Biding my time

I decided to extend my trip till next Tuesday, rather than check out today. Frankly, I would much rather spend my time here, doing what I do, than be back at our business grinding out mortgages and bankruptcies. (Don't tell our clients that !)

Last night I played several short sessions of blackjack - all but one of them profitable. I played briefly at the Venetian before dinner, and as new cards were everywhere in the double deck pit, I entered a shoe game at $15 per hand, where I had the table and dealer to myself. This, coupled with an available surrender option, is almost as good as it gets for a shoe game, though I still don't like it.

Because the shoes seem never ending, you can die a slow death, bleeding your chips away, and almost not realize it. Whereas, the finality of frequent new shoes at double deck forces me to take stock (inventory) of my chips each time.

Anyway, twice I realized it was not going so well in this shoe game. Sounds stupid I know but you are playing at a fast clip, varying from one to three hands; managing bet sizes; chatting with the dealer; glaring at newcomers who want to sit down with you; fending off buxom, beautiful cocktail waitresses who are sure NOW you must want a beverage; and dare I say it....ahem....keeping track of the cards. (Between 6 and 8decks). And all the time trying not to look too competent.

Shoe blackjack is very streaky - and trust me, you know when you are on a hot streak or a cold streak - regardless of all the distractions. A hot streak at a shoe game, playing two hands especially; pressing and increasing your bet sizes, is probably for me one of the few times in a casino I feel the adrenalin rush.

Choppy shoes though are insidious, and easy to make mistakes in. This is all a long way of saying my shoes before dinner were choppy and I got stuck just under $300.

Dinner at TAO was pretty good, but not at all in the same league as Sushi Samba at the Palazzo the night before. Only good thing was we scored line passes for the legendary upstairs TAO nightclub for later that evening. Being true degenerates though, neither Svetlana nor I availed ourselves of the rare opportunity to actually get into the club without having to either promise our first-born child, or part with a few hundred dollars.

When we came out of TAO, we sent our new Russian friends (he with a watch you could buy a luxury car with), off to see LOVE at the Mirage - this happens to be my personal favorite show in Vegas.

{The Russian contingent did go to TAO nightclub later, and apparantly made it back to their rooms at the Bellagio by 6 AM.)

Svetlana and I went down to the Venetian to play, but new cards were in the offing. Sometimes I get lazy and don't want to leave the table for greener pastures when they are changing the cards. (They do so every two hours in single and double deck games)

But I always regret it, and this trip has been no exception. The floor staff think I am eccentric and irrational when I announce I am leaving, or demonstrate my "newcardphobia" in some other way.

But I have played way more hands than they have, and with respect, I believe I am right.

So we toddled off to the Mirage, since both they and Treasure Island have very good double deck games. I played a few shoes at a $50 minimum, and won $585. They wanted to change the cards so I decided to cash out. Svetlana wanted to play more so she took my spot (good luck trumps necardphobia I guess)

I went to play two types of slot poker where I won a total of $1.40, but killed valuable time that might have been very expensive anywhere else. (Regular readers will know I play to win, however small, at slots poker)

Sveta actually did well with the new cards, so she cashed out and we headed off. She back to the Venetian and me onto Treasure Island.

It was so quiet in Treasure Island I was able to play in their "Hi limit" room at only $25 per hand - which I have not seen ever before anywhere.

I was able to cash small profits at two tables before calling it a night. A quiet day all around in Las Vegas.