New member here...

**stellabird** · 04-05-2014, 09:20 PM

Just a newbie looking for a little advice...clearly not an AP, but a little experience playing up in LV; rarely successfully. I'll work on the REKO concept in the two weeks I have before I go up again...its been 2-3 years since last visit. Staying at the Cosmopolitan due to comps offered; do you guys like playing there? If not, where should I go? Will take $6K ~ $8K to play with over 3 nights...I don't see that putting me in the high limit room. Going mostly for recreation, but it's always a s**tload more fun to walk with $$$ rather than leaving it all up there. I appreciate any help you guys send my way...mostly looking for a fun atmosphere without table rules that'll kill me before I start. Prefer the Strip to Downtown as well...thanks.

**bjarg** · 04-05-2014, 09:44 PM

Learn basic strategy.
You wont be able to do much more than that in two weeks.

**stellabird** · 04-05-2014, 09:53 PM

Thanks...I am pretty good with basic strategy at this point. Will of course be reviewing it a ton before I fly...

So any tips on where to play, or is that strictly personal preference with you guys? Do some of the Strip casinos have better table rules than others? Like I said, it's been a little while since I visited.

**mrw464** · 04-05-2014, 10:42 PM

Strip casinos have the shittiest rules in vegas generally, although the higher limits are better. If you care about the best basic strategy odds, go to the el cortez. If you're confident in your skills, you can play on the strip at 25 mins but prepare to possibly lose all your money.

**stellabird** · 04-05-2014, 10:45 PM

That doesn't sound promising...

**stopgambling** · 04-05-2014, 10:48 PM

Why not go to the strip later in the day and play dd and wong out and move around . Play in the downtown store and caters to the local that has decent rules and limit during the day.And be careful?( as a lady)and ask for kj's advice. Don't spread too high(1-6) for dd with good rules for risk and heat factors . 40 max bets with a $150 max bet is not too bad for what is about 24-30 hours of total play I assumed.It is a gamble with 20-30 hours of play and as the guy before me said ,be prepare to lose all.I would personally play the low limit games and try to spread 1-20 in shoes and 1-8 and up to 1-12 in dd with a great act or hit and run type set up. If you are doing this (less than 100 hours /year)once in a while then i would say spread just enough to above break even and have fun .If you want to win and not mind losing then spread as optimally as you can,with heat and risk consideration.

**stellabird** · 04-05-2014, 10:53 PM

Sorry, screen name is just that...I piss standing up. Who's KJ? (stupid question...?)

**Smartpart** · 04-06-2014, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by stopgambling

Why not go to the strip later in the day and play dd and wong out and move around . Play in the downtown store and caters to the local that has decent rules and limit during the day.And be careful?( as a lady)and ask for kj's advice. Don't spread too high(1-6) for dd with good rules for risk and heat factors . 40 max bets with a $150 max bet is not too bad for what is about 24-30 hours of total play I assumed.It is a gamble with 20-30 hours of play and as the guy before me said ,be prepare to lose all.I would personally play the low limit games and try to spread 1-20 in shoes and 1-8 and up to 1-12 in dd with a great act or hit and run type set up. If you are doing this (less than 100 hours /year)once in a while then i would say spread just enough to above break even and have fun .If you want to win and not mind losing then spread as optimally as you can,with heat and risk consideration.

Do you read?

@stella, if you're just playing basic at higher limit tables it really doesn't matter where you play. Pick your favorite atmosphere, and maybe switch places after a drink or two. I would try to play on a shoe game where they hand shuffle just so you get less hands per hour. How much have you played downtown? If you are playing higher limit, downtown will probably comp you well.

**cardinalrunner** · 04-06-2014, 11:24 AM

I thought MGMs shoe games were pretty fair, but the single decks at MGM can be a little tough...the dealers aren't as friendly and the 6:5 payout were less attractive than the 6 deck shoes.

**mrw464** · 04-06-2014, 12:01 PM

Obviously, avoid 6:5 BJ tables like the plague.

**stellabird** · 04-06-2014, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by Smartpart

Do you read?

@stella, if you're just playing basic at higher limit tables it really doesn't matter where you play. Pick your favorite atmosphere, and maybe switch places after a drink or two. I would try to play on a shoe game where they hand shuffle just so you get less hands per hour. How much have you played downtown? If you are playing higher limit, downtown will probably comp you well.

Yeah Smartpart...I read a ton...all kinds of material.

The writing on the wall seems to be this : I'm a BS player, not an AP. Because of this, I'll have to live with the house edge and play as disciplined as possible. Might as well game where I'm most comfortable (and where the cocktail waitresses are hottest), but will avoid 6:5 BJ payouts and other losing rules. Since I'm not counting, CSM play is likely a non-issue for me, correct? What have I missed?

**bjarg** · 04-06-2014, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by stellabird

Yeah Smartpart...I read a ton...all kinds of material.

Smartpart's "Do you read?" comment was addressed to stopgambling, not you, since he was talking about betting spreads and what not as if you were an advanced player, when you clearly stated that you are not.

Originally Posted by stellabird

Since I'm not counting, CSM play is likely a non-issue for me, correct? What have I missed?

CSM is an issue because against a CSM you will play more hands per hour, hence since you are playing a losing game you will end up losing more money.
You will probably want to play hand shuffled games with full tables.

**stellabird** · 04-06-2014, 02:47 PM

My bad...apologies to you Smartpart...it's been a stressed out week on many fronts so I'm a bit on edge. Again, my apologies.

Good advice re: the CSM's...I had some head-to-head action on a brutal shoe during my last trip and it was not pretty. Fast play when things aren't going well can be disastrous.

Another question...is it entirely a newbie thing to take a good long look at the dealer in determining where to sit? I look at the table occupants too of course, what seat(s) is/are open, what they're betting, how the table atmosphere is, etc.; but I also try to get a "feel" for the dealer. Can't even explain what I'm looking for or avoiding...it's just a "feel" thing. Typical newbie superstitious bullshit thought process?