Observations from the Shreve

Shreveport continues to be ploppy heaven, based upon my first trip of the new year - one would think that after almost 10 years of gaming the clientele would become more sophisticated and knowledgeable about the games, but that doesn't appear to be the case to these wandering eyes - even the slot players are ploppies as I personally observed a player hit the symbols for a $25,000 slot jackpot only to lose the jackpot because she only had only played one coin instead of the max coins required (have read about this in books/articles, but observed it live for the first time, duh!) - it seems the number of carnival games (i.e. 3 card poker) is proliferating as well - another example, dealer at Harrah's told me that they would soon offer crapless craps, a la Stupak and Vegas World - I can only assume double exposure bj and similar variations will follow - given the pen, the no-mid shoe entry rules, and frequent ploppy play even at higher limit tables, I have almost given up on the bj there, sticking primarily to dice, which is the one game in town that is decent and, some would say, superior to that offered in most Las Vegas venues - I know, nothing really useful in this post, but I pass these musings on for whatever they are worth and to see if I'm missing something when it comes to bj in the Shreve

I appreciate the welcome - Best of the New Year to both of you - seems like the legal mistress stays on my butt constantly, so my gaming time has been limited and I've had little to contribute to the board, although I continue to peruse it from time to time - some would say I lurk - perhaps I'll get lucky this year and have some time to see the sights of LV, Tunica, or Renoe/Tahoe and contribute a trip report or such - then again, I may continue to be banished to the Shreve - as for you two, may the cards continue to come your way

and what strategy you use, thanks.

is played with two six-sided acrylic cubes - sorry, couldn't resist that - Hollywood and Horseshoe offer 100x odds, which makes the game about as good as it gets - Harrahs offers 10x odds - I don't know what odds are offered at the tragic/boomtown or pile of debris since I don't frequent those venues - most Vegas venues last time I was there offered a sliding scale of odds (3x,4x, or 5x, depending on what number was the point or the come number),although Casino Royale was still offering 100x odds - hop bets are allowed on all numbers(unlike Atlantic City)if you are tempted to make a poor proposition bet - biggest negative to the game compared to most LV casinos is that they still charge the vig up front if you buy a number, say the 4 or 10 - in LV and Tunica they only collect the vig on a bought # if it hits - Harrahs and the Shoe offer 3x payoff on the field if the 12 hits, while the Hollywood only pays 2x the wager on 12) (caveat, I'm not advocating playing the field, mind you, but for whatever reason, probably simplicity, the field gets a lot of action from Shreve dice players) - dealers are generally helpful and friendly at all three venues, though I'd give the edge in cordiality to the folks at Harrah's - at Harrahs, there are four tables, but two of the tables are shorter than the norm, which I prefer given my aging eyesight - you can usually find a $5 min table except during peak weekend or evening hours where the min may be raised to $10 or $15 - they do not grandfather you in if the table min is raised (LV is the only venue that grandfathers to my knowledge, though I can't remember what Tahoe/Renoe does)- critters/dealers do not give dice setters any heat so long as they do not take an inordinate amount of time setting and throwing - let me know if there is anything else you would like to know about the Shreve game - as for my "strategy", I have to give you a "legal" answer - it "depends" - but, let's just say that 5 out of the last six trips to the Shreve have been very rewarding, primarily due to the dice action