Tuna Dave's Blackjack Diary

Las Vegas - March 2005

This was the second gambling trip for 2005.

Starting Balance (after first trip of 2005): $2,428.00

Trip Profit/Loss: ($1,477.00)

Ending Balance (Profit/Loss): $951.00

Las Vegas - March 2005 - Results

This was my second gambling trip for 2005. What follows are the results from my March Las Vegas gambling trip:

Day One: $189.00

Day Two: ($439.00)

Day Three: ($1,227.00)

Trip Total: ($1,477.00)

This was my second gambling trip for 2005. What follows are the results from my March Las Vegas gambling trip:

Day One: $189.00

Day Two: ($439.00)

Day Three: ($1,227.00)

Trip Total: ($1,477.00)

Las Vegas - 03/13/05

This was my third and last day of the trip. I was determined to make it a profitable day and a profitable trip overall.

Session One:

Once again, I started the day at the Palace Station. I had a good session. I started strong; but it started to turn. My instincts told me to get up from the table when I was up over $250.00. But, once again, I thought too much; and proceeded to lose almost all of my session profit.

Session Summary: 50 minutes - $40.00

Las Vegas - 03/12/05

I decided to spend the second day of my trip casino-hopping up and down the strip. Before I started, however, I decided to try my luck yet again at the Palace Station tables.

Session One:

Finally, I was able to scratch out a win at the Palace Station tables.

This was a fun session, with interesting, friendly dealers. I hit a few good hands; and with good dealer rhythm, I was able to maintain a positive advantage.

Session Summary: 35 minutes - $131.00

Las Vegas - 03/11/05

This was the first day of my three-day "go it alone" weekend. So, I decided to start at one of my favorite spots, Palace Station, and roam around the city from there.

Session One:

This was my first session of the trip. So, as is typical, I was psyched and positive, based upon the very successful trip I had just four weeks prior.

I started slowly, losing consistently. Then, I hit a couple of double-down and split hands on my third-stage ($100) bets. This allowed me to get back to even. And, after my self-imposed 60-minute time limit, I got up from the table at the end of the shoe.

Session Summary: 60 minutes - $20.00

Las Vegas - March 2005

I was amazed that I could convince my wife to go to Las Vegas with me on Valentine's Day weekend for a bowling tournament! Then, I was even more amazed when, after receiving a mailer inviting me to a free-entry blackjack tournament in March, my wife consented to me going again just four weeks later. Man, do I love that woman!

This was a go-it-alone weekend for me. I love these trips. I stay off the strip, so I am not wasting money on rooms or facilities I won't use. I come and go as I please. I get up, eat, play and sleep whenever I want. And, I get to casino hop. What a deal.

I rented a car for this trip. So, I was able to hop around town to whatever casino or area of town I wanted. I enjoy having a car in Vegas. It gives me lots of freedom to roam around and check out the town. And, since my wife and I eventually want to move to Vegas, I took some time to look around with our potential move in mind.

Anyway, as you will see from my blackjack sessions report, this was not one of my more financially rewarding trips. It was a roller-coaster ride - up in the beginning, then a steep dive past the even money mark into the deficit abyss. Needless to say, this was one of my most frustrating trips.

Las Vegas - February 2005

This was the first gambling trip for 2005.

Starting Balance (after final trip of 2004): $538.00

Trip Profit/Loss: $1,890.00

Ending Balance (Profit/Loss): $2,428.00

Las Vegas - February 2005 - Results

This was my first gambling trip for 2005. What follows are the results from my February Las Vegas gambling trip:

Day One: $825.00

Day Two: $700.00

Day Three: $365.00

Trip Total: $1,890.00

Las Vegas - 02/13/05

With the bowling tournament out of the way, we took advantage of the free-room certificate from the Rio, and moved over from the Orleans. Needless to say, it was like night and day. The room at the Rio was beautiful. Floor to ceiling windows, and a room on the 34th floor overlooking the strip. It was truly a great room.

We spent most of the afternoon at the Forum Shoppes at Caesar's Palace. Then, returned to spend the evening at the Rio.

Session One:

This was my one and only session at Caesar's Palace. Traditionally, I do not have all that much luck at Caesar's. Don't know what it is; I just can't seem to experience winning conditions. This session was no exception to that pattern.

I played a complete hour and won early, but then started to slide. I lost $100 on a $50 double-down hand, which took away what little profit I had accumulated. I played just about even thereafter.

At the end of the 60-minute session, as is one of my rules, I left the table at the end of the shoe.

Session Summary: 60 minutes - ($130.00)

Las Vegas - 02/12/05

This was the second day of my trip. Now that the bowling tournament is over (at least for me), I could concentrate exclusively on blackjack.

Session One:

I started the day at the Orleans, where my wife and I were staying. I figured I would give it one more try.

I started out doing well, and was up $250.00 in pretty short order. Then I started to lose. My instincts told me to get up and use the money I had won for a nice breakfast; but my butt stayed glued to the seat until my wife came down... big mistake. I lost all the previous winnings in very short order and ended in a minor deficit. When my wife came down from the room, I immediately got up, annoyed both with myself and with the dealer, who was a total BS artist.

I was sitting at a $3.00 table, the only table available at the time.  Needless to say, the table was filled with inexperienced players. And the dealer was feeding them all kinds of crap and lousy advice.

Session Summary: 40 minutes ($25.00)