Good Morning ! New Hampshire
Published Sunday, November 19, 2006 by baccarat_guy.
A wonderful brisk morning. Took a walk a little before 8am enjoying our new neighborhood. We really love the area -- I can't say enough great things about living in NH. The town beach was empty and tranquil this AM --- and was able to enjoy a really dry cappuccino as soon as I got home --- I've really become quite the expert with my new Jura Capresso
machine.
Looking forward to a relaxing Sunday !
machine.
Looking forward to a relaxing Sunday !
Bond DOESN'T play POKER !!! He just doesn't !
Published Saturday, November 18, 2006 by baccarat_guy.
OK,
I guess this is more of a personal pet peeve. But, I am just so upset that in the new James Bond Movie Casino Royale Bond plays POKER and NOT Baccarat. Now, this might NOT be a big issue; but in Ian Fleming's original BOOK Casino Royale
the whole plot revolves around a HIGH STAKES BACCARAT GAME. "Agent 007 lives an intensely hard lifestyle, and he's known to be the best gambler in the Service. He's therefore assigned to break Le Chiffre's bank at the baccarat tables of the Casino Royale, in the French Riviera."
Anyway, I guess I'll get over it... but, annoying, nonetheless.
What is interesting is that this is a modified version of American Baccarat (or Punto Banco); since you (the player, or in the case of the Book, Casino Royale, Le Chiffre) are acting as the bank. I am NOT certain why they didn't just play Chemin de Fer; since this is the usual routine at that game -- and in this "modified" Baccarat game (which, very well might be "European Baccarat") I "think" you can make a decision if you want to draw a card when you have a 2 card total of 5.
Now, according to the rules of "American Baccarat" :
If the player has a 2 card total of 5 or less, the player will ALWAYS DRAW a 3rd card. This 3rd card, would determine if the BANKER draws a third card. So, If you had a 2 Card "5" for the Player and a 2 Card "5" for the Banker --- based on the rules, the BANKER would ONLY draw a 3rd card if the Player's 3rd card value was 4,5,6, or 7.
I guess this is more of a personal pet peeve. But, I am just so upset that in the new James Bond Movie Casino Royale Bond plays POKER and NOT Baccarat. Now, this might NOT be a big issue; but in Ian Fleming's original BOOK Casino Royale
the whole plot revolves around a HIGH STAKES BACCARAT GAME. "Agent 007 lives an intensely hard lifestyle, and he's known to be the best gambler in the Service. He's therefore assigned to break Le Chiffre's bank at the baccarat tables of the Casino Royale, in the French Riviera."Anyway, I guess I'll get over it... but, annoying, nonetheless.
What is interesting is that this is a modified version of American Baccarat (or Punto Banco); since you (the player, or in the case of the Book, Casino Royale, Le Chiffre) are acting as the bank. I am NOT certain why they didn't just play Chemin de Fer; since this is the usual routine at that game -- and in this "modified" Baccarat game (which, very well might be "European Baccarat") I "think" you can make a decision if you want to draw a card when you have a 2 card total of 5.
Now, according to the rules of "American Baccarat" :
If the player has a 2 card total of 5 or less, the player will ALWAYS DRAW a 3rd card. This 3rd card, would determine if the BANKER draws a third card. So, If you had a 2 Card "5" for the Player and a 2 Card "5" for the Banker --- based on the rules, the BANKER would ONLY draw a 3rd card if the Player's 3rd card value was 4,5,6, or 7.
Shoe #1 Final Day Shift Oct 28
Published Sunday, November 05, 2006 by baccarat_guy.
My final day of day shift at the 'Dust. I played 1 full shoe and a partial. This is an analysis of the final day shift FULL SHOE played. It was an awesome shoe. Just one note, I keep track of the decisions and my bets --- but, I do NOT track my tie bets. In general, I bet tie after a tie or possibly a skip tie at the table minimum $10 level. If I win a tie bet, and then bet tie again, I note any larger than normal tie bets. In the future, I will try to record how much I bet on tie... though, I don't bet tie that often, since it is a lousy bet. I have been very lucky with Tie Bets (over the past 2 years...) but, quite frankly, I think it is probably a wash (i.e. tie wins versus bets placed) ---
Buy in for $300 on a $25 minimum ($10 minimum tie bet) Big Baccarat Table at the Stardust around 12:30PM on Saturday, October 28th --- I am the only player at the table for around the first 15 hands... another player joins and we both play to the end of the shoe. There were NO free hands taken in this shoe.
The #'s refer to the running count of player or banker for the shoe. Dashes --- refer to TIES; and SQUARES around the number are the BETS WHICH I WON !
Banker #1 Bet $35 WIN
Player #1 Bet $25 LOST (this is noted incorrectly on my card.. it is player #1 NOT player #2)
Banker #2 Bet $30 WIN
Banker #3 BET $25 win
Banker #4 BET $50 win
Banker #5 BET $75 win
Banker #6 BET $125 win
Player #2 BET $175 lost
Banker #7 NO BET
Banker #8 Bet $50 win
Player #3 Bet $25 lost
(note the use of regression)
I like a $50-$25-$50 or a $35-$25-$35 at a $25 table
Banker #9 Bet $50 win
Player #4 BET $25 lost
Player #5 NO BET
(I was basically follow the bank at this point of the shoe)
Banker #10 BET $25 win
(notice, I screw up the numbering on my card (happens often) -- and I didn't follow the bank, but wanted to bet bank - so I did the minimum of $25)
TIE PUSH
B #11 WIN $50
B #12 WIN $75
B #13 WIN $125
B #14 WIN $175
B #15 WIN $225
B #16 WIN $300
B #17 WIN $375
B #18 WIN $475 (This was 8 in a row banker)
TIE PUSH
P #6 LOST $600
B #19 WIN $75
(at this point, shoe has had 6 players and 19 banks... I really feel good about the banker trend... I am jumping back on banker; I feel so strongly about banker for this shoe, I will NOT use regression again during this shoe)
B #20 WIN $100
P #7 LOST $150
B #21 WIN $75
B #22 WIN $100
B #23 WIN $150
B #24 WIN $225
B #25 WIN $350
P #9 LOST $500
You can review the card for yourself at this point (just add 2 to the banker total and subtract 1 from the player total if you want a running count of player and banker)
There will be 3 sets of 3 in a row, in which I bet banker
betting series of $200, $250 $300 then lost $425
$100, $175 and $250 then lost $300
and $100, $150, $200
also, near the end of the shoe, there was a skip then triple tie --- I always bet these sequences and won both a $25 Tie (pays $200) and a $50 Tie (Pays $400) mind you -- these are CRAZY bets, and you really have to feel good about your luck and the trend.
Cash out was $2,120 from a $300 buy-in
I bet at least $150 for the dealers (also hitting the tie) throughout the shoe; since it was the last day for them at the 'dust --- thought they deserved a crack at my winnings. This shoe ended with 49 Banks, 23 Players and 9 Ties. As expected, 5% commision was quite a chunk of change (due to the high $ bets) --- BUT the $2,120 was the NET color UP after commission and tips.
Buy in for $300 on a $25 minimum ($10 minimum tie bet) Big Baccarat Table at the Stardust around 12:30PM on Saturday, October 28th --- I am the only player at the table for around the first 15 hands... another player joins and we both play to the end of the shoe. There were NO free hands taken in this shoe.
The #'s refer to the running count of player or banker for the shoe. Dashes --- refer to TIES; and SQUARES around the number are the BETS WHICH I WON !
Banker #1 Bet $35 WIN
Player #1 Bet $25 LOST (this is noted incorrectly on my card.. it is player #1 NOT player #2)
Banker #2 Bet $30 WIN
Banker #3 BET $25 win
Banker #4 BET $50 win
Banker #5 BET $75 win
Banker #6 BET $125 win
Player #2 BET $175 lost
Banker #7 NO BET
Banker #8 Bet $50 win
Player #3 Bet $25 lost
(note the use of regression)
I like a $50-$25-$50 or a $35-$25-$35 at a $25 table
Banker #9 Bet $50 win
Player #4 BET $25 lost
Player #5 NO BET
(I was basically follow the bank at this point of the shoe)
Banker #10 BET $25 win
(notice, I screw up the numbering on my card (happens often) -- and I didn't follow the bank, but wanted to bet bank - so I did the minimum of $25)
TIE PUSH
B #11 WIN $50
B #12 WIN $75
B #13 WIN $125
B #14 WIN $175
B #15 WIN $225
B #16 WIN $300
B #17 WIN $375
B #18 WIN $475 (This was 8 in a row banker)
TIE PUSH
P #6 LOST $600
B #19 WIN $75
(at this point, shoe has had 6 players and 19 banks... I really feel good about the banker trend... I am jumping back on banker; I feel so strongly about banker for this shoe, I will NOT use regression again during this shoe)
B #20 WIN $100
P #7 LOST $150
B #21 WIN $75
B #22 WIN $100
B #23 WIN $150
B #24 WIN $225
B #25 WIN $350
P #9 LOST $500
You can review the card for yourself at this point (just add 2 to the banker total and subtract 1 from the player total if you want a running count of player and banker)
There will be 3 sets of 3 in a row, in which I bet banker
betting series of $200, $250 $300 then lost $425
$100, $175 and $250 then lost $300
and $100, $150, $200
also, near the end of the shoe, there was a skip then triple tie --- I always bet these sequences and won both a $25 Tie (pays $200) and a $50 Tie (Pays $400) mind you -- these are CRAZY bets, and you really have to feel good about your luck and the trend.
Cash out was $2,120 from a $300 buy-in
I bet at least $150 for the dealers (also hitting the tie) throughout the shoe; since it was the last day for them at the 'dust --- thought they deserved a crack at my winnings. This shoe ended with 49 Banks, 23 Players and 9 Ties. As expected, 5% commision was quite a chunk of change (due to the high $ bets) --- BUT the $2,120 was the NET color UP after commission and tips.
Shoe #1 TOP of Tracking Card Card Final Day Shift Oct 28
Published by baccarat_guy.
It was a very strong banker shoe. Biggest single run was 7 Banks in a Row --- but, it was a solid banker trend.
At the beginning of this shoe, we got 5 in a row banker, 7 in a row banker, 5 in a row banker (again) and 4 sets of 3 in a row banker.
Also, there was one skip tie and a triple tie; since I ONLY bet ties after a tie (or a skip tie) this was a very nice shoe to catch a tie bet. Next post will be a complete analysis of my play (of this shoe which had 49 Banks, 23 Players and 9 Ties.
At the beginning of this shoe, we got 5 in a row banker, 7 in a row banker, 5 in a row banker (again) and 4 sets of 3 in a row banker.
Also, there was one skip tie and a triple tie; since I ONLY bet ties after a tie (or a skip tie) this was a very nice shoe to catch a tie bet. Next post will be a complete analysis of my play (of this shoe which had 49 Banks, 23 Players and 9 Ties.
Carol Geraci at the Stardust
Published Saturday, November 04, 2006 by baccarat_guy.
Autograph from Carol reads "
"Michael :
Thanks for your loyalty and your fun at the 'Dust.' We will miss you."
Carol was a cocktail waitress at the Stardust from 1966 until the casino closed in 2006. There are a few additional photos of Carol (and Carol and Shirley) in THIS flickr photoset.
"Michael :
Thanks for your loyalty and your fun at the 'Dust.' We will miss you."
Carol was a cocktail waitress at the Stardust from 1966 until the casino closed in 2006. There are a few additional photos of Carol (and Carol and Shirley) in THIS flickr photoset.
Shirley Brancucci and Baccarat at the 'dust
Published by baccarat_guy.
She came from Newport Kentucky to The Vegas in 1952. She really did teach me everything I know about baccarat (bet the tie on the first and last hand of the shoe... wink wink...)
from the recent book "The Stardust of Yesterday.. Reflections on a Las Vegas Legend"
"Around here is way always a party," says Shirley Brancucci, who started at the Stardust as a cocktail waitress and eventually became a baccarat pit boss.
She continuously tangled with Rosenthal. He would scream at her, but knew she was a skilled dealer. "It was a love-hate relationship," she said.
Brancucci remembers the beginning of the end.
"It was in December '83, right before Christmas," she said. "I was in the baccarat pit when the federal agents came in."
"And they fired just about everybody. Almost all the floor people were fired. And management."
For those who didn't know... just watch the movie CASINO. The Tangiers is supposed to be the Stardust and Robert De Niro (Sam 'Ace' Rothstein) is playing the character of Rosenthal. In the movie, Joe Pesci (Nicky Santoro) is playing the character of infamous Tony Spilotro.
"He was a scary guy," Brancucci said of Rosenthal. "But I stood up to him. I didn't know how not to."
Shirley is an amazing woman, who turned 77 a few months ago. I joked with her last week, saying that they were imploding the Stardust, just so they would finally be able to get her to retire. Not only will I miss the relaxing atmosphere of the Baccarat room at the 'dust... I will also miss all of her incredible stories of old Las Vegas and the 'dust.... though, I can't really imagine that she will stay retired.... who knows... maybe she'll wind up at the new Baccarat Room at the Orleans...
from the recent book "The Stardust of Yesterday.. Reflections on a Las Vegas Legend"
"Around here is way always a party," says Shirley Brancucci, who started at the Stardust as a cocktail waitress and eventually became a baccarat pit boss.
She continuously tangled with Rosenthal. He would scream at her, but knew she was a skilled dealer. "It was a love-hate relationship," she said.
Brancucci remembers the beginning of the end.
"It was in December '83, right before Christmas," she said. "I was in the baccarat pit when the federal agents came in."
"And they fired just about everybody. Almost all the floor people were fired. And management."
For those who didn't know... just watch the movie CASINO. The Tangiers is supposed to be the Stardust and Robert De Niro (Sam 'Ace' Rothstein) is playing the character of Rosenthal. In the movie, Joe Pesci (Nicky Santoro) is playing the character of infamous Tony Spilotro.
"He was a scary guy," Brancucci said of Rosenthal. "But I stood up to him. I didn't know how not to."
Shirley is an amazing woman, who turned 77 a few months ago. I joked with her last week, saying that they were imploding the Stardust, just so they would finally be able to get her to retire. Not only will I miss the relaxing atmosphere of the Baccarat room at the 'dust... I will also miss all of her incredible stories of old Las Vegas and the 'dust.... though, I can't really imagine that she will stay retired.... who knows... maybe she'll wind up at the new Baccarat Room at the Orleans...
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