Originally posted by: black jack
Headed to Reno for the first time next week. Question for Kevin and other folks with experience there: Where are the best BJ games/rules for a "recreational" counter? What kind of spread is acceptable for green chip play? Staying in a VRBO, so not worried about comps or casino loyalty. Also, VP2free shows some decent games scattered around the area (except for Caesars properties, of course.) Favorite VP games and locations?
thanks in advance for any info!
p.s. If you have any favorite hikes in the area let me know - we'll have a car and love getting out and about...
Best VP is at Atlantis, though quickly deteriorating, and Peppermill, though slowly deteriorating. Both of those places are horribly stingy on comps and promos. Western Village out in Sparks has some good low-denom multi-line games, though they comp on theo and thus, give you NOTHING. The best bets might be the really outlying places, like Bonanza, Tamarack, Rail City, Baldini's, etc.--not because their games are great--they're not--but because they have pretty good promos and decent player's clubs. And if worst comes to worst--they have really good, inexpensive restaurants.
I would have included the El Dodo downtown in the above list, but they are a CET property and thus, should not be patronized by anyone. Ever.
I would try to get information as current as possible re the BJ games and conditions. Perhaps a current issue of a BJ newsletter would be a good investment. Anecdotally, the Peppermill has good games but REALLY sweats your action; Atlantis, equally good games, lower limits, and less sweaty; downtown casinos, all CET and thus, medium-crappy.
Reno is like a hollow shell. Downtown has been gutted and is no longer, well, worth shit. But the outlying casinos--Peppermill, Atlantis, Nugget, Bally's, and so forth offer some good opportunities. So if you go there. you'll need a car unless you just want to be a CET food source.
And as far as what action will or won't draw attention: in Reno, a green-chip bettor is like a black-chip bettor in Vegas. It's a low-roller town. The one positive is that most of the pit critters don't have the chops to realize that you're counting. I think you could do a 1-4 spread almost anywhere (I remember when Western Village used to deal the best game in Nevada--single deck, and they didn't care when I did a 1-50 spread. Ah, the good old days).
As far as hikes in the area are concerned--I would go up to Tahoe to do that, if the weather allows. Spooner Lake near Spooner Summit (where 50 and 28 intersect) is a short, beautiful hike. If you want to stay in the Reno area, I recommend the Hunter Creek trail, which is only about a 20-minute drive from downtown. It leads to a waterfall, which will be low this time of year but probably still running due to the huge snowpack. Also, if you decide to really do Tahoe, which I recommend, and the weather cooperates, I'd do the loop around the lake past Emerald Bay (closed in winter) and hike up Eagle Creek.
So I would play BJ at Atlantis and bop around the outlying places to sample the VP. Oh, and while I haven't eaten there in a couple of years, the Atlantis buffet was really awesome. (Don't bother with the coffee shop--you want that kind of thing, hit the Peppermill.)
