I went to Wendover on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Played about 22 hours, and lost $795. At one point I was down $1800, and was playing half units because I was affraid I would run out of cash. I had called Frog and told him I would take half credit for the time and play at reduced stakes for the next few hours. I really believe that, for our action, Wendover is the best place in the world to play right now, and we should try to get a group together there instead of Vegas, Tunica, or Reno. If anyone knows of a better game than this, I wish they would let me know. I spread, much of the time, from $50 up to $200 and down to $25 or even less, with almost no heat. This was early in the week, so not crowded, and I got a great deal of heads up play, and much more with two or three on one. Conditions were nearly ideal the whole time. Penetration was outstanding. With a little shopping, I was able to get seven rounds heads up, and five rounds to two players. Several dealers went four rounds to three and three rounds to four, even though they would run out of cards on occasion, and then cut back for a while. On weekends, or anytime it's crowded, pen is not as good.

I haven't checked my records, but I believe this was my 53rd trip to Wendover in the past ten years. The score is now PitViper 31, Wendover 22.

Results: SBR $2400; EBR $1605

2-7:   Casino      Hours    $$$
Noon- StateLine,  0.16hrs,  -100;
      StateLine,  1.5       +595;
      SilverSmith  .83      -255;
      Rainbow     1.0       +125;
      Peppermill  1.5       -400;
      StateLine    .5       +300;
      Rainbow     1.16         0;
2-8
8pm   RedGarter    .5       + 75;
      SilverSmith 1.5       -555;
      Pepppermill  .75      -300;
      StateLine   2.0       -140;
2-9
2am   SilverSmith  .5       +420;
      SS           .5       -305;
      Pepp         .5       +550;
      Rainbow      .92      -145;
      SL           .83      -920;
      SL           .25      - 45;
      Pepp         .75      + 25;
      Rainbow     1.5       -430;
      Rainbow      .75      +440;
      SL           .83      +710;
      SL           .75      -650;

At this point, I called Rob and we decided I would play for half credit from here on, so the next 5.5 hours count as 2.75.

      SL           .25      -255;
      SS          1.0       +305;
      SS          1.0       -195;
      SL          1.75      -670;
      SL          1.5      +1025.

Dealers and notes:
SS: Sam (older, white guy) and Popcorn (female, hispanic, 30ish) both gave great pen, especially in heads up play.

Peppermill: Ben, Felipe, Carmina, and Isella were all giving 4x3 and 5x2 pen. No heat, there were some pro basketball players here laying big bets.

Rainbow: Sally and Kyra, both female hispanics, early 30s; great pen the whole time, regardless of number of players. Heat from PC who was standing at the podium but never took his eyes off my table. He didn't do anything except look. Finally I called him over and asked him for a meal comp, which he did without asking my name.

SL: Anne, blonde, early 30s, can recognize a counter, but gave the best game around. A few times, late in the deck, she would wait to see if I wanted her to deal another round or not before dealing or shuffling. I played heads up and got about 45 cards. No heat and they comped my room. A bunch of college kids from UU were there causing a lot of distraction, and I was able to spread without attention. Kids sure have a lot more money than when I was in college.

Rainbow now has RSA, but Peppermil doesn't. Also, the DX game has been removed from SilverSmith and replaced by three card poker.

RedGarter: As always, intense heat, but very good pen if it's not crowded. I got 4x2, but with the pc standing right behind the dealer. Didn't stay long.

The biggest downside to playing in this town is that all tables have Royal Match side bets. For some reason, Chinese players are compelled to play that bet, and they are excruciatingly slow at doing it. This bet must reduce the number of hands per hour by 20 percent at crowded tables, and by more if it's just you and one RM player. You know the routine; squeeze the cards as hard and long as possible, then discuss your decision with the entire family, which is standing right behind you, before making a move. I am thinking about writing a letter to the management of SilverSmith and advising them to set up separate tables that have just the RM bet, with no need to play a bj hand. The chinese would flock to them, just betting RM over and over again, without being slowed down by that darn bj side bet. The casino would make a ton off this. They would also increase action at the bj tables by getting all the chinese players off of them. BTW, I'm not prejudiced, just informed. PV

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2000

Answers

(SF) no tips?

no tips? at all? that's cool... just hard to believe you can do that while playing the same dealers day after day. :^)

anyway, i think you're right. we should line some kind of team trip up for wendover. probably four players max for such a small venue. who's available for some hardcore single-deck action in may? let's start thinking about dates.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2000

(SF) does this mean...

does this mean that you toked a total of $15? or does it mean that you toked $10 on the last session & occasionally some $5 tokes on some of the other sessions?

-- Anonymous, February 21, 2000

(PV) Sorry, $10 tips on last session, +$5 other tips

I don't have notes with me on which sessions I toked the $5. All tokes were included in the BR results. jim

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2000

toked $15 total (PV) nt

s

-- Anonymous, February 22, 2000