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Thread: RalphStricker: another playing scenario

  1. #1
    RalphStricker
    Guest

    RalphStricker: another playing scenario

    Here is another of my playing experiences. We had for some time over the years played in Aruba. There was a casino hotel called "The Aruba Palm Beach." When we arrived at the hotel we found out that the casino was in bankruptcy and that the government was operating it. We decided to be cautious with our play and see what they would tolerate. After a while it seemed that no one knew diddly squat about BJ. Usualloy in Aruba they would hit S17. They were not doing that. You ncould also DAS. In spite of that we were losing. (multiple deck) The second day of play I wandered into the casino to look around and lo and behold there were 2 single deck games. The dealer was dealing down to the bottom. I went back to the room and met with my players to give them the good news. When I got to the table I asked what were the rules. The floor person said what do you want. I asked about this thing of "giving up" (surrender) he said OK. I asked if I could "give up" before the dealer checked his hole card. He said "OK" I thought "this is like dying and going to heaven."
    Well after 2 days we had recouped all of our losses and had won a substantial amount of money.
    This day instead of cashing our chips at the table, the pit boss said we would have to wait for our money as they didn't have enough. They issued us a receipt for the amount. Well we sweated for 2 days until finally they paid us. I decided that I wasn't going to chance another scenario like that and we left the island. I understand that about a week later the place closed. :-( (1985)
    Regards
    Ralph Stricker "Silver Fox"

  2. #2
    Ouchez
    Guest

    Ouchez: Great story Fox, thanks. :) *NM*


  3. #3
    BJ Majish
    Guest

    BJ Majish: Re: another playing scenario

    Wow! Those kinds of opportunities are certainly few and far between! :-)

    Wonder if there will ever be another one like that....

    Thanks for sharing.

  4. #4
    Barfarkel
    Guest

    Barfarkel: How about a book?


    Ralph:

    I think you probably have enough good stories to fill a book. From the few stories I've read on this site, your blackjack experiences sound legendary and seem to run concurrently with the rise and fall of BJ conditions during the era when you were actively playing. I imagine it could be sort of a detailed history of changing BJ conditions as described by your experiences and at the same time, a story of your evolution as an advantage player.

    Hmmm, that description sounds kinda familiar :-)

    Cheers,

    Barfarkel



  5. #5
    Hollywood
    Guest

    Hollywood: Re: another playing scenario

    > Here is another of my playing experiences.
    > We had for some time over the years played
    > in Aruba. There was a casino hotel called
    > "The Aruba Palm Beach." When we
    > arrived at the hotel we found out that the
    > casino was in bankruptcy and that the
    > government was operating it. We decided to
    > be cautious with our play and see what they
    > would tolerate. After a while it seemed that
    > no one knew diddly squat about BJ. Usualloy
    > in Aruba they would hit S17. They were not
    > doing that. You ncould also DAS. In spite of
    > that we were losing. (multiple deck) The
    > second day of play I wandered into the
    > casino to look around and lo and behold
    > there were 2 single deck games. The dealer
    > was dealing down to the bottom. I went back
    > to the room and met with my players to give
    > them the good news. When I got to the table
    > I asked what were the rules. The floor
    > person said what do you want. I asked about
    > this thing of "giving up"
    > (surrender) he said OK. I asked if I could
    > "give up" before the dealer
    > checked his hole card. He said
    > "OK" I thought "this is like
    > dying and going to heaven."
    > Well after 2 days we had recouped all of our
    > losses and had won a substantial amount of
    > money.
    > This day instead of cashing our chips at the
    > table, the pit boss said we would have to
    > wait for our money as they didn't have
    > enough. They issued us a receipt for the
    > amount. Well we sweated for 2 days until
    > finally they paid us. I decided that I
    > wasn't going to chance another scenario like
    > that and we left the island. I understand
    > that about a week later the place closed.
    > :-( (1985)
    > Regards
    > Ralph Stricker "Silver Fox"

    Hi Ralph:

    I had to answer this one, because as is well known in Dons Domain i'm an Aruba regular and have been to the island over 80 times.

    But, that being said, I also had a funny thing happen to me at the Aruba Palm. The scary thing is that it may have been the same year.

    I get down there and I have a bankroll of $20,000.00 on me. As soon as I arrive I go to the casino manager and tell him I want to put this money in the cage and draw out markers when I need them.

    It was 2 stacks of $10,000.00 each, one with 2 red thick rubberbands on it kind of cris crossed and the other with a brand new bright blue squishly that a woman uses to put her hair in a ponytail. (I had no rubberband when I was wrapping the money).

    Now you know from experience at especially back in the 80's there were very few people even playing greens let alone blacks. So I was kind of a one man show in that casino.

    Well, I sit down the first day and tell the guy I want a few grand to play. The guy gives me $2,000.00 and does not ask me to sign anything.

    I'm playing along and when I finish, if im up say $500.00 he just takes the $2,000.00 back and I go to the cage and they give me the $500.00 cash.
    Still never signing anything.

    Also, as my comp reward, he let me eat anywhere I wanted on the island and when I came back with the receipt he just gave it to me in chips.

    So if dinner was $75.00 bucks and I started to play a new session, he would give me $2,075.00 to begin with. It was funny.

    But, here was the kicker Ralph. At the end of the 10 days, I was up around $1,800.00.

    So the night before I was checking out of the hotel I go in to get back the $20,000.00 that I left in the cage.

    LOL THEY GIVE ME BACK THE SAME 2 STACKS RED RUBBERBAND AND HAIR THINGY. They never opened my money and put it with theres. Just left mine alone on the side until I went home.

    I just had to tell you the story when I saw you mention the Palm.

    It was such an honor to meet you in AC.

    Hollywood

  6. #6
    RalphStricker
    Guest

    RalphStricker: Re: another playing scenario

    > Hi Ralph:

    > I had to answer this one, because as is well
    > known in Dons Domain i'm an Aruba regular
    > and have been to the island over 80 times.

    > But, that being said, I also had a funny
    > thing happen to me at the Aruba Palm. The
    > scary thing is that it may have been the
    > same year.

    > I get down there and I have a bankroll of
    > $20,000.00 on me. As soon as I arrive I go
    > to the casino manager and tell him I want to
    > put this money in the cage and draw out
    > markers when I need them.

    > It was 2 stacks of $10,000.00 each, one with
    > 2 red thick rubberbands on it kind of cris
    > crossed and the other with a brand new
    > bright blue squishly that a woman uses to
    > put her hair in a ponytail. (I had no
    > rubberband when I was wrapping the money).

    > Now you know from experience at especially
    > back in the 80's there were very few people
    > even playing greens let alone blacks. So I
    > was kind of a one man show in that casino.

    > Well, I sit down the first day and tell the
    > guy I want a few grand to play. The guy
    > gives me $2,000.00 and does not ask me to
    > sign anything.

    > I'm playing along and when I finish, if im
    > up say $500.00 he just takes the $2,000.00
    > back and I go to the cage and they give me
    > the $500.00 cash.
    > Still never signing anything.

    > Also, as my comp reward, he let me eat
    > anywhere I wanted on the island and when I
    > came back with the receipt he just gave it
    > to me in chips.

    > So if dinner was $75.00 bucks and I started
    > to play a new session, he would give me
    > $2,075.00 to begin with. It was funny.

    > But, here was the kicker Ralph. At the end
    > of the 10 days, I was up around $1,800.00.

    > So the night before I was checking out of
    > the hotel I go in to get back the $20,000.00
    > that I left in the cage.

    > LOL THEY GIVE ME BACK THE SAME 2 STACKS RED
    > RUBBERBAND AND HAIR THINGY. They never
    > opened my money and put it with theres. Just
    > left mine alone on the side until I went
    > home.

    > I just had to tell you the story when I saw
    > you mention the Palm.

    > It was such an honor to meet you in AC.

    > Hollywood
    Hollywood,

    The honor was all mine meeting so many great people.
    When my episode at the Aruba Palm beach happened, there was no cage. There was a table which you brought your receipt to for cashing in. (The receipt was issued at the table at which you were playing) This was probably later than your episode as I had been there a few times before.
    Regards
    Ralph Stricker "Silver Fox"

  7. #7
    RalphStricker
    Guest

    RalphStricker: Re: How about a book?

    > Ralph:

    > I think you probably have enough good
    > stories to fill a book. From the few stories
    > I've read on this site, your blackjack
    > experiences sound legendary and seem to run
    > concurrently with the rise and fall of BJ
    > conditions during the era when you were
    > actively playing. I imagine it could be sort
    > of a detailed history of changing BJ
    > conditions as described by your experiences
    > and at the same time, a story of your
    > evolution as an advantage player.

    > Hmmm, that description sounds kinda familiar
    > :-)

    > Cheers,

    > Barfarkel

    First let me thank you and your book "You've Got Heat" for initiating interest in my "Silver Blackjack System-You Can Count On It."
    I've have been working for the past 4 months rewriting my "Jazz Theory and Improvisation Studies for the Accordion." It is considered by my peers to be the most definitive book on jazz accordion. I have another book to rewrite and then I possibly would consider doing a BJ life experience book. I appreciate all of the kind comments from everyone. I do not take them lightly.
    Regards
    Ralph Stricker "Silver Fox"

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