My wife, soon to be RTR4Ever when she takes the Elite Video Poker class this coming weekend in Vegas, and I just returned from Biloxi. I had a very successful weekend. Every time, except one, I went to the table in the local casinos, I either doubled my buy-in or tripled it. This is the best trip I’ve had yet. After the Shreveport Primer class and months of practice with my GTC Receiving Station and GTC Throwing Station, I am now having consistent success at the craps table. It was never like this before. The one and only time I did not double my buy-in was the day we were leaving (4 day visit), and I was tired. At least I had the good sense to swallow my pride and frustration and leave the table.

But, wow, what a great experience. I stuck to pass line bets and come bets with odds, starting with 3x odds, then 5x odds, then 10x odds. Some casinos were 20x odds, but I stopped at 10x. My favorite session, the last night there, at a crapless table, I hit the 11 three times, paying 3x the bet. The 3rd time, I pressed to $100. Two rolls later, I hit the 11 again, paying $300!

Some tables were hard felt on wood, others were soft and bouncy. On the soft tables, I lowered my thumb to get more backspin, just like I was instructed in Shreveport (by Rick), and I lowered the arc by 15 degrees (30 degree arc instead of 45). Worked very well, even though the bounce looked a bit wonky on those tables.

At the start of my session each time, my first 1 or 2 hands would be <10 rolls. But since I was doing pass line and come bets (how many depended on payouts up to that roll), my losses were low, saving my buy-in for the long hands. BTW, I’m using "hand" to mean all of my rolls from the start of my turn with the dice to my 7-out. I’m still new to craps and don’t have familiarity with all of the terms.

By my 2nd or 3rd, I was warmed up and ready for that table’s conditions. Then I would make a 20+ or 30+ hand with a good number of paydays.

When I relayed my trip to my 2nd son, an Army Lieutenant, who also plays craps and who just received his GTC Receiving Station, he decided, after getting his CO’s approval, to join me and RTR4Ever for the Vegas Primer class, while I take the Refresher class. Can’t wait.

Interestingly, I noticed another player using a controlled throw, but different from ours, and successful only 1 out of 5 hands for maybe 15 rolls. I had coffee with him that last day. He mentioned that the first day of my trip, he came to the table, saw all of my come bets (think I was on roll 15+ at that point) but saw nothing on 8 (he likes to place bet on 6 and 8, very common). Then he said he saw me hammer 5 for 3 times. (I was SR, he was SL, so I didn’t notice his bets). He then placed a bet on 5, and watched me hammer it 3 more times (at least I’m consistent). He’s been playing craps for over a decade, but I only saw him have modest success. He like to bet across 3 to 6 points at a time with an Iron Cross variation. After that session, he would look for me, even finding me at another casino. I mentioned GTC to help him improve his game, but he did not seem to feel the need. I was thinking to myself, "You’ve been doing this for a decade. I went to a GTC class 6 months ago and already my game is 5 times better than yours, and I’m not a third as good as the GTC instructors." I didn’t say it out loud, of course, being a southern gentleman and officer (former). I never saw his grip, but suggested to him his throw was very low and prone to roll more with randomized results. I also recommended come bets over place bets. He lives in Texas, too, so we exchanged numbers, and maybe he’ll come around.

Looking forward to the Vegas seminar and refining my stance, grip, and throw. My thanks to Dom and the GTC instructors for sharing their knowledge and skill, and for making all this possible. May the Lord bless you all.

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