I appreciated all the comments about my recent Harrah’s Tahoe trip and I especially was happy for those who kindly gave me some corrections. You readers are good in helping me keep the information in my blogs up to date and accurate.
Writing about the Spin Poker jackpot I hit, I said: I was dealt 4 cards to a royal in the 1, 2, 3, 4 positions. My 5th card could have come up in 3 different positions. One would have given me one royal – and I would have been happy with $4,000. However, it came up in a corner position, which produced 3 royals. $12,000 made me very happy!
I always have gotten confused figuring out which of those nine crisscrossing lines would produce the best outcome. Fortunately, a reader helped me out: “The middle position would have produced three royals as well. Only the 3rd column works as 2, 5, 2 (all three always have to add up to 9). When needing more than one card, the combined positions matter.”
This photo will puzzle some people. As you see here, on the screen it looks like I was paid for only one royal. However, on Spin Poker, the result for each winning line quickly cycles through and the winning amount is only briefly on the screen. You will see that the total credits of 12,000 do appear in the lower left-hand corner. Only after that cycling process does the total amount appear, like in the picture I posted in the last blog.
I was also happy to learn from readers that not all Laurel Lounges have disappeared. The ones in Atlantic City are still open, but only on weekends and with limited hours. Laurel Lounge is open at Harrah’s Joliet, but only Friday through Sunday. The one in Cherokee is open, but for drinks only, no food. Perhaps this is the situation in other non-Vegas properties. A phone call to check before your visit might be a good idea.
Now for your questions.
Q: Please let me know how to get a good deal like yours at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe.
A: One of the basic cornerstones of casino deals is that casinos reward players based on their play. That’s the high concept of something I’ve explained, discussed, and written about for 35 years! It all starts with using your players card every time you play at a casino and then you begin a study of the casino comp system that you’ll continue the rest of your playing life if you want to be successful.
I got a good offer for this Tahoe visit, thanks to my play the last year or so at another Harrah’s casino, in Cherokee, NC. I put in a lot of high-denomination play and reached the Diamond Elite tier level, which generated many good benefits in my casino mailings. However, people who play at lower levels will also see some offers in their mail and the more you play, the better mail benefits you will receive. Most players should start small; they need more study and experience. Thirty-eight years ago, we started with quarters and very slowly moved up to higher denominations as we became more knowledgeable. But I’ve never stopped studying to find the best plays.
Q: Do you play JOB in Tahoe and Deuces Wild in Cherokee? Where do you practice on the computer?
A: I’m so glad you asked that question. It reminded me that I wanted to talk about how hard it was for me to switch games when I went to Tahoe.
I was surprised about this. After all, Jacks or Better (JOB) is the first video poker game for which I learned the proper strategy – way back in 1984 – and I played it off and on for the next 35 years. However, for most of those years, I could find better games, with higher mathematical expected value (EV), like Deuces Wild and Double Bonus. At times, especially for high-denomination play when there were promotions and extra benefits, JOB was the best choice. (Remember, you don’t just look for a good game; you look for a good play. That means adding together the EV of the game and the value of the extras.)
The last few years we lived in Vegas, we played Not-So-Ugly-Ducks (NSUD) almost exclusively at local casinos. When we moved to Georgia, that was the game we played on our four trips to Harrah’s Cherokee. So, I knew I should brush up on JOB strategy; it’s always a rule for me when I am tackling a game I haven’t play for a while. But I figured this could be a quick review for this most basic VP “oldie.”
So, a couple of weeks before the Tahoe trip, I sat down at my desktop computer. (As it has been since I was a child, my desk is still the most important piece of furniture wherever I live, even in our present senior apartment.) I pulled up my VP software, set it for JOB, and clicked the choice to warn me of any errors. I also turned up the TV very loud. I wanted distractions, like you do in a casino.
I dealt the first hand. Nothing to hold so I quickly hit “Draw.” Immediate pop-up message: “Major Error”!!!
Whaaaatttttt? The software said I should have held the lone king.
Oops! My sub-conscious was still in automatic Deuces Wild mode where you don’t hold single cards (except for deuces).
I’ve talked about this in the past, how your memory cells play such an important part in video poker play. I noticed this often in the past when I was playing while I was tired. I didn’t see a hold, but my fingers seemed to be held back from immediately hitting the Draw button. Then I gave the hand a second look and saw why. My subconscious was stronger than my tired consciousness.
I’d intended to play very fast in just a couple of quick practice sessions, but making error after error, I realized that I needed a lot of practice to reprogram my memory cells. I’m not sure whether my 83-year-old brain is just getting worn out; my body sure is. Or perhaps this can happen at any age after a long time away from former learning. But I wasn’t taking any chances, so I practiced almost every day until I left for Tahoe.
I also made a conscious decision to play more slowly than my usual pace when I got there. I was playing mostly multiple lines and one mistake expands exponentially through all the lines. I wanted to play as perfectly as I could, since my advantage was already thinner than I prefer.
Actually, I was glad that I didn’t feel the need to rush through my play. I had a goal to get to a certain tier-point destination, but there was no hurry to get there. I had plenty of hours to reach this goal. After all, this was to be a relaxing vacation and I really savored the slower pace. It didn’t hurt that I hit a couple of nice jackpots along that leisurely path.
And now here’s a little surprise for people who had wondered if I would ever again do any public speaking about gambling. Actually, when we moved to Georgia, I planned to leave the casino life completely. But it has worked out for me to return, albeit on a much more limited basis than when we lived in Vegas. And Steve and Matt Bourie, who have made many videos with me down through the years, were eager to make an updated one. Thanks to Zoom, you can see that new one which was just posted. Looks like I haven’t lost the ability to talk endlessly about smart gambling — we chatted for almost 45 minutes! Click the arrow to watch.
I was in Tahoe in May. We drove up from the Bay Area. I’m not a highly rated gambler but get “comped” rooms, having to pay the resort fees there and most places I go (e.g., Vegas, etc.). I gamble even less on a Caesars card, but I got comped through the app for three mid-week nights. Resort fees were lower than Vegas. It was not busy. I was annoyed by the parking because they installed tickets and gates; last year was not controlled and free for all patrons.
One thing that stuck with me was something you said on one of your ACG videos a few years ago…”Do you want to be a big frog in a small pond, or a small frog in a big pond?”. I’ve always gone with the former. I only make it to Vegas about 3 times a year, but I like to hear “welcome back” when I show up. I get free room, food and FP. I play a mix of $ VP and slots.
But you all are forgetting the Bonus Tier Points, which can make tier accumulation much easier.
Caesars has always been the best at comping people free rooms. I played about $35,000 coin in at my local CET casino and now have free rooms available everyday in Vegas except at Caesars Palace, and weekday rooms at CP as well should I choose. Now, if I burn them and give zero play they will not give me free rooms anymore, but being a Diamond waives resort fees, gives line privileges, and generally makes life easier. I don’t necessarily use the resort amenities so I will follow Jean’s advice and take my play to downtown and off Strip casinos where it is less spiffy but also more homey.
I am going to have to not approve some comments. This is not the place for personal wrangling. I allow some “ranting” and “venting” – we all wish video poker conditions weren’t going downhill so fast!! 🙁 But we must all remember that none of us knows everything other players are doing. Some players ARE finding some good plays at all levels – and most of them aren’t into sharing that information. Everyone has their own goals. Some players have bigger bankrolls for the bigger plays. Some players are counting comps as part of their total EV and enjoying their discounted casino vacations. Many advantage players are leaving the casinos permanently – but some are happy to become more like recreational players but playing the best games they can find. This is not place to judge!!
I’ve been reading Kevin’s comments for several years so I have to assume that he knows more about the CZR Tier Credit program than he is letting on here. Specifically several times during the year they have a 5x Tier Credit multiplier. If one played only during these promotions they would only need to rack up 15,000 Tier Credits to get to the 75,000 Diamond Elite level (15,000 x 5 = 75,000). On another note, Jean, the Harrah’s and Horseshoe in Council Bluffs, Iowa, both still have the Laurel Lounges that serve both drinks and food.
Actually, the DJ in any of the three positions would haven given you three royals. Only the middle column is 2, 5, 2. This applies to any hold 4 cards situation.
Why do people obsess over the mathematics? Has anyone, ever, won or lost exactly what the mathematics say they should? Luck plays a big part in winning and losing. If a person is lucky enough to have won more than they’ve lost, they may never get to the long term losses.
Does anyone honestly know the algorithms and any other criteria in determining comps these days? Used to be ask and, if you had enough play, they would comp you. Now, who really knows the comp systems?
My host brings in a beer they don’t carry at the Aquarius for me to enjoy. I walk up to the bar and they give me one. The girls bring me one while I play. I choose to tip a buck a drink (beer or water), but I don’t have to. I’m one of the lucky ones that are ahead of the casinos and will never get to the long term losses. Ergo, free beer. If I ever start losing enough to endanger that profit, I’ll stop gambling before I give it all back.
Jean, you were the one that helped me with the slot clubs through your writing on the net. Others made me aware of strategy. I appreciate all you’ve done and still do. May the royals be with you and Brad.
Adding to my previous comment, here’s an interesting statistic for Kevin Lewis to analyze, sent to me from a smart VP player:
I guess Kevin Lewis would be correct if someone played video poker at Caesars properties for at least 151 days and never earned over 499 on any day. Then his statement “So, you must play $750,000 on VP to get there” would be accurate.
It was so good to “see” you – even if it was on video! I miss bumping into you and Brad in the casinos. Glad to hear you are taking care of yourself – you need that – being a caretaker is very draining. How wonderful to have a daughter and SIL who are happy to help : )
Kevin, I’m surprised at you to get these numbers all wrong. You either don’t know the CZR program details or you are ignoring my many explanations of how to stagger your daily play to maximize the bonus tier credits benefit. Divide your figures by 3 to analyze my play if you feel the pressing need to do so. For the lower-denomination players getting to even basic Diamond could get you many benefits, often enough to cover your theoretical loss. And if you count comps, like free rooms, many players are still able to take free or very reasonable casino vacations.
Not when Jean is earning comps and free play making up the .3% difference. Jean plays in the long run, and you know that, Kevin. You are a solid gambler.
Now are the casinos tightening? Of course. But Jean wouldn’t be doing this if she didn’t hold an expected value edge.
I was so happy to catch the vlog with you, Steve and Matt. Ive always wondered how you were doing. I was a member of LVA for years and always read your casino adventures.
We haven’t been to LV since November 2019.
I’ve received many great offers for northern and southern Nv.
We’re going to Reno next month with a day trip to Tahoe. Are the triple play machines still in HL?
With all the Casinos within 1 1/2 in California, we just don’t go to NV very often.
I wish you and Brad the best!
Please take care and thank you for the add on fb!
To elaborate on Jean’s answer to how she got good offers that could be used in Tahoe, she played enough high-denomination VP to achieve the needed tier level. Harrah’s (CZR) properties award one tier credit for every $10 played at VP ($5 for slots). It takes 75,000 tier credits to reach Diamond Elite level. So, you must play $750,000 on VP to get there.
Let’s assume you know how to play and have access to the best game available: “NSUD,” which returns 99.73% with PERFECT play. I’m going to assume that in the real world, you make a few very minor mistakes, so let’s say you achieve an actual return of 99.7%. 1% of 750,000 is 7,500. 0.3 x 7,500 is $2,250.
For your expenditure of $2,250, you will get some room comps. How much and where will vary with the time of year, the phases of the moon, your dazzling smile or lack thereof, and whether your casino host has had sex recently. I believe there’s also a free plane ticket to Vegas the first time you hit Diamond Elite.
You can achieve these returns only by playing the absolute best games at high denominations. Jean plays $5 NSUD. That’s $25 a hand. Even at a very stately pace of 400 hands an hour, you’ll be putting in $10,000 every hour you play–and losing about $30 an hour. And that’s assuming you hit the “requisite” number of royals. Fall short of that, and you could easily be twenty grand or more in the hole.
Possibly the most expensive part of gambling is the “free” rooms. Right up there with the “free” drinks.