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Thread: Battery: Robert V. Lux - where are you?

  1. #1
    Battery
    Guest

    Battery: Robert V. Lux - where are you?

    Okay, Robert.

    You told us about the trip you and your dad were taking to Las Vegas and asked some good questions about what to expect.

    Now fill us in on what happened (if you can).

  2. #2
    Robert V. Lux
    Guest

    Robert V. Lux: First Vegas experience...

    Visiting Las Vegas for the first time is said to be just like opera: either you love it, or hate it. If you play in the casinos, the outcome will be an important determination whether you like the town or not.

    For the sake of experience, my dad and I stayed at three hotels: NY-NY, MGM Grand, and the Bellagio. They were all beyond expectation, especially MGM. We believed it would be hard to combine quality with quantity, which MGM obviously managed to perform.

    Visiting ?real? casinos was an experience itself, although I have played some in my neighbour country, Denmark. As I entered the casinos on day one, I was prepared to get thrown out or backed off from the tabled because of my tender age. No one said or did nothing. We went to several casinos. I stood watching plenty of games, and there was no reaction, neither from the pit, not the dealers. Nobody seemed, to my surprise, to care. During the entire trip, I was never asked about my age nor identification. The only order I got was to turn off the DVD camera at Mandalay, as I tried to get some snapshots from inside the casino?

    As The Strip is the interesting par of Vegas, we spent almost all of our time there. Though, on day two, we went to check out downtown as well (just for the merit). While watching the poker games at the Horseshoe, the ?sign-up lady? (or whatever to call her), approached me and asked me if I wanted in. As I wasn?t prepared for any kind of initiation, I stood quiet for a while, before uttering a timid ?sure?. She presented the various kinds of games and stakes, and I finally decided to go for some $2-$4 straight limit hold?em. Things turned out well, and in one-and-a-half hour, after winning three pots, I ended up a monstrous 51 dollar winner. Still no one questioned my age.

    Some time later, at the Vegas Club (still downtown), I spotted a playable game:
    ? Two decks
    ? Late surrender
    ? Double on any two, three or four cards (also re and re-re-doubling one hand)
    ? DAS
    ? Suited blackjacks paid 2-1.
    ? But here comes the hint: The game was dealt with a CSM to my great disappointment.

    Though, as I found the rules generous and as I couldn?t find any decent $2 dollar single or double deck games, I decided to give it my best shot. After getting four stiffs in a row vs. the dealer?s 8, 9 and 10?s, and losing 17,5 bucks (uneven number because I surrendered my first hand of 16, vs. dealer?s ten), I got pissed of, and left the joint.

    Still wanting my first Vegas experience to be a remember able one, I decided not to gamble any more, and leave the town a $33,5 winner.

    We spent the remaining days contemplate the inspiring and massive Strip resorts and hotels, and of course; the gamblers general store, where some indecorous man named ?Otis? was at my ?service?. Don?t buy anything from that man? =)

    To summarize the trip, I had expected a lot more attention from the casino staff because of my age. Perhaps my unshaven face (which I haven?t shaved for three weeks by now, just for the purpose of appearing older) made me look like 21. I doubt it. Must be greedy Vegas looking between its fingers?

    But one thing is for sure: I?ll be back!

    /Robert V. Lux

    > Okay, Robert.

    > You told us about the trip you and your dad
    > were taking to Las Vegas and asked some good
    > questions about what to expect.

    > Now fill us in on what happened (if you
    > can).

  3. #3
    Parker
    Guest

    Parker: Robert, Robert . . .

    > Some time later, at the Vegas Club (still
    > downtown), I spotted a playable game:
    > ? Two decks
    > ? Late surrender
    > ? Double on any two, three or four cards
    > (also re and re-re-doubling one hand)
    > ? DAS
    > ? Suited blackjacks paid 2-1.
    > ? But here comes the hint: The game was
    > dealt with a CSM to my great disappointment.

    > Though, as I found the rules generous and as
    > I couldn?t find any decent $2 dollar single
    > or double deck games, I decided to give it
    > my best shot. After getting four stiffs in a
    > row vs. the dealer?s 8, 9 and 10?s, and
    > losing 17,5 bucks (uneven number because I
    > surrendered my first hand of 16, vs.
    > dealer?s ten), I got pissed of, and left the
    > joint.

    You really should know better than to be playing that game. That is the infamous "fake double deck." There are actually eight decks inside that CSM - it just spits out slugs of two decks each.

    Furthermore, the 2:1 suited BJ (along with all the other good rules) is offset many times over by the fact that unsuited BJ's pay even money!

    You should have simply wandered down to the other end of the Fremont Street Experience and the El Cortez, where you could have played real single deck with a $2 min.

    Hell, spread too agressively there and you might even have had your first back-off! :-)

    > Still wanting my first Vegas experience to
    > be a remember able one, I decided not to
    > gamble any more, and leave the town a $33,5
    > winner.

    Perhaps a wise decision.

    At any rate, thanks for sharing your first LV experience with us, and I'm glad that you had a good time and that your tender years did not become an issue.

  4. #4
    Battery
    Guest

    Battery: Re: First Vegas experience...

    Thanks for the update. I'm glad you had a good time and feel comfortable about returning.

    But I have to ask you - Since you did find the poker room at Binion's Horseshoe, didn't you make it over to the other side of the place and play some of their single deck 21?

    > Visiting Las Vegas for the first time is
    > said to be just like opera: either you love
    > it, or hate it. If you play in the casinos,
    > the outcome will be an important
    > determination whether you like the town or
    > not.

    > For the sake of experience, my dad and I
    > stayed at three hotels: NY-NY, MGM Grand,
    > and the Bellagio. They were all beyond
    > expectation, especially MGM. We believed it
    > would be hard to combine quality with
    > quantity, which MGM obviously managed to
    > perform.

    > Visiting ?real? casinos was an experience
    > itself, although I have played some in my
    > neighbour country, Denmark. As I entered the
    > casinos on day one, I was prepared to get
    > thrown out or backed off from the tabled
    > because of my tender age. No one said or did
    > nothing. We went to several casinos. I stood
    > watching plenty of games, and there was no
    > reaction, neither from the pit, not the
    > dealers. Nobody seemed, to my surprise, to
    > care. During the entire trip, I was never
    > asked about my age nor identification. The
    > only order I got was to turn off the DVD
    > camera at Mandalay, as I tried to get some
    > snapshots from inside the casino?

    > As The Strip is the interesting par of
    > Vegas, we spent almost all of our time
    > there. Though, on day two, we went to check
    > out downtown as well (just for the merit).
    > While watching the poker games at the
    > Horseshoe, the ?sign-up lady? (or whatever
    > to call her), approached me and asked me if
    > I wanted in. As I wasn?t prepared for any
    > kind of initiation, I stood quiet for a
    > while, before uttering a timid ?sure?. She
    > presented the various kinds of games and
    > stakes, and I finally decided to go for some
    > $2-$4 straight limit hold?em. Things turned
    > out well, and in one-and-a-half hour, after
    > winning three pots, I ended up a monstrous
    > 51 dollar winner. Still no one questioned my
    > age.

    > Some time later, at the Vegas Club (still
    > downtown), I spotted a playable game:
    > ? Two decks
    > ? Late surrender
    > ? Double on any two, three or four cards
    > (also re and re-re-doubling one hand)
    > ? DAS
    > ? Suited blackjacks paid 2-1.
    > ? But here comes the hint: The game was
    > dealt with a CSM to my great disappointment.

    > Though, as I found the rules generous and as
    > I couldn?t find any decent $2 dollar single
    > or double deck games, I decided to give it
    > my best shot. After getting four stiffs in a
    > row vs. the dealer?s 8, 9 and 10?s, and
    > losing 17,5 bucks (uneven number because I
    > surrendered my first hand of 16, vs.
    > dealer?s ten), I got pissed of, and left the
    > joint.

    > Still wanting my first Vegas experience to
    > be a remember able one, I decided not to
    > gamble any more, and leave the town a $33,5
    > winner.

    > We spent the remaining days contemplate the
    > inspiring and massive Strip resorts and
    > hotels, and of course; the gamblers general
    > store, where some indecorous man named
    > ?Otis? was at my ?service?. Don?t buy
    > anything from that man? =)

    > To summarize the trip, I had expected a lot
    > more attention from the casino staff because
    > of my age. Perhaps my unshaven face (which I
    > haven?t shaved for three weeks by now, just
    > for the purpose of appearing older) made me
    > look like 21. I doubt it. Must be greedy
    > Vegas looking between its fingers?

    > But one thing is for sure: I?ll be back!

    > /Robert V. Lux

  5. #5
    Robert V. Lux
    Guest

    Robert V. Lux: Re: First Vegas experience...

    Well, actually, when I was looking for blackjack games, I was mainly skanning for one and two deck games. We went into several downtown casinos, but didn't manage to find any with $2 or $1 minimums. It got late, and we went into the Vegas Club, where I spotted the "2 deck game". While playing my fourth round, I discovered it was dealt with a CSM, to my great disappointment. (Yeah, I know, I should have noticed it immediately, but I didn't. I just got excited when seing the rules.) I picked up my chips and left, also because I was dealt four straight stiffs against high dealer up cards and lost them all.

    Regarding Binion's Horseshoe, we walked around the casino, but couldn't find any single deck games with any minimum below $5, so we went to the poker area instead, which was a memorable experience.

    > Thanks for the update. I'm glad you had a
    > good time and feel comfortable about
    > returning.

    > But I have to ask you - Since you did find
    > the poker room at Binion's Horseshoe, didn't
    > you make it over to the other side of the
    > place and play some of their single deck 21?

  6. #6
    Battery
    Guest

    Battery: Re: First Vegas experience...

    > Well, actually, when I was looking for
    > blackjack games, I was mainly skanning for
    > one and two deck games. We went into several
    > downtown casinos, but didn't manage to find
    > any with $2 or $1 minimums.

    I'm happy to hear that you were not tempted by the new $3 "Double Exposure" game that the Horseshoe is now offering at two tables (and the dealers all hate).

  7. #7
    ET Fan
    Guest

    ET Fan: Quit now, before it's too late!

    You're still young enough to get a real life. Plus, you can quit a winner!!!

    > But one thing is for sure: I?ll be back!


  8. #8
    Robert V. Lux
    Guest

    Robert V. Lux: Re: Quit now, before it's too late!

    > You're still young enough to get a real
    > life. Plus, you can quit a winner!!!

    Oh no, I play poker on a daily basis, and it has been my only (and major) income for the last four months. I have no intentions whatsoever to give up my playing career. It's not until now it has become really interesting and fun to play.

    I know you mean well, but blackjack (and poker) are two of my passions. Hopefully they'll be for the remainder of my life.

    /Robert V. Lux

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