First-ever trip report, and Qs for the pros

[Lawschooligan]

northern nevada remembrances

I wanted to post my first trip report and get some advice.

So with about 3 months of practice under my belt and a couple of prior trips w/ mixed results, my two newbie counter buddies and I drove up to northern nevada last week, mid-week. From the last trip, I had a free room at casino. Arrived around 10 pm, checked in, 2 hours on SD with decent pen, spreading 5-25. Up 40 units between us.

Then to casino 2/casino 3/casino 4 and up another 30 units. Then to another casino in the wee hours and down at least 20 units, but with comped breakfast. For cover and to rest our brains we played craps and lost another 10 units on that ridiculous game. Interestingly, at this casino we experienced NO heat and spread with abandon -- even with all three of us alone at the same table! One awesome dealer who dealt down to no more than 10 cards, and once literally to the last card. I'd never seen that before. Also, one craps dealer who kept asking if I liked this one cocktail waitress in this creepy leering way. I think he might have been trying to pimp her, which is weird since I'm obviously a low roller.

Back to the first casino for sleep and then another hour, up 20 units. Some stares from the critters. Then back to school in time for class. Overall, we cleared over $700 between us, and no one lost.

Questions:

1. How bad is it to play at the same table as your counter friends? To me, it looks pretty suspicious when each of us suddenly goes from low to high.

2. How can I convince my friend who had a lucky streak on his first trip not to overbet his wad? He was going up to $50, and his bankroll is no more than 1k.

3. We used our real names at all these places. Should we pick one place to flat bet for comps and then go anonymous for AP at other places? How do you folks swing the comps v. advantage play issue?

4. Going to southern nevada for first time in 2 weeks. Recommendations on the strip? downtown?

Thanks all!

 

[Rob McGarvey]

Hey! Glad you did so well.

1. How bad is it to play at the same table as your counter friends? To me, it looks pretty suspicious when each of us suddenly goes from low to high.

Not good.

2. How can I convince my friend who had a lucky streak on his first trip not to overbet his wad? He was going up to $50, and his bankroll is no more than 1k.

You can't. It seems you have already tried, so let nature take its course, then hit him the the I told you so later.

3. We used our real names at all these places. Should we pick one place to flat bet for comps and then go anonymous for AP at other places? How do you folks swing the comps v. advantage play issue?

With $50 bets don't worry about that until you get heat. The become an "under cover brotha"

4. Going to Vegas for first time in 2 weeks. Recommendations on the strip? downtown?

Do a search and you'll find the cheese on where to play.

 

[The Mayor]

>Then to Nugget/Silver Club/Rail City and up another 30 units. Then to Atlantis in the wee hours and down at least 20 units, but with comped breakfast. For cover and to rest our brains we played craps and lost another 10 units on that ridiculous game. Interestingly, at Atlantis experienced NO heat and spread with abandon -- even with all three of us alone at the same table! One awesome turkish dealer who dealt down to no more than 10 cards, and once literally to the last card. I'd never seen that before. Also, one craps dealer who kept asking if I liked this one (hot, russian) cocktail waitress in this creepy leering way. I think he might have been trying to pimp her, which is weird since I'm obviously a low roller.

First rule of TR's -- don't give away explicit information about casinos, or when you played there. Remember, there are many spies!

>Back to btown for sleep and then another hour, up 20 units. Some stares from > Overall, we cleared over $700 between us, and no one lost.

If you won some money, that's great, but really just luck over such a short trip. It is a good thing, because a big loss and your team might have had a really bad time.

>Questions:

>1. How bad is it to play at the same table as your counter friends?

Probably about 5-th in the all-time counter sin list. Above it are things like saying "I am a counter" to the pit boss.

>2. How can I convince my friend who had a lucky streak on his first trip not to overbet his wad?

Don't try and control your friends. It is their life and their money. Suggest good books, but if your friend bet $50, then it is time to ditch him as a team mate until he learns a thing or two.

>3. We used our real names at all these places. Should we pick one place to flat bet for comps and then go anonymous for AP at other places? How do you folks swing the comps v. advantage play issue?

I choose 2 or 3 casinos and play just for comps, everywhere else I am anonymous. At the comp casinos, I don't count agressively (or much at all) and play other games like SF-21, craps, and video poker. A little investment can be worth a TON of comps value.

>4. Going to Vegas for first time in 2 weeks. Recommendations on the strip? downtown?

At your level of play, the strip doesn't offer much. If your max bet is $25, stay downtown. If you want a great SD game, try the Western and LVC. Just don't spread much, even when your max is $25, they watch everyone.

Good luck to you!

And by the way, I am not a pro, but I hope my answers had value anyway!

--Mayor

 

[Imaya]

Interesting post and replies....BUT I don't understand something. We are all here understanding what probabilities are right ? So how can you only think about wasting some money in crap, poker etc ? Maybe I'm lucky because I'm the oposite of gambling...I hate casinos...basicly, I'm a kind of bohemian. Maybe it's why I can easily take their money away and have no discipline problems like having "feeling" while playing.