Rose and Doc took a little time off for some fun at a new location a couple of states north and a little east of Texas.  Had never been there before.  

Found many of the coronavirus problems during the trip such as:  no one to assist with luggage as we got on and off the bus to the car rental area.  Of course the cost of a rental car was outrageous, but what else is new.  

At the hotel/casino there was no valet parking or bellman to assist with the luggage.  We did manage to get to our room.  No maid service.  After a couple of days we had to track down one of the maids for fresh towels. 

After we got checked in we took a short rest period and then it was off to find the casino–primarily looking for the good craps table.  Knew in advance they only had 14 foot tables and we had practiced for these longer tables.  Four tables–2 crapless and two regular. Our spots were open at the regular table and we bought in.  Rose was at SR1 (she is a lefty) and Doc at SL1. 

Rose immediately got the dice.  We were tired from the trip so we kept our bets low.  She had a short roll and lost a little.  Doc did not get on the table with her roll.  Doc got the dice and also had a very short roll.  We were down a little.  Thank goodness for the five count and come betting.  We both had a second roll which unfortunately was short but we won a little back, but still down a few portraits of Ben Franklin, but certainly not in any trouble.  Doc headed to VP and Rose to Mississippi Stud.  After short sessions on these games we called it a night and headed to the room for a good nights sleep.  We were tired from the trip so that evening we kept everything slow and easy.  Did not want to lose a lot and start out in a big hole.  

Next morning after a little breakfast, we headed to the craps table.  This casino had both Crapless and regular craps tables open.  One of each was open.  The regular craps table was empty so we bought in at our respective positions–SR1 Rose and Doc SL1.  I have found that it is a good idea to go up on Rose on the pass line as she frequently hits her pass line bet pretty quick—AND she did.  This was the only bet Doc made until she had three bets up–pass line and 2 come bets all with odds.  

After she gets her three bets up Doc then goes for his additional 2 come bets.  We did not know that her opening turn with the dice she would go absolutely bananas–she was on fire.  She was rolling box number after box number — it was a thing of beauty.  This casino had 100 times odds and we both had all the box numbers covered and were adding to the odds with every hit on any  number.  

Funny thing if we got $150 in odds on any given number (a 4 for example) when she hit it the odds paid $300, the dealers did not want to pay with $100 chips so we got a big stack of $25 chips.  The chip rack for both of us were totally green.  Crazy.   

Of course a couple of additional players showed up.  All were place bet players–don’t they know that with 100 times odds come betting is the way to go.  Only an occasional pass line bet was made by them.  Guess they are clueless that with 100 times odds come betting is the way to go.  Finally the inevitable did happen on roll 44–7/out, as finally one die had an extra roll sideways for a so called good 7 of 2/5–all 7’s are bad but a 1/6 really stinks.   

Doc got the dice and had a nice profitable roll in the high teens–nothing to brag about but a nice small profit..  We five counted the random rollers–a couple had their 7 out before the five count was complete and one rolled making the 5 count for a very small loss.  We each took another roll losing a very small about back and colored up and headed to the cashier to receive our many new beautiful portraits of Ben Franklin.  A great way to start our trip. 

We would play some more for the next several days.  We did everything that GTC teaches in class:

1.  Make sure you use the hard way set. 

2.   Have the grip correct with middle finger and thumb centered on the dice with the 3 fingers straight across the front of the dice slightly higher than the thumb.

3.  Have a very light grip on the dice so that you do not open your hand as the dice roll off the fingers giving you the back spin you need for a good roll.

4.  Proper betting using pass line / come betting with the maximum in odds you are comfortable with and is within your bank roll.  (As Dom points out you want to bet a minimum of twice your base bet in odds but the better advantage to you is to bet at least 5 times the base bet on your odds if your bankroll allows it.  Another point from Dom to remember is that if your bankroll doesn’t allow you to bet the 5 times on the odds stick with less come bets but betting the higher odds.)

We continued to play for the next few days and of course had some ups and downs.  But we had enough profitable turns with the dice to have a steady increase in our collection of portraits of Ben Franklin.

Rose did get lucky at Mississippi Stud with a full house for a very nice win.  She played this game several times with a little up and down but kept almost all of the nice win from the full house.

The most interesting thing to Doc was what one of the very experienced dealers said and I quote “you guys are a breath of fresh air and a real pleasure to deal to.  You know what you are doing and know how to play”  Of course we were tipping regularly while playing.  Other players hardly ever tipped the dealers if at all.  

We did go to 2 other casinos.  At both only one table was open and unfortunately at one it was crapless.  Doc was a little clueless as he did not notice that it was crapless; he had thrown down his money for chips when he noticed.  He got his money back before they could count out the chips.  We left. We don’t like crapless, but this is just a personal decision. 

The second casino we went to we did get on the table.  Again a 14 footer.  A little bouncy but playable.  Won a small amount, ate some lunch and left.

We did hit a couple of spots for tourists.  An antique Train Station built in the 1800’s.  Very interesting architecture.  Also hit a very unique hamburger place that was established in 1955.  Probably no maintenance in over 65 years!!!  A very small cheese burger (no veggies) but waffle fries that were to die for.  Only stools to sit on in front of the bar.  Interesting place.  

We had a great trip.  The coronavirus had kept us pretty close to home and it was really good to get out and about for a change.  

Looking forward to the GTC class in Vegas in October.  

Rose and Doc

PS–Playing the way that GTC teaches allowed us to have a great fun trip playing craps!!!

Replies: