Greasy John: Barona SD & DD

[Greasy John]

Does anyone know the current status of Barona's SD & DD blackjack? I'm making my first sojourn there soon. Thanks in advance.

Greasy John

[Parker]

> Does anyone know the current status of Barona's SD
> & DD blackjack? I'm making my first sojourn there
> soon. Thanks in advance.

> Greasy John

Barona is pretty consistent - conditions there haven't really changed much since the new casino opened a few years ago.

Rules at all games (including the single deck) are H17, DA2, DAS, LS. No mid-entry or spreading to two hands on SD and DD tables.

The single deck game is located in the high limit area and is always $100 min, sometimes higher on weekends, never lower. There are two SD tables with 5 spots, although sometimes only one is open.

The high limit area closes in the wee hours, and opens around noon, so don't plan on showing up at 4 am for a heads-up session.

The game is protected primarily with poor pen: You get 4 or 5 rounds heads up, 3 rounds to two players, and two rounds if there are 3 or more players at the table.

There are about a dozen or so double deck tables, with a couple in the high limit area and the rest in the main pits. There are usually a couple $25 min tables, with the rest in the main pits $50, and $100 or more in the high limit room.

Most of the shoe tables are in secondary pits that are only open during busy periods. With the same rules as everything else and about 1.5 decks cut off, the shoes are decent but unexceptional.

They don't generally sweat anyone with a max bet under $500 or so unless you camp out or are really blatant about it. An occasional dealer toke will definitely buy some longevity here.

A sudden decrease in pen (or being dealt 2 rounds heads-up in the single deck game) is their way of letting you know that they're onto you. If you don't take the hint, you will be politely flat-bet or put on a 1-2 spread restriction.

Be sure to check out the Blackjack Hall of Fame, which is located in the walkway between the parking garage and the casino.

The buffet and casual restaurant (Sage) are good, and the Barona Oaks Steakhouse is excellent, although it take considerable black action to get a steakhouse comp.

If you want to make an overnight trip of it, the hotel is excellent, with rooms rivaling the best of Las Vegas.

Be extremely careful driving up Wildcat Canyon Road, which is a narrow winding mountain road. It is presently being widened in some spots, which temporarily makes it even worse.

[Greasy John]

> Barona is pretty consistent - conditions there haven't
> really changed much since the new casino opened a few
> years ago.

> Rules at all games (including the single deck) are
> H17, DA2, DAS, LS. No mid-entry or spreading to two
> hands on SD and DD tables.

> The single deck game is located in the high limit area
> and is always $100 min, sometimes higher on weekends,
> never lower. There are two SD tables with 5 spots,
> although sometimes only one is open.

> The high limit area closes in the wee hours, and opens
> around noon, so don't plan on showing up at 4 am for a
> heads-up session.

> The game is protected primarily with poor pen: You get
> 4 or 5 rounds heads up, 3 rounds to two players, and
> two rounds if there are 3 or more players at the
> table.

> There are about a dozen or so double deck tables, with
> a couple in the high limit area and the rest in the
> main pits. There are usually a couple $25 min tables,
> with the rest in the main pits $50, and $100 or more
> in the high limit room.

> Most of the shoe tables are in secondary pits that are
> only open during busy periods. With the same rules as
> everything else and about 1.5 decks cut off, the shoes
> are decent but unexceptional.

> They don't generally sweat anyone with a max bet under
> $500 or so unless you camp out or are really blatant
> about it. An occasional dealer toke will definitely
> buy some longevity here.

> A sudden decrease in pen (or being dealt 2 rounds
> heads-up in the single deck game) is their way of
> letting you know that they're onto you. If you don't
> take the hint, you will be politely flat-bet or put on
> a 1-2 spread restriction.

> Be sure to check out the Blackjack Hall of Fame, which
> is located in the walkway between the parking garage
> and the casino.

> The buffet and casual restaurant (Sage) are good, and
> the Barona Oaks Steakhouse is excellent, although it
> take considerable black action to get a steakhouse
> comp.

> If you want to make an overnight trip of it, the hotel
> is excellent, with rooms rivaling the best of Las
> Vegas.

> Be extremely careful driving up Wildcat Canyon Road,
> which is a narrow winding mountain road. It is
> presently being widened in some spots, which
> temporarily makes it even worse.

for all the Great information!

Greasy John

[Greasy John]

ever install Mindplay?

Greasy John

[Parker]

> ever install Mindplay?

> Greasy John

No. None of the San Diego area casinos have it. A couple of years ago there was talk of Barona getting it, but it hasn't happened (yet).

[Sun Runner]

> Be sure to check out the Blackjack Hall of Fame, which
> is located in the walkway between the parking garage
> and the casino.

It is a pretty decent place as Parker states but don't blink while looking for the BJHOF. It is worth the drive over just to see it but I would have thought it would be .. bigger, different .. I don't know. Maybe I was expecting a lifesize wax rendering of Rubin or Snyder.

Initially I could not find it. Then I asked three of the staff walking around and they did not know what I was talking about. I then began to question if I was at the right joint, asked a fourth guy at the main desk, and yes, he finally directed me to it. Thirty minutes of your time will knock that experience in the head.

Again, as Parker states, that last several miles getting to the place is a little dicey and the casino itself, for a tourist, is a little out in the boonies. If checking out Barona is secondary to your trip, I'd suggest not staying there but somewhere more centralized like downtown, Misson Valley, or North a little up the 163 or 15. You can get to the beach towns quicker from there and if you decide to check out the North County casinos you are right on the highway.

Have fun; good luck. A bad day in San Diego is better than a good day anywhere else.

[Parker]

> Initially I could not find it. Then I asked three of
> the staff walking around and they did not know what I
> was talking about. I then began to question if I was
> at the right joint, asked a fourth guy at the main
> desk, and yes, he finally directed me to it. Thirty
> minutes of your time will knock that experience in the
> head.

The easiest way is to park in the parking garage, rather than the outside lot in front of the casino. Going from the garage to the casino is a long hallway with moving sidewalks similar to those found in airports, complete with TV screens overhead extolling the joys of Barona.

Jump off the moving sidewalk after the first bank, and go to your left (facing the casino entrance), and you're there. It isn't anything huge or elaborate, and it bothers me that they also include an exhibit of cheating devices. Still, it is better than nothing, and it is a rather surprising thing to find inside a casino.

> Again, as Parker states, that last several miles
> getting to the place is a little dicey and the casino
> itself, for a tourist, is a little out in the boonies.
> If checking out Barona is secondary to your trip, I'd
> suggest not staying there but somewhere more
> centralized like downtown, Misson Valley, or North a
> little up the 163 or 15. You can get to the beach
> towns quicker from there and if you decide to check
> out the North County casinos you are right on the
> highway.

Yes, since all California casinos offering house-banked games are on Indian reservations, they tend to be in rather remote locations.

For someone wishing to visit several casinos, a good compromise would be a hotel on I-15 in the Miramar, Mira Mesa, or Rancho Penasquitos area.

OTOH, when you are playing at Barona, knowing that you have a nice cushy room waiting in the hotel is vastly preferable to knowing that you get to drive back down Wildcat Canyon Rd. after dark.

> Have fun; good luck. A bad day in San Diego is better
> than a good day anywhere else.

No argument here! (sunny and 70 degrees today).