From: kolt@kimbark.uchicago.edu (Matt K/Gonzo)
Subject: LV Trip Report 14-23Dec92
Reply-To: kolt@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1992 05:07:31 GMT

DOWNTOWN
Binion's
Penetration: Good; Rules: H17, RSA (SD); O-All: Good
Still plenty of tables here, 'twas very dead, and nearly empty tables could be
found at $5 mins. Played 4 sessions, 2.6 hours, +35

Union Plaza
Penetration: Standard (7 spots, but almost always 2x4--lots of jumping in
and out); Rules: H17; O-All: Acceptable
Just a few tables, Circus-type minima. Royal Match abounds. 1 Session, 0.5
hours, -16

Golden Gate
Penetration: Bad (2x3, 3x2); Rules: H17; O-All: Unacceptable
Snack Bar only worthwhile thing here; 1 Session, 0.3 hours, +29

Pioneer Club
Penetration: Bad (1x6, 2x4); Rules: H17; O-All: Unacceptable
A dump. 1 Session, 0.2 hours, even

Fitzgerald's
Penetration: Acceptable (5spot tables, rarely full...usu 3x3, 4x2); Rules: H17;
O-All: Acceptable
Didn't get here much; 'twas cold. 1 session, 0.9 hours, -59.50

4 Queens
Penetration: Acceptable (2x7,6,5,4); Rules: H17; O-All: Acceptable
Details avail on request. 1 session, 0.5 hours, +80.50 :)

Lady Luck
Penetration: Standard, 7 spot tables (never full); Rules: H17; O-All:
Acceptable, but not when we were there. All SD tables had 4 people at them.
1 Session, 0.1 hours, +5

Golden Nugget
Penetration: Standard or better (6 spot tables, head on can go to 7 rounds; as
the city was dead, head on play was available at $5 mins ALL shifts) Rules:
H17, RSA; O-All: Excellent
Very good conditions in a pleasant casino. Anita (Days Pit 1) is really nice.
They will tolerate most unitsizes and any non wild spread. 16 sessions, 10.1
hours, +417
Also...only DT casino with PaiGow. 2 shifts, $25 min.

NORTH ZONE
LV Hilton
(DD) Penetration: seems good (4x7, 5x5 tables freq. full) Rules: S17, DAS,
RSA, LSR; O-All: Very Good, though $5 tables can be hard to find.
They couldn't care less about bet spreads. I went from $10 to $55 (and of 
course was promptly dealt a BJ) and no one flinched. Bosses are bored here.
3 Sessions, 1.2 hours, +286.50
Pai Gow, 3 shifts (I think) $25 min.

Riviera
(DD) Penetration: 50-60%; Rules: S17, DAS; O-All: Unacceptable
Was getting 6 or 7 rounds of 2. Many low min tables avail (oh boy).1 Session
0.3 hours (multiple shitty dealers), +8

Circus
Penetration: Good (2x7, 3x4, 3x3, 4x2); Rules: S17; O-All: Acceptable (barely)
Got raped. Lost big bets. No shuffling problems tho. 4 sessions, 1.4 hours,
-167

Palace Station
(DD) Penetration: Excellent, up to 90%. But full tables are dealt 4x6; Rules:
H17, DAS, RSA?; O-All: Acceptable
Did OK, but lost some annoying big bets. Doubled 10v10 in a +11 (UstonAPC)
with about a deck to go, received a 5, dealer turns a 5 and 6! 3 sessions, 1.4
hours, +39.50

Frontier
Penetration: Abysmal. It always seems to be 4 or 5 at their 6 spot tables.
Rare to receive 3x4 (big neg counts only). Rules: S17, DAS; O-All: Unacceptable
The place is too paranoid. It is not fun. Got killed on last nite. :(
4 Sessions, 1.4 hours, -197.50

CENTER ZONE
Sands
Penetration: Often pretty good at 5 spot tables. 3x4 not pref. shuff from
a coupla dealers. Rules: H17; O-All: Acceptable
5 Sessions, 1.3 hours +13; DoubleX, 1 Session, 0.4 hours +6
Pai Gow, 2 shifts, often $10 min. :)

Mirage
(DD)Penetration: Officially 70%+ (deal another round to unfull tables with 35 
cards to go, according to the idle dealer at the $300 table), in reality quite 
variable. Sometimes excellent (Haim deals head on to 85%); Sometimes 50%. Full
Table will be 4x6. Rules (DD): S17, DAS; O-All: Very Good
Some boss was watching me like  a hawk, with my $5 unit! 5 Sessions, 5.4 hours,
-208.50
Pai Gow, 3 shifts, one $25 min, the other ranged from $25 to $500!

Maxim
(DD)Penetration: Horrific; Rules: H17, DAS, LSR; O-All: Unacceptable
Anything else to say? Yeah; the dealers are rude as fuck too!
1 session, 0.2 hours, -10

Barbaric Coast
(DD)Penetration: 1st dealer 70%, 2nd 50!%; Rules: S17, DAS; O-All: Unacceptable
They insert a joker, and the relief dealer put it smack between the 2 decks!
1 session, 0.2 hours, -32.50

Dunes
Penetration: 2x6; Rules: S17, D10 (not posted); O-All: Obvious
Dealer had to tell me that I couldn't double my 9; the bosses won't put
a sign on the table. 1 Session, 0.1 hours, +3

SOUTH ZONE
Trop-No SD or DD
Didn't visit the Hacienda
Excalibur
Penetration: 2x7, 3x4, 4x3; Rules: S17, D9; O-All: Acceptable
One deck was dealt to 5 cards. No shuffling problems. Pizza comp was yummy.

Summary: I thought by picking up DD, I'd be able to play in a bunch of new
games I hadn't tried before. Most of them are ultra shitty! LVH, MIR, PALSTA,
maybe EXC, are the only acceptable DD games IMHO. I have basically given up
my old vice (craps) and picked up a new and much more slow moving one: PaiGow.
It is fun and I feel almost tall (5'3") at the table sometimes. It's a great
way to get comps without having your 21 play watched. I can flat bet $25 at
pai gow and get a meal, then range 1-12 at DD and not be concerned with my
play. Mirage had LOTS of $5 tables day shift, and a few $10s left during
swing. The Nugget had LOTS of low min and $5 min SD avail all shifts.

More details are available on reply. Thank you Michael for your assistance.
Also thanx to Alan for the directions to Pit 6 of the Mirage: I spent the whole
last day there: it has pai gow and DD.

Have a good trip,
Matt (planning March already :-)
-- 
Matt Koltnow   B0 t-- w- c g+ k s+ e r- p   "Why are we here?
Email: kolt@midway.uchicago.edu              Because we're here.
Ntalk: kolt@kimbark.uchicago.edu             Roll the Bones." -- N. Peart
Boycott IP...Go Mag*c!...Hugs to all...Standard Disclaimers Apply........