fwb
Well-Known Member
Just got back from my first trip to Vegas. Since I won't have a chance to return any time soon, I hit the tables very aggressively. If you're interested in specific details about all sorts of heat from just about any shop, ranging from red chip to pink chip action, shoot me a pm.
Tips I have for anyone new to vegas:
-The best games on the strip are at least $25 min (can be higher during busy times), so low-risk bankroll management is key
-If you need smaller mins, downtown is the best place. Some good cheap games there, but the casinos are definitely a step down (in fact, maybe a few steps down). Also, there are abundant numbers of slow, old, stupid people. I seemed to end up playing with the slowwwwwwwwwwwwwest players I've ever seen....you know those types who pick up their two cards so one is directly on top of the other, and then take >10 seconds to slowly slip the top card about a cm to the side (just because of the awful pair side-bet that everyone there seems to love)?
-As far as heat goes, as long as you're not playing numerous long sessions at the same place, you can generally get away with all the counting you want if you're landing on the left side of the bell curve. Heck, even sitting on a modest 3-4 units/hr mean winrate is usually OK. But, as soon as you hit that positive variance, LEAVE. The shift manager is on his way. My quickest backoff (15 mins) was at an independent place I was brand new to. The table was REALLY crappy (<50% pen) and I was only playing to pass the time while waiting to meet someone there. I got some good variance and won about 2 std devs worth above the measly EV I could squeeze out of this game when the pit asked me to play anything other than 21.
-I haven't decided yet whether it is better to rathole chips in your pocket or not. Most pits usually keep very close track of what is going in or out of the tray with those touch screens at the corner of the table (or on paper at the smaller casinos). At one point when the tray was almost out of black I offered to color some up and the pit replied "Yes...please...and we know how much you have, no use in hiding it." Maybe someone else can chime in on this one. Also, I believe compulsive tray counting by the pit is one of the first signs of heat.
-Getting a $15 3-day pass on the deuce bus is probably your best option for transportation especially if you're casino hopping. Comped limos also work
-To be honest I did not come out ahead this trip. Playing aggressively can hit you with some big losses (which they let you get away with for as long as you want), but too much heat when that variance swings the other way can prevent your big wins from offsetting them. Something to keep in mind.
Tips I have for anyone new to vegas:
-The best games on the strip are at least $25 min (can be higher during busy times), so low-risk bankroll management is key
-If you need smaller mins, downtown is the best place. Some good cheap games there, but the casinos are definitely a step down (in fact, maybe a few steps down). Also, there are abundant numbers of slow, old, stupid people. I seemed to end up playing with the slowwwwwwwwwwwwwest players I've ever seen....you know those types who pick up their two cards so one is directly on top of the other, and then take >10 seconds to slowly slip the top card about a cm to the side (just because of the awful pair side-bet that everyone there seems to love)?
-As far as heat goes, as long as you're not playing numerous long sessions at the same place, you can generally get away with all the counting you want if you're landing on the left side of the bell curve. Heck, even sitting on a modest 3-4 units/hr mean winrate is usually OK. But, as soon as you hit that positive variance, LEAVE. The shift manager is on his way. My quickest backoff (15 mins) was at an independent place I was brand new to. The table was REALLY crappy (<50% pen) and I was only playing to pass the time while waiting to meet someone there. I got some good variance and won about 2 std devs worth above the measly EV I could squeeze out of this game when the pit asked me to play anything other than 21.
-I haven't decided yet whether it is better to rathole chips in your pocket or not. Most pits usually keep very close track of what is going in or out of the tray with those touch screens at the corner of the table (or on paper at the smaller casinos). At one point when the tray was almost out of black I offered to color some up and the pit replied "Yes...please...and we know how much you have, no use in hiding it." Maybe someone else can chime in on this one. Also, I believe compulsive tray counting by the pit is one of the first signs of heat.
-Getting a $15 3-day pass on the deuce bus is probably your best option for transportation especially if you're casino hopping. Comped limos also work
-To be honest I did not come out ahead this trip. Playing aggressively can hit you with some big losses (which they let you get away with for as long as you want), but too much heat when that variance swings the other way can prevent your big wins from offsetting them. Something to keep in mind.