IN RENO

trayel- ‘wise

by Barbara McCreadie

RENO, off-season, is a friendly place. Since the casinos weren’t crowded, the dealers and pit bosses had time to chat and I found out a lot of inside in- formation.

One question I asked every dealer I talked to: “What bothers you the most when dealing?” In every case I got the'same answer.

“Obnoxious drunks.” And I saw my fair share of them, too. One boozy customer leaned over my shoulder at a 21 table, loudly hollering for bar service while he fumbled various amounts of money onto the table..-His breath could have knocked a buzzard off a gut wagon. The club “86’ed" him on the bar service while he nearly “86’ed” me off my. chair. -

Another couple, both navigating with some dif- ficulty, launched into a battle of major proportions in the middle of Harrah's club. Now I know why the security cards are nine feet tall!

The altitude in Reno has something to do with the liquor problem - one drink has the effect of two. Most clubs offer a continual round of free drinks all the time you sit at the tables and although the = drinks = are mostly “short” - one ounce and a ton of ice - they are frequent.

I don't like drinking while I'm gambling because my anthmetic isn’t great at the best of times The wattresses are dehghted to bring you tea, coffee or Sanka and the casinos where | played most frequently had a fine knack of getting the milk and sugar just right in my tea | tp S0¢ for any beverage which may

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Drinkir

- that bothers me is my own,”

‘minded the odd offer as long

. player.

_ waS getting more rattled by ..

“eleven”) and a bunch of

. @ g and

have something to do with it. Juice and soft drinks are available but I didn’t find one club with apple juice, the only kind I like.

Next to obnoxious drunks, some of the other pet peeves of the dealers are:

- Players who throw their

side of the table. Theoretically, your chances of being dealt a winning hand are the same - every hand. Not so! All the dealers agree that luck runs in streaks. A change of decks, a change in dealers, a change of tables or a change cards at the dealers when in the. number of persons they “bust” playing at the table affects - Foul-smelling cigars and your luck with the cards. pipes, particularly when the Gamblers are most often

smoke is blown in clouds superstitious. Here are some towards them of the most

- Players. who bend or superstitions: dirty their cards. This means* _- Never peek at your cards having to call the pit boss for when you have “Doubled a new deck. down”. This is a “21” bet

- Players who continually when you have two cards break the rules, such as totalling 10 or I1. You can trying to add money to their double your bet and take one bet after the cards are dealt hit, face down. The ideal or take their money away card is an ace with a 10 before the bets are paid. combination or a face card

Oddly enough, no-one’ with either. I usually gets complained about cigarette ‘twos and threes! smoke. “The only smoke - Never bet even sums of money (or odd = sums, depending on your own phobia)

- A Chinese player at a table brings luck. This isn’t entirely hogwash but not because of luck. Gambling is ‘a way of life with many as the. player wasn't drunk - Chinese people and they can and quit after the first, be expert Players. Tm always “Sorry, my husband picks | tie up after work.”

Some laughed: and ad- mitted it was flattering but . no-one would admit to have | accepted a date with a =m I sat at one table ay ie where the déaler, a striking 40'ish brunette was getting soulful looks from the player, in the next seat to me. He was so good looking that he could have posed for the “Marlboro Man” aid she

said one dealer. “I've been. trying to quit for years.”

I asked several dealers about players who want to play other games with them after working hours. No-one

the’minute.

I have problems counting hands that contain more than one ace (can be. counted as either “one” or

small cards. When these combinations come along, I save myself a whole lot of mistakes by turning my cards face-up and letting the dealer count them for me. Mistakes are common with these hands and I've seen many players ruin a fine hand by accepting an un- mecessary “hit”. The dealers are happy to count for you because they hate to see a player lose in error.

Don't be embarrassed to ff

ask for help. " Many of the dealers, waitresses/ waiters. Keno

runners and cleaning staff are kids putting themselves through university. Dealing cards is demanding work, especially when combined with a full schedule of classes. Many of the older dealers are housewives with kids and work only part time, matnly weckends and swing shift. Very few of them gamble on the other

ODS ex)

Lonsdale Branch

986-4321

common —

delighted when I sit at a table with an elderly Chinese lady- almost certainly she knows what's up and if she Starts to pull back on her bets, I do too.

- Never count your money while you're sitting at a table - sound familiar? For my money, that's pure hogwash. I like to know to the dollar

C7 - Wednesday, December 22, 1982 - North Shore News

how things are progressing and it hasn't changed my luck one way or another. Aside from’ superstition, how do you choose a good table? Easy! How much

money is in play? Large sums usually mean a dealer on a , losing streak. How much money does the dealer have stacked behind the plastic

Photo submitted

GAMBLERS paradise, Reno offers lots of games to try your luck. If you feel uncertain of the rules, don't be

afraid to ask for help.

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Consider every cent of money you take to pamble as gone before you leave home. Take only what you can afford to lose and stick to your limits.

Next: What to do if you're losing, losing, losing!

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