Just got back from Shreveport, spending great time with Doc and Rose, and a new student for the upcoming Atlantic City class.

Doc and Rose are two of the most gracious and supportive people I have met. I am so pleased that this new adventure of mine with GTC has allowed me to meet such quality people. Who knew?

Both are very disciplined players, playing when conditions are right, and not so long as to tire. We had numerous sessions at the tables, usually no more than 2 a day. Doc’s best was a nice 35, and my best I describe below. We all had good rolls interspersed with some short ones – pesky 4-3 and 5-2. I brought my GTC Throwing and Receiving stations, set up in my room. Doc and Rose were nice enough to help me with my wrist action, which was causing me trouble. But I don’t yet have the beautifully grouped and perfectly thrown dice they have – but I will.

In a addition to spending time at our favorite casino in Shreveport, when the tables were full, Doc and Rose took me to some of the local casinos. There’s were 14′, but SR1 is fine for me, since I also practice with my stations at both 8′ and 10′. After applying the corrections Doc and Rose gave me, I did nicely.

A friend of mine, the new student, was banned from our favorite casino, and could not join us there. In fact, he is banned from every casino in the area. Except one casino will let him make bets, but he is forbidden from throwing. He often throws short, which I am confident will be corrected at the Atlantic City class. I was going to join him one afternoon at the one casino where my young and impetuous friend could at least stand by the table, but I did not want to impose on Doc and Rose. Nevertheless, without my asking, that morning, Doc and Rose suggested we try that very casino, knowing that was where my friend was staying. I called my friend, who was pleasantly surprised and rushed to get up and meet us at the tables.

What ensued was great fun. The one open table was long and soft, with an unusually decorated layout. SR1 and SR2 were open. Rose did not care for the table, but I said, "Rose, how can you pass up such a beautifully decorated layout?" With a small laugh but unimpressed, Rose went to search for 9/6 Video Poker, so I took SR1 and took Doc SR2. I asked, "Are you going to throw left handed?" Doc said no, took the dice, then sidled up his right hip to the table and proceeded to throw with his right hand swinging right to left, opposite a swing when at SL. It was beautiful to behold, as good as any I have ever seen. Unfortunately, the dice landed on the rail SL2. I laughed and said, "That was the best rail shot I have ever seen." I hope Doc doesn’t mind me sharing that, but it’s too funny to leave out. Of course, the rest of his throws were good. A position opened, so Doc moved to SL. Two rounds later, Doc joined Rose at the buffet. I spent 2 or 3 hours at the table. I did ok but not great. I think my best was 15+ rolls and made less than $100. I don’t count my throws or total my chips during play, normally, since I find it distracting. My friend really appreciated our joining him at the one place in which he can at least participate.

Doc and Rose headed home on Wednesday. I stayed 2 more days. What followed for me was a day of great difficulty at the tables, by myself. For every good hand, I would have 2 short hands. And it was 45 minutes between my getting back the dice.

— SO MANY GRIPS —
On Friday, late evening, I practiced for 4 hours straight, struggling with my grip, which I had changed 3 weeks before. With my old grip, I had difficulty getting my fingers (ring, middle, and index) lining up properly on the back of the dice. I had my gripper and mirror, so I could see either my index or ring finger was higher than my middle finger. With my new grip, I tried 2 things:
1) Place all 3 fingers on the table to level the 3 fingers, then, using my finger pads, grip the dice, with my pinky keeping the dice from splitting. The dice grouped well with somewhat low throws, but not with higher release.
2) Same as (1), except, using my fingertips, forming a C with my fingers, grip the dice, again with my pinky keeping the dice from splitting. The results were not an improvement.

I have seen instructors use these grips, and my son, LTAmerica, does very well with grip (2).

I have not said this before, but, while I throw left handed, I am, in fact right-handed. About 6 years ago, I lost feeling in half of my right hand and am not able to make fine movements with my fingers. At work, I started using my left hand for PC mouse control and for anything requiring accurate finger movement. This is why I throw dice with my left hand, so it takes me longer than normal for finger positions to feel "normal". And, my middle finger is just a bit skewed at the knuckle, making it hard to line up those 3 fingers.

I went back to my original grip, which is to take the dice with my thumb and middle finger, using my index and pinky fingers to press the dice together. I then position my index and ring finger on either side of my middle finger. I found my throw was greatly improved. The interesting thing is, I think my working so hard with grips (1) and (2) above gave my index finger and ring finger the memory of where to be positioned to be even with my middle finger.

Then I took a 20 minute nap, at which time it was 3 AM Saturday morning. I got up and then warmed up for just a few minutes and went to the tables. There were still 3 tables running, and I got my spot at SR1. This was my "Come to Jesus" moment. When the dice came to me, ($5 table, 100x odds) I decided not to make an ATS bet – after all, this was my first throw after a long night of turmoil. I decided I would keep count this time so I set aside 4 white and some red. I then proceeded to have the best throw of my life, so far. My odds bet started at $20, with no Come bet. 4 rolls later I hit my point. I kept my odds at $20, and added a Come bet. Within 4 rolls I made the Come bet, which came down, and my point. Feeling more comfortable (I would not say confident), I increased my odds to $30. I decided to keep a Come bet going, but with no odds except for one, until I had 4 collections. I hit the Small within 15 rolls, but I hardly noticed since I had no bet on it. Only one guy in the corner had $5 each on it. After making another point and 2 Come bets before roll 15, I put $30 odds on all, but only $20 on 4 and 10 – 4 and 10 were never my point. On roll 31, I hit 12, so the game stopped for one payout of the ATS. I upped my odds to $50 on all but 4 and 10, which I put at $30. I never hit a 7 until my 44th roll. Yes, I rolled 44 times in one hand – my new best game.

My betting was very conservative, so I only doubled my buy-in. But I am pleased. The fellow in the corner, who I noticed was over $100 a number (no big bettors like my friend), was so pleased, he came around the corner to shake my hand with 4 greens, not that I need or expect tips. But it was a nice gesture.

Satisfied, I went to bed around 5 AM, got up at 11 AM Saturday, and went home. Just did my laundry. The practice tables are still on my car back seat, and I’ll head to Biloxi to meet a friend tomorrow, Monday, morning.

Thank you Doc and Rose for your time, mentoring, and friendship. Let’s get together again, soon.

Replies: