How Many? (missing royals)

[BOOPSAHOY]

Hi everybody!
Just got back from the Taj. Before I give my report I have an observation/question. This weekend my hubby and I had an inordinate number of 4 cards to the Royal dealt to us. At least 15 times between us! And we hit none of them. I also had the most 3 to the Royal dealt to me ever and on the majority of them had 1 card that I needed dealt to me on the draw. All-in-all no Royals for us! Anyone else have this happen to them? Started the weekend in the Nickel Oasis at the quarter game kings (hey njmike, if you go there and theres a couple playing those machines for hours its probaby us!) We did great those first 7 hours. Started with 500 and went to dinner with 1700! I got a 5oak and we both got many straight flushes (JW) and 4oaks DDB and Triple Bonus (One of my new faves). After dinner and a movie it was all downhill gamblng wise. We were thrilled with the new smoking area by the lobby-Hey Mike they put 2 25/.50/1.00 STP games there! We didnt see them till Sunday-also a few dollar only denomination ones. Quite a few quarter VP games with many choices of games on each. From 8PM till we went to bed we gave back most of the money DUMB!!!!! Sunday was not good at all. I wanted to play JW but the machine just wouldnt give me any play so I tried the Triple Bonus and got the Aces for 1200 coins. Very nice without a kicker. That game is great as long as the pairs of kings and Aces keep coming. LOST LOST LOST. Played a little on Monday but only got a few hits. Mike do you know the nickel slot machine thats you can see when you look to the left sitting at the game king called Triple stars or something like that? We always see people hitting on that so we put in 20 and cashed out 3x, 55 bucks, 56 bucks, and 82 bucks. Amazing. We also saw a woman hit for $3000 on one of those machines that makes the barnyard sounds! We had a really fun time and saw some enjoyable movies (Hannibal Rising, Bridge to Tarabithia, Dead Silence, and the Shooter). Thanks for reading this long rambling account!
Barb
PS Hi back to Eduardo!

[njmike37]

Hey Barb,
 
Great report!  Sounds like you had some good play and some decent hits too! 
 
I know what you mean about the 4 to a royal.. I've been getting killed with those lately.  I'm in a drought with 4 to a royal that extends over a year.  I've hit a few royals holding 3, but I just can't seem to get it when I hold 4. 
 
I played a few times the past few days, so I may have seen you both! LOL  One of these times we should arrange a meeting place at Taj so we can finally figure out who each other are.  I'm sure we have sat next to each other several times since we met on this board.. LOL
 
Wow, I didn't see the STP's in the lobby!  I'll definitely be migrating to that area on my next trip.  It's about time they threw a few of those in the smoking section!
 
I just got back from the Taj today, too.  I was playing for hours, hitting several str8 flushes and several quads, but all in all, a losing session for sure.  I had many moments today where I just couldn't believe it..  Get this..  I played DDB, and I hit 3, yes, 3, straight flushes!  All 3 of them were inside straight flushes, too.  Played Joker Poker for quite some time, and wouldn't ya know, I hold J-clubs, K-clubs, A-clubs, and out comes the natural royal!    I was furious!  What a waste of a royal for a lousy 500 credit win!  Also on Joker Poker, I hit 4 natural aces with a 3... LOL  I just couldn't play the right game at the right time!  All those str8 flushes on DDB, the royal and the quads on Joker Poker.. UGH!
 
I have seen that Triple Stars machine, but never played it.  I'll definitely give it a try!  The Barnyard sound game, is that the one that burps?  There's this machine behind those Game-Kings in the smoking section that makes weird noises, then it simulates a loud belch.. it is so annoying.. LOL  It does it almost every minute.
 
Well, my next trip won't be till the 11th when my parents come down, so I'll be saving up till then.  Hopefully I'll have some good news to report.
 
Mike
 
 

[BOOPSAHOY]

Mike-next time I go I will tell you what I am wearing! Yes those burps and theres also a machine that has the sound of a poor dog whining LOL Definitely check out the lobby area. Lots of different machines. My husband also got his last royal playing Jokers-ARGGGGGGGG Wow thats a lot of straight flushed! I have also gotten on that game king in Nickel Oasis many 4 qces with and w/o the kicker. I actually got 2 of my 5oaks with aces!!! Couldnt hit it in DDB for the life of me!
Barb
PS we have no trip planned right now but I will post it when I do

[njmike37]

Barb,

 
Sounds good!  I just wonder how many times I sat down right next to you and your hubby and didn't know it! LOL 
 
I'll check out the lobby area for sure.  The last time I went through there, they didn't have any VP at all, and it was a very small section of mainly penny slots, a few quarters, and quite a few dollar slots.  I did see a sign on the wall that said it would be expanding, so it must have already happened.
 
I have yet to hit quad aces on the game kings in the Nickel Oasis (on DDB or Triple Bonus that is..)  I have hit it several times playing Joker Poker with and w/o the kicker as well.  I have hit quite a few quad 2's, 3's, and 4's on DDB and Triple Bonus though..  One of my 5oaks a few months ago was aces as well.  This was at Caesar's when I went there to check on my potential new job.  I was dealt A-A-A-3-A oddly enough, and I drew the Joker for the 5oak. 
 
By the way, as for that Caesar's job, it's quite a long story, but to put it in a nutshell, I'll be staying put at Showboat.  They were quite rude to me at Caesar's when I went back there to check on the status of my transfer.  They initially told me that I should have no problem transferring to Caesar's and that my audition went perfect.  However, then Caesar's became unionized (Showboat still isn't..) and now all of a sudden no poker dealer from another Harrah's property is allowed to transfer.  I actually applied and auditioned before they went union, but now the poker manager tells me, "I can't allow any transfers from other Harrah's properties.  If one dealer moves over here, then all of them would want to move over here."  That IS true, however, it should be MY preference as to where I want to work, right?!  Why should I be denied a job just because they don't want a flood of people coming in there?  If I am qualified for the job, take an audition, and do better than all the rest, the job should be mine IMO. 
 
So with that said, I'll be staying at Showboat.  It's actually kinda working out for the best already though.. Our director of the poker room just left and took a job in Vegas, and he was the one holding our room back.  Now that we have a new director, things are looking nothing but up.  The business is already responding to the changes since he left, and they are now talking more than ever about a new poker room right on the main floor, which would exponentially increase our business. 
 
Mike

[BOOPSAHOY]

Mike
One door closes and another opens up! Maybe it was fate that you stay there! Now you can still run over to the Taj! I bet we have played next to each other and didnt know it.I will definitely tell you next time I am going-right now Im booked for june 23rd (visa gift card) but we may not be able to make it. I will give you a description then and maybe we can finally meet! Definitely check out that new lobby area and let me know what you think. OH! I almost forgot. I saw a guy 3 machines down from me on White Hot Aces get dealt 4 Aces on 10 line for 3000 bucks!
Barb

[bigboy]

However, then Caesar's became unionized (Showboat still isn't..) and now all of a sudden no poker dealer from another Harrah's property is allowed to transfer.  I actually applied and auditioned before they went union, but now the poker manager tells me, "I can't allow any transfers from other Harrah's properties. 
Mike
 
 
Mike, it's worth getting in touch with the shop steward at Caesar's and explaining to him/her what you have experienced. If you have some type of paper documentation on a prospective employment offer, the union may be able to do something for you. Good luck.

[njmike37]

Barb,
 
I think you may be right about fate.  Our poker room at Showboat, although still small compared to many of them, is definitely growing at a fast rate.  We're getting bigger limit games, larger tournaments, and the days that are normally very slow are now pretty busy.  I like my chances of doing well here, and plan on being here for the long haul.
 
I actually was just offered to be promoted to a dual-rate supervisor as well.  I definitely want to do that someday, but can't afford it as of yet.  Yep, it's actually a pay cut being promoted to supervisor.. LOL  Supervisors are salaried employees.  Although you are guaranteed a certain salary each week (plus benefits) I am making much more being a dealer.  The plus about making money as a poker dealer is that because you keep your own tips, you can dictate how fast you want to deal.  More hands per hour, more money in your pocket.  I consider myself a pretty fast dealer..) My fiance will be going to school full-time in the fall (starting her nursing program) as well so I can't really afford the paycut at this time.. plus, I still really enjoy dealing.    I'll be full-time sometime this summer, so I'll get my benefits, and with the way this room is building, I look forward to a great summer. 
 
By the way, I did check out the lobby area yesterday, and got my latest W2-G.. LOLOLOL    I only started with $200, and decided to play 5-hand $0.25 STP ($100 in DDB and $100 in Joker.)  I started with Joker and within 5 hands I hit a str8 flush for $125.  Then several quads kept me going above $200.  I was on a tight time schedule yesterday, so I decided to bump it up to 10-play quarters.  I got dealt 4 to a str8 flush (open-ended with a joker) and ended up connecting on 3 of them!  I also hit a few flushes and straights, so that was about a $400 hit. 
 
I was up to about $700 at this point and decided to play the rest of my time in DDB.  I planned on playing it down to $500 and calling it a day.  I only put $100 in (never got to the second $100 bill...)  so a $400 profit would have been fine.  I hit a few quads to keep me around $700.  I kept going back and forth between $600 and $700 for about 15 minutes.  (Not too bad for 10-play which is $15 a pop)  Then all of a sudden it deals me this.. 2-Q-2-2-2.    I about peed myself, then I made sure I held the right cards so as to not screw it up.    I connected on 4 out of 10 quads with the kicker, so it ended up being a $1400 hit!  Funny thing.. the very next hand.. the hand that the slot attendants make you clear the jackpot with.. was a 5X multiplier..  Oooh, 1 hand away.. LOL 
 
All in all, not a bad way to introduce myself to the new slot/VP area of Taj! 
 
Mike

[njmike37]

bigboy,
 
I thought about that, but like I said in my previous post, I'm happy where I'm at.  Plus, it will only be a matter of time until the union gets to Showboat.  They are aggresively trying to get dealers at all of the casinos to join.  So far they have 3 casinos represented, with a 4th on the way soon.  I guess I just have to wait my time until Showboat is the next casino to be represented. 
 
Mike

[BOOPSAHOY]

Mike
That was a really good session! So you liked that new area! I knew you would! We have been only playing a couple of hundred on the STP cause if you dont hit good hands with the mulyiplier you are dead! I love that you got dealt 4 deuces! WOOHOO! Thats fantastic (and exciting!).It sounds like you are hapy working at showboat and as I always tell my husband being happy at your job is money in the pocket as you whole life is better when youre not dragging your butt to work every day!
Barb

[njmike37]

Barb,
 
You are right about being happy at work.  There are several times since I started (before it starting getting better at Showboat) that I wanted to find another place to deal, such as Borgata.  The dealers at Borgata are making twice what I am making, but the dealers are not as happy as where I am at.  We actually have about 5 of their formers dealers working at Showboat because of this.  I've heard some horror stories of things that have happened there, and that the players can get away with a lot of crap there.  I like the fact that the people I work with are great, the management is great (now) and they will stick up for you when a player gets nasty at you.  Sure, I could make more money somewhere else, but with a LOT more aggravation... not worth it to me.
 
Yes, that new section is great!  I wish they had more selection in the 25-cent poker, and maybe some spin poker machines, but all in all, I'm pleased that they actually put some VP in the smoking section (especially the STP's.)  The old smoking section that was there temporarily had no VP, and mostly just dollar and penny slots. 
 
On my trip with my parents in June (11th-14th) I'll be spending most of my time in that section and in the Nickel Oasis. 
 
Mike