Thursday, October 23, 2008

Vegas Do's and Don'ts

The Travel Chanel has specials on Vegas all the time. One of their traditional shows is a "what to do and what not to do in Vegas" episode. I have my own take on this:

DO: Prepare yourself for your trip by remembering ibuprofen, antacids, and band-aids (for those blisters you'll get on your feet). You may be inclined to walk a lot, eat/drink a lot, and fall down a lot while cruising the Strip. Be prepared.

DON'T: Be in a hurry. Depending on when you go to Vegas and what you want to do, you may be stuck in lines (for buffets, for clubs, waiting for a $5 table, etc.) and stuck in traffic, especially on the Strip. Be patient; it's well worth the wait.

DO: Study the games you want to play (beginning gamblers) and practice the games before you go to Vegas (beginners through advanced):
  • Take out a deck of cards and deal yourself some blackjack; study a basic strategy chart (available in my book, by the way) so that you're not making bad moves/bets at the tables.
  • If you play video poker, there are a lot of great sites where you can practice and buy software to simulate the machines in Vegas. Bob Dancer is an expert - try his website.
  • For many games, you can take lessons at the casino.
  • If you play slots, well, practice pushing a button or pulling a lever.

DON'T: Sit at the table for a year, trying to decide what to do. Hit or stand? Back up your Come bet with odds? If you don't know the answer to the question pretty quickly, you're in trouble. You should practice (see DO above) before you get to Vegas. Taking a long time to make a decision is bad for you because it usually means you're going on luck or hunches, and it's annoying to everyone else at the table who is in a hurry to lose their money.

DO: Take a break and see the sights, regardless of whether you are winning or losing. Walk outside, watch the fountain show at Bellagio, talk to crazy people on the street, whatever. A break in the action will do your weary degenerate gambling soul some good.

More next week!

Viva,
Mike

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