Crowded Tables

[shigetam]

Since I’m new to this community and it took me a while to read all the past and current messages I’m not sure if I am entering in the correct area if not, oh well…………

For 2012, I am approaching the game with renewed energy and outlook. I took the time today to draft my 2012 Craps Play Goal and Objectives. I won’t bother you with the details of my goal and the measurable objectives to achieve it but in one of my objective areas (Where, When, How, and What Not), MP just recently posted a comment regarding attitude shifts on crowded tables and if you as a shooter have several PSOs or near PSOs on a crowded table it’s harder to get into a rhythm because the dice cycle is long and negativity creeps in.

Well, this year, one of my objectives is to NOT play on crowded tables but go down the street to the next casino. Reason, but waiting so long to get the dice to shoot, I start betting on all shooters and by the time I get the dice, I’m down so if I don’t catch a long roll to start, I’m really in deep yogurt.

Going back to shoot and scoot. Too many tables in L.V. to wait.

[sharkbyte]

Welcome to the board.

I can certainly understand your strategy of play. You are fortunate to have those options. The two nearby casinos (to me) don't often have fewer than 4 or 5 players, per table, at any given time. Hence my work on trying to find a reasonably stable RR strategy, to carry me through until I can shoot...

[Dylanfreake]

shigetam, I`m sure everyone on the board wouldn`t mind your posting of details to your 2012 Craps
Play Goal and Objectives. A lot of players do not write down their goal or objectives and without a daily reminder or a weekly or monthly review tend to lose sight of what they are trying to accomplish.

[heavy]

Well, your post brings up all sorts of questions for me. Without giving up too much info, are you planning to conduct the bulk of your play downtown, where it's easy to walk from casino to casino? Or are you a 'local' joint kind of guy? Surely if you're local in Las Vegas you're not going to be playing on the strip much . . . or are you? Inquiring minds and all that.

There are some pretty specific break points at some casinos where the games tend to crowd up. Take downtown, for example. There's a certain group that plays at that casino when they're running their $3 games. I refer to them as the "we're here for the first round of drinks of the day" crowd, and it consists mostly of older retirees who like the hair of the dog - probably more than they should. Once you figure out the casino's schedule for switching the game from $5 to $3 you'll know when these guys are going to show up. You can also tell by that distinctive odor that creeps up behind you about ten minutes before the table limits drop. In some cases, in casinos where they don't grandfather in players, these guys will fade into the sunset when the limits go up. In any case, it's sort of like timing the market. The experts say it can't be done but it's done all the time by people who understand that there's a cycle to everything and how to take advantage of it.

I'm thinking in most cases you're going to want to limit yourself to daytime play. Times of day - well, all day on Tuesday and Wednesday and half a day on Thursday. Maybe half a day on Monday as well. Friday, Saturday and Sunday - enjoy yourself a three day weekend. Just my thinking. You're local there so you may have another take on it. Be interesting to hear what that take is.

[shigetam]

Heavy, I casino hop depending on where I start. i.e. like you mentioned downtown (Fremont, Mainstreet, California, Golden Nugget then some of the smaller joints). Boulder Hwy (Boulder Station, Sams Town, Cannery, then maybe Jokers Wild and Club Fortune) Rancho (Fiesta, Texas, Palace, AZ Charlies, then Suncoast) were the runs I often did prior to my back surgery. Sometime I would include Orleans and the Gold Coast but not as often now.

The places I don't frequent any more Four Queen downtown, Gold Coast, and Treasure Island.

When I venture to the Strip, it's with the objective to observe any DIs in town. I try to do that once or twice a month because I learn a lot by watching how other players play. I carefully observe their table mannerisms, pre-shot routine, execution, and betting strategies.

As to when I play, mostly off prime time hours because I'd rather open a table or find one with only two or three players. I realize that many players play the game because of the excitement, I'd rather it be quiet and low keyed.

[heavy]

Sounds like you're on the right track. You know, if you are up for the drive you can often find an empty table out at Railroad Pass - with the cut-off "bump" board up that they use to cut the table down to tub length. Can be a fun game. Might work for you if you happen to be up on that neck of the woods. I like the tables at Suncoast, but if you catch a hand you can probably expect that old "coast" mentality to come out and you'll get heat. Same with Orleans and Gold Coast. Four Queens has always been pretty good to me. Yeah, they've got the table scored under the felt behind the pass line, but I don't find that a big obstacle to overcome. Anyway, sounds like you're on the right track. Best of luck to ya.

[shigetam]

I haven't play at Four Queens since they scored the tables. How do you manage to shoot on them? Do you land close to the back wall or do you one bounce over the scored section? Just curious cuz by just watching, the dice do hop more than other tables.

Gold Coast is the only Coast casino that won't let me shoot. I have talked to the pit super and got to ok but the next time same ole story, can't shoot till they ask. So I sent them an email and guess what, no answer. So I don't bother. The Orleans was a great stop till they made their table a lot bouncier.

I play at Suncoast quite often. Several years ago I had the dice taken away so I quit going there for a couple of years. When I did, I commented to the crew their casino had quite a bad reputation on the website. They were surprised. I haven't witnessed any heat given to anyone except one young very slow player who took forever to set the dice and he only bet a single no odd pass and don't pass bets.

[heavy]

Suncoast really screwed up when they barred Dice Coach way back when. Beau has a lot of friends who took exception with their action and that was the source of a lot of their bad reputation. Nevertheless, I know guys who were told as soon as they started to set the dice that they did not allow dice setting at that property, etc. So the reputation was earned back then. Whether or not they've changed their ways . . . well, the jury is still out in my opinion.

I've had several hour plus hands on the Four Queens tables. I land the dice just short of the scoring and try to one hop them to the back wall. Shooting from SL my landing zone is the Bar 12 dice graphic on the Don't Pass line.

[heavy]

By the way, unless they've changed things - the National Finals Rodeo Week table that they break out during rodeo week does not have scoring under the layout. This tale remains in storage something like 10 months out of the year. When it's on the floor I love to avail myself of it. Great roll characteristics.