Bank Roll, Variation & Comps

First, I've always played to a bank roll of 50 largest bet units based on Wong's Pro BJ. So, $500 allows me to bet $10 at any given time, as I understand it. I assume this means I should play a $5 table and only bet $10 with a pos count. Or, coul I actually play a $10 table with such a bankroll? I actually feel like I bet too conservatively at times. I don't have many losing sessions and my winning sessions just seem too small. What bankroll would be recommended for a 3 1/2 day trip, playing sparingly for 2 of those days? I typically play 6 deck, $5 tables and make bets of $5 to $25(if I'm winning and at a high count). However, in Vegas I hope to play some 1,2,4 deck. I look for good rules and penetration. I use simple +/- and adjust bets to the count using tables in Pro BJ. I consider my "act" average. I really just try to blend in as a tourist on business. I usually don't draw heat.

Secondly, bet variation. Maybe this is my problem with small wins. I'm so paranoid about potential heat, I tend to be cautious with variations, although I have been able to work up from a $5 min bet to say 2 hands of $25 or one of $50 maybe more. Should I be more aggressive with variation?

Finally, in Vegas, where can I feel comfortable giving out my info for a rating card, so I can at least get some food or a reduced room rate? Or, can I get a casino rate without signing up for a card?

Thank you!

if you spread 1-2, the going is going to be _slow_. You will probably have a positive EV (depends on the rules and number of decks) but it will be a small EV. For example, using CVCX on a good DD game, spreading $5-$10, you can expect to make about 2 bucks an hour assuming you play all. On a good 6d game it is worse at just over a dollar per hour.

I go to Vegas several times a year and have yet to find serious heat spreading 1 - 6 reds on single or double decks on Fremont Street downtown or at some of the South Strip properties (IP, Sahara, Frontier, Ho). Most of my time is spent downtown and I use a player card almost everywhere there. The days of free dinner for a couple hours red play at the Horseshoe died with new ownership, but I have been comped meals at LVC, Fitz, Lady Luck, & Fremont. And I receive postcard mailers for great room rates from LL & Fitz, and special tourneys from Fitz, 4Q, & LVC.

Fremont & California (same ownership) will call out "checks play" at $25 in red, but they do it so often the pit simply ignores it.

I normally take a $500 bankroll, with at least a couple hundred backing me up available via ATM, but only once in the last couple years have I needed to go back for more funds. Normally I wind up either up or down a couple hundred overall for a few days trip, and I play quite a bit.

So go to Vegas, enjoy the sights, and spread red to your heart's content. Just don't expect comps from the fancy Strip properties at that level, even measley meals. Downtown is where the red chipper gets some respect & comps.

Good Luck.

Jay