Sorry for a late trip report, but here goes. First trip to Vegas where I was playing with $10 PL and full odds on 3 #s and $5 with 10x odds on 3 numbers at select spots. I had done it before in Louisiana and the sky did not fall. It did not fall in Vegas either. The larger amounts on the table are getting more comfortable.

Monday November 10, 2014: Rolled into Vegas around 1pm PST; rented a car; stopped off at Whole Foods; bought a salad and took it downtown where I was staying at a really great hotel—one might even call it ‘grand’. Ate and took a nap then met up with Griz to watch MNF (I’m not sure Griz is on this board anymore). Started out by having the Philadelphia Eagles cover me while I had dinner. Up nicely at the start without rolling a die! We finished MNF and headed to France and played at the capital. Very nice tables, good crews and no heat. Hit em for a little there. Off to bed after that.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014: Main playing day. Up very early due to the time zone change. Met Griz over at this place named after a big city in Brazil. I have yet to win big there and in fact neither of us did any damage or really suffered any. Griz had to go work some convention or something, so the rest of the trip, I was a lone wolf prowling the casinos. Went back downtown mid morning after breakfast and tried another of my favorite downtown spots but had no luck. Took a break and made a little money at video poker which I am learning to play with an advantage. More on that in a bit. Later, I hit a small pay out on the Megabucks machine (some of you know I’m a disciplined player almost to a fault, but I always allow myself up to $50 per day on Megabucks ). Hell, somebody has to win that progressive jackpot! Then I went back to my hotel which does not have full pay VP and pasted them pretty good with a craps roll in the 20s. Slowing increasing the girth of the wallet.

Took a break for lunch and a nap then back to work…er…playing. Walked over to 1st street to revisit my earlier haunt and lost a little at craps and decided to kill time with a little $1 unit VP. Stuck a Benjamin in the hole and started playing. After about a half hour of trading blows with the machine, it finally dealt me two Kings which I held. On the draw they became 4 of a kind. Cashed out and walked again. Wallet began getting noticeably packed with 100s (the wins plus the BR). Tried some more craps again to no avail. Back to the room and did a count to see how far up I was. Turns out I was above my goal threshold for a two day trip. With the day waning it was time to play prevent D.

Walked back to 1st street and played craps again but this time for $5 pass and double odds and two come bets, spread as it goes etc….blah, blah, blah, strategy. I had been playing at my hotel with $5 and 10x odds on every number. Serious difference from 3,4,5x when you can spank the 4 and 10 with $50 backing them up! Anyway, so I didn’t win at craps so went back to VP and played 25₵ Double Bonus VP with max bets. Put $40 into the machine and killed time. Got down to $13.25 when the machine dealt me two aces. You can guess the rest. I held them and got dealt two more—800 unit payout! Yee hah! Though I was resisting the urge to dis myself for not playing with $1 units. Maybe this protecting the wins strategy is the wrong one and you should play balls to the wall all the way! Still it was a nice pay. Won a little more money at craps and sports betting and then retired.

Wednesday November 11, 2014: Departure day. Couldn’t decide on craps or VP before having to leave for the airport. Elected VP because I would risk a set amount and could cash it out. With craps, sometimes getting a win going takes a couple of turns with the dice. Played $1 units this time at JOB. 2d draw I get four clubs. Yup, I held them and the draw gave me the 5th one. Excellent payout for less than 5 minutes work! Cashed out and left for the airport.

For me this trip was about continuing to practice and learn discipline and knowing how to play to max advantage and without looking for the unrealistic HUGE win all the time. Luck is always necessary, but the more you play with an advantage strategy, the luckier you get. And, my favorite: “Pigs get fat; Hogs get slaughtered”. On this trip I did not have a ‘brag’ roll to boast about. Nothing over twenty, but I ground them down over time. When I won, I walked, and I held the losses to predetermined, acceptable amounts. The wins, some bigger than others just kept outpacing the losses and the long and the short of it is that I came home with the trip fully paid for and a nice addition to the 401G. The 401G is getting big enough that I am soon going to go up to $15 units in craps, with full odds. Right now, its $10, as I mentioned. It is a slow, deliberate process and it may back up before it resumes the ascent, but slow and steady wins the race, or so I’m told.

Hope this was entertaining and maybe even helpful to somebody.

Keep On Rollin’

Alamo

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