San Francisco Bay Area

[Doofus]

I just got an opportunity through work to spend a week or 10 days in San Francisco. Being the degenerate blackjack player that I am, whether I go or not will depend on the availability of playable games within a reasonable drive. Any thoughts?

[Gordon Gekko]

Don't waste your time. Rent a car and make a goat-run to Reno. Decent games and comps.Be friendly, schmooz the dealer and pit and don't get greedy. Bet Red - Green.

gg

[Doofus]

Originally Posted by Gordon Gekko

Don't waste your time. Rent a car and make a goat-run to Reno. Decent games and comps.Be friendly, schmooz the dealer and pit and don't get greedy. Bet Red - Green.

gg

Red-green? Blech! I'd rather be playing the ponies! My counting obsession has graduated to black chips!

[EasyRhino]

I didn't gamble any when I lived up there, but you'd have to drive a couple hours (like sacramento or sonoma county) just to get to a Indian casino, and those are going to be isolated from each other and have mediocre or poor games.

Making the extra push to Reno would be a consideration. For instance, a while ago I was working in Sacramanto, like 15 minutes from Thunder Valley, and I looked it up on CBJN and simply passed on playing.

[SD Padres]

Originally Posted by Doofus

Red-green? Blech! I'd rather be playing the ponies! My counting obsession has graduated to black chips!

I think what Gordon was getting at is that Reno is not Vegas in how they handle action. It's almost all single deck and watched closely. Playing blacks will not get you the spread that playing greens would allow. You could probably get away with 1-5 spread with greens but I would limit my session to less than an hour.

But hey...even a 1-3 spread playing blacks in single deck can be very profitable.

[bj bob]

Originally Posted by Doofus

I just got an opportunity through work to spend a week or 10 days in San Francisco. Being the degenerate blackjack player that I am, whether I go or not will depend on the availability of playable games within a reasonable drive. Any thoughts?

Definitely worth the drive up the hill. It's 4 hours from downtown SF and the second half is pretty spectacular. Just try to time your departure from the city after the morning rush hour and avoid Sacramento from 4-7 and you'll cruise right up.
As far as black play in concerned, your best bet for that kind of action is the Silver Legacy, El Dorado, Peppermill and Atlantis. If you want to head over to Sparks (5 min.) hit up the Grand Sierra on the way there. They have a fantastic SD there right now, at least until they go Chapter XI. The only house in Sparks that handles black well is Ascuaga's Nugget.

[EasyRhino]

Don't the table maxes in Sparks max out at $100? (except JA's N?)

[bj bob]

Originally Posted by EasyRhino

Don't the table maxes in Sparks max out at $100? (except JA's N?)

That's not exactly what I was saying. Several clubs in Sparks have $200-300 limits, but they consider you a "high roller" and watch you like a hawk. Ascuaga's, on the other hand (as you have noted) caters to more heavy green and low black and it doesn't raise any flags. Your very favorite venue though, does in fact have an actual $100 max.

[Gordon Gekko]

Perfect handle. Enjoy the ponies big hitter, and make sure you join the slot club, at least you'll get on their mailing list for a 2 for 1 buffet.

gg

[Doofus]

Originally Posted by Gordon Gekko

Perfect handle. Enjoy the ponies big hitter, and make sure you join the slot club, at least you'll get on their mailing list for a 2 for 1 buffet.

gg

Hey, Commander Salamander, the ponies are action, ain't they? Better than twittling one's thumbs playing blackjack on the computer.