A little background: I got interested in blackjack only a few months back. After learning basic strategy, I bought a copy of KO Blackjack and read it and practiced. Then I got busy with other things for a couple months, and only started practicing again a few days before my trip last week to Vegas, my first ever. So I'm not that great a counter. I can count down a deck in about 27 seconds. I also bought the newest Current BlackJack News and looked for good games. With my modest budget, I was looking for $5 minimum tables for pitch games (for my 1-5 spread) and maybe some lower minimums for shoe games (1-10 spread). I found about 15 games that interested me and wrote them all down.
I wasn't sure how worried I'd have to be about drawing heat, as I'm only a nickel player. But as I look like a college age Asian kid that ONLY drinks bottled water at the tables, I tried to be low key. I did tip the dealers when I won big, and I tried not to jump directly from 1 to 5 bets.
I started out at the Casino Royale. The CBJN said they have a double deck game with $5 mins that allows DAS. But that must have evaporated since the first of the month. Slightly discouraged, I went to the Stardust, looking for a double deck DAS game with $5 limits. Also gone since the report was generated. Okay, on to Circus Circus. I looked for their double deck DAS $5 game. I couldn't find it. Now I'm starting to worry. Are there NO good games left at low limits? I saw plenty of CSMs all over the place. I even saw one game that LOOKED like a double deck game with decent penetration. But upon closer examination, after the dealer hit the cut card, all cards were put into a CSM type machine, and two decks taken out the front. I was guessing all these cards were mixed inside with other decks, as I have no experience in any of this. I back counted to a +14 RC to the cut card and thought that was quite unlikely in a double deck game that separated the decks.
So finally I go across the way to Slots-A-Fun. I found a double deck, h17,DAS,D8 game here. As I buy in for $100, the dealer checks my ID to see if I'm of age. Sheesh! I sat through quite a few decks where the count never became positive. At this point I thought, "who needs cover play? I've not yet increased my bet." At this point the count suddenly shoots to a +5 so I push my max 5 unit bet out. Dealer shows a 4 to my 10. My heart is pounding as I double. The dealer busts and I feel a rush of excitement. THIS is what it's all about. Pushing the advantage. Shortly after, I leave the game. About 2 hours of play, and I'm up $166.50, or about 35 units. I leave the casino feeling awesome.
The next day I try gambling downtown, as I figure it will be easier to find a good game. I actually found some $5 games at the Horseshoe, but they were gone when I came back to play. I ended up at the Golden Gate where I was able to play heads up with the dealer. She wiped out my initial $40 buy in with a run so strong she was apologetic, and I took this opportunity to leave the table for a drink so she'd shuffle up the now -11 RC deck. When I get back, I buy in for another $40. The second dealer gives me excellent cards. The count hits +8 RC and I throw out 6 units. BlackJack. Excellent! After giving the dealer a $2 toke, I leave the table shortly after with $276. Playtime was about 1 hour 15 mins. Gain of $196 or about 39 units.
I'm now feeling amazingly lucky. Not that I believe in luck, but I know that it is unusual that I've been this successful. I press my luck at the Four Queens. I find a single deck game and sit down at 3rd base. The table is full, so we only get two hands before the shuffle up. I don't see how I can make anything here, as I only have one chance per shuffle for an increased bet. I believe the man standing behind me was back counting, as he was trying to bet with the man to my right. When the bets were low, the dealer ignored him. But on the next deck, the RC was something near a +10 when the man tried to bet a big stack of chips with my fellow player. The dealer called the pit boss over and the pit boss said that he could not raise his bet like that. I lose my $40 pretty fast and decide to try my hand at two deck, which seems to be my game. This was a long and pretty uneventful fun. It was funny hearing a player jokingly accuse the dealer of counting cards when she had several good hands in a row. I laughed too, but for slightly different reasons. I left there up $83.50, more than making up for my $40 loss earlier. But I did play for almost 3 hours in this casino, which I know is not generally a good practice for counters.
That's all the play I got in. So overall, about 6hrs 15 mins of play, winning more than $400, or 80 units for me. Not bad for my virgin trip. I'd say I was remarkably "lucky", and wouldn't expect to be able to repeat those results necessarily. I didn't leave any double deck game a loser, which was very cool. Overall a great trip. Anyone else remember their first trip to Vegas or first try at counting?
D.
