Winter Spring 2021 Vegas Trip

[MDawg]

New Allegiant Stadium complete!
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On the way in on the Strip we did notice some level of crowds, especially on corners, which leads us to think that at least in terms of numbers, Vegas is starting to make a bit of a comeback.

However, on closer inspection, doesn't seem to be much of a gaming crowd, and the stench of marijuana still permeates in front of most of the major casinos on the Strip - meaning that, people are here to party and unwind, which is fine, but not the typical Vegas masses of just a year or more ago, but more of a lower end group not so much here to spend. Not so well dressed, not so good looking, just here to have a good time and not to make any major statement. Is this the same downscale crowd we observed in Fall 2020? Couldn't say for sure - will advise. Perhaps that more ritzy crowd of yesteryear will appear as the weather warms and room rates go back up.

That's not to say that the upscale Vegas crowd is absent - just, you won't find it milling out on the Strip or inside most of the Strip casinos these days, not even inside some of the nicer properties that typically (but not lately) attract the higher end visitors.

When I tipped the bellman who loads our bags on a cart $10., he seemed genuinely grateful. When I gave the bellman who brought the bags up to the suite $25., he said "Thank YOU, " after I said "thank you," to him, which leads me to further believe that the high end crowd is absent. I always give the valet on Day One arrival $5., which isn't a lot, but this time I could tell that the guy really appreciated it. These poor guys seem hungry for tips. I mean they are always happy to get a gratuity, but right now they seem happier than usual.

[MDawg]

We're settled in now. Trip reports (table game results) will be posted time delayed, without pictures at first. I'll come back as we move on to each new property and post the pictures that go along with the chronicle.

[MDawg]

Day 1 Play.

I sat down to play, and my credit line wasn't active because it had been so long since I had played at this property. I went to the cage and they told me it would take up to an hour and a half to re-activate it. An hour and a half, I said? Come on - how about five minutes.

I went back to the table to wait and the pit boss kept checking her screen to see if the activation had gone through. I texted my host and he said not to worry, that they were on it. I watched one shoe, pit boss cut, pass by, and a girl who sat down with five grand and who was flat betting about 700 a hand, eventually lost it all. Other than a pattern (that eventually broke) where no side would go past two, it wasn't much of a shoe. I am glad my money wasn't available for pay on that shoe, although, I probably would have won some on it, but not easily.

After she left I had them break down that shoe and shuffle a new one that I cut. I pulled an 8K marker. This one was off to a rip roaring start. I put 200 on bank, won, 600 on bank, won. I put 1800 on bank and it tied. Darn! I lost my nerve and dropped my bet to a few hunny - and bank won again. And two more times after that. I won the first five hands, all bank, and then a fabulous pattern emerged quickly of that player would go only ONE - this kept up for about 2/3 of the shoe. Over all this was a very easy shoe that followed easily discernible patterns. You'd have had to be a fool to lose at this shoe.

Another player observed my winning came up and played with me, copying, and won handily too. Two Asians who had sat down at the table kept betting against me - and losing. One of them was arguing with the other that they should switch to following me, but, sadly, they did not follow and lost pretty much all their bets until they tossed a 5000 chip on Player to bet against me again. The pit boss wouldn't even accept their bet until she did some research - whatever research that might have been - into WHERE they got the white chip. Finally, they allowed that bet, and they won - that one hand, and then walked away from the table. It wasn't an easy win for them. Player and Bank started with 2, they drew a face card to remain at 2, and then I drew an 8 to drop to 0. I was actually glad they had won that bet even though I lost 500 (dropped down from 1000 after all the delay) against them, and told them so. I didn't begrudge them that case bet. But, all that single bet did is bring them back to even. They didn't win.

I did, about 9700 (plus tipped out 600 to the dealer in terms of side bets), the player who copied me did, but they did not win.

Back at the cage I suggested their cashing it all, but they played that game of where if I had cashed it they would have temp closed my line, so I didn't argue and cashed just 1700 and set aside the 8K in chips.

One session, done for the day. That's the way MDawg does!

[MDawg]

After winning yesterday, I took a victory stroll on the Strip and tipped Elvis a dollar for luck.

Then ensconced in the suite with the wife to eat sushi.

After dinner, I mentioning tipping Elvis and that got her going - with Karaoke. She brought out her portable Karaoke machine microphone, and had us sing the following duet

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and then I sang MY WAY solo, followed by some more risque numbers (nothing to do with Elvis) and her dancing on the tables. And that's the dream Vegas lifestyle in my book, winning, retiring to a nice suite, and chilling with the hot young wife.

HOWEVER, to give you the PSA some seek - it's not all fun and games for everyone. A week ago I got a call from my friend, the one (https://www.truepassage.com/forums/showthread.php/12160-And-this-is-where-gambling-will-lead-you-if-you-re-not-careful) who had a stack of chips like this about a year and a half ago -
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the one who had spent about two years continuously ensconced on a full comp in one of the major Vegas strip casinos, eventually dumping about two million - all he had or could get his hands on. Now he's so broke that he can't afford to fix the broken windows on his German sports car, and he and his girlfriend were 86'ed from a mid level casino on the Strip a couple months or so ago.

Last week she called me and told me that my former high roller friend had beat her up. Why I've become the shoulder to cry on for all these friends of mine who have legal problems, I can't say. She was crying hysterically and was determined to call the police on him - which she did, but the witnesses visiting at her place who also spoke to the police contradicted her account and made her out to be the aggressor. SHE ended up arrested and actually taken to jail and held until her first court appearance two days later. This is actually unheard of for a female to call 911 and end up being the one booked for felony domestic violence.

But it just goes to show where gambling may take some - all the way down the tubes. Both are compulsive gamblers and have lost most everything due to it. She blames him - and certainly he was in dire straits before they even moved in together, but often addiction take two to walk down that lonely path.

[MDawg]

Looking back at that first shoe where I didn't have my line available yet, and couldn't play - it was obvious as it passed along that this was not the greatest shoe. I even said so to the girl who was playing it, as it happened.

And then - the second shoe, the one I won just under ten large on, it was obvious this was a good shoe.

Why people can't grasp that it is quite possible to detect what is happening - as it happens - is beyond me.

[MDawg]

Day Two play

Four shoes - pretty steady climb, there was one hand that was somewhat make or break where I plopped 2K on player and drew threes 7, but she drew three faces to hand me the win. I had a couple shoes that were very good, one that was marginal.

Ended 7700 ahead - but hold on! as I was sitting chatting with the dealer a suit came out of nowhere and declared that I had been "shortchanged" 500 at some point in the past, and had the dealer hand me another 500 chip. So I ended +8200, and had tipped out maybe five hunny or so (via side bets for the dealers, as I do always), along the way.

I had pulled an 8K marker only so that was a clean double - which I consider to be excellent.

A guy sat down at the table and mirrored nearly all my bets, but more or less just flat betting (200 - 300) but still wound up winning. A play mirroring MDawg generals ends in the PLUS,

The computer showed my average bet at 450, but I negotiated it up to 600 with the pit boss.

It is WORK though, make no mistake about it. Requires great concentration and discipline.

This Baccarat dealer too commented that Baccarat is the best game in the house.

Heading to the spa suite she reserved for herself to have lunch with her. Another victorious day.

I haven't been able to cash much of it though because they keep wanting me to deposit or have my line temp. closed. So, I had them cash 3200 and tossed that into the winner's envelope along with 13K in chips now. Don't want to jinx it but the total is pushing +20K now.

[MDawg]

The spa suite she rented for the day, that I spent a couple hours in myself, is the only way to get a private salon, private steam, private treatments, private hot tubs, private everything these days. Why wouldn�t a whale just put this highest end spa suite on perm standby for himself? People just aren�t into health. As it stands, whether this gets comp'ed off or not I wouldn't have a problem with her renting it every now and then.

This is the ONLLLYY way to fly.

[MDawg]

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So the story behind this is that one of my best friend's was trying HARD to get with my wife's sister, showering her with expensive gifts and deng for a full year but never even managed to get a kiss off her. (Rookie mistake - spending on a girl before the one year mark.) One night he rented a suite at the Hilton in _______ and assumed that sex was in the air, showed up early with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot on ice, and she eventually called him and said she was showing up late with friends, obviously NOT for sex. He got so upset that he just left, and let her sister and her friends have the suite.

They gave us this bottle free in the spa today, we didn't even open it will probably give it to one of my hosts at another property.

[MDawg]

Day Three play

I started at a standard 100 min table, where pretty much every seat was already filled. The weekend crowd is here early. At the center of the table a few loud drunken kids who kept losing until they placed case bets and then managed to recoup most of their bankrolls until they lost it again. A Vietnamese guy showed at the end with a substantial bankroll and was really doing well, but kept pushing his luck until he, too, lost it all, and scurried away.

The center seat kid was so drunk he couldn't remember what the sides of the cards meant - his less drunken friend had to keep reminding him things like - two sided card and a four sided - Dude! you're done just throw it in. The drunken center kept boasting about how much money he had to play with, but when his friend lost it all and asked him to lend him a couple K, the kid starting singing a different tune of, "Dude, I'm so broke! you don't even know how broke I am."

Finally the guys asked for their last two grand from the pit boss, and given the dichotomy at the table - people betting against each other and the drunken noisiness of losers (drunken noisiness of winners is one thing, of losers, quite another), as soon as they opened a higher limit table - I left, ahead 500 which I had managed to hold on to with difficulty. I had pulled an eight grand marker so I had 8500.

At the new table, new shoe, I played for a while, got up some, then was down as much as about -6K, put down 2500 (case bet), won, and along the way had another occasion for a second close to case bet too. Case bet to the extent of - I would have had to pull another marker if I had lost. However, I also had a great chop where I played 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 (then got a tie and chickened out on the 3000 bet, which at that moment I even had 300 on the side for the dealer), eased back to 1000 (with 100 on the side for the dealer), won, then lost the next hand, regrouped - eventually got down to that second case bet, but after an 11 player run in one shoe, and 11 bank run in another shoe later, I was over ten grand ahead. At this point the dealer, who had easily dropped a grand maybe more into the toke box by way of my side bets, started hinting at that maybe I should quit. Not by way of any Papal Bull
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but definitely more than just a mild suggestion. I took the hint, although I had just ordered another non-alcoholic beverage, and wanted to tip the server a twenty versus my usual fiver. As I pulled it out it tore in half, caught on my 18K gold money clip,
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and the dealer joked about how was sure that they would prefer a ripped twenty to an intact five, and to leave it up to them which one they wanted. The server, whom I'd seen walking around but hadn't been the one who had been taking care of me previously, was form fitted into her cocktail dress to the point where it was distracting, and smiled as she assured me that the torn bill would be no problem.

So I walked - 10,400 ahead for the day, making the three day tally about +30K now! It's ALLL good.

[MDawg]

Started with this
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in the suite, which got me thinking that things were really going to happen downstairs today.

First off my usual table had this insane Asian girl sitting at it, stacked, thin, shapely and very pretty. Some other Asian guy sat down next to her in the center spot, and I assumed he was with her, but turns out he wasn't. He bet recklessly and lost his entire bankroll, a few grand, relatively quickly.

As soon as he left, I moved right next to her and introduced myself. We got the fact that she had a boyfriend and I was married out of the way right off the bat, so there was none of that, instead we just tried to reason through the shoes together. Her problem, which I tried to point out to her, was that she wasn't pressing into the runs. She said that she was afraid to change her bet on the runs because it seemed like she would lose every time she increased. She also kept saying that she had this thing about constantly getting a nine without the ten or face to back it up.

Anyway, we had a couple of good shoes with some decent side by side runs, and she ended more or less even and left.

I kept playing, and occasionally another player would come up, play hard and pretty much lose, and leave. I was never up more than 2500 and at the end of the third shoe I left 2000 ahead, with a 600 average. I had a couple big bets, one 3000 and one 2000 (the 2000 was my final bet actually, which brought me back to +2000), and I won both of them. No case bets today. I did get as low as -2000 for the session at one point.

One thing that in an odd way threw me off a tad was that this one particular dealer simply ASSUMED that I was going to get a natural or something good every hand somehow, from my mannerisms. When I have two cards that I know add up to not much, such as a two sided and a three sided, I don't look much further and just wait for the dealer to open the opposing side at my request. I spend a tad more time looking to see if I have something good, if the combination of the two cards are such that there is hope that they will add up to 6 or better. But it was as if every time I looked at my cards, whether quickly or less than quickly, this dealer kept saying, "I know you have something good." Finally I had to say, "Come on - I don't get a nine EVERY time," and the dealer came back with, "I know you _____, you ALWAYS win." I actually didn't like playing with that dealer today because it interrupted the flow of my thinking to have that subtle pressure on me to win every hand. Maybe it had to do with that the hot young Asian girl (who wasn't by any means a skank - as corny as it might sound, she was a lovely girl) was local, and the dealers knew her even better than they knew me, and they wanted me to win for her. Certainly the girl was tipping out more than I was today! she had a green chip on the side of so many of her bets it eventually seemed as though it were a permanent appendage.

Anyway, I was fine with two grand. A win is a win. Until tomorrow.

I do believe I play best alone.

[MDawg]

By the way, that's the power of the Force over weak minds that I was getting those two, thousand dollar chips cashed today without having to present my player's card or hear any more of that nonsense about "we'll temp. close your line if you want to cash these out."

I just said something about, "I managed to win a little," which was true, and tossed the chips on the cage counter with the tone of a man long accustomed to quick service. :distracted: The cashier manual and machine verified the 2000, counted it out in front of me, collected the fiver I tossed her in way of a tip, and I was on my way.

[MDawg]

Day Five play

Things got a little turbulent today. I started at the 100 limit table, and then before I could play or have the no smoking sign erected at my table, before the first hand some Indian guy plopped himself next to me with a full pack of cigarettes - Marlboro menthols (that's the way to die!) no less. He was polite enough to ask if I minded if he smoked, but - what could I say really, other than, "I suppose you're going to anyway" - and the guy turned out to be a chain smoker.

The plexiglass barriers actually seemed to help, but - now 12 hours later my throat feels it a tad.

Three others including a guy with his girlfriend eventually arrived at the table, and bets were all over the place. Finally, I found a sequence where I won something like 11 hands in a row at 500 a pop to rally back from a couple grand negative, and people started to follow me. When the shoe ended I was up two grand. The Indian guy left the table but said that he would return. I didn't want any more of that cancer stick fuming next door, so I colored up and left to a higher limit table with 10000 even - 2000 plus the 8000 marker I pulled.

At the higher limit table I played alone all evening, which was good. What was not good was that within something like the first fifteen hands I had dumped the whole ten grand including one five thousand dollar bet I lost handily. I admit I was playing harder because I kept thinking I was ahead thirty grand and could afford to take some risks. Then I started doing call bets - 2000, 1000, etc. and I won each of them, but just couldn't take those wins anywhere, until I lost a 2000 call bet on bank and had them print it to 20K. So, I was now in for 28K in markers.

The bets kept going back and forth until - somehow - I must've been down -18K for the day because I put 10K on player, all I had in front of me (CASE BET), and it wasn't an easy hand either - six card draw, and I WON! From that point on there was some back and forth and more than a few large bets I barely won (a couple 6000, an 8000 - and by barely won I mean six card draws where I ended maybe one point ahead), but eventually a few shoes later I made it back to having 9165 in front of me which represented +1165 for the day, and I called it quits. I was constantly getting stuck at -4000 for the day but eventually made it past that bump. (Not much before I stopped at +1165 I was -300 for the day and seriously considering stopping as this was almost even but I decided to play a bit longer to get to the point of being ahead something for all my effort). Pit boss told me my average for that session was 1750. I actually tried to make a case for a 2000 average, and mentioned the 10K bet, but this pit boss hadn't seen that bet, so I left it alone. 1750 is pretty strong anyway.

And so - winner's envelope has a clean 10K in cash now, plus the 23K in chips. +33K for the trip.
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Ran into my host in person. Host told me that "all host's players" were winning. In office, host also said that as of the moment while all of the room and food would be picked up easily, that couldn't get more than 200 from the spa, "because I was winning" and also because my Theo loss was only -8500. Decided to extend so will be here a bit longer at least.

While eating a sumptuous take out meal (decided to charge about two and half to the room, as long as RFB was in play) I mentioned what the host had said - about all host's players winning - to my wife. She said, "Do you believe that?" - I said, "Well maybe they are now, but will give it back later." She thought it was just a line, that the host was just trying to make it seem like "everyone's a winner at this casino!"

[MDawg]

Day Six play

Smoooooothhh Billll today as I played just 1 3/4 shoes. Beginning of the first (pit boss cut) had some zigging and zagging but from the point where I put fifteen hunny on bank and won that, the story of the scene was simply winning most of the hands, and in fact towards the very end at the dealer switch I won EVERY SINGLE HAND to the end.

Second shoe (I cut) until towards the end where the pattern shifted and I stopped and cashed out NEVER WENT PAST TWO I mean I could have murdered the rack but I was having such a good time that I forget to bet. Still, +10950 to the good, which brings me to just a hair under +44K total (who says the number 4 is bad luck?).

I showed a picture I snapped of the second shoe to another pit boss I know and pit boss remarked, you won only ten thousand on that shoe? I'm telling' yah, I frequently have the magic touch when it comes to the cut.

[MDawg]

Day Seven play

Went straight to the higher limit table again, this player who plays big sat down next to me after a bit. Player actually did all right but player's betting was all over the place - sometimes 20K and sometimes 2-3K, and no progression into the streaks. Player ended up losing some and leaving. Once player left did fine, and ended the first shoe a few grand ahead.

Second shoe I was doing all right too playing a sort of a chop perfectly and then another big player who noticed how animated I was and how well I was doing sat down next to me and bet 20K and PROMPTLY lost every hand after that as well. I dumped while that player was there and some afterwards and then paused. I looked at the shoe and declared that the next hand was going to be Player. I put first one thousand, then two, then three then finally sprinkled ten five hundred dollar chips and there and stated definitely - it's GOTTA be Player now. I KNOW it will be. Sure enough - BAM! natural nine for player and hand over. I played just five hundred next hand on Player again, won, and then ended the shoe +4030 ahead, and quit for the day.

Later in the host's office determined that they have me down at WIN +53,100, Theo loss -12,500, average bet about 1000 - and given that I have 48K in cash and chips in the winner's envelope, means I have tipped out about five grand, which sounds about right. The dealers love me!

As I generally do after winning I make the rounds and chat with some of the dealers and I found out that this player mentioned at the top has won more than one contest at this casino so far - to the tune of almost a million in winnings. So they were saying that no matter what this player claims to have lost at the tables, player is still way ahead.

[MDawg]

Day Eight play

One shoe / walked with 6000.

Was an easy shoe, bank runs, streaky, mostly repeating pattern. Early on after few losers I did do one larger bet 2000 on Bank and won with a 7 (five card draw), but otherwise my average bet was only around five hunny (which I negotiated up to 600), and I merely pressed into each run. If anything I underpaid myself I could have easily made much more on this shoe. The big player from yesterday came over and tried a thousand call bet on one of my runs but he got there too late, and didn't come back, for which I was grateful. I play best alone. I was placing red chips on the side for the dealer right and left so dealer made some money too. Everyone happy!

I cashed 1000, converted 100 of it to fives for more tips, and added the 5000 chip to the winner's zipped compartment.

Vegas is good. +54K in my pocket not counting what I have tipped out.

[MDawg]

There's a little under 16K and a little over 38K in chips in there.
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But the real point of this picture is to show how their counting machine mangled the 4000 I cashed out a couple days ago. I should mention that to them I believe I do recall exactly which station at which I cashed out that day.
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"Excuse me but, your machine mangled my payout cash. May I get a replacement?" Anyway, a little mangling is better than the torn in half twenty I tipped out that day.

Or I'll just deposit that mangled 4K and pass the problem along to the next recipient. Usually I just throw it into one of my safety deposit boxes. No, there's not nearly as much in there as Ace put away for a rainy day under his wife's name.
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By the way, getting back to CTR discussions - there is no way I got a CTR for any of this. I have cashed out barely 16K over longer than a week. At the end, I'll have them cut a check or wire the chips cashout. And this gets back to how anyone who thinks that a high roller would automatically cash out large sums doesn't know anything about high end table game play. If I had attempted to cash out even double what I did, by now they would have temp. closed my line.

[MDawg]

Day Nine play

One shoe / ahead 3300 and change, called it quits at the dealer's suggestion. "You pulled fifteen thousand, you won over three that's very good, just leave now." Who am I to argue? Dealer won a few hunny too.

Spent an hour chewing the fat with different dealers and pit bosses. I mentioned to one of them that I won, and the dealer said, "But you always win." What could I say but - yes.

At the cage I cashed 3300 in hundreds and told the cashier about how one of their machines mangled one stack of my money. "Really? All right then - let me give you brand new ones this time."

There it is on the upper right there
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all crisp and new.

Back up in the suite I told my wife I'm up over 57K now and she said "Whaaat? I had no idea." She knew I was up, but not that much, apparently. Have you ever seen that episode of The Casino (http://community.realitytvworld.com/boards/DCForumID70/17.shtml) where these two girls drove into Vegas in a brand new Porsche crowing about how they were there not to make deposits, but withdrawals. They lost. I won. I'm here to make BONA FIDE withdrawals.

[MDawg]

Day Ten play

When I came up there was one other player at the table I picked, decided to go with it. Was one of those players that bets side bets on EVERY hand? How did you know the ___ was going to hit? Oh, that's right, you bet it every hand.

But anyway, must have been this player's lucky day because was eventually up over twenty grand just on those side bets! I won some, but not much. If I had been a novice player I might've even been sucked into betting those side bets with him. Player managed to drag away from the table when was still up about 17K. I believe was a local.

On the second shoe, I was winning a bit, but when I started chunking the 500 chips on a hand here or there, I was losing. I believe I lost a 1500 hand or maybe even two 1500 hands as well, then, I looked at the shoe and declared that three more Players were a'coming. 2000 win!, 2500 win!...pause. Debate. 3000! and win. I drew a natural eight on two of those hands, and won all three. I kept winning after that and ended up tipping out 250 to the dealer via side bets although for a while there, it was looking like the dealer and I couldn't win a single hand together as something like four 50 dollar side bets went to waste. It was, interestingly, after I reduced to just 25 for the dealer on the side that we started winning together.

At the end of the second shoe I realized that I had 13,025, paid off the 8K marker, and walked with a single 5K chip and a single 25 dollar chip. Didn't bother to cash anything, up in the suite just zipped the winning chips into the green winner's side pouch.

After winning, I spent a while just talking to the dealer. I get animated after winning and start talking a lot. The whole room seems brighter I must say.

[MDawg]

As we were talking the dealer and I agreed completely on that a successful player must be disciplined and leave while ahead. Is there another way to win, other than leaving the table ahead? I play just one session a day that's it. I will return fresh and clear tomorrow, without any delusions of how easy it is to win. Today's easy win will be behind me, and I'll resume from ground zero - other than, of course, the confidence that MDawg can do it! "I'll be back after dinner" players are your average gamblers. Play your one session, win, then walk, until the next day.

Funny how I was down over 5K in TSLA today and then ended up not only winning on that trade but winning - coincidentally - 5K at Baccarat.

[MDawg]

By the way, I was given about five hunny in free play chips for one of my sessions. They were the play once only variety. They lasted two hands - lost about half on the first, won with the other half on the second half. So, they rinsed to 50%. Had no effect to speak of on the end results, during that particular session I ended up tipping out via side bets to the dealers more than I won with these chips. I'm not a grinder, and with an average bet closer to the grand, five hunny in chips is usually not going to do much of anything for me.

There are exceptions. Last trip I had this shoe where I won almost every hand in shoe (minus ties) after I arrived about 15 hands into the shoe, and betting just two hundred a hand I won over ten grand. In that particular instance, even two hundred in freeplay chips would have gone to a lot. Years ago, I took a single hundred dollar bill to almost twenty thousand. But, absent monstrous runs like that, five hunny in freeplay doesn't make much difference to me, other than the nicety of getting something for "nothing."

[MDawg]

Day 11 play

Pulled an 8K marker. First shoe, not so good - I actually got down to -5K and put 2500 on Player. I draw an eight and would you believe it, dealer pulls a freakin'
(Ma, I said freakin')
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eight to tie me! Then I figure, in for a penny in for a pound and I put the balance on there - CASE BET - three thousand and draw a five. Dealer hits to four with a three card draw that mandates my pull. I get a face card and that's it! baby boy, Victory! Six card 5 over 4.

Still, I end the first shoe down -2500.

Second shoe I manage to rally some including following a 2/2/2 pattern beautifully, but still end down -700.

I'm actually considering leaving it at that, and just walking, but I go for a third shoe. On this shoe, a seven player run happens almost immediately and I catch 6/7 of it, and then the entire first portion of the shoe is 2:1 Players. I take all that for what it's worth, start to lose a tad as the shoe goes a bit random on me, and color up, walking with 2525 to the good with the marker paid off.

2525
I like the sound of that.

I played two and a quarter shoes. I was doing modest side bets for the dealer, mostly red chips, a few quarters, one fifty, we hit TWO ties actually with dealer getting 5 x 8 on both (YES I DEFINITELY HIT AT LEAST 25% OF THE TIES I WAGERED TODAY), and I hit a couple other ties as well. Dealer probably dropped about one fiddy in tips.

Ties really help me get back up when I'm down, or take me over the top when I'm already up.

The dealer commented on what a good Baccarat player I am, but what does that MEAN? Well, what it means as far as I am concerned is that I walk with money. That's my definition of a good player. Is there any other definition?

Dealer also commented on how many people go against runs and patterns. Not I! said MDawg.

Time for a V stroll.

[MDawg]

Day 12 play

First shoe, there was an existing player at the table and I probably should have just left but I decided to play on with this player. About the only thing good about this player was that would put down whatever thought was right without considering what I had bet. I respected that - the player lost in the end, and left, but still, at least I eventually grew oblivious and just did my own thing. I ended the first shoe down -2500 though.

Second shoe, I had a couple of great Player runs and recouped. I ended at -700, which seemed familiar to me from yesterday. When I commented on how that shoe was good for me, the other player said, "For you - not for me," and left.

Third shoe, early on, I took some hard spills, and lost a three thousand dollar hand. Ended up losing the entire 8K marker I had pulled. I did some call bets here and there for 500 to 1500 each and won every one, but didn't win the second hand after winning the call bet, until finally I had only a grand in front of me, decided I needed some ammo, and asked for a 20K marker. And then - easy street hit. Three parallel Bank runs of 5 to 7 each, separated by only 1 Player. You'd have to be brain dead to not win on those, and win I did, although on the second run I put 1500 on Bank #2 then fingered 4500 for the third Bank, but chickened out and put only 2000 on it, won with a natural 8. After that I kept referring to "I should have bet 4500 on that hand" and pointed it out to the relief dealer and to anyone else who would listen until the pit boss finally said, good-naturedly, "Are we still on that?" But actually that was the hand that would have taken me way ahead, and I let off on the gas dramatically after I was close to even. If I had kept pressing those 500 chips I would have cleared a good sum. Still, somehow, I ended the third shoe down about a grand but given that I was a solid minus 8K at more than a few points prior, that was a victorious run upwards.

At the beginning of the fourth shoe I bet small, and then as soon as I was up - a mere 100, I quit. Today I tipped out about 300 via dealer side bets so the pit boss and I laughed about how the dealer won more than I did.

"Well anyway this proves that you can't keep a good man down." he said, referring both to how I had tipped more than I had won, and of course, to how I had made a nice comeback.

The main dealer at the table was new to Vegas, rather cute actually, and I spent a while talking to her and regaling her with past tales of MDawg glory in Vegas casinos. I get garrulous when I've won.

[MDawg]

Is winning 100 a win? Yes it is! when it represents a comeback from -8000.

[MDawg]

Day 13 play


Wow just noticed - 13? Is it unlucky? Well Bill Harrah didn't think so. Harrah's Tahoe has a 13th floor because Bill Harrah didn't believe in unlucky numbers.

Shoe 1, I ended 900 ahead. I had a vague feeling that I should just stop. But I didn't.

Shoe 2, things started falling apart. Another guy came to the table, and he bet against me occasionally. He didn't mean anything, he just figured that the opposite side was the way to go. One hand in particular, I put a good sum on Bank, drew a freakin' 3, he got a one - no that's right it was a zero, and drew the snowman to beat me. He wasn't trying to bet against me, just, he picked the right hand and I didn't.

How badly did things fall apart? I dumped the entire 8K marker and started doing call bets which would win, then the second hand with the call bet win money lose, until finally I lost a 1500 call bet, which meant I was -9500 for the session. I had them print it to twenty, and by the end of the second shoe I had barely five grand in front of me. What was THAT about? Not good.

So I left the table, went up to the room, and grabbed 7000 in chips and came back down. On the way to the room I kept thinking, you shoulda just left when you were 900 ahead. In any case, I felt like I needed some extra ammo to give me the confidence to play harder, and I didn't feel like pulling another marker right then. My wife was still in the suite, about to head out to the gym. She said she was just about to text me a kiss, but instead, she gave me one in person. That was nice. I wasn't particularly agitated, but still, was just a shade on the frenetic side versus being dead calm.

Back down there, I played a shoe that the pit boss had cut, which was incroyable, let me tell. Oh, mon vieux it was something else. Bank run after bank run, and I was hitting it for 2000, 3000, 4000 and then thousand here, thousand there.

Then the fourth shoe, which I cut, had a nine bank run that I pressed into until about the sixth hand I was about even, was going to put 2500, but after a recount, I just put down five hunny and ran the bank out. Tried a few hands after that for black chips only, colored up, and I was about two grand to the good for the session. About the only downer was that the two hands I placed black chips on the side for the dealer, dealer couldn't pick up. Oh well, today was my day to win. Yesterday the dealer's won more than I did, but today I won more.

So that was a twenty five thousand dollar run from -23K for the day to plus +2K. Not bad at all, and believe me it felt GOOD to tear up those two markers.

The guy who was playing with me won about a grand too, but he was betting small and most of the time was just sitting out the incredible runs I was experiencing. It truly is hard to keep a good man down - well anyway, as long as the Baccarat shoes are accommodating, which once again today - they more than were.

[MDawg]

Day 14 play

Gotta get centered better because I've been playing catch up past few sessions, with today no exception.

I don't believe I was ahead much if anything at any point today after the first shoe. That first shoe I actually did okay but I wasn't betting right - I was flat betting the runs and streaks instead of progressing, but they weren't arriving so very predictably, so I didn't feel confident pressing.

At some point in the second shoe I lost the chips from the 8K marker, and I did some call bets until I lost a - Believe it was a 1500 one similar to the other day - and had them print it to twenty. It was up and down until I had only 9K left from that marker which meant down -19K, and I put all of it on Player, and drew a zero with Bank four. Any face/ten at that point and I would have been dead but luckily I drew at least a two sided five. At this point I was calling for a "monkey" as they say for the Bank, and boom! dealer drew a four sided nine reduced the Bank to 3 and I won! That was a good hand. You remember hands like that, nine grand on the line, six cards drawn, 5/3 win.

From that point on I kept getting stuck with between fourteen and twenty one thousand in front of me, with 28K being the goal to even.

A few players with varying success came to my table during the course of the two shoes. The first bought in for ten K cash, and at one point was actually ahead +4K (was a pretty big player would bet anywhere from 1000 - 6000 a hand) but ended up losing that 10K, buying in for another ten and losing it all. He was a known player and I asked the pit boss about that player and pit boss pretty much let on that there wasn't much winning going on with that one. I mean - ahead 4K with ten K buy in, and don't walk? How much do you want? A second player arrived with 5K who was some kind of Martingale player with 100 units. All that was remarkable about this player was that remarked that never won a hand betting against me, but that player actually managed to win 1000 eventually and left. So that was one winner I saw today.

A third player bought in for 2500 (or maybe it was 5000, I took a bathroom break while they were counting it), and during that player's play I bet as much as 6000 on Player and won (mostly a catch up bet) but whatever that player was doing didn't work and that one left after losing it all.

On the fourth shoe I got side by side Player runs and the only thing that prevented me from really slamming them was that I'd get a tie somewhere on the run and this would unnerve me to lowering the pressing bet (often I will ignore an intervening tie on a run, or even press after it, but for some reason today I did lowered my bet after a tie during a run), but in any case by the first quarter of the fifth shoe I was dead even and quit. I free handed the next hand - would have lost (another Player run shoe).

What's "funny" is that the best shoe I got the dealer cut before I had a chance to cut it. That fourth shoe was the best shoe of the day. During it a couple pit bosses I had never seen before seemed to be standing around with worried looks on their faces as I won hand after hand. The dealers today for the most part were "seen it all types" and not so into the game. I actually tipped out more than I won, because I just walked with a few small denomination chips and dealers must have won 500 during the earlier parts of the session when I was putting side bets for them while I was actually getting somewhere.

I played long enough and through shift change such that my markers had been transferred, so I look the 28K in chips right to the cage to get my markers back.

Anyway, earned comps galore today but no money. Dealers won more than I did. But sometimes, a push is a win.

Went for a sumptuous meal and relaxed with her in the suite was feeling that bit tired it having been an evening of some small energy expenditure. Fell asleep relatively early. Going to get back to sleep now and later hit the gym, eat, ETC. and another session. They might eventually get me at this rate I need to get back to winning early and quitting versus all this catch up.

[MDawg]

Day 15 play

Already done. Played, maybe 3/4 of one shoe. Dealer cut (the shoe was ready to go when I arrived) - it was beautiful. I took a picture of the shoe so I am looking at it as I write this. First, five Players right out the gate. Free handed the first, won 4/5 of the next pressing all the way. Then, with a single exception, pure chop for ELEVEN hands, I got nearly every one. Two banks, missed one, got one, then chop AGAIN for seven hands, got 'em all. Then I missed the next hand, and then after two players I got on an eight player run. Chopped four hands, I got 3/4, then Player dropped four hands, I got only a couple of those, then one bank and another eight player run. Bank pretty much went only ONE most of the shoe which is why it was so easy to bet Player right afterwards. I got another five Player run, then the shoe started to get a tad less predictable, so I just stopped.

I was at a double up anyway, +8210 plus with all the dealer side bets I kept laying as I kept winning hand after hand, I noticed about seven hunny all stacked up in red, green and black chips for the dealer by the toke box.

The pit boss kept shaking my hand. I mean, full on regular handshake. I kept thinking, Okay - isn't this the era of covid? but I shook it firmly and Old School anyway, just seemed like the thing to do. But as soon as I left the pit I hit the hand sanitizer.

That's it for today.

Up in the suite my wife was saying that on days like this I could really win big, and that eight thousand was nothing. She pointed out that when you're running like this if you could just program yourself to not think about the denominations you could win 5X as much easily. She's right of course, but, as she also pointed out, "You're doing this because you're good at it, not because we need it."

[MDawg]

Day 16 play

Today was the most volatile session in some time. First shoe I was doing all right, getting somewhere then next thing you know I lost the 8K marker. I won a thousand call bet, as the shoe ended. Beginning of second shoe I went ahead and pulled a 20K marker so that I had the ammo I needed. The one pit boss remarked, "You really need that much?" and I said, "Yes, sometimes I feel more comfortable with more in front of me." Next thing you know I was down about six of that new marker which meant a combined -14K for the session, and I slammed 10K on Player and won 6 over 0 with a six card draw. I left that standing there for a while just to admire it. The other pit boss kept shaking his head and saying, "I'm glad you won, but - betting ten thousand to win nothing? What is that about." What he was getting at is that all the bet did was bring me back to even as far as the first marker, plus an extra four grand, which meant -4K for the session. In other words I risked a lot to just get back towards even. Still, if I hadn't done it I felt like I would have slowly gone down the tubes.

But then, little by little I kept losing as the shoe remained random, and I actually lost the second marker too, including via a couple of very large bets where the the other side either opened a natural or I just couldn't draw to catch up. Down -28K now.

I asked for another 20K, so I was now in 48K and I didn't do too well losing more, until I entered an 11 bank run just one after it had started, with a few thousand at the top, and pressed to 4000, 5000, 6000. On the 6000 hand the Baccarat shoe malfunctioned and started flashing and I pulled the bet, but as soon as they were ready again I put the bet back up. Boom! another win. Six thousand! I then made a big mistake - I left only 4000 up and ran the bank out, instead of continuing the press to 7000, 8000, 9000, etc. On each hand that I won 4000 I kept declaring,

"That would have been seven."

"That would have been eight."

"That would have been nine."

Anyway, even after that, and the end of the run, I was STILL down a couple grand as the shoe ended, because I owed some 1600 and change in commission! and had to pay it.

Prior to this run the same pit boss who had disapproved of my ten K bet told me what he thought of the electronic board, by turning it sideways, to indicate that it meant absolutely nothing. I told him, Come on, it depends on the shoe. Good shoe, it means everything. Bad shoe, little or nothing.

Third shoe, first I dumped some to where I was -4K again, then I got a perfect chop. I felt like calling that disbelieving pit boss back over to tell him in his face that the board was now meaning everything, but I was too busy raking the chips in. I didn't even bet much on this chop, but did press a hundred more on each win, and a hundred on the side for the dealer when I got to 1100 and when the chop ended, I counted up and I was ahead +2300, and called it a day.

I shoved the four stacks of High Society plus eight thousand into the center and said those magic two words, "MARKERS DOWN!" and that was the end of that session. As I was talking my head off after almost losing my arse, but coming back to ahead, who should show up but the player from the other day who dropped twenty. I told the player about the side by side Player streaks that had come up soon after he left, and that I kept mentioning to the dealers that the player left before the miracle happened, but anyway, that was his problem today, not mine. I had made my comeback and won again.

I won, dealers won, all in all a good day. I tried to argue for a 5000 average bet from the one pit boss, but wouldn't go for it. Finally, the other pit boss put me down for 2000, which is quite respectable.

Ole!
669
even if - it requires some reaching down deep just to get there.

Let's hope I don't have any more sessions like this. Was more than a little crazy today.

[MDawg]

Day 17 play

Played a leisurely one shoe only. I was ahead some near the beginning, then about even a little later, and about half way through hit a 9 bank run where my max bet got to around 1600 I think it was? After that a hard patch but I kept my bets around 100 - 200, then hit I believe it was a six or so Player run, and I won the last hand too. When I counted up I had +4270 to the good and my dealer side bets had given them about 300 I think, maybe more.

The cocktail waitress - wow. Not your typical blonde but a smoldering tall thin brunette reminded me of my wife, and I was acting cool but I think the girl knew she had a little effect on me. I couldn't mention anything about her while the female dealer was present but when it was just us guys the male dealer pit boss and I definitely had a little chat about the "distracting" cocktail waitress.

Pit boss asked if I was coming back, I said No. In the past I used to pretend as if I were, but by now they know me anyway, so I don't play games I just let them know up front that's it for today.

Ran into my host and host said my average has been 1200 so everything is being taken care of. While with the host, ran into the credit manager. I didn't know that person but recognized the name badge and the host confirmed who it was. After a quick introduction I told the credit manager I wanted to bet more per hand, and manager said, How much more? I just laughed, I was mostly just joking.

[MDawg]

Day 18 play

Played first shoe somewhat tentatively, with a couple other players, and was ahead throughout although not much until towards the end hit a chop and played it for black chips pressing a little. Ended that shoe ahead a couple thousand.

The other players left and I relatively quickly hit a long player run, think it was about ten or so, and pressed into it beautifully, followed by a decent length bank run, which I played just right, followed by ANOTHER player run, which was just too easy to play into. Side by side streaks, what more could you ask for. And who cut that shoe? I DID - that's who. Along the way I started stacking red chips for the dealer side by side with my blacks to where dealer was winning a good ninety to a hundred X 2 on many of my bets.

These runs brought my five hundred chips to a good level. It wasn't quite Stacks and towers of checks I can't even see over, but it was still nice.

I fooled around with the change from commission on a few bets, noticed the shoe was getting a little random, and colored up - ahead a CLEAN fifteen thousand, which I believe was my best session for this trip.

That little break must have helped get me on track, as those prior sessions of getting down then playing catch up were not edifying, even though they worked out. This time, as usual, I was patient until I hit the shoe sweet spots and then made my mark. Seriously, if I had been a little agro I could have booked easily triple what I did. Still, it's good and I'm more than happy with today's results.

[MDawg]

Day 19 play

Played three shoes. First shoe I got up nicely, it wasn't a bad shoe at all. I walked up and three banks had come down. I asked the dealer, "Why would anyone leave after three banks straight out the gate?"

I surmised - only two explanations, ONE - the guy bet table limit three times and then left. Unlikely! though. Possibility TWO - the guy was a dunce, and kept betting Player, and then gave up.

Seven more banks rained down for a ten bank run and I got every one. Sadly it was at the start of the session and shoe, so I didn't bet heavily, but I did press, as always.

After that I had some harder times (I mean - what could be easier than a ten bank run?), but I still detected a pattern and hit the indicated hand hard and heavily enough to stay ahead, until the pattern changed. I ended the first shoe about three grand ahead, even after losing a couple of "let's take a shot" larger hands.

Second shoe, was not bad at all either, Player runs galore, and I was about eight grand ahead at one point, then lost two big hands for 2500 each.

Third shoe, I hit some runs, played pretty tightly after that, and ended 5700 ahead, which is where I quit.

Dealer had me cut the next shoe. I circled back to take a look later, while waiting on some take out food, and sure enough, a nine Player run and side by side other Player runs interrupted only by one Bank. I could've murdered that shoe.

"Your shoe! You cut it!" the dealer chimed in. True - but, how could I have known that my touch was going to be golden again for the fourth shoe. And the second shoe hadn't been all that great near the end, so it wasn't like every shoe I cut today was fabulous.

+5700 is good money. Not bad at all.

[MDawg]

Day 20 play

Two shoes only but it took HOURS because the casino was a tad crowded and there were others playing at my table. When I play alone, which is most of the time, I'll blaze through a shoe in twenty to thirty minutes, but when there are other players, it often goes excruciatingly slowly.

First shoe, I played solidly and was ahead a clean eight grand at the end. Yesterday I walked right into a ten Bank run right off the bat, today a nine Player run right out the gate.

Second shoe, things started going awry, including when this one silly player started betting against me on Bank when I was on Player, with middling results. I mean if that player had won every time, then I would have known to just back off when opposed, but it was like that player won some, lost some. Anyway, gradually I went downhill until I had gone from that +8000 to -1500 for the session, felt like Matt Damon after he decided to keep playing against KGB after winning ten grand off him and was temporarily in the pooper, then plunked 6500 on Player on a hand that looked so Player it was making me sick - the blue French Fries had always stuck together. I drew a 5, Bank 2, I drew a face to retain my 5, and Bank drew an ace. WIN!

From there, I got nice streaks, both Bank and Player, and ended the shoe up +10,900.

The other players kept trying to convince me to play more, but I just didn't have the willingness to play through another shoe that slowly, so I left. They were mostly amazed as to why I would leave when I was winning, but - hey, I do that all the time. How else you gonna win, other than leaving while ahead?

Just like yesterday I cut the shoe and if we decide to do take out versus room service this evening, I'll double back to take a look at my cut card handiwork and see if I left a fabulous shoe behind again.

[MDawg]

Day 21 play

Who says the number FOUR is unlucky?

Played just 1 1/2 shoes. First shoe, I really should have won a lot more as it was streaking nicely, but every time I tried to jack the bet to around 2000 I'd lose - second Bank or second Player just wouldn't drop on that particular row! Ended the shoe up about +3000.

This was around shift change and as the other pit boss left pit boss shook my hand and declared, "Just want to say that it is good to have a nice player like you in the casino." Why not? I win, I have fun, I tip the dealers, I sprinkle Lincolns and Hamiltons among the servers, a good time is had by all.

Second shoe I was doing all right, and then again, started to dump on some of the larger hands until I was -2500. I reasoned that Bank was due, and gradually sprinkled all my chips but a few blacks onto Bank - 5500 in all. I drew two face cards, zero, and Player drew a four. Mandatory two card draw. As mine was pushed towards me I declared, "I need a nine!" and sure enough, there it was! four sides with the dot in the middle and Boom! I tossed it out there. The new pit boss just shook her head and smiled - obviously this was a hand they had to record as it was my high bet for the session. Dealer drew - I think it was a face - I didn't pay much attention, as I knew I had it. That put me back at +3000 and change.

Rest of the shoe I really didn't play right. It was streaking up and down Bank / Player side by side runs but I wasn't betting enough. I could have cleaned up majorly. After about the middle of the shoe the runs shortened and the shoe seemed like it was on the verge of getting random, so I colored up, paid off the 8K marker, and walked with +4425. Ole!

[MDawg]

Day 22 play

Yesterday was beyond hectic and the action went on for about eight hours more or less straight.

I played - I believe it was 3 shoes. First shoe I dumped about five grand quickly. Then I rallied and held my own for the next two shoes. A poker player on break from a tournament sat down with me and was betting erratically. I lost the entire 8K of my first marker and pulled another 20K. I was actually right about at even and put 1500 on Bank which the other player put his measly two hundred (his usual bet) on Player, and this influenced me to pull my bet. Banker won 2 to 1 on that hand. The guy left and I ended up losing. If I had won that 1500 hand the next hand was also Bank and I would have pressed to 2000, and the whole session might have gone another way, but instead, I lost that 20K marker, pulled another 20K marker and was betting heavily, including a 10,600 hand case bet I won, and lots of huge bets I lost.

I started the third shoe with about twenty thousand in front me and ended dumping all of that too. That was near my limit for what I'm willing to lose in one session, so I quit, about -48,000 for that session (less, since I had some chips on the table that I scooped up to take with me).

I then walked, and it was not a short walk, to another resort. I was thinking that I was going to pull a massive amount and play hard from the getgo, but when I got there I ran into the pit bosses who know me as a cool reserved amiable player and I didn't want to show my currently a bit agitated colors, so I just pulled 8K.

I arrived mid shoe and the Player was running, and no one else at the table was betting (there were no empty tables, for some reason yesterday was Baccarat day casinos were crowded with Bacc players), and the dealer kept free handing Player after Player until the pit boss said, "What are you doing?" to the dealer, knowing that I wouldn't let a streak go and I wanted to bet.

I put 500 on Player, won, 1500 on Player, won, 4500, won. Pit boss didn't even notice the bet until heard me yelling and said, "Wow. Well I would have yelled over winning 4500 too." I honestly then wanted to put 13500 on the next hand for Player, but I chickened out and just left 4500 on there. Player went only two more times so I ended up ahead 6500 for that sequence.

From there, for a long time, I kept getting stuck at about +5000 but eventually managed to get to +15000 for this session.

There were two other players at the table. One, and he was there with a friend, would bet only 100 or 200, and marched to own drummer. This player bet against us at times. This player even apologize about, hey, I'm not here to break the table karma, but if I see something and that it's not going past two, then I'm going to bet it. This player was actually right much of the time, but I didn't notice getting anywhere. Flat betting over the long term just doesn't work.

The other two players were together too. One would always bet the same amount - 3300. I asked what this was about and the player explained that it was a lucky number for Asians as it had something to do with 9. (Or, maybe was betting 3600 :cocksure:, I don't know, I wasn't watching that closely.) All this made me think was that there was no way this player could win because was also flat betting, albeit larger. This player's friend would jump in occasionally with $500 bets but near the end of their session was betting more a lot more, probably out of desperation. I saw them pull several 20K markers and then a 100K marker, and when they left the 100K was colored up and they walked with it, but not much more so they must have dumped some -60K or so between the two of them. I saw them toss some kind of player card I had never seen before of a color I had never seen before at this casino.

One issue that occasionally recurred with at least one of the pit bosses is that I was being told to calm down when I was winning and not be so loud, and not throw the cards on the table. I literally threw some of the winning cards off the table a couple of times because I got so excited on the more difficult draws. I'd declare, "That's a winning 4! even off the table."

I didn't have much experience with this pit boss who was making the most noise over my noise. I soundly ignored the pit boss and just told the pit boss that this is the way I play and I've always played this way. One pit boss told me that if I hit the dealer with the cards wouldn't let me open any longer. Again I mentioned that I never throw the cards when I lose a hand, I just fling them when I am happy. They also kept reminding to stay seated because occasionally I would throw the cards down from over the top of the plexiglass when I had a natural 9.

The prior crew, earlier in the day, all know me and don't care what I do, and in fact have commented more than once what a pleasure it is to have a positive, excited player at the table. Actually, I might just walk back to that resort and have an EYEBALL with whoever is in charge and lodge a complaint. Yesterday even the Asians at the table were getting excited and banging on the plexiglass when they won, and if the pit bosses can't handle that, they should just find another job.

After I got up fifteen grand at the end of the fourth shoe I think it was, I plunked 5000 on Bank and lost. Then I plunked 10000 on Bank and lost again - Player started with 1 and dealer actually pulled a 7 on top of the 1 and I couldn't draw anything more than a face card to try to increase my initial 6. Then at the beginning of the next shoe I lost 2000 to go from +15000 to -2000. That was the low point when I started to think that I might as well just accept the loss at the other casino and leave.

Then, things started turning for me, greatly. I got multiple runs which I pressed into, followed a chop perfectly, and went through a long period when I was winning something like 80% of my hands. During that period though I was betting only 500. When the main dealer came back and saw the stack of 500s asked why I had them. I explained that the entire stack had started with just one 500 chip. Dealer shook head and said, I would not have given you those small chips, 1000s only, I know you're hot tonight. Dealer was right, I would have won twice as much during that winning streak with the higher denomination chip.

What's amazing is that while I was knocking it out of the park the big two players were just sitting there watching. They didn't play into runs, they didn't follow streaks, they just bet very occasionally, and as far as the larger bettor of the two, always that same 3300 (or 3600) amount. Probably why they dumped sixty grand.

At the end of the sixth shoe, I was up over +38000 and quit. The time factor was starting to wear on me. I wanted to get another ten grand but just couldn't do it all in one go and didn't want to dump again. Given that I started with just an 8K marker, winning over 38 grand in one session is not bad at all. The dealer too commented that wasn't aware that I had pulled only an 8000 and that winning over 38K off that small amount was very good.

What's interesting is that I tipped very little during this big run session. I did lay some quarters out there, and a fifty once, and some reds early on, but somehow lost most of the green side bets for the dealer. I suppose I didn't view it as winning since I was actually in the hole for the day from the other resort, so I wasn't tipping much.

So that was it approximately -48000 at one resort, approximately +38000 at the other, approximately -10000 for the day. To pay the other resort I didn't want to deal with the cash and the CTR so I asked them to phone the other resort in advance and tell them I'm coming with the 38000 in their chips. Of course, the resort I won at temp closed my line, but so what, I don't need them right now and the line will reopen in a few days.

In the meantime, I am going to talk to my host to kick in my session loss rebate deal I have in place. I will actually ask for it this time. I won't get into details but I've always had that just rarely have to pull that card. Only problem I foresee is that I already paid off the line with a combination of foreign and their own chips. I should have left the amount I expect back unpaid, or paid off nothing and demanded the rebate before I paid. But, I have a hard time leaving a debt open when I have won.

[MDawg]

Day __ play (4/2021)

My slot machine in the suite rang 777 so I was expecting great things today, and great they were. Pulled the usual 8K marker, then played along got ahead about 3K on the first shoe. Second shoe I hit a rough patch and got down to a case bet of 6500 which I hit, bringing me to +5000. From there, for the next two shoes it was all gravy including the final shoe where I was plastering side by side mostly Player runs, pressing into them and putting red chips (up to $30.) for the dealer too. Hit a few ties too, for 100 � 120 (x 8) each.

As I was ploughing through the runs the entire serving staff stood behind me watching and the dealer next door declared, �You�re on fire!�

I wish I had realized it too, because then I would have ended up with more like +80K instead of the +16K I took from the table.

[MDawg]

Day __ play (4/2021)

I arrived towards the end of a shoe already played out where the Bank had never gone more than two. I picked up on that instantly, and bet Player � but, not for nearly enough, only 700 or so each time. This pattern never shifted � Bank never passed two. Never. I ended that partial shoe a few grand ahead.

Second shoe I probably got up to about five thousand ahead, but not more. Kept getting stuck. A player came in with a five thousand chip, broke it down, and played that until he finally lost it, then broke down a twenty-five thousand dollar chip. I did a case bet for 5000 on Player and won, but slowly went back down the tubes after that. I lost my entire 8K marker I had pulled, and then did a call bet for 2000 on Player and took that 2000, over the course of the next several hands, to first 8000, and eventually over the course of the next two shoes, to as much as 12000.

Along the way, another player, who admitted to me after I asked him, that he was Martingaling on Player only, came in. This youngster was funny. Inebriated and always wanting to knock knuckles with me whenever we won on the same hand. Kid kept leaving the table to go do sports bets, or collect on sports bets tickets, or some such, and came back complaining about how he had lost or been shut out, and that had to play catch up. Finally, declared that was now even, and quit.

I got back to even, and then negative, and then plus, more than a few times, and finally quit � at 3900 ahead. The best run I caught all day I won something like 7/8 hands in a row, but was betting only a flat 1000 per hand, and was coming back from behind anyway.

At the end the pit boss said he had me down for about four shoes, which was fine, and �about a 1000� average bet.

�How about 1100?�

�Why would I want to do that?�

What a response? What an a-hole?

�Because I take care of your dealers?�

Had to gall to come back with something to the effect of, So what, that doesn�t help me.

I was almost going to say, �Well what do you want, a happy handshake?� but I just let it go. So that�s two less than stellar pit bosses over the last week.

I walked with +3900. The other Player at my table wanted to meet me to play tomorrow.

�We win together, my friend.�

I let the player know when I might be back, but�we shall see. I prefer to play alone.

[MDawg]

Day __ play (4/2021)

Just before I went down my host let me know that lately my play would cover the suite but no food and beverage charges. However, host stated categorically that was not implying that I needed to play more. That�s a standard disclaimer.

I pulled an 8K marker at a table filled with people. Didn�t go well. Not even half way through the shoe I lost 8K and left for another table, with a higher minimum.

I pulled another twenty K and was up and down like a roller coaster, gradually losing that too. I did a call bet for 2000, lost that too, and had them print another marker.

Then I started winning like a madman, ten grand a hand, but cut back to five then just one. For the next two shoes I kept hovering around forty some thousand in chips in front of me, and I assumed I needed fifty to pay off all markers. I just couldn�t get there.

Then I started betting heavily into a Player�s run and declared that a tie was in order. Mostly because I had no chips in front of me lower than 1000, I put 7000 on Player and 1000 on tie. Both sides opened with a 3. I drew a four sided nine. Ouch. I was down to 2. I could just see the face card coming, but, incredibly, dealer drew another nine for a 2 � 2 tie � paying me 8000. I leapt out of my seat shouting. That was quite a feeling!

I have not bet more than 500 on a tie bet since the Old Days. In my lifetime I have WON all of the large (1000 or more) tie bets I have placed, but I think I could count all of them on one hand, or maybe on one hand plus another finger or two. It�s a rare event that I will put that much on a tie bet, but somehow, it has always paid off.

Anyway, you can�t really put a price on hitting an 8000 tie. The whole pit lit up, or at least, in my corner everyone did.

From there it wasn�t too hard to get the fifty grand in chips in front of me and I even had a few grand extra, but finally decided to end the play with 51300 in front of me. THEN, it turned out that I had pulled just 40000 at that table, and 8000 at the other, so I was actually up +3300 for the day. Plus the experience of winning an eight THOUSAND dollar tie bet, which is hard to measure.

I texted my host to see how the RFB status was looking now, to see if today�s heavy hitting action put me back on track. It did, now about half of the food is being covered. There�s not a ton on there anyway, we don�t even always order from casino restaurants.

[MDawg]

Day __ play (4/2021)

Played five and a half shoes. I was up a few thousand by the end of the second shoe and was actually thinking of stopping, but wanted to see where it would go. Next thing you know, dumped all eight grand. Did a two thousand call bet, lost, pulled a twenty thousand marker and eventually dumped that too. Pulled another twenty.

From here, it was pretty much uphill (as in, my chip stack kept growing higher and higher), although I did make a number of huge bets, up to twelve thousand dollars, as I struggled to get back to even.

At the end of the fourth shoe, the cut card came out in the middle of the last hand. Some casinos declare that the penultimate, some the final, but in general offer the opportunity to bet the tie even after the cards have started to come out, especially if that is considered the last hand of the shoe. I mentioned this (didn�t insist) to the pit boss, that I should have the right to place the tie wager now, but finally just left it alone.

�I would have only bet a hundred anyway.�

Wouldn�t you know it, the tie landed.

�That�s eight hundred you owe me!� I kept joking with the pit boss, after that.

I eventually got within about ten grand of even, and on one bet I put six hundred on bank and tossed a chip on tie. As the cards came out I realized I had tossed a five hundred chip, not a hundred on the tie! I�d never do it that way, I�d always bet a lot more on the hand than on the tie � never a nearly equal amount.

�That�s a mistake.� I declared.

�Good mistake.� the dealer responded.

Okayy. Nothing I could do anyway cards were out.

Sure enough, Tie! Four thousand!

How that dealer was so sure it was a �good� mistake, I�ll never know (probably was just trying to make me feel better), but in any case, that was four grand on the tie!

�We�re even now! You no longer owe me eight hundred!�

The pit boss just laughed and made an even (baseball umpire �Safe!� like criss cross motion with arms).

From there it was pretty easy. I ended with a twelve bank run, not nearly betting enough but following it almost all the way, got ahead a couple grand, paid off the 48K in markers, and called it a day. It would be sacrilege to hit a $500 tie and end up losing.

At the end this pit boss was very accommodating and asked me �What do you need?� when it came to entering the average bet. The computer showed 1400 � pit boss entered 1800.

[MDawg]

Day __ play (4/2021)

I messed up some today. Towards the end of three shoes I was up a solid ten grand, then dumped about 1500 of it. About one-third of the way through the fourth shoe I had lost the first 8K marker, pulled another 20K, and by the end I lost a huge series of hands and had maybe ten grand left. I put all of it on Player for the last hand of the shoe, and then simply because I had nine hundred in change, put Player of that on the tie. It hit! 7200.

From there on the fifth shoe I was nearly unstoppable including with a thirteen bank run, where I actually, sadly, eased off on the gas about half way through, but still ended with about thirty grand. I didn�t think about how I was eight grand down from my peak, but rather that I had just gone from negative -18K to +2K, and called it a day.

Pit boss said he gave me an 1100 average. This was the same pit boss from the other day who had refused to bump my bet. I won 2K but I must�ve won at least a grand maybe more for the dealers, including on tie bets on that bank run where I kept hitting them two in row at a time. It was beautiful.

And again, how could I win 7200 on a tie bet and not walk a winner? That would be humiliating. So, I paid off all the markers, carried a couple thousand dollar chips to the winner�s stash, and headed back out for a sumptuous take out. It�s hard to keep an MDawg down.

[MDawg]

Day __ play (4/2021)

Dumped my 8K marker relatively quickly, did a 2K call bet on Bank, lost, pulled the balance to 20K.

From there did fine and got within a grand or two of even, but my table started filling up with people and the shoe fell apart, so I left to another table.

Now, THAT shoe, was a beauty. Long Player runs, side by side with banks, I got all my money back plus +2200 and called it quits. Dealer tried to convince me to stay, I said No, I�m done. We free handed the next fourteen hands � would you believe, ALL PLAYER? So that shoe had two nearly side by side runs, 11 Player, and 14 Player. Quite a shoe! Woulda easily cleared MINIMUM five grand on a run like that, even starting with just a couple hundred.

Pit boss and I talked about another lifetime winner they have, who has the ability to bet up to 160K a hand. The other lifetime winner being � I! Pit boss said that even when that player is stuck a million or two, always get out of it. Must be a friend of MDawg�s!

On the way out I ran into another pit boss I know.

�I won!�

�Of course you did � you always do!�

[MDawg]

Day __ play (4/2021)

8K marker was lost over the course of about � of a shoe. These two Asians kept following me, and slowed down the play. I moved tables � dealer commented �He knows when to move! he won�t just sit there if it�s not going well.� and won for a bit, and then the two Asians followed me again to my table, and slowed the play again.

After something like four shoes I finally got just above even, them dumped to where I was -5K again. Didn�t appreciate that.

The Asians left my table, as they finally got the hint that I didn�t want them there, free handed the first hand of the next shoe, Player, slapped 2K on Player and boom! eight players in a row. I cut back to only five hundred or so once I was ahead, but at the end of the run I was ahead almost five grand, paid off all markers and called it a day.

Dealer commented, �I don�t know why those two don�t just follow you. I never see them win, and I never see you lose.�

�Well, yes, but � I actually didn�t like it when they played at my table because they didn�t follow me � they kept betting against the runs. Also they wouldn�t vary their bet much, if at all. Flat betting is the sure way to lose. Over all, I just, don't like anyone at my table.�

One of the dealers told me more about the multi-million dollar player who is also a lifetime winner at that casino. Apparently he bets EVERY hand, Bank only, with some kind of 1, 3, 7 or some such progression.

�So what if he experiences a 14 Player run, such as we saw yesterday?�

�Well. Then. He�s dead!�

I see Player runs all the time, so how is this guy a lifetime winner? In any case, I did confirm that the guy is a lifetime winner with a couple of other sources, but how, betting Bank only and betting every hand in the shoe, I couldn�t say.

[MDawg]

The Mdawg Challenge was witnessed and attested to by Michael Shackleford (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Shackleford), the "Wizard of Las Vegas."

For the MDawg challenge (courtesy of DarkOz), the Wizard and I met in the high limit salon and first went over the logistics of the Challenge, and then had some general chit chat about Baccarat in general. I explained to the Wizard that if given a good shoe I would always win and that there was in fact a difference between a good Baccarat shoe and a bad one. I already stated in all my session reports, and repeated to the Wizard in person, that I preferred to play alone, and that the salon looked empty which was good.

We went to the table where I had won yesterday, but the shoe was already mid session (someone had started playing the shoe and then left before it ended), and I commented to the Wizard that I preferred to play a shoe from the beginning. Many dealers, pit bosses and drink servers greeted me as a familiar guest, which I am sure the Wizard observed. I sat down at a fresh table, alone, and pulled an 8K marker.

The table minimum at this table was $200., so there was no way to bet less than that on Bank or Player. I free-handed the first hand, which turned out to be a Player, and then I bet Player again, won that hand, bet Player again, lost that hand, bet Bank, won that hand, won the next Bank hand too, and then free handed one hand, until I declared out loud to the dealer, �two two, two two� meaning that the hands were dropping in sets of two. With one exception where I deviated (and should not have deviated), I followed this pattern and won, pressing my bets up from 200 to as high as about 600, until the pattern changed.

Then there followed a period of about a dozen hands where the shoe was random and I was neither winning nor losing much, although I did win my larger bet during this sequence of the shoe. My bets during this period varied from 200 � 1000. After two banks, I declared that the Bank ran only two, and that a Player was absolutely certain, dropped 1000 on Player, and won. I then pressed to 1500, won again. I then pressed to 2000, won again, and then pressed pretty much every hand, by a unit of 500. My highest bet in this run, which I lost, was 3500, although I kept this up winning each hand prior to the final 3500 one, on an 8 player run, all the way down the line. While in the salon prior to playing I had mentioned to Wizard that I always always caught runs or patterns and always pressed into them. As this Player run was happening, just a few hands into it, I pointed out that this is exactly what I was doing now, and that it was not as hard as it sounded to detect a run and press into that.

I didn�t just catch some of the winning hands in that 8 Player run � I caught every single one, losing only on the 9th bet, when it switched to Bank. I do this all the time, catch runs, and press into them.

I caught another sequence in the shoe when I followed another series of side by side runs, pressing into them again.

During this latter part of the shoe, there was one hand where I mentioned to the Wizard that the sequence of cards that had landed prior plus some other factors led me to believe that the next hand would be a Player, and I increased my bet and won on Player that hand. However, in general I simply played, rather quickly, and did not comment on how or why I was betting the way I did.

I frequently placed bets for the dealer side by side with my bets, ranging from $5. to $35., and the dealer and I won pretty much every time we bet together.

My bets for this session ranged from 200 � 3500.

After I had played (placed bets for) exactly 57 hands, the Wizard declared the Challenge over, and we counted up. At that moment, with all commission paid off, I had 14,915. in front of me, meaning that I was ahead 6,915. (This does not include whatever I tipped out, which was at least 150 at my end, doubled to 300, at the dealer�s end since it was placed on winning bets.)_ That +6915 was the official end WIN and does NOT include what I tipped out.

Note: At some point after the Challenge was called, the Wizard realized that he had counted two �tie only� bets I had placed as hands played, even though they were 100 only (although � 100 is actually not such a small sum to place on the tie wager). However, the two hands after the Challenge was called, I won one and lost one, so they didn�t affect the Challenge or the final tally of 6,915. The Wizard did witness these two additional hands played.

I played alone for most of the shoe, although two players did show up and play for periods during the time I was there.

To summarize: there were no long periods of flat betting. If anything, I pressed into runs quite successfully time and again, and my bets ranged from 200 � 3500. There was no Martingale betting; in fact, I would tend to lower my bet after losing a hand versus increasing.

End win: +6915 for the MDawg Challenge.

The Wizard shortly after the Challenge was called as �clearly a win� (the Wizard�s exact words) remained either at the table or in the salon, and I kept playing to end out the shoe (ended at 71 hands), and walked with +5100. (I dumped a little of my winnings during the last 10 or so hands of the shoe.)

This is a typical shoe for me, netting around five grand. Not the greatest shoe, but certainly not a bad one. (During the shoe I in fact commented to the Wizard that this was merely an �average� shoe, although I did make this comment before the 8 Player run landed. Once that, and the subsequent side by side streaks occurred, the shoe went from average to better than average.)

After the session was completed and I had paid off my marker and pocketed the 5000 chip and hundred chip I had won, Wizard and I took a �Victory Stroll� to VIP where I was given new keys to my suite, because we had just extended our stay (again). During the course of my conversation at VIP the VIP host (VIP host, not casino host) mentioned in a positive way that I had already been in the suite for some time (exact time will not be disclosed, but it was substantial), and then said that expected that I would be there even longer.

Wizard and I then walked up to my suite, where he observed my Vitamin Bar, and also will corroborate that it is a very large suite, in a top Vegas Strip casino � and by no means just a typical Vegas suite, but among the largest on the Strip short of the obscene ones that are for uber whales.

In my suite, Wizard and I relaxed and discussed some of the finer points of my casino play and Vegas casino �hustle,� including details of any �concessions� I have negotiated with the casinos. Most of that conversation is confidential, although one thing I did discuss with him that was not private was my opinion of why the two Players who stepped briefly onto my table lost. The one, I explained, lost because flat bet � pretty much just 200 each hand. The other lost because of two reasons: (1) because got too greedy. This Player stepped up with I believe it was 1000, and parlayed it all the way to 6000 in three bets, but then got greedy, and greedy in a bad way, because then (2) bet against the streak that was obviously happening at that time (a streak I was winning at). This second player didn�t play too many hands �won quickly, then dumped it all and lost quickly. The first player lasted a while longer, but also lost.

While in the suite, Wizard commented on my watch, and I handed the watch I had been wearing that day - my Rolex DD 40mm platinum - to the Wizard to hold, along with a heavy platinum chain I sometimes wear when wearing my platinum watches, and he remarked on how heavy both the watch and the chain were, because they are platinum. Wizard and I discussed the relative malleability of platinum versus gold.

Wizard paid me the 2000. for the wager in cash, and gave me an autographed copy of his Gambling 102book. My wife wasn�t present when Wizard visited the suite so they did not meet, but I showed her the book and she Googled his name and found various pictures of him, which she showed me.

In sum, and I mentioned this verbally to Wizard at the conclusion of our visit, this established the following:

(1) That I am in fact in Vegas in a very large suite and have been here for some time.
(2) From the fact that everyone seemed to know me in high limit, that I do play regularly and did pull an 8K marker for today�s play.
(3) That I did do exactly what I have posted in countless other session reports � that is follow and press into streaks/runs/patterns in a Baccarat shoe.
(4) That I did in fact win over the course of our session, +6915 over the course of the 57 hands minimum play decided for the Challenge.
(5) That I was wearing a quite heavy platinum 40mm Rolex Day Date, and equally heavy (but tasteful) thick platinum chain, both of which the Wizard handled.

In all this was an enjoyable experience and thanks and respect are in order and due to DarkOz for making it happen.

670

[MDawg]

Day 30 play

Played one shoe only - dealer cut, all alone, got a shoe where the Player wouldn't go past 1, got a 6 Bank run out of it, pressed all the way, caught every single hand on the run (was easy - remember - Player never went past 1), then another Bank run 15 long, then another 4 Bank run, then Player went double (for the first time), so I followed it for a 7 Player run, then a perfect chop for 9 hands, lost the last hand, and then - shoe over.

If this had been a second shoe and I had been playing harder I would have easily cleared forty grand on it. As it was, "only" $16,500.

Ole!

[MDawg]

Day 31 play

Three shoes. On the first shoe I got up quickly, but ended more or less even. Second shoe too, caught a nice Bank run, pressed into it to as high as 3500, got ahead about six grand, but had some difficulty towards beginning of the third shoe, went all the way back to -2000. Did a 6000 case bet on Bank, drew a 4, Player 3, face card drawn, winner!

Ended the third shoe exactly +5800 decided to end it there for the day.

[MDawg]

Day 32 play

I played a number of shoes, but kept moving around. Pulled a 12K marker, played some at one shoe then two players joined me. One I didn't mind so much because he simply followed me and bet what I bet, albeit flat betting only 200, but the other one would jump around, as usual with mixed results, but over all just slowed the game down.

I left another shoe, free handed a few hands, and then fell into a 16 Bank run. I might have missed the first hand but got every one after that, pressing all the way (not enough, but I did press). A small crowd gathered around watching but not one of them even bet. And that's the problem with most Baccarat players - given the opportunity do something, they keep fearing that a run / streak / pattern will stop, so they just stare at it, and do nothing like deer frozen in headlights. How I knew, or know, that something is more likely than not to happen is immaterial, but why someone would bet ridiculously heavily on some random hand and not follow a streak is beyond me.

After it was over one of the pit bosses I knew commented that "you should be a millionaire by now." Well, sadly, I won only about twenty grand on that run. The shoe started to fall apart, I gave back a couple grand, and then I went to another table, won a few grand, and then left, +21000.

[MDawg]

Day 33 play

Drew a 12K marker. Played 4.5 shoes. I had one pretty large bet don't even recall what it was, I won. Lots of 2000 - 3000 bets.

When I made that large bet I believe I was down a couple thousand. I was up as much as five thousand at the high point, down at least a thousand at some points, and on the last shoe, I kept hitting ties and this brought me to +3000 and at the dealer's urging to "not give it back," I left.

Relatively uneventful day.

[MDawg]

Day 34 play


It is getting repetitive I must say, but I could do with this kind of monotony. It won't always be this easy.


I believe it was - two and half shoes? Changed tables at least once. 12K marker, paid back, plus +11K to the good. Not down at any point.


Ole!

[MDawg]

Day 35 play

Been betting a little bigger lately, so I pulled a 15K marker to start. I moved between two tables, and was doing all right but not really getting anywhere. Other players kept following me - one was an Asian girl I recall from another casino, and I do recall that we played and won together in the past.

It was up and down though, as I played at a crowded table, and then, mostly just because I got tired of the lag between hands, I left to my own table. Big mistake. A ten Bank run landed right after I left, and that was based on my cut - I had cut that shoe. Sadly, I don't think any of the other players even won on the run, and soon two of them had followed me to the new table, where I gradually dumped the entire 15K.

I then pulled a 40K marker and decided to get serious.

It was still a bit of up and down, as a new player arrived with STACKS of freeplay chips, I mean I had never seen so many. This player eventually produced about forty thousand dollars worth. To get that kind of free play would require some whale or near whale play.

Mostly, that player just gradually converted most of the chips into real ones, winning about half of the hands wagered. These chips were of the "play one hand only - win or lose" variety, versus the "play until you lose" free play chips.

I dumped another ten grand, gradually, and then put 10K on one Player hand and won. After I won, the pit boss commented inanely, "We're going to have to get you the high roller's suite," which, I didn't bother to mention that we were already in it, or one of them, anyway. He knew that, he was just making a funny.

From there, I kept winning, got a 10 Player run, and then an easy pattern shoe, until I was ahead about fifteen hundred, and just quit.

There was some confusion as to where my markers were. The pit boss said they had already been transferred to the cage, but the cage said they didn't have them yet. Finally, I got hold of them, tore out the signatures, and walked.

+1500

[MDawg]

Day 36 play

Pulled a 12K marker. Before you knew it - lost it all. Pulled a 20K marker. Didn't take long before I had lost that.

Another 20K - I rallied some, and moved tables, but lost that too. Just random, choppy shoes I should not have been betting heavily into.

Rather than pull any more markers, I declared that I needed to take a walk, and did that. I actually walked all the way to the Strip and towards another casino when I thought better of it and headed back inside.

Went to the hotel safety deposit box, got my 100K chip I had won and was ahead with, left the rest in there, back to the tables (different table, higher minimum bet) and pulled another 50K marker. I wanted to play in earnest, with a hundred and fifty grand in front of me. Was in no mood for pussy footing around. Yes I suppose now it becomes evident that during the course of the past year my lines have been raised everywhere, but I am still not going to say exactly what they are.

They took forever to verify that the 100K chip was mine. Was quite annoying. I even had to look back on my phone to figure out exactly when and where I had received based on the picture I had taken of all my chips before I converted it. Before they finally had done so, I had dumped another 15K, which meant 67K lost that day.

I was playing pretty hard and actually was down as much as about eighty grand for the day when I started to win, and win handily too.

A few other big players came to my table and insisted that I open all the cards, including this Asian who pulled a 10K marker, lost it, then threw down 20K cash on the table, which took forever to count (I took a bathroom break).

This player was odd - while the others followed me exactly mirroring all my bets, this one would bet however felt fit, and constantly lost when betting against me. Even said, "I'm stupid - you're winning, I should follow you."

I played immensely hard including many bets to the limit.

Finally, after - it seemed like a long time - I was down it seemed like only 5K for the day, and I walked. Before I walked I colored back up to the 100K chip plus enough pumpkins to pay off all markers, and made sure they had logged that 100K chip to my account so that when I converted it to a check or bank wire at trip's end I wouldn't be standing at the cage forever as I had to that day at the table. The one who constantly bet against me had won a couple of huge hands that I did not bet (free handed) and was actually up 10K it seemed to me, but said that he was down sixty K so that while would normally walk, was hanging in there trying to get back to even. I was going to mention to this player that anything could win today would help, versus dumping everything, but, wasn't really following or listening to me anyway other than saying that I scared the hell out of because I kept winning whenever bet against me.

I went back to one of the slightly lower minimum tables to try to win that last five grand, and actually dumped fifty before you knew it. Then followed a period when I was betting five to ten K per hand, and got it all back, but STILL needed that five grand - or thought I did anyway.

I started playing really "small," just 500 - 1000 per hand and it was taking forever to get that five grand. This dealer didn't know me (different shift too) and seemed not all that interested in my play - maybe because I wasn't tipping? but I had tipped out more than enough including a couple hundred dollar chips on the side for the dealers at the higher limit table.

This player came down and sat next to me - betting only 100 a hand at this smaller minimum table, but was pretty interesting in an oddball way. One of those who would take forever to look at two cards that couldn't possibly add up to more than 3. At one point commented "Nice watch!" and I mentioned that this was my LUCKIEST watch, which it was. I wear it only when really in the hole and needing to make a comeback. I reserve it for the most serious of play. I had put it on when I pulled the 100K chip out from one of the safety deposit boxes.

Anyway, finally I had it - the whole five grand. I went to the cage, paid off all markers, tore out signatures, and went and ordered a massive amount of take out food - rib eye steak, Caesar salad, grilled chicken sandwiches, smoothies, noodle soups, just tons. Winning always brings back my appetite.

I put the chips into the "vault" again, carefully wrote down exactly what was in there, and ahead back upstairs to take a shower - and EAT! After ate with my wife who commented that I had been playing all day, and should have eaten sooner, I went over the tally for the day - and it turned out that I had actually won a couple grand.

Not bad considering that I had been down about eighty for the day at one point.

+2000.

[MDawg]

Day 37 play

Pulled a not so large marker, and, got up about 4500 betting not so very large. Then as I stepped it up, I actually went all the way back to even a couple of times, and even case bet five thousand more than once, and won twice and tied another time where I hit to 0 with a 3 + 7 but dealer amazingly also hit to 0 with a 4 + 6.

"Never give up!" was what the pit boss said.

Ended up walking with just a couple thousand as I wasn't into playing a marathon session that day.

+2000

[MDawg]

Day 38 play

Played two sessions actually. First, blew a marker, used a second one to reclaim and ended +4500.

Then walked to another casino I haven't played at in a while, just to put in some face time and keep everything active, similar scenario used second marker to come back from behind, and ended a couple hunny ahead. Got a comp ticket for some take out food and carried it all the way back.

+4700

671

[MDawg]

Day 39 play

The first marker (10K) went while I was playing with someone else at my table. Then drew a 20K marker and pretty much went up from there quickly to -4000. At that point I started to place some 1000 - 3000 bets and the other player at my table was betting against me. On one particular hand where I had 3000 on Bank, he drew a 7 to add to his 1, to make Player's hand 8, and I drew a 9 to add to my initial 0 to win the hand. He fled. He should not have fled though - he should have stuck around, and followed me - especially in that I ended the session after 2 1/2 shoes (average bet 1000) with +4100.

Ole!

[MDawg]

Day 40 play

Lost the first marker, pulled a second larger one. It was pretty smooth sailing from there, all the way up to +5100 where I stopped. I played alone.

[MDawg]

Day 41 play

Interesting session. Played most of it with this other player who bet anywhere from 2000 - 20000, with most of his bets being 3000. As a result, I was not usually the high bettor (once I bet 7000, another time 5000) so this player had the option to open the cards pretty much at all times, although was willing to let me open too. Pretty easy going player.

This player did a couple of table max bets and luckily won them both. I believe this player was up pushing eighty grand at one point, but just kept playing.

I blew my first marker then pulled a bigger one, and eventually got to +1000 and quit. I just couldn't do my thing effectively with someone else at the table constantly handling the cards.

Before I left, two more players arrived who were doing some kind of Martingale on the Bank. They bet against me on a Player run and lost everything, then came up with another twenty grand and were doing all right with that, until I took a bathroom break, came back, and they had lost everything again to the point where they were scrounging paper money between them to pay off the commission.

When I quit at the +1000 point the other player, the one who had been at the table since the beginning with me, had given back about half of what was ahead, so was in the neighborhood of about forty grand ahead, but was still playing - hard - at least five thousand a hand.

There was an interesting blondie at a nearby table smoking a cigar. I asked her if she was from New York.

"No."

"I'm just trying to put it together, with the cigar, and everything."

"I'm a local."

"Vegas?"

"Yes, does that make sense now?" she smiled broadly.

[MDawg]

Day 42 play

I ended up about two thousand ahead on the first shoe, from the first marker. Didn't really hold, I gradually went downhill until I had to pull another marker and was actually -14K at one point. I put the entire 14K on Player and drew a 4, with Bank 5, which is a very unenviable position. I then declared that "I need a 2," and sure enough, BAM! SLAM! on the table, there it was. A 2.

No commission!

From there I wobbled up and down slightly until, by the end of the fourth shoe, I was up +4500 and stopped.

The player from a prior session arrived around the third shoe, and we won together for that entire shoe, but after I stopped and I was still hanging around in the high limit pit, I noticed that the player dumped everything. Not good. Actually, this player confirmed that the prior time we had played together the player had also dumped everything once I had stopped and left for the day.

"I usually lose much faster than when I play with you, so, that means you're pretty good at this."

Ouch. Losing slower equaling a good thing?

Anyway, +4500 for me.

[MDawg]

Day 43 play

This was a monster session. A monster losing session. I pulled marker after marker and couldn't win, at least not consistently. Something was shifted, worse, I wasn't aware that it was shifted until it was too late. Wasn't anything intentional on the part of the casino, just the way things were done during this session.

I actually had one shuffle where things were as usual and I was winning, then the next one was again not right, and everything went down again.

Anyway, that's -68K down the drain!

[MDawg]

Day 44 play

Using the 6K in promo chips I was given (which were very nice chips...play 'til you lose), I managed to claw myself to +28K, but I was trying to win back more of what I dumped before, and due to a variety of new and old factors, just couldn't do it, and ended up dumping everything I was ahead. Paid off the markers and fled the table. +0 (minus commission actually).

Part of this is PLAYER FATIGUE I'm just not playing at my best. Part of this is due to new factors introduced by the casino that I now am able to perceive.

Talked it over with my wife and it's Time to go home. Ride out some of the comps earned, and leave while ahead.

[MDawg]

Day 45 play

Partly because I was annoyed at what happened the prior session, partly because I was annoyed at the recent drop in the stock market, partly because I was annoyed at the recent drop in bitcoin, I went down and played again. I pulled a very small marker and played conservatively.

Seriously, this session I could have EASILY won well over a hundred thousand. Even two hundred thousand. On one shoe I was winning close to 80% of my hands. With almost no effort, I walked with just under +25K.

I chased anyone away who tried to play at my table. When they asked for my permission, I would scowl and say NO, which, actually, I had no right to say anything but I didn't care, I just said it anyway. One player was this player who recognized me from the Fall 2020, trip, and I told the player flat out, "Last time we played together, you BLEW it!" and the player just skulked away, and, sure enough - I glanced from a distance, blew whatever cash pulled out. I'm tired of these losers I don't want them at my table!

+25K

[MDawg]

This may turn out to be it. It was more just an experiment in making certain that I still "have it."

[MDawg]

Day 46 play

MONSTER session. My average would have been 4K but I settled down near the end and the pit boss ended up entering 2500 as my average.

I was back and forth up and down with 5-10K hands, and even hit a thousand dollar tie TWICE and won the third hand after hitting the tie back to back, for a 24K or so win over the course of just those three hands alone.

Some bozo walked up and plopped 100 against me on a Player run, lost, and left the table. As soon as the bozo left I had them raise the minimum to keep said bozo (and others like said bozo) away.

But, I was playing catch up much of the time, ended up six thousand, and called it a day.

+6025

[MDawg]

Day 47 play

A monster session to end all monster sessions. LITERALLY DID NOT WIN A NICKEL, but...a monster session nonetheless.

I got up about five grand on the first shoe, and really should have walked. I kept playing and one marker at a time, dumped eighty grand. It got to where no matter what I hit to, the other side hit one point better. I draw a seven, other side would draw an eight. I'd hit to eight, other side would hit to nine.

Later, I noticed that a friend of mine whom I consider to be bad luck had been texting me frantically (I could feel the phone vibrating in my pocket, and saw all the messages later), asking for some advice on whether to sell or hold some crypto he had picked up last week, exactly during this period when I couldn't win a hand.

I regrouped, moved to a different table in a different area, and from there...it was win! win! win! After an initial bit of back and forth, I started RAKING in the chips. The pit boss kept saying that I should be up two hundred grand, but...all I did was recoup the entire eighty K, and stop. Along the way, on the final run, I was stacking two to four black chips alongside my bet for the dealer, and I must've tipped out three grand easily. Didn't care though, I made my comeback, and all is well. I got to about +77 and then won the last three grand, and stopped.

Pit boss said my average bet was a solid 5000. I must've earned a Theo loss of at least forty grand this session, maybe fifty.

Later talked to my host and extended for 11 more days - no questions asked. The host emphasized that everything was being cleaned off my bill.

Anyway, I'm here for another day. I'm learning to press harder when I need to and believe me, one of these days I am going to hit them for between a hundred and a hundred and fifty K in one session. Believe it. Yes, I'm getting a little greedy but I am fine tuning what it is I am doing.

+0

[MDawg]

Day 48 play


Pulled a pretty big marker to start. Some heavy hitting up to 15k a hand but the big hands pretty much cancelled each other out this session. Eventually settled to a lot of smaller hands and walked with +3000.

Average bet 1200.

Comps are verging on the unlimited side at this point, at least every conceivable RFB / spa / salon is being taken care of.

+3000

[MDawg]

Day 49 play

I held my own with some movement to the downside until on the second shoe I started a player run with a few grand, unfortunately, I didn't press to four thousand on the next hand, because the three thousand win represented pretty much my entire upside at that moment, but I did keep a thousand on there and press that a few hundred at a time all the way to the end. I free handed several hands after that until I determined that the shoe was not going to streak in that way again, at least not anytime soon, and called it a day.

Ended +10500

I can tell you what I would have won if I had flat bet this session. Zero zilch - I would have lost.

Only a momo would flat bet at a table game.

[MDawg]

Day 50 play

I actually got down twice, but came back both times. Once again, ended with a Player run, and lol once again didn't press as hard as I should have into it, but I cleared +6700 total, free handed some, bet lightly some hands to see if the shoe would resume its runs, didn't, so I stopped.

Played less than two shoes.

+6700

[MDawg]

Day 51 play

I was up and then down twice, back to even once, and each time boomeranged rather quickly to around ten grand ahead. I played a number of shoes, often having them shuffle them up and start over before the end. Finally called it a day at +13700.

I am in the process of raising my lines to the point where, at least at three properties anyway, I will be able to play RESERVED, without the occasional unwelcome interruptions from other players. I don't plan to play any harder than I do, I just - want the privacy. I have currently figured out a way keep my tables non smoking and more or less private, but it's not the same. Might as well flex the clout where it will be useful.

As well, and this is after some deliberation, we're buying a place right off the Strip. I don't appreciate the ongoing relatively sizable HOA fees per month of the intended purchase, but, the size of the condo is bigger than the suites we are getting, and it will be secure. Will no longer have to haul stuff back and forth from home, and as long as I stay here over six months a year, the lack of state income tax for some of my activities will more than make up for the HOA fees. And that's that.

Forgive me if this is turns out to be the first and last time this move is mentioned. I'd rather keep the ones who have no name guessing.

Who knows, once we move here I may actually start playing less. I don't play at all at home.

[MDawg]

Day 52 play

Wasn't down more than a few K at the worst, and it was pretty much a slow and steady climb up. One thing that happened that has never happened to me before as far as I may recall is that - I WON four ties in a row, for 100, 150, 200, 300. The tie hit, and I bet it as a repeater, hit! again. Played it again, hit! Played it again, hit! Played it again, hit! I have seen four or five ties in a row before, but to actually HIT 4/5 ties in a row is pretty remarkable, especially given that I don't play the tie all that often.

Ended +10500.

[MDawg]

Day 53 play

MDawg was like a thirsty pioneer armed with a divining rod - wherever I went was where the chips were flowing like from a mountain spring. My usual table was occupied, and that area of the casino was just too busy. Went to another section, where it was again too busy. Decide to take a stroll (no victory yet, hadn't even played) on the Strip and entered a different casino, played a few shoes, walked with an easy four grand and change.

Went back to the original casino, crowds gone, took over my own table, started winning slowly but steadily. A Martingale on Bank player arrived and lost handily as kept going against short player runs - this one started with a thousand and doubled from there, but was willing to go no deeper than six thousand before he gave up (1000, 2000, 4000, 6000). The Martingaler dumped about fifteen K, and left.

I cut an awesome shoe that started running on the Bank, other than on select hands where I knew (but no one else could have) that Player was favored, and I cleaned up, barely betting, but teh Martingaler returned and finally caught the same Bank run I did towards the end, and left the table +30000, which meant a 45000 run for that one.

I left +15000, making it a cool +19000 (and change) for the day.

While walking around in the casino I found a two cent slots ticket, and cashed that out too :adoration: along with everything else. That's an extra .02 boys.

[MDawg]

Day 54 play

This was a monster session where I lost a lot in one section of the casino, then regrouped, went to another, and won a huge amount, I mean huge for me anyway. I don't want to state the exact sum because it could lead to chasing down the win because it was the largest table game win in that casino that day. (I know this because my host told me so - the whales all lost that day, apparently.)

What's interesting is that after I started to win, even with the minimum bet raised, a few other players joined the table to try to feed off MDawg and follow. One player was this idiot who kept Martingaling on Player, and threw everything off. Well, that player lost everything and took off.

Another left after winning some, and the other one tried to follow me but ended up losing a thousand dollars. I tried to explain that simply following my bets was not enough - that in order to win had to also follow the amounts of my bets, which vary always. Which again gets back to that flat betting at table games simply is not the way to go.

As I kept winning I started being magnanimous, paying the commissions off repeatedly of some of the other players (but not of the Martingale player, who bet only on Player anyway and never racked up any commission (or over all wins), and putting black chips on the side for the dealers.

This was quite a session and after it I took some time off.

[MDawg]

Day 55 play

Took it relatively easy. I did have some larger bets but nothing over 4500. Ended just a tad under +5K, stopped.

Had some runs, and some random shoes, I managed to win.

+5000

[MDawg]

THERE WILL BE A GAME 7. Vegas Golden Knights. MDawg will be there.

[MDawg]

It's funny because the other day my wife was asking me how much I had changed lately. I thought she was referring to how many casino chips I had converted into cash or casino checks, which would be on the order of hundreds of thousands of dollars in winnings so far this trip, but no, she was referring to how many paper dollars I had obtained from change I had found on the ground this trip.

That would be...three dollars!

[MDawg]

Day 56 play

Things were up and downish for a bit, although I did have a gift shoe that pretty much wouldn't go past 2 on Player, but I didn't hit that gift quite hard enough. Then I got a 9 Bank run, and that was pretty much it.

Left, +7100

[MDawg]

Day 57 play

Was never really ahead this session, and as much as -25K or so in the hole. I eventually rallied BIG TIME, and once I was slightly ahead, +500 - stopped.

[MDawg]

Day 58 play

Now this, a very nice session. I got up around +23K on the first shoe alone. I couldn't lose a 5K bet, all my 5K chip bets were winning. I lost about half of the smaller bets. I kept varying between +30 to 40K ahead, and by the end I was approaching a double.

Along the way another player joined me and commented that wanted to know WHEN and WHERE I was playing next, so that could join me again. :unconscious: Finally got to around +44 ahead, then dumped to +40 ahead, then hit a couple of 1000 chip hands and a 5K chip, and boom! I was ahead +49,200 and decided to call it quits. I owed 250 in commission and paid it with the two black chips and a hundred dollar bill that I pulled from my pocket that tore in half as I was pulling it out from my 18K money clip. The table wouldn't accept it. "We have no tape," from the pit boss. :ghost:

I went to the cage and asked for a black chip. They instead just exchanged it for a fresh unworn C note, which I used to pay off the commission.

Boom, +49K, to the good!

[MDawg]

The winning chips, (plus the concessions (when needed, haven't needed any lately) remain available), and the comps - keep rolling in!

[MDawg]

It's busy in Vegas this weekend, as it was last weekend too. Lot of families visiting, and groups too.

[MDawg]

Loud DJ�ed music around some of the Vegas casino pools as Memorial Day weekend comes into full play. Bikini clad girls - civilians and cocktail servers, galore.

[MDawg]

Day 59 play

Three shoes / +5500. Not much drama, was never down more than five hunny or so.

I wasn't on my private table for this session, and another player showed up for a while, and, as usual, there was confusion and not much winning while he was present, and the winning resumed pretty much right after that player left!

[MDawg]

Day 60 play

Actually got as low as -8000 before taking a single 1000 chip to +7400, including via a 10 Bank run.

On the way out, from one of the dealers, "You should move to Vegas and just do this every day."

Ole!

[MDawg]

Day 61 play

Pretty smooth sailing, was never down more than a thousand or so, ended with a Bank run, cashed out, +8000.

[MDawg]

Day 62 play

This was a MONSTER session with a lot of back and forth. I got ahead some twenty K pretty quickly, but it was very up and down after that. Ahead +20, even, ahead +30, down. I actually did a table limit case bet (MY table limit, my NEW table limit since playing as a Reserve Table private player) and won natural 9 over 8, that was something, as well as many large hands won with 1 over 0, or 2 over 1.

I eventually took, literally, just a few thousand in chips to close to a hundred K, while I was down some forty K, and ended the session up about +51,000, culminating with a 13 Bank run. Pretty well done, if I do say so myself.

+51K

[MDawg]

ALL IS WELL FOR MDAWG. I mean, who comes to Vegas, stays for days on end...gets comp'ed fully...and WINS! MDawg, that's who.

[MDawg]

MDawg was at both Vegas Knights home games. Now 2-2 let�s hope the Knights win in CO - definitely looked strong last night!

During Marchessault's hat trick so many were flying around into our suite that I ended up just keeping one to throw down the next time that happens.
672

[MDawg]

I have so much walking around money from this Vegas trip that I don't know what to do with it! I'm not talking about the winning checks - those I simply deposit and just leave there, I don't need that money either, I just mean that all the black chips I have cashed that I haven't applied to the checks are adding up to so much CASH that it's ridiculous. Need to start spending, but...I don't really need anything.

Maybe another watch? but I don't pay retail so I wouldn't be spending at a local watch store on something like that, either.

[MDawg]

"When it comes to legalized casino robbing, I'm the best," MDawg said. "I don't care if you write good stories, I don't care if you write bad stories, at the end of the day, I will always have the last laugh."

[MDawg]

Day 63 and Day 64 plays

Relatively uneventful sessions, ended one +3000, the other +1500. I was down at some point during both, but rallied sufficiently, then quit.

I am KNOWN among all, as a constant winner.

No one cares though. This is Baccarat, and everyone assumes that eventually, even the great Mdawg will lose.

[MDawg]

Day 65 play

I allowed someone to sit at my Reserved table. The player sat down by mistake, but I allowed the player to remain. I wasn't betting that high, and we were winning together. I even let the player open some of the hands.

End result: the player, who was waiting to catch a plane, managed to win back all he had lost (that day, anyway) and then some, and I ended about six K ahead.

+6125

[MDawg]

Vegas Knights win win win, Game 5!

Onwards!

[MDawg]

Day 66 play

Another smooth session. Played just a few shoes and walked with about 8K.

Pit boss commented, �I�ve never seen you lose.�

+8125

[abilenard]

WOW! nice job Mdawg.

[MDawg]

Always! :teapot:

[MDawg]

Day 66 play

Got down at two points in the session, as much as about -6K, but rallied each time with Bank or Player runs, to end at about 5K ahead.

+5300

Winning for MDawg - It was all just routine. You didn't even think about it. (https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/0cb6a3f6-435c-4969-9102-4e1f5cf276fe)

[MDawg]

Was looking iffy for the Vegas Knights after especially the first game, but they swept the series against CO after four wins in a row to take it! Onwards!
674

I don't think Montreal will be a big issue. Tampa Bay is the enemy!

[MDawg]

Day 67 play

I didn't play at my private Reserved table, instead at a public one that looked like it had a good shoe running. It did! actually, but there was a player on there that was betting against it and losing. I ended up holding back on some bets until this player lost it all and left, and then I started winning in earnest, on my own.

+6000 (would have been +6100 but dealer convinced me to slap a black chip on Tie after I had quit and colored up).

[MDawg]

Day 68 play

Another big ol' win, done by alternating between five hunny and five thousand dollar chips. Was just a matter of HOW MUCH MDawg was going to win on this one.

+16,000

[MDawg]

Shore are a lot of scantily clad young girls roaming about. Upon closer inspection though, they aren't that beautiful, not through and through. Not bad though!

Takes a lot to have it all, in my eyes.

[MDawg]

Not bad considering the number of entrants. MDawg must know something!

Just as an aside, since winners are paid promo chips there is no W2G issued - but the win is recorded on the casino�s win loss system at the tables as the promo chips are played.

[mleus]

Congrats. :soap:

How does that work then, for taxes?

[MDawg]

With table games there is no formal tax reporting. Nothing is reported to the government.

Taxes are due on all net casino winnings, as with any other income.

[MDawg]

675
*****

[MDawg]

We drove up to Mt. Charleston over the weekend and hiked MaryJaneFalls. It was well over a hundred in Vegas that day and just over eighty degrees along the hiking trail, especially in the shade - a difference of at least twenty degrees Fahrenheit, if not more.
677

[MDawg]

Walked by the tables - wasn't even playing that day. Someone I knew asked my opinion - BANK! I said (based on what I saw, not what I knew - again, I wasn't playing). The player trusted my opinion and slapped 5K on the hand, boom! 6 over 5 Bank win. High fives back and forth and hand clasping ensued, of course.

I mentioned this to my wife, and she joked that the player should have tipped me. Actually, I wouldn't have asked for anything for myself - but on behalf of the dealer. Dealer should be tipped on all big payouts.

[MDawg]

Howsabout dumping a quarter mill of the Vegas winnings into a ____ sports car? Already have enough cars but this would be for the wife. I just get a charge out of the idea of driving around in a car paid for by the casinos.

Plus we need to start another set of vehicles for the third home.

[MDawg]

What I also get a charge out of is, that we're still sitting in that same huge suite where I met the Wizard of Vegas (https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/gambling/betting-systems/33908-the-adventures-of-mdawg/472/#post803695), and how long ago was that, and still winning too. :applouse:

Things have changed though. For one, I now have my own private reserved tables all around town, and much higher credit lines. And there was at least some movement to different casinos in the interim since that Wizard verified session (https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/gambling/betting-systems/33908-the-adventures-of-mdawg/471/#post803691).

[MDawg]

Day 69 play

Was down as much as about -10k this session but I was playing harder and taking more chances this session as I�m up so much. Took just a few shoes to end at about 6K up.

+6300

Some player walked by the private area I was playing in and later asked if could play with me. Recognized me from prior play at a public table. I said, No, I play alone now. I don�t need hangers on there are enough losers across the internet seemingly desperate to latch on to me.

[MDawg]

Day 70 play

Won about 7K pretty easily, never was down, just accurately bet where I should have bet and won. Wasn't betting much, probably average around six hundred a hand, but it did the job.

After I was done and left the private salon area, I noticed that a player with whom I had played some time ago (the one who declared that was "stupid" because kept betting against me - and losing) was playing in the regular salon. I stopped by to advise on some hands, and "guessed" every single one right though this player continued with his "stupidity," disregarded my advice and kept losing. Explained that had lost a ton in the day or two prior and couldn't afford to bet big any longer for fear of losing entire bankroll - but then that wasn't really the point, this player was betting wrong, not just too small.

Finally I decided to show the player the way with more than mere words, sat down and won the next 6 out of 6 hands, although again, he failed to follow me. I bet very little, just 500 per a hand, but that added another 3K to my day's tally.

+10,400

On the way back through that area after picking up some take out food I noticed that the player was gone which, knowing the way that player played, meant it had not gone well - that one was definitely not one to get up and leave while ahead.

[MDawg]

Day 71 play

The Banks were running, the Players were running, it was just a matter of HOW MUCH I was going to win, which, with a paltry thousand or so average bet, ended up being a clean 20K (not including about a grand, maybe more, tipped out to the dealers). EVERYONE LOVES MDAWG!

+20,000

[MDawg]

At this point it's not about winning but what to do with all the fucking cash (https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/600b18c7-24af-443a-895a-9f285d6ac973)!

[MDawg]

Day 72 play

Actually two sessions separated by a break. Session A, won 2K, Session B 2K. Left the shoe intact to return (my reserved table, I may return when I wish no one plays my shoe except I).

Was behind up to about -5K a couple of times but always came back strong. One pit boss occasionally asked, How do you know when to place the big bets because you always win them?

+4035

[MDawg]

Day ___ jaunt to California and back.

Fitness Center in airport.
681

Classique.
682

People mover.
685

Departing Vegas early morning to return same day.
686

�Cause I�m goin� back to Cali, to Cali, to Cali.
687

Anyone on this flight returning to a three month sojourn in VEGAS? Ehh, I don�t think so.
688

TSA is interesting. Two bottles of water on way to Vegas in carry on - only one removed. Flight to California - toothpaste left alone. Returning to Vegas, toothpaste removed.

[MDawg]

I haven�t attended the home Vegas Knights v Canadiens games because I figured they were in the bag. Apparently - not.

Go Knights! but get it together please.

[MDawg]

What Vegas was, Saturday night, was CROWDED. People everywhere - wouldn't know it that a Pandemic closed Vegas down just a short year ago....

[MDawg]

Day 73 play

Played about three shoes. Was killing them most every hand for a while. Walked with over +$20K, and looking at the last shoe play out after I left, could have easily won more.

Comments from pit bosses during this session included, "You should write a BOOK on Baccarat!" and, "You make it look easy."

+20,400

[Boknowsbull]

every single one of your stories is pure fantasy. Along with your imaginary pretty wife and fake watches #facts

[MDawg]

Just another jealous admirer who took the time to show how much his panties are tied in knots!

Could use some grammar and punctuation lessons though.

[MDawg]

McNabb ties it up to take it to an overtime victory. Go Vegas Knights!

[Boknowsbull]

McNabb ties it up to take it to an overtime victory. Go Vegas Knights!
I don�t needs no grammars or care I just know bullshit bro I�m from the streets

[PDub]

I know the streets! and you definitely don't.

You're a lame.

[MDawg]

Day 74 play

Up about 8K after the first shoe, and considered quitting. Up 16K after the second, and considered quitting. Up 20K after the third, thought about quitting again. Peaked at about 24K ahead on the fourth shoe, then it all started to fall apart, went back and forth for a while, and before you knew it - only 8K ahead. Had the presence of mind to quit at that point though.

+8000

Wasn't even that late at night and there were drunken people all over the casino floor. Two drunken girls in my elevator who couldn't figure out how to get to their floor, which wasn't serviced by my elevator. So drunken they were falling against each other and slurring their words.

On my floor, some drunken guy passed out on the floor by the elevators - obviously didn't belong on my floor, must have ended up in the wrong elevators like the girls, and then given up. I left him alone to sleep it off, figured he'd find his way eventually.

[MDawg]

Vegas Knights were unfortunately pretty lame in Game 5. They were actually getting booed occasionally. The only highpoint for me was that the casino's suite was filled with young girls and I was talking to a few of them when bored with the game (wife didn't go to this game). Tourists go home! (But leave your daughters.)

[MDawg]

Day 75 play

Was actually two sessions, separated by a short break. First session I kept losing initially, was about -7K or so at one point, rallied, came back to slightly ahead. Then, later this this same session, was -7K or so again, but after rallying back again, quit at +750.

Second session was much easier and I was never down, ended at +2500.

+3250

Any questions? Yet another dealer commented that "I've never seen you lose."

[MDawg]

Day 76 play

I was at an all time high for Vegas winnings this trip, when I dumped about -25K one session. I took a break and dumped another almost -70K at a public table playing with someone else. Probably a mistake as on critical hands this player bet �wrong� and it made me doubt some of my hand choices.

I then returned to my private table with 20k in chips among the chips I had stashed and haven�t gotten around to cashing yet and took those including with a 15 Bank run to a total of 80K or so (+60K or so for that session, tipping out at least a grand via dealer side bets along the way), and then - on the final shoe, I actually dumped the entire eighty or so grand in - unbelievably - about five hands. Crazy.

At that point I was fed up and stopped.

-115K

And this brought back memories of why I quit playing - even though I was over all ahead - a decade or so ago - I got sick of the roller coaster of ups and downs. The losses have been few and far in between for some time but when one hits it leaves a bad taste.

[abilenard]

Wow quite a loss. Well at least you're up enough so that you may lose that much and still be ahead! That's crazy.

[cwwbjr]

Ouch! That's a hit but I'm confident you'll recover. Whatever it was , whether fatigue or an aberrant segment/pattern , if you have a record of that shoe you could go back and take a look and see if it was a rare but inevitable deviation that you could anticipate , recognize and avoid in the future

[MDawg]

Yes, definitely wasn't edifying. Actually, that's an expression I use to mean "not fun," but it actually was quite edifying, in that, I learned:

1 - Not to play too long in one day if I haven't eaten.

2 - Not to play at all if I don't feel my best (night before was at the Vegas Knights hockey game and the next morning I was sneezing and had a runny nose such that I was actually worried I had caught coronavirus from two young girls who sat next to me and kept talking to me in the casino's T-Mobile stadium suite unmasked (and I took off my mask too, while talking to them)) - although, that morning after going to the gym and taking a steam/sauna, I realized I wasn't sick at all, but still, probably wasn't at 100%.

3 - Not to insist on "catching up" all of a loss in one session - I was up over 60K in that second part of the session, but wanted everything I had dumped that day back at once, which led to a total loss.

Of course, I KNOW all of the above, but easier said than done to avoid such faux pas in the heat of the moment.


It's funny because the next day I went all around the casino telling various dealers and pit bosses how "I screwed up the night before, was ahead over sixty K then dumped it all," and each person to whom I spoke offered different advice. This one pit boss kept saying that I should buy something right away with winnings to make it more real, otherwise it just becomes a number being tilled in and out of my bank accounts. I've actually had this thought myself, and almost acted on it last week to buy a very expensive sports car, but the exact configuration we wanted wasn't available.

Another started pointing out the pit boss' "system" for winning at Baccarat. :triumphant:

Most said things along the lines of, Sounds like you're learning about yourself from this experience.

Yet another pit boss told me of a "lifetime winner" knew from the prior casino used to work out, who would place just ONE bet, around $8000., per session - apparently would watch the board for up to hours before making a single bet, then win or lose, would go home for that day. I pointed out to this pit boss that I too am a lifetime winner, and the pit boss said, I know, but just pointing out another way to do it.


One thing everyone knows and says is, "Don't chase losses." Of course, this doesn't mean to quit immediately every time you end up in the red. If you did that, you'd probably end up with a net loss, as many winning sessions dip in the red at some point.

[MDawg]

Speaking of Vegas Knights, as everyone knows, they blew it again last night, and are not going on to the Stanley Cup. A Canadian friend I know actually had advised me a week ago to bet "at least" ten grand on the Knights' winning the Stanley Cup, advice which I fortunately ignored. I actually rarely, if ever, bet on sports or horses.

[MDawg]

Day 77 play

Back in the saddle!

I played barely two shoes, and granted I wasn't exactly playing lightly (varying bet between 300 - 5000) but I got ahead relatively easily and quit at ahead about 11K.

There was good feeling all around as I put first red chips, then green then even black a couple times, on the side for the dealer.

The shoes I played there was pretty consistently a second Bank or Player and I should have been REALLY killing it, but I was a little gun shy from the prior majorly losing session.

+11,600

[MDawg]

Day 78

Three sessions, two quick, one quite long.

First, I dumped about -40K at one casino. Went straight to another dumped about the same, around -45K again. Hateful (but not Eight, more like Eighty-Five!).

Then, a third casino, and here, I stayed ALL DAY from afternoon until mid morning, something like twelve hours. I seriously wanted at least a hundred K. I kept getting stuck at around thirty to forty K ahead, and fortunately - I was winning ALL of my big bets, and something like twice maybe even three times I went back to almost even (but a least I was never at any point behind), and then finally on the last shoe I powered ahead including a few table limit winning bets, until, on a Bank run, I reached my goal of slightly over +100K. ZOWIE!

So, the day ended up well, and I already negotiated a concession on the other two losses at the other two casinos. So, even where I lost, in the end, I won.

[KewlJ]

These 'stories" are just NOT how the Las Vegas casino industry works. Casinos do not comp longterm winning players the high limit stuff you claim. Casinos DO comp higher limit losing players the things you claim. You are either leaving out the losing parts or your stories are simply fiction. I and every other proffessional player and even those that play recreationally, understand this. Who is it that you think you are fooling?

[MDawg]

lol. Welcome (https://www.truepassage.com/forums/showthread.php/12184-KewlJ?p=41719#post41719)!

[MDawg]

I shared privately with the Wizard (Michael Shackleford) TODAY additional checks issued to me by the casinos, dating from the very end of May 2021, to end of June 2021, totaling approximately $250K (where all but approx. 100K was memo marked as "verified win" or "verified chips" - the remaining 100K had no memo on the check(s) at all), and these are besides the ones I shared with the Wizard before for the period March to May 2021.

The prior winning checks totaled some $260K, so that's a half million in winning checks issued to me for verified wins in the past few months, notwithstanding cashed chips and those converted to straight cash.

[MDawg]

People who say that winning players do not get comp'ed (https://www.truepassage.com/forums/showthread.php/12141-People-who-say-that-winning-players-do-not-get-comp-ed)

[KewlJ]

People who say that winning players do not get comp'ed (https://www.truepassage.com/forums/showthread.php/12141-People-who-say-that-winning-players-do-not-get-comp-ed)

Sure a player that gets lucky and wins over a short period will get mega comps to intice him to play and lose it all back.

You claim to have been a winning player for years. Dating back to 2000 I beleive. On this current trip of 3 months, you just claimed to be ahead half a million. Something like 72 winning sessions out of 74, if I am not mistaken.

The casinos do not comp players that have been winning longterm like that on top of winnings. THAT is just not the casino industry business model. real players and anyone with half a brain understands this. I don't know who you think you are fooling but I don't think there is anyone left buying your fantasies. You are fooling yourself only.

[MDawg]

What can I say, but that this is the fact. Interestingly, the other day one of the dealers I know lowered voice and asked me, "Have you ever been asked to leave?"

[PDub]

How�s it going MDawg?

Any updates? This is quite a long trip by any Vegas standards isn�t it?

[MDawg]

Day 79 play

Been busy closing escrow on the third homestead you know where, haven�t had much time for play but did get in one session and cleared about 7K with ease.

+7300

[MDawg]

Day 80 play

Wasn�t easy as I kept getting stuck around even. Was down a couple times too. Finally walked with over ten large.

What was most remarkable about this session was that I rode a 2000 call bet all the way from way down to way up.

+10,900

[MDawg]

Days 81 and 82 play

Day 81 session was smooth - won just under 17K with no problem.

Day 82 session I was ahead +8K when I suddenly dumped all that plus another 40K. Then gradually, I went from -48 to plus +10K and quit.

A player cajoled me into letting the player play at my table, and, copying my moves during my upswing period, won +80K. But now this player wants to play with me always, and I am not into that. MDawg flies alone.

[MDawg]

Days 83 and 84 play

That player who latched on to me messed me up. This one is a degenerate gambler who can't stop. Over the course of two days I helped the player get to +150K or so twice and both times the player dumped it all after I left, giving the player private access to my reserved table. Meantime, over those two days I ended up winning nothing - flat even. This player has lost all MDawg privileges and is no longer welcome at my table.

Trying to help / keep track of two bankrolls just doesn't work. I felt for the player and was trying to help, and ended up helping more than playing. MDawg has a soft spot in his heart for losers, it seems.

[MDawg]

Day 85 play

A couple of players that I remembered vaguely from the past when I was playing at public tables showed up. They asked politely to play at my Reserved table.

"We won't bet against you, we'll just follow whatever you do."

THEN each time I chose the hand they kept referring to the "same good looking" winner. And we did. Keep winning.

And that was that.

I was barely betting. They were betting hard. Those two clocked just under +$100K at my table. They actually kept tossing me chips as tips that I just accepted and put next to my own bets, for the dealer. I don't need charity but showering me with lucky chips - hey I don't have a problem with that.

+24000 for me.

Ole!

[MDawg]

I was talking to my wife about the fact that sometimes, such as on the Day 85 session, other players win more than I do, mirroring my bets.

"Why do others trust you more than you do yourself?"

She's right though - while certainly there are sessions where I have won 50 - 150K, sometimes I am having such a good time winning that I forget to bet big. I need to fine tune myself to press more when things are really happening.

[MDawg]

Day 86 play

Wasn't feeling my best and I was down a few times, but managed to eke out a small win.

+3000

[MDawg]

Went to the gym and worked out hard after Day 85 and Day 86 sessions to shake off whatever is ailing me - primarily as a result of second hand cigarette smoke in the casinos, which was a bit heavier than usual lately. In some of the casinos my private table is in the back, away from all these stupid smokers, but in other casinos private tables are right out there next to regular tables and close by the smokers.

One casino, fortunately, bans all smoking in its high limit area.

Second hand smoke gets to you especially if you're used to fresh, clean air.

Wife is making me some of her herbal tea concoctions.

[MDawg]

Day 87 play

The players who mirrored my action on Day 85 showed up again, asked permission to play at my table, permission granted - this time were playing very small. Odd. I ended up winning more than they did.

+7525

[MDawg]

Day 88 play

Relatively effortless. Bank run after Bank run, Player pretty much only single. Two shoes, won with ease.

+14425

[MDawg]

Day 89 play

I must still be under the weather, as I was ahead 56,000 and then in one shoe dumped it all to lose 34,000 which is quite a swing.

Been somewhat off from a cold past few days. My wife actually suggested that I not play that day. She was right. She realized that I wasn't 100%, but I had been winning past few days prior to this session even while sick.

-34000

[MDawg]

Just been resting past few days. No play. Didn't even leave the suite - in room dining only. Actually, I think that last session#89 is going to be it, and then leave town when we feel like it.

Recovered from the cold. My wife caught it from me, but she's already better too.

Anyway, how many may say that spent four plus months in Vegas fully comp'ed and left a winner? It'll be a while before we are back though. That is, back to gamble. Some of the future trips might just be at the Vegas homestead not even to gamble. It will be a while before the remodel and redecorating are completed there though.

[MDawg]

I�m owed - at each resort - probably a solid few weeks if not more of solid RFB comp�ed in a huge suite. Taking advantage of a bit of that right now as we rest relax and I don�t even play.

[MDawg]

This will be Day 6 of just relaxing in the suite not playing, fully RFB comp�ed.

[MDawg]

Continuing to enjoy the RFB ride. And haven�t played in over a week now.

We�re currently in one of the largest suites available in Vegas at one of the top resorts on the Strip.

[MDawg]

Still just relaxing. No play in about two weeks now.

[MDawg]

Day 90 play

Shucks, I got bored. And, they lured me down to the casino with some promo chips. It was a spontaneous decision. Played just one shoe, very easy, won around $6K. Still have some of the promo chips left over, too!

I had to play at a public table because I didn't want to wait around while they set mine up.

This player came up towards the end of the shoe and started betting, sometimes with me, sometimes against. I was about to have a no smoking sign placed on the table when this player declared that "sometimes smokes, do you mind?" Hellll yes, I mind. That was it, made the decision for me to leave. Before I left, I said to the player, "Well, I am sure you smoke only when you get nervous, so, as long as you win, you won't smoke, right?" The player actually responded with, "I am sure I will get nervous." I couldn't believe it. This player was basically saying, yes, I am sure I will lose.

And sure enough, as I chatted leisurely like with some of the dealers and pit bosses after scooping up the six large in profits, and on the way out, noticed the player was down to last couple chips.

What's funny is - I was actually going to play double deck blackjack. Could I have done as well, as easily?

+6600

[MDawg]

Day 91 play

Wasn't really happening, although I did get up as much as 4000 at one point. Also was down as much as -6500 once. Wasn't betting much - average around 800 per hand, and closed it out just a little ahead.

+850

[MDawg]

Day 92 play

Got a 13 bank run. Was barely betting it but still walked with a cool 5K.

+5515

[MDawg]

Day 93 play

I pulled one marker got down no more than a couple K rallied came back to exactly even and quit for a late lunch. After dining I went back and forth and eventually lost the first marker. Pulled a second one - rallied on a bank run and some other hands afterwards, ended just slightly ahead.

Wasn�t really happening today but I held my own. Wasn�t feeling my best.

+675

[MDawg]

Days 94 and 95 play

Day 94 took some effort but the effort was worth it. Highest bet was $25,000.

Day 95 not as much effort needed. Highest bet $2500.

Cumulative: +34000

[MDawg]

Day 96 play

I let this player play at my table which was a mistake. Just led to confusion. I still won, but little.

+1530

[MDawg]

Day 97 play

Helluva session. Bet up to $20000 (on one hand) but ended up barely winning anything. Lot of back and forth.

When I�m behind and I come back to even I try to stop.

+75

Did earn a lot of comps, but then I always do that. Dealers won more than I did that I tipped out via side bets for them. But...can you put a price on a $20,000. 7 over 6 four card win? :saturn:

[MDawg]

Day 98 play

Had some larger bets and I won all of them, but they were mostly just bets that happened to be when I was behind. Played about 1 1/2 shoes only.

+3025

[MDawg]

Day 99 play

Didn't play long just two shoes. On the second one I got a 14 Player run, pressed not a lot but some, into it, and won about $36K, tipping out some six hunny along the way for the dealer.

Ole!

+36,600

[MDawg]

Day 100 play

I got to flat even once after being down and I might�ve even been $500 up right after that but I didn�t follow my rule and kept playing, probably because it was so early in the session. Then I was down again. I kept getting stuck around -6000. Finally I got to flat even a second time and didn�t push it and quit ahead just $15.00 :saturn:

+15

[MDawg]

Day 101 play

This was a monster session where I never bet over 10000 but I was also never much ahead. I played 11 shoes and ended up walking away actually down some just because I was getting tired.

It was a good exercise though in minimizing losses because I was down as much as -30000 at times.

-3000

[MDawg]

Day 102 play

Short session; just two shoes, max bet 3000.

+1575

[MDawg]

Day 103 play

Just one shoe - highest bet, 2500. Won over ten K. It was funny because every time I placed a side bet for the dealer, we won. I mean every time, without fail. The only hands I lost were ones with no side bet. Not saying that I lost every hand with no side tip - I won a lot of those too, but I won every single bet where I placed money for the dealer.

+11875

[MDawg]

Day 104 play

I played 2 1/2 shoes. The half shoe was the second one and I had to stop playing it because the cards jammed and they couldn't reset the shoe. I actually had to just pull my bet with four cards out on a mandatory two card draw, and wait for the next shoe.

I got several runs and ended up nicely ahead.

After I was done I asked what my average bet was - pit boss said, more than once, that was putting down a little more for my average bet because "you take care of my dealers." Also mentioned something about 8 out of 9, or some such, I actually wasn't sure what was talking about - assumed that meant that put me down for having played 8 out of 9 hands average, again, repeated that this was based on "because you take care of my dealers"- assume this was something about what percentage of hands I play in the shoe?

I always understood it that where someone like me, who doesn't free hand the shoe to death, plays most every hand they just give full time credit, but perhaps some pit bosses are watching more closely than that, and deduct from time played for every free hand in some way.

+13900

[MDawg]

Day 105 play

Overplayed a bit, I was ahead as much as 6500 but I got on a bad run and gave it all back was actually down about -6000 at one point after being up. What a dump! It didn't take too long though I was back in the green and stopped.

Just goes to show though - shouldn't look at what was ahead at the peak, but just the fact that I walked ahead.

+1750

[MDawg]

Day 106 play

Played just one shoe - don't think my average bet was much over 600. Ended ahead nicely, considering that average bet, and stopped.

+5400

[MDawg]

Day 107 play

I was down as much as -20K at one point but I didn't do any huge bets (well, not over 5K at most points although I did win one +12K bet, which was my max bet for this session), and gradually won it all back. As I got closer and closer to even my dealer kept asking me What I needed to get even, and at the end of the third shoe - I needed only another 1000.

As I closed that gap on a short Player run the dealer asked again, Okay! so are we good? and...we were.

+0

The dealer won more than I did, and I probably tipped about about 25 to my attendants, but even, is even, and preserved all bullets for another, easier day.

[MDawg]

So many players come to the table and declare that no matter what they get ahead, they will always give it all back. Why even play if you know up front that this is what you will do?

[MDawg]

Day 108 play

Just two shoes - highest bet was, I think - 3500?

Ended at just under ten grand ahead at the end of the second shoe and called it a day.

+9200

[MDawg]

Day 109 play

I was on a tight schedule today as I had a few appointments in town, so I was grateful to get back to even on the third shoe just as I had to take off after being down as much as -20K. The turnaround came on a 10K Player hand where I drew an initial 0, Bank 4, and I got the 9 to stop the action and win the hand. From there, it was pretty smooth sailing back to even.

The dealers actually ended up winning more than I did.

+15

[MDawg]

Day 110 play

I played at two separate casinos, both times I got to right around +31K and then ending up dumping it all. Just miserably bad playing. I should have just taken the profit. There were a lot of distractions and drunkenly desperate players around, although, at least at the one casino, not at my private table (played at a public table at the other casino - that was a mistake). But mostly, I lost because I kept pushing it and trying to get to over fifty K ahead and it did not happen.

I actually ended up losing! which after being ahead twice, is weak.

Time to take another long break. Not playing right, means, player fatigue has set in.

-7000

[MDawg]

Day 111 play

I wandered into Circus Circus. Yes Circus Circus. Notice how the new Resorts World towers over the Circus, and it's not like Circus Circus is a low building - at least not low for the old days of Vegas.
748
749

The hot dog concession in Slots a Fun inside the Circus seems permanently closed.
750

Pretty busy in Circus Circus actually especially on the upstairs kiddie carnival games level.
751
752

The rotating bar of Fear and Loathing fame is no longer rotating, but it is serving a function these days - not closed.
753

Paid $4. for a 20 oz. bottle of water.
754
Those veterans selling bottled water for $1. on the Strip pedestrian bridge don't seem so bad now.

Casino floor fairly busy too - table games not open 7/24.
755
756

Kept wandering on down the strip. Up and down actually. I wasn't going to play at all this day, but...Hit and ran a casino for quick 5 spot at a public table. First shoe I think I might�ve gotten ahead a couple K at one point but ended dead even.

Second shoe - 9 Player run right out the gate. Even betting small, and even though I stupidly cut my bet in half at about the 6 mark (but resumed pressing from there), I still cleared 5K. Just goes to show that should never second guess on a run - just press and don�t even think about it. Some other player showed up right at the end and said �You gotta take advantage of that� and pulled a 10K marker. I left though, so I�m not sure if the shoe continued in that inestimable run like fashion or just went average.

Enjoyed a comp�ed meal on the way out too. Nothing like leaving a casino you stopped into on an afterthought with five large and belly full of good (free) food.
757

+5200

[MDawg]

Day 112 play

From portions of my pre- and post-gaming Strip stroll, not in any particular order.

Mirage fountains. Don't really look at these when driving the Strip, have to walk right in front daytime to take them in properly.
758


And he walked on down the hallll...I mean Strip.
759
760
and he came to a Door...which took him into the Bellagio. Which incidentally has a new carpet motif, different from a year or two ago anyway.
762
763
764

The Petrossian Caviar bar was redone a couple of years ago too.
765

[MDawg]

Here is something from Caesar's you definitely cannot see from the street, not that you'd be missing much, with all the trash strewn about the statute and empty fountain.
766


Inside Caesar's, not sure if all that blocked off area is intentional or permanent (I doubt it), because it makes for a very narrow Casino entrance
767
768
769
770

and, what someone else posted here recently is true...the Grand Baccarat table where players may handle the shoe is gone, probably for good is what one dealer I know told me.


While at Caesar's don't forget the world's largest watch store.
771


And while strolling through these casinos in general, at the various watch shops, be mindful of the fact that it is the 220th Year of the Tourbillon,
772

and how about these Jumpin' Jaegers? (Split second wristwatches.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwbUkA6LsfU

At Cosmo, I took a face from the ancient gallery and walked on down this hall, examining some images of old Vegas. I've seen this hallway and these images dozens of times, but why not pause to take a look again now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H93xYxWuhfk

Elvis
773


Sinatra
774


Britt Ekland
775

[MDawg]

Vikki "The Back" Dougan (I know her actually, she went to a party a few years back with us in Beverly Hills - she's about 90 years old but still looks all right. I had to help her walk but, why not, she's an old school celebrity, and she still goes out to social functions).
776


Vampira (of Ed Wood fame, although actually, Lisa Marie was much hotter, but evidently not hot enough as Tim Burton dumped her for Helena Bonham Carter).
777


Robby the Robot
778


Harry BelaFonte
779


And this is the demonstration you may hear regularly at Cosmo from the Boulevard Tower, even from the 70th floor, some guy trying to tell everyone what's what through a megaphone.
780


Last remnants of the pre-gaming meal.
781

And...down to business. I ended up playing just two shoes. I wasn't playing very hard, was too relaxed. I should have been playing much harder, and even the pit boss was exhorting me to bet more, as I got a 13 Bank run on my second shoe (the one I cut).

Still, barely betting and actually down before the run started, I managed to win about 6K.

+6500

And picked up some souvenirs and other consumer goods on the way back, my pockets bulging with pretty polly. In all, a relaxing, successful venture, on the Las Vegas Strip.

[MDawg]

Day 113 play

This was a bad one. I failed to press when I should, and laid it out there when I should not have. I was up and down some, but never actually in the positive.

-11,500

[MDawg]

Day 114 play

Played DD Blackjack only. 200 - 1000 spread. Did not play long, short session only, maybe four shuffles?

+2100

[MDawg]

Day 115 play

DD blackjack only, 200 - 2000 spread. Played a couple of hours, managed to win more of my larger hands, than not.

On one of my 2000 hands I got aces against a 5 up for the dealer, split them, and got another ace but...at this particular casino's high limit DD you may not resplit aces (there is a DD in Vegas where you may resplit aces on a DD game, and the same MAY be negotiated with at least one other casino in town for a private DD game), and...wouldn't you believe it, I got another ace, and then a lousy 5 on the second ace. So I had two hands out there now, 2000 each, adding to 12 and 16. Dealer ended up four card busting though, and not even with a face card. That just goes to show, the count was great, and not even one face or ten had appeared on the prior hand, and yet...not one face or ten appeared on the next hand either! Count or anticipated sequence based on prior cards isn't everything, but I still won the hand.

+3225

[MDawg]

Day 116 play

All private table, special limits. DD Blackjack.

I was varying from 200 - 1000 and I managed to get about 1500 ahead, when I started losing pretty much...every hand, and even playing small at or near my minimum bet, I was losing a fair amount. Count really didn't matter - dealer was getting all the pat hands and aces when I expected them.

After I was down a good solid ten grand or so, I kept waiting and waiting until a sequence came up with a very positive count. 5000 - lost, no stiff in sight when there should have been one (or two, for me!). Count was even more positive, so I laid out 10000. Lost again! Net hand, count was even higher, I laid out 20000 - won. This was not a progression. This was not a martingale. I should have won any one of those hands based on a lot of things, including the count. After that it was a matter of back and forth, although I kept getting stuck at ahead about 10000.

I had a couple of shuffles where I kept winning hand after hand, or at least most of the hands, and I stopped, well ahead.

Looking back, towards the beginning I kept losing all the hands I expected to win, but towards the end, I started winning most all hands, period.

+16200

[MDawg]

Can you really put a price on winning sixteen large in a casino, cashing it all out into a paper bag (didn't feel like dealing with a check this time), having a host throw you a thousand dollar slip comp for their high end steakhouse, and then walking out with the takeout food and the cash, to wherever you're staying, in your fifteen foot ceilinged Vegas Rainman-esque suite?

And everyone was staring at the MDawg. Winningness exudes a powerful aura. (Then again, maybe it was just thugs wanting to rob me of the cash...which led me to go to the bathroom and put the cash in my pocket, and leave just a water bottle in the bag.)

[MDawg]

Day 117 play

Blackjack only - private table Shoe game - decided to have that set up to play. No special rules (the shoe at this casino already has a very, very low house advantage) - but limits above the normal.

I spread mostly just 200 - 2000 but I did three very large bets to 20000. I lost two smaller ones - won the 20000 bet. Not a martingale just bet it as I called it.

+14100

[KewlJ]

I spread mostly just 200 - 2000 but I did three very large bets to 20000. I lost two smaller ones - won the 20000 bet. Not a martingale just bet it as I called it.

+14100


Before I jump to critisizing, I just want to clarify. The 200-2000 spread....are you counting? or just some random spread?

And if you are counting, I have to assume the couple much bigger bets of 20,000 were made during high plus count (+EV) situations? is this correct?

[MDawg]

Day 118 play

DD - private table. Highest bet 19000 (actually meant to drop 20000 but miscounted the yellow chips). Ha.

My smallest bet was 500 for this session. Was spreading 500 - 5000.

Won most all of my larger bets.

I played really hard and was actually trying to clear at least 35000 but when the smoke cleared�this turned out to be slightly lower than my best single session of blackjack of all time.

+56000

[mleus]

MDAWG I thought you were a Baccarat guy? You taking no prisoners at blackjack too now?

[MDawg]

I play to win at whatever at which I might win.

Damn the torpedoes!

[MDawg]

Day 119 play

Baccarat, pulled a marker, played to max bet 3000, ended even. Just was entertaining an out of town guest at my private table. Not playing hard.

+0

[MDawg]

Day 120 play

Separate session although same day as another reported session. Baccarat.

Played just three shoes at my private table. First two shoes I managed to get up about 20K. Third shoe, I cut it of course, got 14 Banks straight out the gate. No ties.
Pressing 1000 a hand I won over 60K on that run alone. I free handed some more hands, which weren't bad (there were 4 Players, then 6 Banks) but I didn't play them.

+83K

[MDawg]

Casino flew us in a private jet to and back for football game recently.
783
782

784

[MDawg]

Stadium suite
785

786

787

788

789

790

[MDawg]

Food was some of the best we've experienced at a stadium event. Everything from sushi and sashimi to gourmet hot dogs. Even had Blue Label! for the drinkers.
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799

[MDawg]

Desserts.
801
802

[MDawg]

Blue Label! on tap.
803

[MDawg]

People weren't so very masked though, notwithstanding local ordinances making masks mandatory.
808

[MDawg]

Return flight to Vegas. There was a lot more food on the flights too, including giant shrimp, crab claws and lobster, but on the return, we were too stuffed from the stadium food to eat much more than a little fruit.
809
810
811

[MDawg]

Actually had a convo with one of the hosts, at the event, about how far lifetime ahead I am ahead, which...is just at that one casino alone!

[MDawg]

Day 121 play

DD Blackjack.

It was a Blitzkrieg session. Didn't play so very long, and spread from 500 - 5000.

I got to about fourteen thousand ahead pretty fast actually, then played for a bit, smaller bets, then stopped ahead nicely.

+15315

[MDawg]

Day 122 play

DD Blackjack.

Played for a decent amount of time. Spread from 200 - 3000.

I got ahead about five grand early on, then was somewhat slow going after that. But ended fine.

+5725

[MDawg]

Day 123 play

DD Blackjack.

Spread from 500 - 10000.

I got stuck around +10K, went all the way back to even, then won a 10K hand, then gradually, almost - imperceptibly, crept up to about double that, and stopped.

+21250

[MDawg]

LeBron James was playing roulette. Funny, because he was playing at a public table, while I was playing at a private. His two bodyguards were actually watching me play and win and weren't even standing by him.

[MDawg]

Day 124 play

DD Blackjack

I pulled about a 10K marker, and playing between 200 - 3000, I actually lost all of it but 500! during a period when the count was really superior, but I lost every hand in a row.

I then left that 500 up (what the h, might as well, the count was still good), and won, parlayed, won, parlayed, won, parlayed, won and got to within a couple grand of even.

I then grinded it out and got 4000 ahead, quite a run from 500, lost about a grand of that, and then quit.

+3125

[MDawg]

Day 125 play

DD Blackack. Playing between 200 - 10000 (tel:200 - 10000).

Three separate sessions three separate casinos. Lost small (relatively) at one casino, lost big at second casino, won bigger at third casino.

Wasn�t too bad really but it got just a little too late and I was a little too hungry so I gave up before I could make the day net even.

At the third casino was told I tipped out some 3000 via dealer side bets alongside mine. I hadn�t realized it was quite that much. Thought it was more like 1500, but whatever. I did quite well that session.

3000 tipped out sounds like a lot, and it is - but I had a certain goal to win at least the entire loss from the second casino, and I don't think I would have ended up with much more if I had not tipped out. Might've achieved the goal sooner, is all.

Long day.

-6550

I couldn�t get my concession taken care of at the second casino but come Monday that will eat up some of the above loss too.

[MDawg]

Day 126 play

DD Blackjack. Played between 500 - 5000.

Didn't play very long actually. I was down close to 10000 when I won a 5000 hand. Gradually up from there and won most all of my bigger bets. Ended with a period when I won every hand in row for about eight times in a row, betting somewhat progressively.

+8275

[MDawg]

Take the cash. And the cannoli.
813

[MDawg]

Day 127 play

DD blackjack. 500 - 5000.

I got to as much as -8000 at one point, rallied from there winning most of my hands for a while. Kept getting stuck around -1000, eventually made a break and ended ahead.

+4215

[MDawg]

At a recent session someone I have seen at the tables occasionally came up to me and seemed to be angling for some deng. I�ve seen this one before including at one of the sessions where I won about $16K. At that session seemed to be hinting at a handout too, but I gave nothing. This one was also present on a session from a few months ago where I won over $100K. At that session, I was pretty sure the player was actually playing, but now I�m not so sure.

Anyway, I gave the player 100 �to borrow� which placed on my bet. I got a 20 so we won and I just let keep the 100 �won� with my loan. In gratitude bought me a Starbucks cappuccino and brought it to me at the table. I started winning after that I was down slightly at that moment ended up winning. So I think the player is good energy but I�m wondering if this one�s thing isn�t just wandering around high limit Bacc or Blackjack tables and mooching off players gets to know.

I�ve become immune to these chip hustlers (assuming that is what is going on) over the years, and in fact don�t like anyone sitting down at my table private or not, but in this instance, I figured, why the h not. I gave up a hunny.

[MDawg]

Day 128 play

DD Blackjack. One heckuva session. 500 - 5000 , with one bet well beyond.

I kept hovering around -3000 , and finally spilled to -12000 and got as low as about -30000. I did one bet 18000 and won, although I intended to bet 20000 and kept joking with the pit boss that "That was a mistake! I intended to bet twenty."

One of the dealers kept saying, jokingly, but also seriously, "You're a professional card counter, aren't you." I just laughed. The pit boss didn't even seem to care or listen. It was a little surreal.

I ended up a little ahead, and stopped.

+2615

[MDawg]

Win, lose or draw, camping out in Vegas casinos for a half year and spending over 120 days at the tables playing high limit requires balance and good physical and mental health habits just to keep from...cracking.

[MDawg]

Day 129 play

DD Blackjack. Pretty light session. 300 - 1200

It wasn�t until after I�d left the table that I realize there it hadn�t occurred to me to tip the dealer along the way with any side bets.

+2625

[MDawg]

Day 130 play

DD Blackjack. 300 - 2500.

Was down as much as -6000 at one point, rallied, quit pretty soon after getting ahead.

+1800

[MDawg]

Day ___ play

I did this recently just as a test. I went to a major Strip casino that allows mid shoe entry. I watched until the count was ridiculously positive and then jammed 5000 on the circle. I did this three times over the course of many shoes, just standing there and betting only three hands. I didn't even sit down. I won 2/3. No one said a word.

+5000

[MDawg]

Day 131 play.

DD Blackjack. Spread 300 - 6000.

Was down as much as -11000 at one point. Rallied gradually took many hours finally stopped when got ahead. Probably tipped out half as much as I won.

+500

[MDawg]

Day 132 play.

DD Blackjack. Spread 300 - 5000.

It was a pretty easy session, might've been down a few thousand at points, but once I got even or ahead it was fairly steady.

+5400

[MDawg]

Day 133 play

DD Blackjack. 300 - 5000 spread.

I was ahead as much as a few thousand a couple times but kept dropping to around -4000 or so. I won all my larger bets but they all seemed to come at catch up moments.

Finally got tired of the back and forth and walked.

+750

[MDawg]

Day 133 play

DD Blackjack. 300 - 20000 spread.

Uhoh, bad session. I was actually up a fair amount then it went all bad.

-15000

[MDawg]

The above -15K loss just goes to prove that need to take what you may when you may. Can't be winning small in repeated sessions then suddenly lose big. That is all lopsided. But, that's the way it worked out, this week.

[MDawg]

Just been relaxing in Vegas. No play for some days now.

[MDawg]

Hella windy out there on the Strip tonight.

[MDawg]

Day 134 play

DD Blackjack. 500 - 15000 (tel:500 - 15000).

There was some back and forth but eventually broke away to win. I did tip out some along the way but my win was an even exact number and not affected by the tipping. Hear that, ya� cheapskates? An abundance mentality is needed to win big and to win consistently.

+5000

[MDawg]

Day 135 play

BACCARAT - public table.

I actually just popped in for a quick session with my old game, hoping to pull out a quick five grand. Well, I must be rusty because before you knew it I was down ten grand. Well, not immediately, but there was some up and down. However, every time I wagered 5000 or 10000, I won. Eventually I got right back to even while a couple of other players had joined me. One, just kept pushing it until lost everything. The other, more or less followed me, until got somewhere at least, made some money and left.

I got flat even, kept playing (violated the golden rule of quitting after coming back to even from a loss), and was down a few thousand again rather quickly, but then I made couple of bets and gradually got back to even, then quit slightly ahead. Not with five thousand though!

+500

[MDawg]

I know Vegas, at least the hotspots I frequent, have been very busy since June 2021. I am not sure why stocks like WYNN that I own have dropped, maybe due to Macau profits, but Vegas seems to be booming again.

I mean it's ridiculous - one of the major Strip casinos has no less than 7 multi million line players playing Baccarat right now (one of my friends is beating that casino for three million at the moment), and at one of the other majors, the only way to get into the casino's suite for the Raiders games lately has been to be a million dollar or higher player. Bad Craziness, Jr. out there with people clamoring to Vegas to wager their money! everyone from people cashing their unemployment checks to billionaires are here on a regular basis these days! Other than the masks, you wouldn't even know that there is a pandemic going on.

I am having to fly back and forth to our main home regularly now, for work, but I'm here in Vegas much of the time, and even the flights arriving in have been very busy.

[MDawg]

Day 136 play

DD Blackjack. 500 - 20000.

I got in the hole about 10K twice during the session but ended a nice sum ahead. Bets up to 15000 - 20000 a few times. These were when the going was good, but also, mostly catch up wins in terms of bankroll.

+5275

[MDawg]

Day 137 play

DD blackjack. 200 - 15000 (tel:200 - 15000)

Played two sessions actually. First one I was winning even hands I didn�t expect to but was betting somewhat smaller than other hands that were within periods when I expected to win. Won 5500 on that session.

Did another short session too.

+5900

[MDawg]

Day 138 play

DD Blackjack. 200 - 10000 (tel:200 - 10000).

Somewhat consistent although I was down about 5000 at one point. Seem to be having difficulty winning more than about five grand a session, but there are worse stumbling blocks.

+5400

[MDawg]

Day 139 play

DD blackjack. 200 - 20000 (tel:200 - 20000)

Rather tumultuous. Playing something like 10 hours at my private table with a two hour break for dinner. Got as far down as -30000 eventually broke far ahead. During this session when I left a 20,000 bet out there twice after pushing with it the first time (I won the second time), a pit boss commented, �You�re very aggressive.�

When I was cashing out (just cashed out this time - no check) there was someone else cashing out over 100,000 who told me had won it at blackjack too.

+51200

Here's my portion, with one of my jackets spread out under it so that you can't tell what casino I was in. I took the pic while still on the casino floor just seemed like the thing to do.
834
Of course the casino played that game of, Sir, if you cash out that much we'll have to close your line temporarily, but I said, "Just give me the cash." My host always reopens it promptly anyway.

When I was cashing out someone else had won over 100,000, and said had won it also at Blackjack. They just gave that one a cellophane wrapped brick of 100K. Sure looked pretty, but then so did my half brick. :cool: Well done.

[MDawg]

There were girls all over the place eyeing me levelly as I was walking around the casino after winning. Do they sense the power? or are they just semi-pros sensing the money?

[MDawg]

Day 140 play

DD blackjack. 200 - 20000

Rather monstrous session. I was on quite a roll winning hands I thought I would win, and hands I didn't think I would win.

+101000

[MDawg]

The Day 139 play I cashed it all out, $50K.

The Day 140 play I cashed out half, $50K, and took a check for the rest. I deposited that $50K cash at another casino.

In general when I get cash, if I'm going to be in the same casino and just go upstairs, I don't worry about it much. I don't even take the cash upstairs anyway I just put it in the hotel safety deposit box. If I am going to travel from one casino to another carrying cash or valuables, I generally take steps to make sure I am not being followed, have someone accompany or drive me from point to point, or all of the above.

The player who cashed out the full cellophane wrapped brick, over $100K of Blackjack winnings, had some kind of satin bag into which put all the cash. Does that mean that the player assumed that would win very big and came prepared to carry? I'd like to think so - I love to see people beat the h out of the casinos!
I actually, generally, do not cash out more than about 5K of my winnings (at a time). Just, lately, I've been wanting to make the winnings seem more REAL versus just a blip of a check into a bank account. A little irresponsible as in unnecessary, but, I have cashed out big versus just checks at least for those two sessions 139 and 140.

[MDawg]

Days 141 - 143 play

Went back to Baccarat, special very high limits!

There was quite a bit of up and down but ended up down, way down! How down? don't even want to post because with that level of loss you might be able to track MDawg down! Being up so much over all, I went for it!

[MDawg]

Vegas weather overcast mid 70s.

[MDawg]

Day 144 play

DD Blackjack. 200 - 12000.

Pretty much up all the way, although the largest bet came at a partial catch up time.

+15500

[MDawg]

Day 145 play

DD Blackjack. 500 - 20000.

Got up 10K, lost it, was minus -5K for a bit, then gradually to +15K, then "home."

+20200

[MDawg]

They were playing this song while I was cashing out my checks and taking the cannoli, again (https://www.truepassage.com/forums/showthread.php/12168-Winter-Spring-2021-Vegas-Trip?p=41859#post41859).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6cviEf7p10

845

844

[MDawg]

Recently I stopped tipping cashiers when cashing out. No particular reason, just...stopped is all. I still place dealer side bets for the dealers same as always though.

[MDawg]

Day 146 play

DD Blackjack. 500 - 25000.

More or less even for quite some time, then some heavy downward motion, then a swift movement back to even and a period when I couldn't lose a hand (whether I expected that or not, is another question).

I was told that my average bet for this session was close to 5000. Wow. Wow. A lot of action (https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/b4ff1511-16fa-4314-9434-9debce831e7b).

All's well that ends well.

+3500

[MDawg]

Day 147 play

DD Blackjack. 300 - 5000.

I bet 5000 twice, won both of those bets, but one came from behind, just happening to come as a catch up bet. Had some periods where I was winning most hands. In all, a pretty smooth session.

+10300

[MDawg]

Day 148 play

DD Blackjack. 100 - 4000.

I was down anywhere from -500 to -2500 on and off for a period, but then gradually moved ahead. Then stuck again around +5000 to +6500 until I started winning most of my hands and eased past 10K. One of the dealers commented, "You make it look easy."

+10300

[MDawg]

Day 149 play

DD Blackjack. 100 - 4000.

I was down for a while, as much as -10000, but pretty quickly got to -3000 and was stuck there on and off for some time.

Up as much as a few thousand at one point.

+1000

[MDawg]

It�s interesting how many poker players play Baccarat - for pretty big money too. I asked one recently why plays Baccarat - said that believes that the same quality that makes able to decide which hands to go in or go big, makes able to decide what to do and when at Baccarat.

[MDawg]

Day 150 play

DD Blackjack. 100 - 25000.

It was a fairly long session and I was all over the place. Was down a couple thousand, up +6500, then down -23000 then down -1000 then down -43000 finally ended it., still down.

Certain days of the week such as the day this particular session fell upon - I seem to often have trouble. Doesn�t mean I always lose on those days but the action tends to be heavy with a lot of ups and downs.

Wow. Wow. A lot of action (https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/b4ff1511-16fa-4314-9434-9debce831e7b). But all that action didn�t end well this time. (Similar to how it ended for Mike and Worm - but I got beat up only figuratively not literally.)

-29000

[MDawg]

Day 151 play.

DD Blackjack. 100 - 20000.

Several hours of action with a break to dine. I won all of my larger bets and most of my fairly large bets, but there was some up and down. I got up +10K right away, then stuck for a while between +10K to +15K, but a winning 20K hand took me right over the...top! There was a sequence when I was winning every hand about 11 in a row that didn't look good actually by the count so I wasn't betting that much. Still, a nice win. And as well, my primary motivation was to win more than the -29K I had lost in the Day 139 session.

I took it all in cash as I had to pay off the losing casino from the Day 139 session anyway, so I didn't care.

+35000

847

[MDawg]

Day 152 play.

DD Blackjack. 200 - 10000.

Was pretty smooth movement for the most part. Won my largest hand, too, although it came after some losing hands that added up to quite a bit before the big winner brought me back up.

+20475

[MDawg]

Day 153 play.

DD Blackjack. 200 - 9000.

The big bet came at a catch up time, but worked out fine. Was a good session.

+11500

[MDawg]

Day 154 play

DD Blackjack. 200 - 5000.

Pretty short session. Time constraints due to other considerations.

Ended even.

+0

[MDawg]

Get yer Ya Ya�s out!
848

[MDawg]

The Rolling Stones - VEGAS at Allegiant Stadium - were good although it was a little frustrating to hear the crowd not even recognize something so quintessentially Stones like Rocks Off from Exile on Main Street, give a tepid response to Tumbling Dice and then jump out of their seats over the popish Start Me Up. Mick still has it and although Keith looks grandpa skeletal he and Woodie can still definitely play those guitars.

I never noticed before this concert how beat up some of Keith�s guitars are. Impressive how he just doesn�t care and leave all the chips and nicks there to add character.

The opening band Maneskin, from Italy, was very glam rocky - think Aladdin Sane.

Two hours plus (from just the Stones alone) of rollicking good music and showmanship. My wife liked the show and being there with me, but commented that the Stones were demonic - not a good thing in her book.

Well I hope we're not too messianic
Or a trifle too satanic

[MDawg]

Day 155 play

DD Blackjack. 200 - 6500.

I was down as much as -5500 and up as much as +4500. Had to end it due to time constraints had someplace to be.

+1075

[MDawg]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOZdt9wawjg

[MDawg]

Day 156 play

DD Blackjack. 200 - 4500.

I was down as much as -12000, ended pretty much at the peak.

+10500

[MDawg]

Day 157 play

DD Blackjack. 300 - 15000.

Bad run, up and down, ended down pretty badly. Not happy about it!

-28000

[MDawg]

Day 158 play

DD Blackjack. 500 - 1100.

Very quick session.

+3600