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Old Trip Reports

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by sybgal, Mar 22, 2020.

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  1. JRRestoule

    JRRestoule VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2015
    Messages:
    2,893
    Location:
    Ontario, Canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    42
    Yes, one that may never be beat! But I will keep trying haha
     
  2. FABismonte

    FABismonte Tell my wife I am "about even."

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2009
    Messages:
    3,794
    Location:
    Silicon Valley, CA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    88
    Here is another video poker report. This one is from August 2007 (before I joined VMB) concerning my visit to Nevada Palace on Boulder Highway which then became the Cannery East:

    Nevada Palace – VP Poker Plan and Execution

    One of my favorite video poker books is Bob Dancer’s Million Dollar Video Poker. Now mind you I am not an unalloyed fan of Bob and I do not support all the shenanigans he had done in his career, but I do take to heart his suggestion that one should look for opportunities in video poker, analyze them to see if you have an advantage, and then execute the plan.

    Many of Bob’s stories were about non-recurring events that I cannot take advantage of, so I try to keep my eyes open to find opportunities. Usually I do not find them as I am interacting with my wife (my real boss) and for some reason; she is not particularly interested in spending much time having me (her designated driver – even though she does not drink) chase down the latest promotions. This, however, is my story of the Nevada Palace foray I undertook last weekend.

    Because of the Las Vegas Advisor, I visited Nevada Palace for the first time last year to use the 40 coins for a four of kind, coupon. Anthony Curtis should be pleased because the coupon did what it was supposed to do, get gamblers into places they would not otherwise go to. For those who do not know, Nevada Palace will never be confused with Caesars Palace. Nevada Palace is off the Boulder Highway, near Sam’s Town, but with a lot less charm. In fact, it reminded me of one of the smaller downtown Reno casinos like the Riverboat and the Virginian (just before they closed). The Nevada Palace has a decent coffee shop complete with high carbohydrate food. The place is full of coin droppers, at that place TITO refers only to the former Yugoslavian dictator. If you like worn vinyl, a dark smoke filled atmosphere and a certain “earthiness” in the clientele, rather than the SoCal persons at the strip casinos, Nevada Palace may be your kind of place – and I kind of like it, it reminds me of the Casino Royale. I do not know if it reveals more about me than it does Casino Royale.

    Recently, the owners of the Cannery bought the Nevada Palace, and announced that they were building the Cannery East, starting with knocking down the rundown attached motel, but leaving the casino as it is for now. Therefore, there was a certain urgency for me to apply my plan on my trip last week to Las Vegas.

    There are many promotions at Nevada Palace for video poker planers. (1) There is a card of the day promo where a 4 of a kind gives you an extra 100 coins; (2) They have a mailer they give to locals, and to out of state guys like me if you ask at the slot club booth, which allows you to get a 40 coin bonus on a four of a kind (once per week of that month) (3) A straight flush 100 coin bonus for a suit of the day (4) 500 coin bonus on a Royal Flush in the suit of the day (5) Las Vegas Advisor coupon for 40 coins on a four of a kind; and (6) American Casino guide 40 coin bonus on a four of a kind.

    I could take advantage of all of these video poker promotions. My favorite game is Bonus Poker as it has some occasional hits on special 4 of kinds, but low volatility because of the double bet payoff on two pairs. Coincidentally, it has this game in dollars, the denomination of my choice.

    I fired up my old “Bob Dancer Presents The Video Poker Software Actually Programmed By Dean Zamzow, But For Some Reason Only Known To Them, Bears Bob Dancer’s Name” and changed the payoffs to reflect the video poker promotions. No warranties on my math, but the software spit out a 101.66 % payback on Bonus Poker if played expertly. Now I am not on the expert level, I really do not care to keep track of all penalty card situations, but I am pretty good (according to the software I practice on) so I figured I was well on a positive expectation level.

    When I got to Nevada Palace last Sunday, I was pleased to note that not much has changed and there was still all the Card of the Day, ect promotion signs all over the place. The Card of the Day was 6. The suit of the day, for the straight flush and Royal bonus was clubs. I then went to the slot booth and found out that they had a promotion that for points earned in May, I could convert 2500 points (usually worth only $5 in comps or cash) in return for a $10 Wal-Mart gift certificate. (Limit 20 per month). Based on the standard 0.125% cash back set forth in VPFree, this adds another 0.25% for a total expected value of 101.91% ! I will be rich! Or at least an advantage player as long as my bonus 4 of a kind coupons hold out.

    I then asked for and got my “locals mailer” 4 of a kind 40 coin bonus oversized postcard which the boothling had to enter a code in the computer before she gave me the coveted postcard. Bearing my precious ticket to 40 coin bonus nirvana, I made a beeline to the $1 Bonus Poker Machine I used last year – there is was in its unoccupied glory. I double checked the pay lines (no easily manipulated video pay tables here, it is actually painted on the glass) and saw that it was still 8-5 full pay.

    I then sat, fed a $100 bill in and played, a little up and then down, down, down. I fed another Benjamin, then another. I got increasingly depressed as I fed money in. Why wasn’t I winning? Doesn’t the video poker machine know that I am at an advantage and I should be winning and not losing? Did all my four of a kinds in my earlier play in Vegas mean that I will regress to the mean and suffer a drought of four of a kinds at the one place I would be at an advantage? Did you know that you do not have to worry about getting your hands dirty in a coin dropper machine as long as you constantly lose and never have a chance to cash out? I put in total of $500 in then like an answered prayer, before my eyes I am staring at a two sixes, a nine, and another two sixes on the draw! I quickly hold all five cards. I know it should make no difference if I hold the nine or not but I am taking no freaking chances. After all, I just got the card of the day (100 extra George Washingtons) on the draw and I did not want to tempt fate.

    I then pushed the “change” button, which did not bring any assistant. I eventually flagged down a janitor who found a change person, who stared at my 4 sixes and did not realize that it was the card of the day until I told him. I tipped him anyway since I consider it good karma – after he handed me $100 in bonus.

    Now I was down only $275 and did not even need to use one of my coveted bonus coupons. Up down, up down, then out. I even had to put in another Benjamin. I then held a pair of nines, then added two more nines – my second four of a kind. I called the change attendant, got paid the $40 bonus using the postcard, she simply crossed off with ink the week’s bonus picture. I then took a ride of full houses and flushes. As the time for my airline departure arrived, I finally cashed out at the $300 level. Yes, of course it ran out of coins. I had to have a coin-fill.

    So I had put in a total of $500, got $300 in coin, plus $140 in cash on the bonuses. Therefore I was down $60. But wait, I did hit some 3200 points and was entitled to my Wal-Mart $10 card. I went to the booth, and asked for my Wal-Mart card. The boothling, apparently having had bad experiences with some players cleaning her out of Wal-Mart cards, said they only had a limited amount, and I may need to come back on Monday (after my flight had left) to get it. I asked her, with the equivalent desperation of someone trying to catch the last helicopter out of Saigon, that surely she had one more Wal-Mart card. After some consideration, she granted me that boon – oh happy day!

    So the bottom line was that I was out $50 (I count a Wal-Mart card as cash) on an event where I was the favorite. No biggie however, because I made a nice comeback and in reality I enjoyed the planning and execution. As a Blackjack dealer told me 10 years ago, “some times you bite the bear, and sometimes the bear bites you.”

    FAB
     
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2020
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  3. cvkelz

    cvkelz Extremely Low Roller- like, I barely roll at all.

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2016
    Messages:
    1,230
    Location:
    Monterey, CA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    50
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  4. wasilla

    wasilla High-Roller

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2017
    Messages:
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    Trips to Las Vegas:
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    Another great story FAB.
     
  5. FABismonte

    FABismonte Tell my wife I am "about even."

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2009
    Messages:
    3,794
    Location:
    Silicon Valley, CA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    88
    I would rather be chasing a four of a kind than be chased by a brown bear like you.
     
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  6. MaxStacks

    MaxStacks Tourist

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2015
    Messages:
    67
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    2
    Is there a “best of” thread for Vegas trip reports? If not, can we start a list here? Would be nice to check out some classic, HOF-worthy trip reports while Vegas is shut down. Nominate your own favorite, or a favorite of someone else’s TR.
     
  7. DaiLun

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

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2014
    Messages:
    13,085
    Location:
    San Jose, CA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    100
    IMHO, it really depends on what you're looking for in a TR. If you are a drinker, you possibly wouldn't like my TRs, because I don't drink alcohol and I focus on the three F's. I don't take pictures of my plane flights, I don't take picture of the airport, and I go to Las Vegas 10-12 times a year.

    Not to say a TR HOF isn't appropriate, but . . . . . .
     
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  8. luck.ofthe.draw

    luck.ofthe.draw VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2016
    Messages:
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    Location:
    Las Vegassss
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    55
    I don’t know about playing favorites.... but you can always scroll through old TR’s on the Vegas TR page - just change the page number to visit some older ones :)
     
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  9. bdautch

    bdautch VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2013
    Messages:
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    Trips to Las Vegas:
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    Orrr...read a bunch of them that have a lot of "likes", link to like five of them, and open up a poll to see the true Greatest Trip Report of All-Time!
     
  10. ardee

    ardee It's only money.

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2007
    Messages:
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    Location:
    SoCal
    Trips to Las Vegas:
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    All Vegas trip reports are great. When someone takes the time to do one, I'm always happy to read and enjoy.
    I'd like to add a BIG thanks to all who post them.
    So many variables, it's like picking a favorite child.
    The VMB Vegas Trip Reports section is a goldmine of entertainment and information. Exploring is half the fun.
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2020
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  11. Sonya

    Sonya Queen of VMB

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 1999
    Messages:
    44,189
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    25
    You can do a bit of sorting on the main page of the TR section. Click on Views at the top and it will sort them by which has the most views. Sort by Replies, most replies. Click a couple times on Start Date and you'll see TRs going back to 2001. :eek: (Although a lot of the older reports have some broken images in them.)
     
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  12. JaDubya

    JaDubya High Roller? Nah...just a Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2020
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    Location:
    California
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    I love the gambling aspect of Vegas so my personal favorites are natedog666’s trip reports. I’ve actually read them all (at least his portion of the TRs).

    As close to a whale as I’ve ever seen (he calls himself a guppy whale). His TRs are honest, well written & over the top...plus he includes pictures of his chips, cars, suites/villas & private jets.

    The TRs are focused on his degen gambling & he doesn’t win all the time, so some of it is kinda painful to read but fascinating nonetheless.
     
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  13. Geogran

    Geogran VIP Whale

    Joined:
    May 1, 2014
    Messages:
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    Location:
    TX
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    There are wayyyy too many awesome TR’s to ever narrow down to a hall of fame imo. Sometimes it’s a family oriented TR, another time it’s a meetup and cocktail oriented TR, then a holiday TR, and a ‘I wish I could pull off a trip like that’ TR, or a vow renewal TR, or all gambling TR, or all foodie stuff TR, or scenic side trips TR, or the last one I read TR, lol. So many are so well done that I feel I am right there with the poster.
    I enjoy every single one that I read, and sometimes takes awhile to catch up. I browse back from time to time to refresh my memory.

    For me, picking ‘favorites’ or ‘best’ is very personal to one’s own likes and dislikes, and I would never want to diminish the value of any TR through rating them.
    But then again, I am not a gifted TR writer by any stretch of the imagination, so there’s that :eek: o_O :nono: :evillaugh: :drooling: :haha:
     
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  14. SMG

    SMG VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2018
    Messages:
    2,066
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    49
    I have all of my trips reports for Vegas, Reno, local stuff, etc. including photos and videos consolidated on my personal blog for those who haven't ventured over there yet. LOL I've lurked on VMB for a long time, but I didn't become a member until July 2018. So, I only have 1 or 2 reports posted/linked in the trip reports forum. The link to my personal blog is also in my sig below. :cool:
     
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