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Less than 24 hours, in-n-out of LV for Silver Strikes

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by DaiLun, Mar 17, 2016.

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  1. DaiLun

    DaiLun R.C., L.C., and A.A.N.G.

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    My Trip Report

    So, this was a quick, less than 24 hour trip just to get red/blue caps (silver strikes), and to deliver 60 clear caps to a local friend of mine who was going to pick them up for me Friday morning.

    $300 silver strikes are made available 4 times per year. 148 are available to the public, and are typically sold out by the end of the day. 30 clear cap strikes can be exchanged for one $300 strike, which is 6 troy oz. of silver.

    The distributions are carried out at the January tournament, St. Patrick's Day, the June tournament, and Halloween. Red (.999 silver center) and blue caps (colorized clad) are minted in quantities of 500 each. The red and blue caps are put into the machines on the Wednesday prior to the $300 distribution.

    So, my plan was to fly in, deliver the 60 clad to my friend, spend an hour or two at the Silver Strike machines at Four Queens, and return home the next day.

    I have commitments that don't allow me to travel on M-W-F without special arrangements, so leaving Wednesday afternoon and returning Thursday morning worked out the best for me.

    I decided to stay at SLS, the property that replaced the Sahara. Picked up my rental car at Enterprise, went down to Jinju Chocolates at Container Park to pick up a gift for my host at SLS. This was my first stay at SLS so I wanted to make a good first impression. Yeah, I know, there are those people who don't think that is warranted or makes a difference, we'll see in this case.

    So, I go to the hotel by 7PM. I was given a room in the "World Tower". The rooms are "smallish", but nicely appointed.

    SLS_room_a.jpg SLS_room_c.jpg SLS_room_b.jpg

    Note that the beds are full, not queen

    SLS_minibar.jpg

    SLS_bathroom_a.jpg SLS_bathroom_b.jpg

    I made an arrangement to meet my friend and drop off the clad strikes. That took less than a half an hour.

    I went back to SLS and ate Dan Dan Mian at Ku Noodle, since I didn't think that there was any FBC credit on my comp.

    http://cdn.slslasvegas.com/db/content/uploads/2016/01/SLS_LV-FB-037-Ku-Menu_011916-web.pdf

    dan_dan_Mian.jpg

    So, started my play at SLS, went down a quick $300, I hit an $800 jackpot on a $5 double sevens machine, then proceeded to hit a couple more smaller jackpots. Up about $900, time to go down to QQQQ and play.

    I sat down to play two Silver Strike machines. My strategy is to play two machines at a time, investing $400-600, because things have a better chance of evening out as opposed to playing one machine at a time.

    This proved to hold true. The left machine gave up 5 strikes before the right machine gave up one. Both machines were fairly tight, and it took almost $150 to get 5 strikes. However, as things usually go, the machines hit their "loose" cycle. I got 2 strikes in three pulls on the left machine, then the right machine started loosening up. However, it was a good 25 clears before a red or blue was delivered, but that they way it goes. I wasn't the "only" Silver Striker there, and typically, the machines are "out of cycle" when I get to them.

    My definition of "Out of Cycle" with regard to Silver Strikes is that once a red/blue cap has been taken, it is 9 clears until the next one comes up. You have to get those clear caps out of the machine in order to have a shot at red/blue caps.

    silver_strike_slot3.jpg

    So, after an hour, I had spent about $600 and had about 35 clears, one red, and one blue. "One more hundred" I said to myself, then time to go, since I didn't want to spend all of my "up" money chasing red/blue caps. Well, the machine must've heard me, because the next two were red/blue caps. So now I had 2 sets of red/blues, and 35 clears, and $101 in TITOs.

    032016_redcap_a.jpg 032016_redcap_b.jpg

    032016_bluecap_b.jpg 032016_bluecap_a.jpg

    So, this is the way that I count the value:

    The normal trade value (irrespective of what the cage will give you) is:

    Clear caps = $12
    Blue caps = $20
    Red caps = $30

    So, I spend $600 to get (35 x 12) + (2 x 20) + (2 x 30) = $510, so I "lost" about $90.

    Went back to SLS to give my host some "chan gee" (lucky money). She's Chinese as are most of my hosts. I carry red envelopes to provide tips when appropriate. One this occasion, I felt a tip was appropriate.

    On the way back to the room, I saw a .01 (300 coin limit) Stinkin Rich machine. I raised the increment to .02 and hit this:

    stinkin_rich.jpg

    Won back almost all I spent at QQQQ. Time to go to bed . . . . .

    Got up at 6:45 AM and got my son off to school. Checked out of SLS and went over to Silver Sevens for breakfast. Well, shame on me for playing there. Dropped a quick $600. Ate at the buffet. A very expensive cheap buffet. Won $200 back on the way out.

    Drove to the airport. Got there 2 hours early. Played some "Avatar", broke even. Finished "The Big Short" and started "Concussion". Got home and went to the bank, which is right next to SJ airport

    Final tally, up about $700 (including silver strikes). A small nest egg for my next trip on the 26th, my 7* retreat with my Aunt.
     
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2016
  2. furnitureguy

    furnitureguy Tourist

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    Love the tr, I really like your trs because they are very similar to what I do. I love silver strike and will have to make it down for one of the tournaments.

    I know you can buy most if not all of the coins online, but it just feels better when you win them yourself!

    Can you tell me about the coins in the blue capsule, why are they valued more. It's to my understanding that they have no silver content. Is it just purely just collectable value?
     
  3. redzone

    redzone Low-Roller

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    Bizarre. I read your title and thought this was another review of In-N-Out burger.

    I read your whole report and enjoyed what I was reading (pictures were great) and at the same time I am saying to myself "well that was interesting but I have no clue what you are talking about". :confused2:
     
  4. Easy9

    Easy9 Low-Roller

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    Great report Dai, as usual.

    Thanka for explaining the Silver Strikes. When you get a Silver Strike, is it like hitting a bonus round? What does the machine slit line look like? How do you get the $300 Silver Strikes? Im interested in starting to collect.

    Thanks
    E9
     
  5. Fet297

    Fet297 113 survivor North Vegas

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    Thanks for the trip report. I just took two clear caps back to 4Q and one to mirage. Did not really think they were worth more than face value. I did keep a blue cap because it looked neat. I'll know better next time. :nworthy:
     
  6. DaiLun

    DaiLun R.C., L.C., and A.A.N.G.

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    When the Silver Strike symbol lands on the 3rd reel payline is:

    The machine announces "Silver Strike". The turret starts rotating, and stops at random. The a bell sounds as the strike is ejected.

    For the $300 Strikes, they are distributed 4 times a year. Today was the St. Patrick's Day distribution.

    The remaining Strikes will be distributed:

    June Tournament 24-26 June, $300, 5PM 25 June.
    Halloween $300, 10AM 28 October.

    I have attended most of the $300 distributions for the past 3 years. A line starts to form by the cashier's cage between an hour and an hour and a half before the distribution. At exactly 10AM or 5PM, they start distributing the $300 strikes. In order to be fair, you redeem for one strike, and then you're required to go to the end of the line if you're getting more than one. Usually, a member and their spouse wait in line if they're getting 2 or more. One year at Halloween I got nine, but after the third time through I was the only one in line so they gave me the last 6 at the same time.

    In January and June the distribution is at 5PM and there is a trading session at 6PM on the second floor. You can trade or buy strikes that you want or need. In January and June they mint 4 different blue caps (last January there were only three), and I bought most of mine at the trading session, because a lot of Silver Strikers have extras.

    The $300 strikes are typically sold out by the end of the day of distribution..
     
  7. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    So the 4q has red and blue caps now? Even though I'm downtown now i forgot to check out the place.
     
  8. Easy9

    Easy9 Low-Roller

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    Interesting, looks like I found a new hobby. Going ti definetely do the June distribution, maybe we can meet up and I can learn the ropes from you
     
  9. DaiLun

    DaiLun R.C., L.C., and A.A.N.G.

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    They should still have 'em.
     
  10. pphold

    pphold pp Park Place Degenerate

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    The $300 silver strikes you have to buy them. Or trade for them?

    I'm new to the big silver strikes
     
  11. LV_Bound

    LV_Bound VIP Whale

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    I picked up my first Silver Strike at the 4 Queens this Saturday.
    It was clear.
    What is the difference between the clear and red/blue that alter the value?
     
  12. DaiLun

    DaiLun R.C., L.C., and A.A.N.G.

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    On 3/27 they still had reds and blues. I picked up another set.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Blues are colorized clad.
    Reds are colorized .999 fine silver
     
  13. DaiLun

    DaiLun R.C., L.C., and A.A.N.G.

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    From the casino you can only trade 30 clad for a $300. During the distribution there is usually one Silver Striker selling 30 clear for about $360. During the trading session some Silver Strikers (me included) will sell their excess, typically for $350-$375.

    Once they're gone at the cage, buying them aftermarket is the only way to get 'em.
     
  14. LV_Bound

    LV_Bound VIP Whale

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    Geeez, I thought they were all .999 silver.
    Mine is in the clear, has the markings of your blue except no color and a different girl on it.
    So, its basically either a souvenir or a $10 gaming chip???
     
  15. DaiLun

    DaiLun R.C., L.C., and A.A.N.G.

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    2009 and before they were all .999 silver. Currently, if they are not stamped .999 fine silver, they are clad.

    032016_bluecap_b.jpg 032016_redcap_b.jpg

    the left one has no such stamp, the red cap does.
     
  16. Hyperfocal

    Hyperfocal VIP Whale

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    There are still plenty of red caps at 4 Queens tonight, 3/30. Though I just got two regular clads.
     
  17. pphold

    pphold pp Park Place Degenerate

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    Thanks I might have to do that. buy the clads from someone or get them aftermarket.

    I might make it in June but more than likely Halloween
     
  18. pphold

    pphold pp Park Place Degenerate

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    oh man I don't want them if they are not all silver.
     
  19. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    I was in vegas 2 weeks ago (March 13 - 19) and I did notice the colored caps in the machine. I also noticed that they added a strike machine or two to the area. One other thing I noticed; it seemed like it was harder to win strikes. Normally I would win a strike every $10 or $20 but this time it took a lot more to win a strike. I was lucky, I won some money playing the machine but put most of it back in to win some strikes, and they weren't even the colored ones. Did you notice the same thing DaiLun? (harder to win strikes).

    I was playing on a machine where the colored cap was next so I figured to try to win it but alas I only won 1 strike the whole time I was playing.

    A few years ago I was lucky, it was right after some strike convention, a guy had extra strikes he wanted to get rid of so for $100 I got a red cap along with 5 regular strikes, a good deal IMHO, esp nowadays.
     
  20. DaiLun

    DaiLun R.C., L.C., and A.A.N.G.

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    Well, that's why:

    1)I don't play if there aren't red/blues in the machine
    2)I play 2 machines
    3)I plan to play at least $200 in each machine (plus any FP that I have)

    The machines go through cycles. I've gotten 3 strikes in 5 pulls, then nothing for $50. In the long run, if you count the reds as $30 and the bules as $20, the clears work out to between $12 and $15 apiece.

    But then again, it all depends on how much you're willing to spend. $400-$600 for Silver Strikes is within my budget. If you just want 'em to get 'em, the trading session is the best place.

    The trading session is Saturday night at the tournament in January and June at 6PM. I just found out I will be missing it because I need to be in Atlantic City that weekend. The next trading session will be June 25th at 6PM.
     
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