I'll be heading to Vegas in a couple weeks (for 6 nights) with some buddies and wanted input from other players with more experience playing blackjack in Sin City. This will be the first time going to Vegas while being confident in my game.
Some background: Have logged around 400-500 hours of BJ the past year on the east coast. As far as APing, I'm strictly a CC (Hi-Lo + I18 + F4). The games I've played are strictly 6-8 deck shoe games, and it's what I'm most comfortable with currently. I've done quite well and have a big enough BR to support chunky green action (25-500 generally). Here are my questions:
1. I'll be splitting up my stay between two of the major chains in comped rooms. I know from previous posts that it's generally a bad idea to play (rated at least) at the store you're staying, but what about playing rated at other sister properties on the strip? Let's say I'm staying at the Lion and get backed-off/86ed while playing rated at the Illusion, will that affect my comped room at the Lion? Is it just not worth it to play rated? I don't care so much about getting backed-off/86ed itself (since I only go at most once a year), but if it jeopardizes my comped room, I'd have to think twice about playing rated. That being said, any meal comps I can get for myself and my buddies would be +EV.
2. Although I'm most comfortable with shoe games, I'm willing to learn DD. Is it worth it to play the DD games only using a level 1 count? Am I better off sticking to the good shoe games?
3. I bought the latest CBJN newsletter and would like clarification about the mid-shoe entry betting limit imposed at some of the casinos. If, say, a store has a $300 limit on coming in mid-shoe, does that mean if I wong-in at any point that I'm never allowed to bet more than $300 for the rest of that shoe? If I start at $200, I can't raise my bet to $400 in that same shoe? Also, if I wong out of a shoe that I started, I can't come back in and bet > $300 on a hand? I've never come across this rule on the east coast.
4. What's the best way to structure my play over the 6 days? Cycle different chains and stores at different shifts over the course of the 6 days?
5. Is downtown worth going to if I'm only going to play shoe games?
6. For those with experience flying with large amounts of cash: Is there any reason to worried about carrying ~$20k on a domestic flight? Is going to Vegas a good enough excuse for the TSA if, by chance, it's discovered? I'll be using a money belt, but would like to be prepared should the situation arise.
Thanks in advance.
Some background: Have logged around 400-500 hours of BJ the past year on the east coast. As far as APing, I'm strictly a CC (Hi-Lo + I18 + F4). The games I've played are strictly 6-8 deck shoe games, and it's what I'm most comfortable with currently. I've done quite well and have a big enough BR to support chunky green action (25-500 generally). Here are my questions:
1. I'll be splitting up my stay between two of the major chains in comped rooms. I know from previous posts that it's generally a bad idea to play (rated at least) at the store you're staying, but what about playing rated at other sister properties on the strip? Let's say I'm staying at the Lion and get backed-off/86ed while playing rated at the Illusion, will that affect my comped room at the Lion? Is it just not worth it to play rated? I don't care so much about getting backed-off/86ed itself (since I only go at most once a year), but if it jeopardizes my comped room, I'd have to think twice about playing rated. That being said, any meal comps I can get for myself and my buddies would be +EV.
2. Although I'm most comfortable with shoe games, I'm willing to learn DD. Is it worth it to play the DD games only using a level 1 count? Am I better off sticking to the good shoe games?
3. I bought the latest CBJN newsletter and would like clarification about the mid-shoe entry betting limit imposed at some of the casinos. If, say, a store has a $300 limit on coming in mid-shoe, does that mean if I wong-in at any point that I'm never allowed to bet more than $300 for the rest of that shoe? If I start at $200, I can't raise my bet to $400 in that same shoe? Also, if I wong out of a shoe that I started, I can't come back in and bet > $300 on a hand? I've never come across this rule on the east coast.
4. What's the best way to structure my play over the 6 days? Cycle different chains and stores at different shifts over the course of the 6 days?
5. Is downtown worth going to if I'm only going to play shoe games?
6. For those with experience flying with large amounts of cash: Is there any reason to worried about carrying ~$20k on a domestic flight? Is going to Vegas a good enough excuse for the TSA if, by chance, it's discovered? I'll be using a money belt, but would like to be prepared should the situation arise.
Thanks in advance.
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