Heat strategy when few casinos around..

**ZeeBabar** · 06-10-2016, 05:02 PM

The general advice is short sessions but when having to drive 3 hours to a casino, 6 hours round trip, it's ludicrous to just play 10 minutes, show your spread and leave. For example, drove the 3 hours to Evansville, IN, got a good first shoe, spread to two hands, my minimum was $25 on one hand, played $200 on each of two hands, doubled one, won both, was up $1500+, I left. Heat became interested. In casino for about 10 minutes.

Next day, drove 3 hours to Metropolis, IL, had a good first shoe, variance was not with me, lost it all by end of shoe. Heat was interested and I felt intimidated. Left after 10 minutes.

Short sessions are tough when you drive far to get to a casino. Is the answer to keep the spread low? Let heat watch and make some dumb plays? I moved to a suburb of Nashville and these are the two closest. Tunica is a bit further away.

**MJGolf** · 06-10-2016, 05:11 PM

American Casino Guide..............put it on your phone and let "your fingers do the walking". Tunica is biggest concentration of casinos but there are others.

**Boz** · 06-10-2016, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by ZeeBabar

The general advice is short sessions but when having to drive 3 hours to a casino, 6 hours round trip, it's ludicrous to just play 10 minutes, show your spread and leave. For example, drove the 3 hours to Evansville, IN, got a good first shoe, spread to two hands, my minimum was $25 on one hand, played $200 on each of two hands, doubled one, won both, was up $1500+, I left. Heat became interested. In casino for about 10 minutes.

Next day, drove 3 hours to Metropolis, IL, had a good first shoe, variance was not with me, lost it all by end of shoe. Heat was interested and I felt intimidated. Left after 10 minutes.

Short sessions are tough when you drive far to get to a casino. Is the answer to keep the spread low? Let heat watch and make some dumb plays? I moved to a suburb of Nashville and these are the two closest. Tunica is a bit further away.

I've had the same problem. You cannot play short sessions when you don't live or play in a casino hub, that much is for sure. I would just take the heat and play til barred. Can't say that's the best thing to do, but you can't go there for 10 minutes and leave. Fortunately, longevity is usually longer outside of Vegas no matter what you do because they don't see as many APs.

**ZeeBabar** · 06-10-2016, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by moses

Zee. I've got to tip my cap to you man. You must really love to play the game of blackjack. But I'm not understanding why you would retire so you can play more blackjack and then move to a city where the nearest casino is 3 hours away. I'm hoping you're not afriad of flying because you could get to some smaller places and accomplish in about 12 minutes what took you 12 hours.

You didn't have your blinker on all the way, did you?

Family reasons for moving to the Nashville suburbs. Moved here 9 days ago. Good schools, family etc.

**ZeeBabar** · 06-10-2016, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by moses

Is your game ready for Vegas?

Not really. I am not used to camouflage and techniques to avoid heat. Played and eon $400 at NYNY, with 1-6 spread in about an hour at the DD game, was told I was not welcome there.

**BJGenius007** · 06-10-2016, 07:55 PM

Originally Posted by ZeeBabar

The general advice is short sessions but when having to drive 3 hours to a casino, 6 hours round trip, it's ludicrous to just play 10 minutes, show your spread and leave. For example, drove the 3 hours to Evansville, IN, got a good first shoe, spread to two hands, my minimum was $25 on one hand, played $200 on each of two hands, doubled one, won both, was up $1500+, I left. Heat became interested. In casino for about 10 minutes.

Next day, drove 3 hours to Metropolis, IL, had a good first shoe, variance was not with me, lost it all by end of shoe. Heat was interested and I felt intimidated. Left after 10 minutes.

Short sessions are tough when you drive far to get to a casino. Is the answer to keep the spread low? Let heat watch and make some dumb plays? I moved to a suburb of Nashville and these are the two closest. Tunica is a bit further away.

If you love the game so much, would you consider moving to Las Vegas or Philadelphia?

**Boz** · 06-10-2016, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by moses

Flash is good about knowing when/where to go and get trips comped.

I'm hoping Flash will contribute something to this thread. He usually has something entertaining to say to ZeeBabar.

RS · 06-11-2016, 01:44 AM

What makes you think you should play short sessions if you have significant expenses (time) getting to the casino? You effectively have a 1-5 or 1-6 spread (on a shoe game?) and want to have a smaller spread? You'd be better off finding a more tolerant casino, or at least a way to put in more hours at the table than just a few minutes. Or be willing to travel.

**ZenMaster_Flash** · 06-11-2016, 06:11 AM

I promised to stop picking on poor old ZeeBabar,
and have been doing well at restraining myself !

**Boz** · 06-11-2016, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by moses

The problem here is making money vs wanting to play. The time and expense in arriving would have little to do the way I played once in the casino. However, it would be a huge factor as to whether I wanted to go in the first place. You need to know your own abilities and their tolerances. As long as you play within both you should be okay. What does it matter if they back you off as long as you were playing within their tolerance? Especially, if it is so strict it doesn't allow you to play your game? This is about making money for me. I really don't know how to comment on whether the game is fun or not, because the fun is in the reward.

I've heard some things about PA. And I'm sure there are a number of places that are other AP hubs like that. But unless the casinos in the area are on the lookout for you because you've caught nearby recently, or the casino has an exceptionally good game, you can usually get away with a lot or a surprising amount of time--outside of Vegas. I counted cards at what a used to be a regular place. The kid dealing had worked there a while, had dealt to me a number of times. Ploppies brought up counting cards. The dealer said he'd never seen a card counter in their casino. I'd seen about half a dozen, besides me. I almost started laughing. Most dealers outside of Vegas wouldn't have the first clue what it even looks like if you wonged in and out without ever getting up from your chair. That's not a rule by any stretch, but it's something for the OP to keep in mind.

**ZeeBabar** · 06-11-2016, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by ZenMaster_Flash

I promised to stop picking on poor old ZeeBabar,
and have been doing well at restraining myself !

Yes you have. Old is right, poor is an overstatement.

**mofungoo** · 06-12-2016, 06:48 AM

Advice - right now you would do better to go to the MS coast for games. Tunica really sucks and I won't waste any more time there until things improve. Tolerance seems good if betting less than $150 - $200 at most places on the coast.

**bigplayer** · 06-12-2016, 02:38 PM

Biting my lip. You will not usually get heat for spreading $25 to 2x$200 on shoe games even at the most remote of casino and you will not get heat for doing it just once. You should be able to play at least 2 big bet cycles per session and get off 2 or 3 sessions on a visit with a break for a meal in between. Short sessions does not mean few sessions. If you're getting extreme heat what's the difference between playing 3 or 4 sessions today and getting backed off and playing 1 session a day over 4 visits and getting backed off after the fourth visit? Nothing except a shit-ton of travel time. I'd rather just play with reasonable caution rather than unreasonable caution and risk the backoff in order to minimize travel costs and time.