Musical Dice -- My Craps Blog

     An overstatement? Probably, but the fact of the matter is, Mrs. MusicalDice and I are not rich by any means. We do like to travel, and we try to get good deals whenever we can. When we booked our Atlantic City trip, we were surprised to learn that we could have three nights comped at Golden Nugget up there. So we decided to try that in Lake Charles. We were able to get 3 nights comped, but only for this week, not for the 2nd or 3rd week in April, which is what we really wanted, since by that time, it should be warm enough to go swimming. But it isn't predicted to be quite that warm, but we decided to go anyway.

     After some much-needed R & R in the room, my wife and I decided to go downstairs to start gambling. I got into a craps game. Here, I definitely learned the value of not sticking to just one strategy, especially if it's not working. That's the way it was, using the Progressive Come strategy, with my losing the big Come bet. I then switched to the Knock-Down strategy, which was treading water for a while, but then that starting going downhill. Fortunately, I didn't chase the numbers that weren't getting hit for very long. Meanwhile, my shooting was getting off to a shaky start. I was standing at the end, and I was using my usual toss with the Yo-Yo dice set. I only rolled a 5. Then the next time I got the dice, I decided to experiment with trying to get a good backspin on the dice when I toss them. This is something I need to work on, for trying it this way, the release always ends up awkward. But I did shoot a 9 doing it that way. It was a long battle trying to get my money back. Fortunately, I didn't have to re-buy at all. Eventually, I did my Route 66 strategy, and on someone else's shoot, managed to get it to the point where I knew I'd gotten my money back, provided that I take my bets down. So that's what I did, JUST ahead of the seven-out. I ended up $72 ahead for the session, which lasted nearly two hours, during which, I had 8 Hardway bets hit (3 Hard Fours, 3 Hard Sixes, one Hard 8, and one Hard Ten). Nowhere near my record, for sure, but it was an exhausting, but fun session, nonetheless.

     There's something I have to mention that happened to Mrs. MusicalDice while I was playing craps. She's more of a slot machine player, and she got on this one slot machine just after an Oriental guy had left it. She soon hit the bonus round, and the guy was really mad, harassing her, saying that that was HIS money. One of the attendants threatened to call security if he didn't leave her alone. I have to say this, right here and now: Once you leave a slot machine, that is it. You have no claim on what someone else wins on it, once you leave. It would be like, if I leave a craps table, and the table then goes on a good rally, and I try to claim some of those winnings. You see how absurd that is? I normally wouldn't mention this, but it was something that affected my wife for the rest of the day. She did win over $100 on that slot machine, BTW.

     As usual, we made reservations to have dinner at the Ember Steakhouse in the L'Auberge casino. By this time, it was getting somewhat close to time for our reservation, that when we got to L'Auberge, there wasn't time to play craps, so instead, I got into a blackjack game instead. Fortunately, this went fairly smoothly, and quite profitably, for I won an even $500 there. I now locked up a 500 Club for the month of April, keeping that streak alive. From there, it was on to dinner.

     The dinner at the Ember Steakhouse was especially good tonight, and the service was superb. We could hardly have asked for a better wedge salad and bone-in rib-eye steak meal. Over dinner, we discussed future plans for the rest of the evening. Our initial plan was to go to the Horseshoe, with me playing poker, and then coming back to Golden Nugget, and us getting into the hot tub, which usually closes at 10:00. But unfortunately, the hot tub only closes at 7, as the weather isn't quite warm enough. So the plans became, just go to the Horseshoe to play some poker.

     But when we got to the Horseshoe, we discovered that the Poker Room was closed. Apparently, I had forgotten that the Poker Room at the Horseshoe is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Teanslation: I'll have to wait until Day 3 to play poker there. So we went to the craps table instead. Instead of playing slots this time, Mrs. MusicalDice decided to watch me play craps. This was a hoot, for my wife can be a big cheerleader, which I think this table needed, for I got off to an even rockier start than I did at the craps table at Golden Nugget. I ended up buying in for a total of $700, instead of the usual $500. This time, I was standing at Stick Left 1, and at first, I used the Hardway dice set, with my backspin toss. Rolled a 6. Then I switched to the Yo-Yo dice set, keeping the same toss. That resulted in a PSO. I then switched to a lower toss, keeping the same dice set. Rolled a 9. During this roll, I had parlayed the 6 bet up to $90, as I'd rolled it 4 times already. I was getting excited at the prospect of getting a black chip for another hit on the 6, which would pay $105, and that would be enough to get my money back. Not to be. The very next roll was seven-out. Fortunately, there was another shooter, who was doing a little better that I was, and I bet 88 inside on him. I found myself counting down the hits I needed to get my money back. The moment I was sure I'd have my money back if I take my bets down, that's what I did, locking up a $29 win.

     By the time, we finished at the Horseshoe, we were dead tired, and when we returned to Golden Nugget, there wasn't even a thought of doing any more gambling. I was content to end this day ahead $601. Let's see if I can build on this tomorrow...

     Anyone who has been following this blog for the past 2½ years knows that for the most part, I've been struggling with my dice setting and my throws, getting Hall Of Fame rolls (20-rollers minimum to make my page of My Best Craps Shoots) only occasionally. Today's title refers to the fact that I had THREE rolls of at least 20 today--something I don't think I've ever done before (I think I once had two the same day in 2017, but that was it). I have to say that I am cautiosly optimistic that I've found something that really works for me, as far as my toss goes--I would hate to think that my results today was merely a product of incredibly dumb luck!

     My wife and I got off to a late start this second day, not finishing breakfast until after 10:00. After that, we went into the casino at Golden Nugget, where I got into a craps game. Here, it was an empty table--something I don't usually like playing at, but this time, it provided the perfect place to test out my low=throw toss, getting the dice barely to the wall. I stood at Stick Left 1, and returned to the Hardway dice set. It was a $10 table, and I did a Split The Sisters betting strategy, doing 88 inside to start. I got past that, reducing down to 44 inside, then parlaying my bets up slowly. I keep a running tally of what I'm shooting in my mind, and you can imagine my surprise when I discovered that I'd rolled 28 times, at the end of the rally! Many of these rolls were non-productive horn rolls (10 of them, in fact), and I only ended up $190 ahead. Still, it was a very good start to the day.

     The weather forecast predicted scattered thunderstorms in Lake Charles for this day. And the skies were getting overcast. I figured we had time to do a relatively quick session at L'Auberge. The weather forecast and our desire not to get caught in the rain, were factors in some of my decision-making in this session.

     I first went to a craps table that was relatively crowded. I wasn't the shooter, but I managed to make a little bit, using the Split The Sisters strategy, doing 132 inside. I barely was able to get out of the roll before the seven-out. I made $43 at the craps table, deciding not to wait until it was my turn to shoot, due to the weather.

     Instead, I thought I'd play a quick game of blackjack before heading back to Golden Nugget. Bad move, Mr. MusicalDice. The cards were choppy at first, then they turned plain bad. At one point, I was down to just $75 of my $500 buy-in, and it came down to whether or not I was going to re-buy. Now I'd had four casino wins prior to this session, and I hated to have to snap this win streak, but again, thinking of the weather, I decided to take the hit, and make sure me and Mrs. MusicalDice got back to Golden Nugget without getting drenched. I lost $425 at the blackjack table, and the session, overall, was a $382 loss. At least I'm still ahead for the trip.

     Fortunately, for our walk to Golden Nugget, we only encountered a few tiny raindrops. But once we got into our room, it started raining more, but that didn't last long. And no thunderstorms came our way. We did decide to chill out for the next few hours, getting quasi-room service (Mrs. MusicalDice actually going downstairs to pick up the order from Claim Jumper), as a late lunch. This gave me the energy to gamble again.

     When we got to the casino in the Golden Nugget, I discovered that the craps table initially was full, so I played blackjack first. It took a while on a very choppy table to even win $25, but after that, I discovered an opening at the craps table, at the Right Inner Hook. I almost never play from this position! But surprisingly, it worked out. On a shooter I bet on prior to my getting the dice, I used the Knock-Down strategy, doing 66 inside (the table was now a $15 table). I made a little money, getting all the numbers except for 9 paid for, but one of the other numbers hit 3 times, allowing me to branch to the 4 and 10 for 15 each, and the 4 hit just prior to the shooter crapping out. So indirectly, the 9 got paid for as well. When I got the dice, I decided to use the Yo-Yo dice set in conjunction with my low-toss throw. I think I also used the Split The Sisters strategy for 176 inside. Much to my surprise, I ended up with a second Hall Of Fame roll, shooting 22 times. I won an even $300 at the craps table, for a session win of $325, almost making up for the blackjack loss at L'Auberge. Also, I was back in the positive for the day, being a net of $133 ahead for the day at that point.

     I wasn't even sure I was going to play again this day, especially since it was so late when we finally had dinner (close to 9 p.m.). But after a relatively light dinner at a Chinese restaurant at Golden Nugget, I decided to try it again.

     This time, I was able to play craps first, even getting my favorite spot at Stick Left 1. This time, Mrs. MusicalDice decided to play too. We were later told by one of the dealers that they love it when we come to the table, for we liven the table up with our antics. And this craps session was no exception. When I got the dice, I placed 20 on the Pass Line, and bet a 10-dollar Whirl. One of my come-out rolls was a yo. I, of course yelled out "Can you say yo-baby, yo-baby, yo!" with my wife chiming in, adding "Yo-yo!" to the end of her cheering. The next roll, in fact, was another yo! I yelled out "Who called that?!" before my wife and I both said "Can you say yo-baby, yo-baby, yo!!" After a point was established, I once again did the Split The Sisters strategy, doing 176 inside. BTW, hats off to Bryan of Hawaii Craps Shooters, for coming up with the Split The Sisters strategy. And there was A LOT of cutting up still to come. For one, I rolled each of the Hardways once, and I had bets on them each time. I was using the Hardway dice set, and I usually don't roll a lot of hardways with this set, but I did this time, as I did this morning on the 28-roller. You can imagine my surprise, when I discovered that I'd even topped that 28-roller, especially since this was on a different craps table from this morning! I ended up shooting 29 times, winning $467 at this craps table. Mrs. MusicalDice, who didn't play the Place bets as often as I did, only won $148. But that was still cool.

     I was so close to a 500 Club, that I decided to try to complete the task by playing a quick round of blackjack. That ended up being a longer than expected session there, for I fell behind there at first. I knew I wasn't going to negate the win at the craps table, no matter what, but I finally achieved my goal in a round where I was playing two hands. I had a hard 19 on the first hand, with the dealer showing a 5. My other hand was an ace and a 4. I was down $12.50 at that point, and I said at that point that I'd normally double down on this hand, but I instead decided to just hit it. This was because in case the dealer made a hand and won, I'd still not be far away from my goal. The card I took was another 4, and I stayed on a soft 19. Turns out, the dealer's other card was a deuce, and a 10 gave him a hand of 17. Fortunately, I won on both of my hands, and I stopped, $37.50 ahead. Good enough, for the total Golden Nugget session was a win of $504.50. A second 500 Club on this trip. Cool!

     I still am amazed that I was able to pull off THREE twenty-something rolls on the same TRIP, let alone the SAME DAY! And even with the loss at L'Auberge, I made slightly more today than I did yesterday. For overall, I won $637.50 for this second day, compared to $601 for the first day. Thus far, I am ahead a total of $1238.50. Will this continue tomorrow? Stay tuned!!

     Coming into this day, I had four straight poker wins, as well as six straight craps wins. I was also so far ahead that I was determined to remain ahead on this trip, no matter what. This latter statement ruled my decision-making on this day.

     While My wife did some shopping, I played craps at L'Auberge. One thing I wanted to see was if this low-throw toss that had worked out so well at Golden Nugget yesterday, would also work out at other casinos. While I did shoot a 12 and a 15 using the Hardway dice set and the low toss, the problem was that L'Auberge especially frowns on people who shoot the dice without betting on other shooters, and wouldn't let me shoot if I didn't bet on other shooters. This particular table was crowded, and nobody else could really shoot for long. In the process of being a good little n***er, I bet too much on the other shooters. Ultimately, I left the table $229 down. But I did sufficiently prove to myself that I probably have found a good toss that works for me.

     I was determined to play poker at the Horseshoe, so that's where we went next. But once the game got started (after waiting around for some time), it was like I'd run into a brick wall. I could hardly do a damn thing against these guys. Yes, this streak had to end as well. I lost $502 at the poker table. It was then that I'd declared myself all gambled out for this trip.

     As I said, I was determined to stay ahead on this trip, no matter what, and I succeeded in that, for I still am ahead $507.50 at the end of all this.

     Since I'm already all gambled out for this trip, this section will be strictly analysis and after-thoughts.

     For those of you who had read my Atlantic City trip results, you know that I was wondering if there was going to be a shift in focus from craps to poker, given how well in poker I was doing up to that point. This trip to Lake Charles has shown me that there will not be any change in focus. My main focus will continue to be on craps. For one thing, on this Lake Charles trip, I ended up $872 ahead playing craps, and that was even with the loss. I even ended up ahead playing blackjack on this trip--$137.50 to be exact. Of course, I lost $502 in my one poker session in Lake Charles. In light of what appears to be a big discovery for me, regarding my toss, I am definitely NOT changing focus on this blog.

     Overall for the year, I am still down $1416.50. By game, the breakdown goes like this: I'm still ahead $480 playing poker. I'm only down $109 for the year playing craps. Of course, the big losing game for me this year has been blackjack (-$1787.50), and that's the game that I have the highest win percentage! Go figure!

     One final note: In light of what I called this trip, Mrs. MusicalDice and I discovered that L'Auberge is offering to comp us for two nights later on this month. In light of that, we already booked our next Lake Charles trip, and that's going to be for April 30th to May 2nd. Stay tuned for that trip's results! ☺

     For the past several years, I've been downloading craps videos, and making video clips out of rolls that last 20 or more -- the same criterion as for my Best Shoots Hall Of Fame page. Part of the reason for this was so I could try to study how others shot the dice and got those big rolls. But all of that went out the window on my last Lake Charles trip. The biggest take-away I got from that trip, was to find your own way of shooting the dice. Do what's most comfortable for you, and forget about how others shoot the dice, for what works for someone else may not work for you. This is a lesson I'd learned when I was bowling. Most people advocate a four-step delivery, but somehow, my delivery actually took six steps. Instead of trying to change that, I worked with what came naturally, and for the last 8 years I bowled, I averaged just over 200. Now you tell me who's wrong! It'll be the same when it comes to setting, gripping, and tossing the dice. Develop your own style, and work with what comes most naturally (best way to repeat the mechanics), and you'll see greater success shooting the dice.

     Lately, when I'd watch the live Crapsee tournament on Hawaii Craps Shooters, I'd be making the comment "52nd Street" when a 7 comes, particularly when it's a 5-2 7. The 52nd Street term refers to my all-time favorite album, and it's by Billy Joel (it contains the hits "My Life," "Big Shot," and "Honesty"). After several weeks of using the term, I decided to include the term in my Glossary Of Craps Terms. Check it out. ☺

     As many of you know, Lake Charles, Louisiana is my most frequent place to gamble at, since I live in Houston Texas. Given that, I was shocked to hear about the tornado that struck Lake Charles yesterday morning. To learn more about it, click this link. Fortunately, the damage appears to have been 20 or so miles west of the casinos. I am scheduled to be back in Lake Charles on April 30th. Hopefully, this won't affect my travel plans.

     Today, the founder of Hawaii Craps Shooters, Bryan, has a birthday today! He has put out A LOT of useful and entertaining videos, which I'd recommend to any craps enthusiast. Happy Birthday, Bryan! ☺

     Initially, my wife and I hadn't planned to come back to Lake Charles just yet, in light of the fact that we'd already planned a trip to Biloxi Mississippi May 13 - 16. But then we got an offer from L'Auberge to comp us for two nights, like they used to. So we jumped at the chance to go out there again.

     All that said, when we arrived at L'Auberge, the people at the front desk couldn't find our reservation. Mrs. MusicalDice showed them the confirmation, and much to our surprise, the clerk that took our reservation had entered it under a different name--a couple who lives in Huntsville Alabama!! The mess was straightened out, and we got our comps, fortunately.

     We has initially planned to go swimming before starting any gambling. That went by the wayside when we were told over the phone that we couldn't use Golden Nugget's hot tub anymore without being a guest there (we used to be able to pay a fee to use it, which was also our plan). But we decided to go over there to find out what the deal was, straight from the source.

     But before we made it to Golden Nugget, I played craps at L'Auberge. At first, I was at Stick Left 2. From that position, I used the Yo-Yo dice set, betting 176 inside with the intent of reducing to 88 inside after two hits. I crapped out after one hit. Fortunately for me, the player who was in Stick Left 1, left the table before it was my turn to shoot again, so I moved to Stick Left 1, and used the Hardway set. Using the same betting strategy, I made it past the second hit this time, reducing the bets to 88 inside. I rolled 17 times, making three points, en route to getting my money back plus $130. That was a nice start to the trip.

     Unfortunately, when we arrived at Golden Nugget, the people running the pool area confirmed what was told to us on the phone, that you are no longer allowed to pay a fee to use the pool and hot tub, and that you have to either be a guest, or a VIP player, which neither of us are. Definitely a policy change NOT for the better! So much for that plan. Then I tried to play craps and blackjack at Golden Nugget. But all those tables were full, so we decided to walk back to L'Auberge.

     The walk to and from Golden Nugget took a long time because Mrs. MusicalDice's leg was hurting, plus she was less tolerant to the heat (it got up to 86° today in Lake Charles). By the time we returned to L'Auberge, there wasn't much time to play craps before our dinner reservation at the Ember Steakhouse. So I opted for playing blackjack instead. I won a quick $150 before we went to the steakhouse for dinner.

     We had planned to try the hot tub at L'Auberge, but the pool area closes at 8 p.m. (compared to 10 p.m. at Golden Nugget). But by the time we finished (a most delicious) dinner, it was already 6:30, and we were both stuffed. It wouldn't be wise to go swimming on a full stomack, so we decided to play a little more at L'Auberge.

     I first played blackjack at one table, winning $160--blackjack at that table only paid 6-5. Then I went to the craps table, which by now was a $25 table, instead of a $15 table. Worse yet, I didn't get to play at Stick Left 1, but at the left end. The same low toss that has worked out so well lately from Stick Left 1, had up and down results from this position. At least twice, I tried 220 inside, trying to get two hits before reducing, but I would seven-out either immediately or after the first hit. Try as I might to get it back, it just didn't work, despite a 15-roller I had at one point using the 3V dice set (for me that is the 4/6-4/2 dice set). Ultimately, I decided to take the hit, losing $382. At least I'm still ahead for the trip, was what I was thinking. Yet and still, I decided to try for a win for the session. Fortunately, I succeeded at that, winning $250 at a second blackjack table, and winding up $28 ahead for the session.

     Although I wasn't too happy, losing at craps, the game I want to focus the most on, I have to remind myself that I have 3 session wins in a row, and I'm currently up $308 for the trip. Could be a whole lot worse.

     To say the least, this second day would turn out to be a very rocky day in terms of gambling. But it wasn't all bad, as you'll soon see.

     After breakfast, I played blackjack at L'Auberge, given that the craps table was still a $25 table. Fortunately, I won $150 there. At that point, I was ahead $458 for the trip.

     Then I played at Golden Nugget. At first, the craps table was full, so I played blackjack. After a very rocky start, I left the table $12.50 ahead. At the craps table, it was a long rocky battle, with LOTS of point-seven-outs, including at least two of my rolls. I did get in a few decent rolls from Stick Left 1, using the Hardway dice set--a 9-roll, and two 14-rolls, but I kept getting sniped, crapping out early in between these good rolls. On my last roll, I was down at least $350 at the table. I was able to bring my deficit down to $172, but I could have kicked myself for not taking down my bets when I could have, to get my money back, as I had $90 bets on the 6 and the 8 (I was trying for that black chip payout). After I crapped out, I left the table $172 down, and a net loss for the session of $159.50. Given where I was earlier on the craps table, I'll accept that. Besides that, I was only down $9.50 for the day, and still ahead for the trip.

     We then went back to L'Auberge, where I played blackjack--the craps table was full, and I was a bit gun-shy about playing craps, given where I was earlier. After a rocky start at this blackjack table, I won $25, enough to get back ahead for the day ($15.50).

     From there, we went to the Horseshoe. I was determined to play poker there. It was a rocky start there too, with my not picking up much at first, and falling behind. I almost got my money back, when I got involved in a hand where I had Ace-King in my hand. One opponent raised to 20 pre-flop, I re-raised to 60, and a third person called, the initial raiser went all-in for 200, I called, and so did the third person, but he only had 189. The initial raiser had Pocket Queens. The flop included a trey and a six, but were all low cards. The turn card was a king, which was good for me. The river card was another low card. This looked great for me, right? WRONG!! The third person went all-in pre-flop with SIX-TREY!! He won the main pot with two, pair, whereas I picked up a small sidepot, losing way more than I put in. After that hand, I left the table $375 down.

     Needless to say, I was pretty upset about what happened at the poker table. I thought after having a very nice relaxing early dinner with Mrs. MusicalDice, I could play a decent round of craps, and maybe make up for what happened at the poker table. Wrong move! Apparently, I was still upset about what happened earlier, and none of my shoots lasted over 7 rolls, no matter where I stood, or which dice set I used. The move was not to play at all at that point, given where I was. I lost another $410. OUCH!! I went from being slightly ahead for the day, and ahead for the trip, to being down $461.50 for the trip!

     We then returned to L'Auberge, where I played blackjack--the only game I hadn't lost yet on this trip. I fell behind at this particular table at first, then I had a hand where I split 8's twice, then doubled down on one of the new hands. Of course I was happy when the dealer busted, and it was then that I tried to get a 500 Club, as I'd made up for earlier at the table. But I soon realized that that wasn't going to happen, and instead, I left $200 ahead. At least I chopped down my deficit by nearly half.

     From there, we returned to our room, where I crashed. I think I needed this to clear my head. But after about 4 hours, I discovered that Mrs. MusicalDice still had some energy, and I discovered a second wind too. So we went back downstairs, where I played blackjack again. Fortunately, the table was good, and on the last hand, I raised my bets on my two hands, and when the dealer busted, I yelled out in celebration, for what I'd tried to do several hours earlier, I was able to do here. I won $500 at the blackjack table. This got me out of the hole for the trip. Now I'm ahead $238.50. Overall for Day 2, I had a net loss of $69.50. But given where I was earlier in the day, I'll definitely take that.

     Here in Lake Charles, it was very dark, gloomy and rainy pretty much all day. My wife and I got off to a late start, given that we thought when we wokd up that it was about 6:00, but it was actually 8:00--it was just that dark. During breakfast, it was really pouring rain outside. After we got breakfast, we checked out, and it was still raining, though not as hard. It was only then that I decided to gamble one last time on this trip.

     I tried to get on the craps table, but it was full. I decided to play blackjack one last time. After a rough beginning, I won $100. I declared myself all gambled out, $338.50 ahead for this trip.

     Overall, for this year, I'm still down $1078, with only $240 of it now being in blackjack. I'm now down $943 in craps--something I'm not terribly happy about. However, I'm still ahead in poker, albeit $105. I have some things to work on regarding craps, but overall, I'm not doing too badly this year--I've done a whole lot worse. Stay tuned for my first-ever Biloxi Mississippi trip in just 11 days! ☺