TRIP REPORT SNIPPET VIDEO POKER

 

VIDEO POKER

AT THE LONGHORN

I chased the Longhorn royal on the 7/5 progressive right up to $1199.98 one day and then gave it a rest for a while.

On Thursdays the Longhorn adds a match free play up to one thousand dollars in free play to any royal.

That certainly adds to the EV.

The following Thursday I chased again until the day ended. By that time I could have hit the royal, paid the taxes and still had a good hit. The progressive was up to $1290.

I did not often do well at the Longhorn, but I did once hit quad Aces for $100, and on my last day, while I waited for breakfast, I was nearly down $40, but hit a quad and ended ahead a few dollars.

Some of the reason I play at the Longhorn is that at times I do not have much energy for walking, even the short walk to Sam's Town. In the old days I would never have played these low pay tables.

I also should add that the accumulation of points is much faster at the Longhorn than other places, more like I remember it used to be. That shaves a bit of the downside of the low pay tables.

Also, the points are worth the same in cashback as they are in food comps, and they stay on the Player's card forever, so if I go back a year from now, a few will be waiting for me. Most other casinos erase points after three months. And B Connected has been recalibrated so that a tourist coming just once a year hardly earns anything.

PLAYING DIMES AT SAM'S TOWN

I played full pay deuces wild at Sam's Town. One night I broke even; another night I lost $100 playing dimes. (one has to be a special kind of bad VP player to lose a hundred playing dimes....well, that's me.)

That is very discouraging. I got good advice from the Veggas Message Board expert VP players. I've been practicing, I carry Linda Boyd's strategy card, but my VP game I don't think is as good as my live poker.

The next time I went back to my old and well loved game of 10/7 Double Bonus. Again I played in dimes. I liked it better, and I'm pretty well going to abandon Deuces wild games for Double Bonus if Sam's keeps it in the inventory in nickles and dimes.

On that Sunday at Sam's Town, when I lost at dimes there was no crowding. Even Boulder Highway traffic was down a bit. Sam's was not crowded at all. I easily found a spot to play. The only noise was that damn Buffalo machine shouting out all the time.

Okay, Okay, I know there are many lovers of that slot, some of them are my friends, but it is the most obnoxious game for those who are playing video poker and trying to concentrate on hard choices.

And the one at Sam's is exceptionally loud.

It should be played with earphones.

It completely drowned out the ding of my game that tells me I have a hand.

Then there were the repeated, over and over and over and over again the often repeated explanation on the PA about the rule to wear masks.

Is there anyone now who does not know it is a rule?

Some don't follow it, but they certainly know the rule.

It is as annoying as that often repeated message at the airports 911 warning about not abandoning luggage and not taking stuff from others. “If anyone gives you anything.... and blah, blah, blah.”

I did report a piece of abandoned luggage one time years ago at the Albany airport. An old woman hopped in the car that picked her up and left her bag on the sidewalk.

Just forgot, I suppose.

But out came the bomb checking team, and I moved down and away from the luggage.

Hey, old woman or not, ya never know. Why, she might have been to Vegas and lost $100 in Sam's Town video poker playing dimes, and so have become so damn crazy mad that she wanted to blow something up.

However, I take responsibility for all the noise bothering me, because I forgot to pack my noise reduction ear muffs. They make a great different in ambiance. Although I still can't hear the ding.

I have on order a new and less cumbersome pair with good reviews. Next time I'll be prepared.

If there actually are some people who really still don't know the rules require a mask, perhaps they could be escorted out to an outside casino wall, blindfolded, and shot.

Then that announcement would be unnecessary.

I'm sure the message will not change the habits of the, “mask around my neck folks,” or those of the, "I don't actually breathe through my nose, so I don't need that covered."

Excuse me for ranting, but did I mention I lost a hundred playing dimes?
I walked the courtyard and it was delightful with all the lights and sounds. I did not see the wolf, if he is still appearing. The bear waved at me from above the rushing waterfall, and the owl turned his head and hooted in a very authentic tone. I have owls hooting in the night around where I live in Burden Lake. They sound like this animated fellow.
I was going to grab a selfie of me eating a $2 McDonald's hamburger and send it to fellow Vegas Message board member, zignerlv, just to raze him a bit because he rages about the take over of food outlets at Sam's by chains.

But I had to save my appetite for the $7 special at the Longhorn, which on Sundays is turkey casserole, a glob of turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes, and other unidentifiable bits.

It was good enough, but not my favorite.
I had taken the bus up to Sam's, but walked back in the delightful evening air. There were few people walking along Boulder highway, at least on the RV side of the road. It was delightful, and I was again amazed that I could do it so easily and remain fresh for supper.

Walking anywhere or just sometimes standing has tired me out lately.
I still don't know how to evaluate the safety of walking Boulder Highway at night. I could have gotten more into populated areas if I had crossed to Walmarts plaza.

But this quiet path is very pleasant and has lots of old memories as I often walked it to get to the East Side Cannery back in the days when it was open, or to the Nevada Palace before that.

My relatives who live in the area tell me it is safe in that stretch.

I never worried about such things, but I see myself as an easy target, and as one who no longer would have much ability to resist.

Of course, had they taken all my money, I'd have just said to them, “You missed $100 because I lost it at Sam's playing Full Pay Deuces Wild in dimes.” Suckaaaaah!!

PLAYING PROGRESSIVE 8/5 BONUS AT THE VUE BAR DOWNTOWN AT THE D

The old progressive VP at the Vue bar upstairs at the D is still there with progressives for royal, straight flushes, and those lower paying quads of 5 to K.

I played twice.

I only hit the lower paying quad progressive for an extra seven dollars.

I love the Vue, but I won't go there at night again.

It is just too noisy. People at tables were shouting in such a loud voice, that I suspect they could be heard all the way to Longhorn. That and the music took away the comfort. I really do need to my construction ear phones next trip.

Earlier in the day this can be a very quiet area, although the Vegas which will after all restrictions are lifted will be so crowded I doubt anyplace will be quiet.

The Vue Bar Progressive and the Golden Nugget live poker tend to make me think I might like splitting my next trip between Long Horn and the Four Queens in order to get access to those plays.