Boring afternoon so I mite's well do this rpt I've been thinking about.
Just finished my worst year since beginning Vp bout 8 years ago. Down $10,001 w/ everything considered (BB, CB). As it turns out, this is just about what I lost on my 4 trips to Vegas...no wins. Also lost $2500 last trip of 2009, but at least finished up that year about $3800 up out there. I used to be pretty much a 25c single liner, but this year did play a little more $1 plus alot of 25c QQ, mostly DDB, full play I mite add. I play about 10 hours/ week in midwest.
In Vegas never played less than 99.5% and usually better than that, but admittedly many times was not getting enuff CB, etc. to put me over 100%. Been averaging 3 to 4 trips out there for last 7/8 years and generally coming out ahead...not so this year.
A coupla interesting stories on 2010 experience.
Started out great. $2000 A's w/k, $4K+ royal, $1K royal & $1k A's w/k. By week 3 up about $7800. Then came QQ. Local casino added QQ, FP @ 25C & screwed up...had CB @ 1% slot rate rather than .5 VP rate. That, with DP several hours during the week made this a prime play. Very few people knew this & only a few of us hit it hard. Another play in this casino was 1 other machine had $1 progressive w/ 99.96% DDB & .5 CB. Again very few knew of this and tho a few players wud throw an occasional hundred at it, there were only 2/3 of us that wud sit there for an hour or so & beat on it. That BTW accounted for my early 2K & 4K.
This machine lasted quite a while & wasn't burned down till the BDA's hit it. We have a coupla pro's (they undoubtedly read this forum). They spen half their time in Vegas, the other half here, Well they came here early summer & hit the 1 machine constantly during double points. I don't know how well they did, but after a coupla weeks of that, the machine got knocked back to regular DDB...goodby sweet play. For some reason during this time, they left the QQ machines (w/ the good playtable + %1 CB) alone. I cudn't figure that out, but figured they either knew or suspected as we all did that the machines wud not be set up that way very long as the casino wud discover their mistake.
Well the machines did stay that way for quite some time. One day during DP time I went there & as usual if U weren't there when the place opened U didn't get a QQ machine. But what was different this time was the PRO was on one of the 2 machines & I'm sure stayed on it thruout DP period. I went there next day & sure enuff...no more 1%. It took him 1 day to burn that play down. In talking to another local, the casino was probably watching this dude as they've been making pretty good $ for quite awhile.
In hindsite, I miss the great play on the QQ, but we knew that wudn't last, but the $1 play just about makes me sick. That lasted a long time & I think wudda remained if not burned down.
So it's back to Vegas again in Feb. Another loss & I think I'll stay local. Hopefully even tho I know I'm playing highly volatile DDB QQ, it'll treat me a little better in 2011. As we say, it only takes 1 hand. This last weekend it gave me 4 to royal 5 times. Managed to beat the odds on my 10 hands each & get 2 of them, but any of them being the dealt royal I'm quite a ways behind in cycles on & I'm back to even.
Someone in the last day or so said we're boring him to death. I do agree the forum had been a little dry lately, thankfully we got Mick & Frank going w/ some stories. Need to see some trips reports or something to liven things up. Good luck all in 2011.
