EZC-Boston Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 I'm off to Vegas again in about 6 weeks. I've been about every 6 months for the last three years and was there in February so I was about due. A friend of mine qualified for the main event of the WSOP on Full Tilt, so we're going to go out and support him. This time I'm staying at the Tropicana, wasn't my choice but I've never stayed at that end of the strip before so I'll give it a shot. I've heard it has a really nice pool so I'll look forward to checking that out. Has anybody stayed there before? If so any comments? I realize this it isn't the nicest place but that's fine, I'm not really that concerned about where I lay my head for a few hours. Also, anybody who has been out there recently, are there any new sights or attractions in the last six months?
meazza Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 I know a guy, went to Vegas with his wife, brought 4k, burned it in 1 night. The rest of the week, he had to bring his wife to cheap restaurants because he had no funds. Have fun
HopsGuy Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 This time I'm staying at the Tropicana, wasn't my choice but I've never stayed at that end of the strip before so I'll give it a shot. I've heard it has a really nice pool so I'll look forward to checking that out. Has anybody stayed there before? If so any comments? I realize this it isn't the nicest place but that's fine, I'm not really that concerned about where I lay my head for a few hours. Also, anybody who has been out there recently, are there any new sights or attractions in the last six months? 707816[/snapback] I stayed at the Trop on my first visit to Vegas, 3 years ago. I had the same attitude as you: "Who cares where I lay my head. I'm not picky." I'll never make that mistake again. The whole place smells like BO. I never saw the pool, so I can't comment on that. On my two other trips I've stayed at Excalibur and Caesar's. I give both of those thumbs up. I was there in March. Here's my advice: Check out Wynn. The place is amazing. Thursday latenight (>3AM), hit the Drais in the basement of the Barbary Coast, trust me We hit Pure one night (club at Caesar's). The view from the rooftop bar is worth the $400/man you'll drop. The Pussycat Dolls are fun to look at, too. I blogged about it. My friend had a stroke, so the experience was tempered by that. I need to update the blog. My buddy has made a 90% recovery and he should be 100% in 6 months or so. Good luck, and always split aces and 8s. Double down on 11. Stay away from the craps tables at Caesar's. I took all the money they're going to yield this year.
BuffOrange Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 always split aces and 8s. Double down on 11. 707873[/snapback] This is really all you need to know. $400 to get in that bar? I best get more than a nice view
HopsGuy Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 This is really all you need to know. $400 to get in that bar? I best get more than a nice view 707890[/snapback] We were walking by around 4 in the afternoon. We reserved a table for $400. When the placed opened at 10 PM, there mobs of people around. We bribed a bouncer $400 to get us through, then bought bottles of liquor for our table. Then next morning, I asked what I owed. "Hops, give Scotty $400. We'll get breakfast then go win it back." And we did.
BuffOrange Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 We were walking by around 4 in the afternoon. We reserved a table for $400. When the placed opened at 10 PM, there mobs of people around. We bribed a bouncer $400 to get us through, then bought bottles of liquor for our table. Then next morning, I asked what I owed. "Hops, give Scotty $400. We'll get breakfast then go win it back." And we did. 707895[/snapback] Nice - always a thrill to beat the house. I don't miss gambling on the inevitable long-run loser that is blackjack and every other game. Thank God I discovered poker.
TheMadCap Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 Hmmm...I never gamble in the touristy places, neither do the locals. The touristy places are good for hanging out and seeing the sights, but I prefer the off-strip places to gamble. But I don't gamble that much anyways, I like watching people...
EZC-Boston Posted June 13, 2006 Author Posted June 13, 2006 I stayed at the Trop on my first visit to Vegas, 3 years ago. I had the same attitude as you: "Who cares where I lay my head. I'm not picky." I'll never make that mistake again. The whole place smells like BO. I never saw the pool, so I can't comment on that. On my two other trips I've stayed at Excalibur and Caesar's. I give both of those thumbs up. 707873[/snapback] Stayed @ the IP last time, it can't possibly be worse, can it?
plenzmd1 Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 I stayed at the Trop on my first visit to Vegas, 3 years ago. I had the same attitude as you: "Who cares where I lay my head. I'm not picky." I'll never make that mistake again. The whole place smells like BO. I never saw the pool, so I can't comment on that. 707873[/snapback] I've stayed there ae well, many, many moons ago. Not the greatest, but if i was not going with the wife, WTF, save a few scechles and put into the tables. The pool is nice, they have a swim up blackjack table. For views, im partail to Mix at the Hotel at Mandalay. Go round sunset. Also, the food critic for the Washington Post swears by the restaurant at Paris on top of the tower. I have never been, but he seems to think food, drinks and ambiance are top notch there.
apuszczalowski Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 I'd tell you all about my trip, but it is all supposed to stay in Vegas (J/k, I've never been, but would like to bring my jeep down sometime and wheel it in the dessert)
plenzmd1 Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 Good luck, and always split aces and 8s. Double down on 11. Stay away from the craps tables at Caesar's. I took all the money they're going to yield this year. 707873[/snapback] Never understood the always split 8s. I know, some computer model says if you play 10 bizillion hands of blackjack, thats the way to go. But if the basic premise is ten in the hole, ten coming, and the dealer has a ten showing, where the hell is the advantage? Maybe take surrender if avaialable, or just hit and lose $25 instead of $50? I know thats what i started to do after losing 8 out of 10, 8 8 vs 10 showing, and splitting the freakin eights
HopsGuy Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 Stayed @ the IP last time, it can't possibly be worse, can it? 707906[/snapback] The quality of the Trop wasn't that bad. It's just that smell, y'know? I had to throw some stuff out. The next year I was there, I met some friends that stayed at the San Remo (which is now Hooters). We played $5 blackjack all night at the Trop, but I kept fearing the smell. I hope for your sake, they got rid of it. I'm sure you'll have a great time anyway.
BuffOrange Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 Never understood the always split 8s. I know, some computer model says if you play 10 bizillion hands of blackjack, thats the way to go. But if the basic premise is ten in the hole, ten coming, and the dealer has a ten showing, where the hell is the advantage? Maybe take surrender if avaialable, or just hit and lose $25 instead of $50? I know thats what i started to do after losing 8 out of 10, 8 8 vs 10 showing, and splitting the freakin eights 707917[/snapback] I think the basic idea is that while 8 vs. a 10 may not necessarily be a favorite, it has less of a negative expectation than 16; which you're going to lose with so often even when the dealer busts. Of course you're risking more $, but you might get lucky with a 3 and have a doubling opportunity on one of your splits, etc. Yeah, surrender adds a pretty cool aspect to the game as well. Of course, the dealer hits on soft 17 at some of those casinos, which isn't a good thing.
HopsGuy Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 Never understood the always split 8s. I know, some computer model says if you play 10 bizillion hands of blackjack, thats the way to go. But if the basic premise is ten in the hole, ten coming, and the dealer has a ten showing, where the hell is the advantage? Maybe take surrender if avaialable, or just hit and lose $25 instead of $50? I know thats what i started to do after losing 8 out of 10, 8 8 vs 10 showing, and splitting the freakin eights 707917[/snapback] It has to do with the fact that 16 is the worst number to have. You have to hit against a 10, and you have a 61.5% chance of busting. They're giving you a chance to change it for twice your original bet. The 8 you already have against the 10 will reduce the house advantage back to the range of basic strategy (~52%). It's a cheap price to pay to chuck that 16.
IDBillzFan Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 Never understood the always split 8s. I know, some computer model says if you play 10 bizillion hands of blackjack, thats the way to go. But if the basic premise is ten in the hole, ten coming, and the dealer has a ten showing, where the hell is the advantage? 707917[/snapback] You answered your own question and didn't even realize it. If you have two 8s and simply take a card, you have five possible numbers that can help you. Anything over a five and you're toast. Split the eights and you can't possibly be in a worse position than you are currently in unless the dealer tops off your eights with more eights, in which case you just keep splitting them. The idea is to split the eights and hope one of them takes a 10 since the dealer has to stay on 17...you split your hand and live to play another game. If you're lucky, the dealer will drop a 3 on your 8, you double down for one and hope to pull the 10.
BuffOrange Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 If you're lucky, the dealer will drop a 3 on your 8, you double down for one and hope to pull the 10. 707926[/snapback] This is also the most nervracking moment you can experience at a blackjack table. Winning that split/double combo can make you a God among your friends and sprignboard a 4 figure winning night, or it can be BJ's version of "tilt" and spiral you into the toilet emotionally and financially for an entire weekend. It is the ultimate 'swing hand'. Leave the table immediately if you lose a hand like this. Bad times with those 8's, bad times. But hey, you gotta play the odds.
plenzmd1 Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 You answered your own question and didn't even realize it. If you have two 8s and simply take a card, you have five possible numbers that can help you. Anything over a five and you're toast. Split the eights and you can't possibly be in a worse position than you are currently in unless the dealer tops off your eights with more eights, in which case you just keep splitting them. The idea is to split the eights and hope one of them takes a 10 since the dealer has to stay on 17...you split your hand and live to play another game. If you're lucky, the dealer will drop a 3 on your 8, you double down for one and hope to pull the 10. 707926[/snapback] see i look at like if i take the card i have six cards that help. If I split, i have 3 cards that help, a, 2, 3, again dealer showing a ten. Again, thats the key dealer showing a ten, so my expectation of him showing 17 has to be pretty low no?
IDBillzFan Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 see i look at like if i take the card i have six cards that help. If I split, i have 3 cards that help, a, 2, 3, again dealer showing a ten. Again, thats the key dealer showing a ten, so my expectation of him showing 17 has to be pretty low no? 707934[/snapback] When you have 16, there are five cards than can help you: A-5 and that's it, and the most an A can do is give you a push unless the dealer busts. On the other hand you have eight cards (6-K) which will bust your 16 regardless of what the dealer has. Those odds suck all by themselves. If you split the 8s, while you may not have many cards that will help immediately, you at least know there is no card that will kill you immediately, either. That's the big difference. Keep the 16 and one card kills you. Split the 8s and your odds of not busting are increased rather signficantly since no single card can bust an eight. So split the 8s and give yourself two fresh hands and hope one of them bails out the other, or possibly win both.
plenzmd1 Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 When you have 16, there are five cards than can help you: A-5 and that's it, and the most an A can do is give you a push unless the dealer busts. On the other hand you have eight cards (6-K) which will bust your 16 regardless of what the dealer has. Those odds suck all by themselves. If you split the 8s, while you may not have many cards that will help immediately, you at least know there is no card that will kill you immediately, either. That's the big difference. Keep the 16 and one card kills you. Split the 8s and your odds of not busting are increased rather signficantly since no single card can bust an eight. So split the 8s and give yourself two fresh hands and hope one of them bails out the other, or possibly win both. 707942[/snapback] I meant 5 cards, my bad. I guess after playing BJ in Vegas and AC since 84, and countless numbers of hands, I just find you lose less not splitting the the 8s agaisn't a ten. I know what all the books say, but i'm playin maybe a thousand hands tops in a weekend, not near what the computer models do. Like i said, if surrender is offered, i am jumping at it on that particular hand
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