Sorry, folks; this was a lousy trip in a number of ways. I was sick, but getting better, when I left; between a really bad flight in and the usual stresses in LV (dryness, mainly), I am back to feeling seriously lousy again.

Friday, I went to the airport, waited for my flight, waited some more, found out it was delayed until after 11pm, told the counter agent that I wouldn't make my connecting flight, and she put me on standby for another flight -- SeaTac to LV without having to change planes -- which was already close to five hours late getting in to SeaTac. Luckily(?) I got on that flight, and ended up in LV around 2am. The rental car took over an hour, but at least the hotel check-in was fast; I didn't even attempt to play, just collapsed in bed some time after 4am.

Saturday, I ended up showing my friend around a lot more than I had expected; I might have enjoyed it if I hadn't been feeling tired and going through kleenexes at an alarming rate. I only got in a couple hours of play.

Sunday, I didn't play at all; although Dave (and possibly Bill, too, although I didn't speak with him) was annoyed with me for not showing up for spotter training/practice, the only thing that they missed was not being exposed to the flu that I have -- I tried doing some backcounting at the Venetian, but was too exhausted to think straight. I gave up, probably saving the team a considerable amount of money. :-)

Total of four sessions:

12/18/1999 IP)  2682.50 SBR; .333333 H; 90 G; 90 N; 2772.50 EBR
12/18/1999 Bel) 2772.50 SBR; .333333 H; 62.50 G; 62.50 N; 2835 EBR
12/18/1999 HR)  2835 SBR; .75 H; 225 G; 225 N; 3060 EBR
12/18/1999 GN)  3060 SBR; .833333 H; 112.50 G; 12.50 T; 100 N; 3160 EBR

trip totals) SBR 2682.50; H 2.25; G 490; N 477.50; EBR 3160

Notes:

• At the IP, I'd been betting $20/$25 or $50, and then the count skyrocketed to +9 -- just as a pitboss had come over to stand and watch the game. With all those small cards out in plain view in front of him, I chunked out around $275, won, finished out the shuffle with a more moderate $150 hand (lost, crap), and vamoosed. :-)
• At the GN, I tipped the dealer -- he must have realized I was counting, because he went from ~60% penetration to ~75%. He was Jim from Braintree (MN, I think, or maybe MA) on graveyard. He might get "disappeared" by the casino at some point -- or maybe the dealers are under standing orders to do that to help counter detection; if so, it cost them a little. Lots of slow losing and sudden makeups, with a decent net.

Vancouver next week, Frog?

--M.

-- Anonymous, December 20, 1999

Answers

(Rick) Venetian Warning

Be careful at Venetian. They have been hard-barring some team players lately. Backroomed and handcuffed a couple of folks, forcing cash payment for room charges, attempted to hold chips on another player. At our levels of play, we don't have much to worry about. However, I would recommend avoiding play if you notice any high stakes players around. Even though they may be innocent (or not), the V has been hit by teams and become they are paranoid. If they start watching you, they could erroneously put you together with someone, just by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I'm not trying to get everyone paranoid, but just be extra aware at the V.

Also, Braintree is in Mass.

Regards, Rick

-- Anonymous, December 21, 1999

Venetian / Braintree (ES)

Thanks; Venetian probably isn't worth playing, though. Nice to watch the cocktail waitresses, but 3 of their 4 "pits" are now 8D with about 2D cut off. The 6D pit was half-closed and too crowded. Sigh.

Backroomed and handcuffed? I'd've liked to have seen 'em try -- I think my biowarfare capabilities would have scared them off. :-)

It might have been "Brainerd, MN" -- that was the thing, I know "Braintree" is in the Peoples' Republic, but I was sure his badge said "MN" for the state. Oh well. Something like that, anyway.

--M.

-- Anonymous, December 21, 1999

Backrooming (DJ)

Was this team doing something borderline that could make the casino feel justified in doing the backroom thing? It would seem to me that backrooming over simple card counting teaming practices would be grounds for false arrest, no matter how big the bet sizes. Do you know exactly what this team was doing?

I know I would personally would not take a backrooming lying down. I would not go back unless they actually arrested me. If they did, I would sue for false arrest and anything else that came to mind, at least if it appeared I had a reasonable chance of success. I am not the sueing type, either. I would also take a dim view of trying to steal my chips and would go after them on that if at all possible. DJ

-- Anonymous, December 21, 1999

(Rick) Backrooming

>Was this team doing something borderline that could make the casino >feel justified in doing the backroom thing?

If they were (which is not out of the question), it was not conveyed to me.

>Do you know exactly what this team was doing?

These guys bet to table max, play aggressively and are in Griffin.

>I would also take a dim view of trying to steal my chips and would >go after them on that if at all possible.

The individual, unrelated to the above group, who had his chips held is a "poster boy" He managed to get the gaming commission involved and got his money back.

Regards, Rick

-- Anonymous, December 21, 1999

What is a "poster boy" ? (DJ)

Have not heard this before but know what past posting is. DJ

-- Anonymous, December 22, 1999

America's Most Wanted (ES)

Griffin maintains a bunch of "hot sheets" for the most-feared known terrorist-assassin-cardcounters.

Hey, Rick, do you happen to know what this poster boy's first name is?

--M.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 1999