 for 16Third 4 dealt a 10 for 14Dealer had 5,turned over an 8...drew a Jack to bustTrip is once again EVEN Doubled with 200 up9,2 v 5I drew an AceDealer had 5, 6, 4, 6800 swing ughhhhhJust lost 2kDealer had 5 21s in a row at one point
an aside: guy next to me REFUSED to split 9s v dealer 2 -- we showed him the strategy card and he said the strategy must be misprinted
Just lost 13 hands in a row dealer made 21 6 times against my 19 or 20Down 8kLost three 20s in a row to 3 dealer naturalsWent on tilt betting 500 hand and got 3k backTrip is -5k
Taking parents to dinner
I have zero interest in eating at this point
Just had dinner with the folks...going to relax a bit and then work my way back to even and beyond
Negative 7k about to go on tiltCannot win a handTook me the past hour to get 1k backTrip is -6k
an aside: Ok so I wandered over to the MLIFE desk to inquire as to how whether they could look up what offers had been mailed to me...they informed me I needed to go onto the website (which the girl informed me was "usually down") or call their hotline
I then inquired as to how many Fortune Spins I had earned...
Apparently, one Fortune Spin is earned per 1500 session points
However, the girl informed me that I was not signed up for the promotion...I mentioned that I just was at the MLIFE desk yesterday to print out a new card and was not told I was activated
She apologized and put 1499 points on my card and informed me I needed to earn 1 session point by playing $3
I asked where the nearest machine was and attempted to figure it out
The girl came over to help and I earned my 1 session point
The Fortune Spin screen appeared and the girl told me to press the screen to spin
Around and around it spun
After about 10 seconds it began slowing down
I was hoping for a good spin
Lo and behold it slowed down and down and I could not believe it
It stopped on $5,000 FSP (free slot play)
WOW WOW WOW
The MLIFE attendant was in awe - she said she never saw anyone hit the $5k before
After that spin, I celebrated with a drink and went to bed
Good morning - where will the day lead today...? Just lost or pushed every hand in 3 shuffles of double deck with one other player at table - Sat and played double deck for quite a while...could not catch a run...could not win with 20The ridiculous number of hands where the dealer didn't bust are too many to list hereI was down 9kI decided to sit at a shoe game and won 1k back very quicklyI am now taking a break to drink some waterTrip is now -8k (Still have 5k FSP)
Pete Rose and his wife playing a 6D main floor game at Aria
Just played a session - lost 1k really quickIt then took about an hour to get it back plus another 250Trip is -6250Just played a mini-session and picked up a little bit towards the "getting back to even fund"Trip is -5500Sweet dreams
Just played first session of the day -- just a mini-session of two shuffles of 2D - The first shuffle took 700 from meHad a crazy hand of:3,3 v dealer 7Split 3 dealt another 3Split 3 dealt another 3First hand: 3, dealt 8 doubled got 8 for 19Second hand: 3, dealt 7 doubled got 6 for 17Third hand: 3, dealt 10 hit for a 5 for 18Fourth hand: 3, dealt 10 hit for a Jack - bustedDealer had 7, turned over and Ace for 18Second shuffle went much better and I won 4 double downsTrip is now -4750 and still have the FSP - Heading home in a few hours
Finally home:So here I am back in NY - having landed late last night. The jet lag got to me and I basically slept the day away—drifting in and out of consciousness while a Law & Order marathon played on the television…Looking back, the trip started out as "can't lose" - However, I would soon learn that this trip's version of "can't lose" was more in line with Revel's "You can't lose" promotion - Things took a decided downturn my last evening at the GN - Friday was going well, including a great dinner at DelMonico's steakhouse at the Venetian, but, alas, my dad fell ill and it was, fortunately enough, merely severe dehydration - Saturday was a so-so day until the "Saturday swoon" hit me and I could win nary a hand - It took all day Sunday and a min-session on Monday morning to get a little over halfway home
All in all, a good trip, filled with the usual roller coaster ride that is blackjack, but one filled with a great time with family!