Quote from: VLS on February 09, 2017, 09:49:10 AM
My advise is not to worry about pointing at anybody's virtues or faults. People is smart enough to make-up their own mind about others. Like I just mentioned to a friend: every individual has his/her own ledger. It isn't our business to add or remove from it.

Pretty darn good 'words' for those that would desire to ignore the person vociferating as they walk or run down the street, sit in the casino, adjoin a nearby booth at a restaurant, be occupying the same locker room, or perhaps standing in line behind that person at a retail counter, etc.  Pretty good!

If you have a problem with something on this board, bring it up with Vic "VLS" in private and handle it properly.  If it is with something else, handle it over there with them as well.  That would be the absolute proper way.

Nice in theory and research but absolute unrealistic reality at any table, especially with first wagers of anywhere from $75.00 to $300.00.  Totally unrealistic.

Mini Update on Waldo.

Last night at the casino, Waldo pulls up and checks in.  Heads over to the food service department where Piggy Boo is already hard at work making snacks for the warmer box out in the food arcade section.

Waldo calls her name out and she looks.  Waldo takes his right hand and points to his mouth to tell her he is going to get a snack and to join him in a bit.

Waldo grabs a fruit salad and an ice cream and finds a table in the corner.  Piggy Boo grabs a tray and gets herself 7 hot dogs and 3 fries and 4 ice cream sandwiches for her snack.  She joins Waldo and as she sits down, tells Waldo, 'I'm cutting back a little bit, what'cha think'?  Waldo just nods.  Piggy Boo sits down and empties the 1/2 bottle of ketchup between the fries and all the hot dogs.  She begins to munch while Waldo talks.

They consummate their plans for the baccarat tournament where Piggy Boo will be the official snack server of the tournament tonight.  She is so excited she missed her mouth while eating the last hot dog and Waldo bent over the small table and kissed the ketchup off her nose where she tried to stuff the hot dog.

She told Waldo, 'No one has kissed me for a long time'.  Waldo smiled and then got a 911 page for a player that needed a snack bar comp.   

Drug Dealers, LOL-=Don't they go to school or get some training??

Nasty Boy:  Over in Oklahoma at a Burger King fast food place.  Drive up and ask for 'Nasty Boy' and if he is working you would order 'Extra Krispy Fries' and you would get your marijuana in a coffee cup.  Pay at the window.  Busted.  Included the shift leaders.  Punch Line:  The home of the 'Extra Happy Meal', watch out Mickey D's!

Nose Cone:  Jumbo jet liner lands in Miami from Bogotá Columbia.  Was supposed to go into maintenance shop for its scheduled electronics check.  Instead it gets diverted to Tulsa Oklahoma (lots of drugs in Oklahoma all of a sudden) anyway, it goes in for the electronics check it was supposed to get in Miami.  The technician goes into the nose cone and gets to work on the electronics.  He find it highly unusual as to all the new insulation around the electronics.  He goes behind the insulation and find 7 bricks of cocaine.  Bogotá, Miami, LOL.  Some mad people in Miami when that plane went for its check up out of state!


Pizza with a side of Crushed Red Pepper please:  Pizza shop, call up and order a pizza with a side of crushed red pepper instead of red pepper flakes and that was the code word for ordering your sip lock bag of marijuana for delivery with your choice of pizzas.  Only problem was, the local Sherriff calls up and ordered it also.  Unclear if he gave the code phase 'crushed red pepper' or 'red pepper flakes' and received the weed or what?  But when the delivery person arrived and handed him the zip lock bag he was arrested.  LOL.

That's nothing!!!  I was actually at an event a few months ago before the winter with a hot dog eating contest, Piggy Boo took 1st Place in that one and they actually awarded her 1st Place for the one not even held yet for 2017!!!   

Upcoming:

Part X:  Waldo throws a baccarat tournament.

Part XI:  Waldo gets ready for Valentines Day.

Part IV

So, Waldo recovered and was back at work yesterday, the day before Asian New Year.  Waldo was actually smiling and all his co-workers were wondering what's up with Waldo???

Last night at the casino Waldo broke out his 'Special Suit' and put it on.  It was a bright red, no---actually a shocking and loud as heck red color with glittering gold and silver cuffs, collar and pants cuffs!!!  I would have to say it is straight out of the 1970's, but Waldo claims it is just 'too hip' for today.  Anyway, he put it on and slick his hair back with gel. Since it is the year of the Rooster coming in, Waldo went over to his top drawer of his bedroom dresser and rummaged through the items he had stashed, he knew there was something to fit the occasion.  After a minute he proclaimed, 'I found it'!  It was a huge pin of a bright white chicken he got years ago from a Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food place, the pin was about 3 inches by 2 inches, he pinned it on hi right jacket breast lapel, similar to how the government officials wear those little flap pins on their jackets.  Waldo took a final look in the mirror and said, 'bring it on you funky Asian gamblers yelling monkey-monkey-monkey and blowing on those cards like they really think they can blow the pips off the cards and change their values, just bring it on--I am ready'. 

Waldo went outside his house and got into his car.  Looked once more in the mirror and squarly looked himself in the mirror and said, 'Buddy, don't give into those fake Asian gambling girls either tonight, make them beg and flirt harder for those valuable precious comps, even the rat infested buffet comps they all will be wanting tonight with the seafood and crab legs special for the holiday'.  He thought for a second and then said, 'even those pretty ones with their low cut blouses exposing those wiggling mounds of jello and Kim-Chee, don't give in unless they really hand and drool a bit at the mouth'.  He snapped his seat belt and headed in. 

About half way to the casino he pulled off the highway and went over to see 'Piggy Boo'.  He kind of wanted to express his thanks for all she had done for him during his hospital stay.  And, he kind of missed her huge caboose to her massive 400 pound plus body!  Right at that time the oldie song came on the radio, 'Shake your Booty' and Waldo started to sing along with it. 

[Here it is if you want to listen to it while you read what Waldo the amazing floor person did next]:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3fZuW-aJsg

Waldo was singing, 'Shake Shake Shake, Sake Sake Shake your booootttty' and sings that a few times and all the while he is thinking, he will ask Piggy Boo to shake it with him later tonight on the dance floor to the oldies group playing at the casino.  He also had the vision---which happened last year, of all those Asian degen gamblers begging him for comps, comps for the buffet, comp for a hotel room, comp for the bar, comp for the gift shop.  He thought to himself he would just say, 'No No No, No No No scat your boooottty on out of here' and started singing that to the song by KC & The Sunshine Band. 

Waldo was ready!  He pulled up into the driveway of Piggy Boo's little shack of a house on the Southside of town.  He gets out of his car and on the way to the front door, he can't help but notice all the garage and debris in the yard.  Mounds, Hershey's, Kit Kat's, Starburst wrappers all over the place.  Empty cans of tuna fish, mac & cheese and tons of wrappers from feminine hygiene products all around.  Waldo wasn't passing judgment and just maybe in her defense Waldo said to himself, 'so she isn't the greatest landscaper in the world.  He stopped in the middle of the walkway to her door and thought, Piggy Boo is so grotesquely fat by most people's standards, but too me, just WOW!  He remembers how she profusely sweats just sitting down during break time in the employees cafeteria.  He suddenly remembered another pit person going out on a date with her once.  The guy told Waldo about the meal they ate out.  How Piggy Boo devoured her food like a starving hog.  But Waldo thought and connected that with sex.  How she must be a tigress and a princess all wrapped up into one in the sack! 

So he goes on thinking, that his desire and lustful curiosity must be a new trend in his own ways.  Although he rationalized out that he didn't want to create any drama in his seemingly zombie style of life, but heck--he wanted to experience what 400 pounds plus of pure jiggle and fat doughy flabs of obesity really feels like in a few minuets of heated passionate acts.  Waldo was attracted to Piggy Boo like a moth to a flame.  Waldo made it to the door and knocked on it.  Piggy Boo opened the door and hugged Waldo.  He was now in candy heaven.  Piggy grabbed Waldo's hand and pulled him inside her house.  She said, 'come on Waldo, join me I was just fixing some breakfast'.   

Piggy Boo's breakfast was on the lighter side yesterday, 5 eggs, a half pound of bacon and a half pound or so of sausage, 6 slices of whole wheat toast, 2 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a large bowel of instant grits, 3 candy bars, a bowl of chocolate ice cream and 2 grapefruits and 6 bananas.  She asked Waldo if he was hungry and Waldo said, 'I will just grab one of your candy bars and a banana.  Piggy Boo scream, well more like a screech, 'No, not the candy bar, I need those for my sugar intake, how about 2 of the bananas instead'?  Waldo agreed and said fine.   

She said, 'Does your wife know you are over here'?  Waldo said no and there was no need to tell her.  She just smiled.  Waldo told her flat out, 'Peggy Sue, I am so attracted to you and how sexy you are, you put my little skinny skanky wife to shame with your radiating beauty and massive personality'.  Piggy Boo just smiled and she was chewing on a banana, a candy bar and a huge fork full of eggs and sausage all at the time.  A certain amount of dribble came out of the side of her mouth and rolled down her chin and onto the table.  Waldo asked her, 'why don't you plan on staying late after work tonight and we can mingle a bit with the casino guests in the ballroom and the bar for the holiday shows'?  Piggy Boo took another bite of food, this time is was a large spoonful of grits, another candy bar and 5 strips of bacon all at the same time.  Waldo was secretly impressed with the girth of her mouth and her insatiable appetite. Oh lord Waldo thought, the last time he had these kind of desires he wound up with his first sexy wife.  Waldo got up from the table, picked up her hand and told her, 'wear something sexy today, see you later Peggy Sue'.  She smiled and continued to shovel fest amounts of breakfast into her mouth. 

Piggy Boo went to her bedroom closet and laid out her clothes for the day.  She shuffled into the shower, and attempted to clean herself.  Her only problem really was her arms lacked the distance to get around herself to the rear and as well, she had problems to bend over to clean her lower extremities.  She finished her shower and did her hair.  Back in her bedroom she put on her 1970's psychedelic tie dyed full floor length dress.  No one could certainly miss Piggy Boo strolling towards them, no one! 

Waldo arrived at the casino property and walked into the pit from the short meeting he was in.  All the while in the meeting his mind and thoughts was on the 400 pound plus fat-doughy flabs of candy and potato chips galore lady. Waldo took up his stance next to the podium counter adjacent to the baccarat tables.  He glanced over towards the players currently seated at the baccarat table.  There was an argument underway with a player standing up, a cigarette dangling from his Chinese face and the dealer.  The dealer was soul brother Tyrone, a well known, funny and very experienced baccarat dealer.  Tyrone's nickname was 'Kunta Kinte' from the fictional character in the movie Roots.  Tyrone loves to say, 'I can take it boss' whenever there is an argument and the pit/floor people get involved.  So Waldo, still leaning against the podium says, 'you okay Kunta, need me over there'?  Tyrone says, 'you better come over here boss'.   It appears one of the players lost on a '38 Special', when the 8 card is the stop card with the Banker's first two cards totaling a value of 3.  The player was yelling and screaming at Tyrone.  Waldo shuffles over to the table and hunches over, puts his hands on the automatic card shuffler beside the dealer and looks at the Asian player throwing an absolute fit.  The player said something in his native tongue about the belly size of Waldo and kept a straight face when he said it.  The only problem was, Waldo understand the language.  Waldo was cool about it.  Waldo turns slightly to the dealer and says, put the chips back in everyone's spot on both the Player and the Banker sides.  Tyrone does so and knows this is going to be good, real good.

Waldo takes the last 5 cards out of the discard rack and carefully places them back into the shoe.  Now, Waldo looks at the loud mouth and says, there the cards are back in the shoe, the exact order they came out of it, correct?  The players said, yes.  Waldo, while standing up looks at everyone playing and says, 'everyone okay with this'?  They all nodded yes.  Waldo point to his white chicken pin on his lapel and says, 'the rooster is watching, so this is gospel and cockel-doodle-doo'.  The sight of Waldo in his bright shocking red suit with the gold and silver glitter accents, crazy!  Waldo says, 'here goes and I am going to deal the cards'.  'First one for the Players and second one for the Banker, Third one for the Players and fourth one for the Bankers'.  Waldo flips the Players side and they have a total of 4, he says 'do we all agree on this'?  The players all say yes or nodded their heads.  Then he flips the Bankers cards and announces the Bankers have a total of 3.  Once again, he looks at all the players and asks if they all agree.  They all nod their heads.  Waldo looks at the trouble maker.  'Are you sure, 100% you agree'?  He says 'yes, yes, get on with it'.  Waldo stops pulling the cards and says, 'hey get something straight right here and right now, this is my table, my pit and my casino, not yours-get it straight pal or pick up your measly little amount of chips, cash them out and get to the parking lot and jump in your rickshaw and boogie on down the road hot shot'.  Everyone looked at Waldo and didn't know what the heck to say, they could not figure out if he was joking or not.  Waldo looked again at the trouble maker and said, 'Yo, Timmy Kimmie Boku, you ready or what'?  Waldo then pulls the 8 card and announces, 'Player stands with the snowman for a total of 2 and the Banker wins with a total of 3, is that clear, yes or no'?  Waldo sweeps his hand taking all the wagers away that were on the Players side and pays the sole wager that was placed on the Banker side.  Waldo looked at the trouble maker and told him the snowman was a stop card, like it or not, the Players side lost and that was that'  Waldo let go with another loud and obnoxious, 'Cockel Doodle Doo' and then announces, 'it is the year of the bad butt rooster, carry on Tyrone, I got it all straightened out for you'.  Tyrone was snickering something awful through the whole replay of the cards.

Just about that time Piggy Boo comes walking down the isle and waves to Waldo leaning back up against the pit podium.  Waldo smiled and motioned for her to come over into the pit.  What a sight!  Waldo in the shocking red suit with the gold and the silver glitter accents and Piggy Boo in her loud and screaming colorful psychedelic tie dye dress, all 400 plus pounds of her doughy fat, right there, side by side with Waldo.  They exchanged a bit of small talk and made plans to meet in the ballroom for the Asian New Year show at 9:00 PM.  Just about the time Piggy Boo was about to leave and get to her office, the baccarat trouble maker, Timmy Kimmie Boku stands up and says, 'Hey floor guy--gimmie a comp for the buffet and some drinks at the bar for me and my wife'.  Waldo puts his hands on his hips and loudly says, 'that's the best you can ask for a comp, a comp that so many desire and so many don't deserve'?  Mr. Boku humbles himself and says, 'Please Mr. Floor Person, can you write me a comp for the buffet and a few drinks'?  Waldo said, 'keep playing while I think about it' for 15 minuets or so'.

Waldo stepped away for a bit and then retuned about 20 minuets later.  He looked over at the stack of chips in front of Timmy Kimmie Boku and smiled, the stack dwindled down from a good $7,500.00 to about $3,000.00.  Waldo said, 'Hey Boku you guys still want to go eat at the buffet'?  Boku didn't answer, Waldo filled out a comp slip and tossed it over on the felt right in front of him and his girl.  Waldo walked away.

Later on Waldo met Piggy Boo outside the ballroom and they went in together.  What a sight, the colors and the poundage!  When they got inside it was just starting, the tribute to the Chinese New Year and the celebration of the rooster.  Waldo made it a point to show his white chicken pin from KFC to Piggy Boo.  She was impressed and then mentioned she was hungry and could devour an entire 20 piece bucket of chicken right about then.  Waldo loved the sexy chatter from her, she had a way to make a request for food sound erotic to Waldo.  Then al the monitors on the walls around the ballroom came alive and played the following:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q50n-1OHqdg

Word was getting around the casino about Waldo and Piggy Boo as they got busy on the dance floor.  There was mostly Asians there and Waldo says to Piggy Boo, 'Come on, let's shake it up there on the dance floor and show this bunch of rice eating degenerate gamblers, how it is actually done'!  She smiled at Waldo and said, 'let's do it baby'.  So the following song came on and both Waldo and his fat doughy date of 400 pounds plus got busy on the dance floor.

Waldo motioned for the guy up in the DJ room to start the music and immediately he put on the following:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzivgKuhNl4

Waldo and Piggy Boo bounced out in the middle of everyone and got right into the Asian themed song, the crowd went absolutely wild and almost out of control.  Waldo stripped off his jackets and his shirt as well and went ballistic with his 'PSY Dance'.  It was one sight for the books!  The two danced a few more songs and then feasted on Cambodian fried snakes and raw chicken eggs.  After a couple of hours Waldo got back to work and hosted the casino's Rooster Challenge out on the floor:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcRn2v_stpY

Waldo made his way back to the baccarat pit and as soon as he got there, Timmy Kimmie Boku says to him, 'hey big guy, give me a comp for a room, I lost $7,500.00, okay'.  Waldo asked Boku for his player's card and he handed it right to him.  Waldo started bending it in half and after about 6 times he snaps it in two.  Waldo handed it back to Boku and said, 'there, and the answer is no, Happy New Year bud'. 

Just curious as to whom is on the board that is a B&M casino player in the USA?

Well that ice storm hit us, not as bad as just to the south of us---but pretty bad.  Started last night around midnight and came down all night.  I left my house at 5 AM for the 15 mile drive to my business which normally takes no more than 20 mins.  I made it in at 7:10 AM. 

We just got about 2/10" to 1/2" of ice.  Some regions are totally 100% covered and others are slightly less.  The interstates around us are bad, but drivable with common sense, 25 to 40 MPH max and don't hit the brakes hard or steady, you are okay.  The metro and side streets are 100% iced without salt or solutions yet, almost impassable.

Today is a federal holiday and lots off the roads, so that helps.  I just don't understand the people out there driving like they are immune to the road conditions.  Gravity and friction are not hard to understand, but I guess that is for those with common sense.  I always say, if you can't walk on it--you will have a real hard time driving on it......

And walking on this.....slow, sure-footed, pick you feet straight up and place then flat footed down.  You cannot walk normal on this. Fun.

Quote from: Ted009 on January 11, 2017, 07:54:31 PM
Thank you Alrelax. Great way of recognising how the shoe is doing. We all know that baccarat is not a " one size fit all " game.  Thank you.

Let the majority of the 'new to the game' players believe that there is a magical science (AKA: Holy Grail) out there waiting to be found.  Something along the lines of every 4th player or banker that repeats itself and than wager large on the opposite side or anything along those lines, etc. 

The game can be quite successful for a player that realizes there are many intricacies, innuendoes, governing factors and situations that can be favorable or not so favorable. There are huge concessions that a player must adhere to with Buy-In, M.M. and Progressions to have an edge as well.  I tired to lay out the majority of what I think a player needs to know and understand to attack the game in a more favorable outlook.   

Throw these in some where on the side line as well.

The ability to recognize and realize the following, implementing and awareness the top dozen
'side-effects':

The 'turning point'
The 'evening out'
Relevancy of happening
Patience
Others Players, the correct interpretation
Fallacies
Staff
Emotions/Frustrations (keep them under control-they can only hurt you!)
#'s Prevailing or Losing
Don't get hung up on 1 trend/chop-recognizing
If one side is pulling away from the other, it seldom gets greater than 10 +, yes it does at times, but I said seldom, again, a 'guide' that I employ.

Let's go a bit deeper into the possible factors that come into play, consciously or subconsciously:

1)  Interpretations/Misinterpretations

2)  Visions/Beliefs

3)  Feelings/Mindset

4)  Bankroll & Related


#1)   Playing with the Shoe
        [It is always best to 'play the shoe'.  At times it is extremely difficult and almost impossible depending on the other factors occurring, but overall it is always best]

        Stats Trying to Change
        [Once the shoe gets underway an experienced player will be able to visually see that almost every shoe cannot match other ones and while many will set their own stats, others will be a replica of previous shoes.  Keep your mind open to what the shoe is doing-do not say it will stop at so-and-so or try to produce XYC, B's and/or P's.  Be 100% neutral, the shoe is doing all the work and producing all the decisions---you are not!]

        Equals Out/Lopsided
        [To me, this is one of the greatest and easiest traits to follow or not to follow.  The highest bulk of shoes will equal out at the end.  Within a few hands of each other.  But, my advise, is to only use that to gauge your wagers and bear in mind that the side you are about to wager on, could do anything.  Sounds unintelligent of course, but to me it is my tap on the should telling me, no guarantee.  Lopsided shoes do come, although not as often as the equaling out ones, but they certainly do.  To me, after 40 to 55% of the shoe is out, the equaling out is prevalent very so often with the, 20-28, 21-28, 22-28, 22-29, 23-29, 24-29, 25-29, 26-29, 26-30, 26-31, 27-31, 28-31, 29-31, 29-32, 30-32, 31-32, 32-32.  Then something along the lines as, 33-32, 33-33, 34-33, 34-34.  Happens so frequently, don't pay attention to those exact numbers, can be identified in the 20's as well]

 
        Events to Happen
        [Numerous events as we all have discussed on the board.  Some will happen and many will not.  When they do, recognize them and ride what they present.  Don't wait until it is a sure thing in everyone's minds, because only one thing will happen at that point, it will not be a sure thing any longer]

        Events That Happened
        [Events that already happened can repeat themselves, keep an open mind, although when those events are of a longer nature in number of hands, they are less likely to repeat themselves within the shoe]

        Statistical Reliance
        [Kind of related to Stats To Change above, but I am referring more to those players that rely strictly on the numbers as they are presenting themselves in Stats.  Be careful and although I am a fan of wagering within the reliance to produce itself and either 'make-up' or decelerate a certain side, to me this is a good gauge to add to my bag of thoughts]

#2)  Playing for the Cut or the Repeats
       [While it is a strategy of many, be careful as to when you employ this.  I have done well at times with this and it is probably the number thought of 'wager' in this game.  I am referring to wagering for opposite last decision or the repeating win of the B or P once again]

       Chop/Alternating  and  Repeats/Streaks
       [Lots of players lose on the 'chop-chop' wager, meaning-B-P-B-P-B-P-B, etc.  So easy and comes frequently.  Capitalize on it and then stop. Streaks, I am a firm believer of sticking on the streaks or the strong runs until they fall off.  Lost the last wager, it's all good!  I like the strong/streaks, etc., especially after there has been a period of weak sections for quite sometime and then it goes one or two more on the repeat]

       Trends and Patterns
       [Trends and Patterns happen all the time.  Either weak or strong.  There are believers in this and non-believers.  It is easy to say it is all random and no one can tell anything at anytime.  Correct to a certain point, the exact same as you never know where that cop is going to be sitting on the highway with his radar.  Might be there and might not be there.  But we all know, or should know, there is going to be trends and patterns]

       Superstitions
       [Try to avoid them and don't get caught up in them.  Many will announce their own and while some people live by them, they cannot influence the shoe that actually has no part of them]

       Other Players Actions/Wagers
       [There are pros and cons to wagering with or against other players.  I have written about them on this board.  One thing that I am personally a huge fan of is good camaraderie]
 
       Dealers
       [I have written about Dealers in another thread on this board, there are many different types and almost every regular player will attest to that!  Some will be attributed with helping players and others will be chastised for almost never letting players win.  Some are the proverbial 'cooler' and some are down right 'mean'.  Most know what they are doing and there is usually one or two at most properties that always make mistakes.  The list goes on.  IMO, if you don't get along with the way the dealer projects him/herself, don't play, wait for the next dealer, SERIOUSLY!]

       Bank of '3' Shoes (re: similarity)
       [I am sure this is challenged by many, but I have found in groups of 3 shoes at a casino they are usually, more than 50% of the times, similar in nature.  I did not say exact, I said similar.  For myself, I have profited from this and I use it as a guide, not gospel and not science.  That is why so many thing are misinterpreted on here!  And, BTW--I use most things as a 'guide' not as science-a rule-gospel and mechanical systems, there is a huge difference!]

       Downfall/Upside of Available Chip Stack (smaller 100% available/larger w/stop)
       [To me, I see downfalls and upsides to the various chip stack players use.  Some players will downright grind and win small amounts in order to be able to build up their stacks and then cash out chips all along like they never had them there.  Some will buy back in when they lose their smaller stacks and many will not.  But, like I said, there are obvious advantages to many in their stack sizes.  Some players, will have that boost and play better with a larger stack, not many IMO thou.  I play better with a moderate size stack and I like putting higher domination chips away and cashing them out as if the chip never existed and the cash is not available]

#3)  Clear Minded/Clouded-Obscured
        [I seriously believe this is important and utmost from the beginning.  I don't feel enough players really realize this.  Have a clear mind and you will have the ability to fully concentrate and realize what is happening, which at the baccarat table is not always that easy]

        Gut Feelings
        [If you are an experienced player and you 'have seen it all', you have a great value IMO.  I absolutely believe and value a good 'gut-feeling'.  Not those feelings based upon thinking it all though and reasoning, just that good old 'gut-feeling'.  They are there in many and they are very real]

        Open Minded/Closed Minded
        [Kind of similar to 'Clear Minded/Obscured above but just being 100% Open Minded.  In this game more than any other, that is vitally important.  It will help you for so many reasons and allow you to visually see and feel a quick moving game that changes up and has tons and tons of circumstances that either happen or don't happen in each shoe.  That is why it takes a player to really have an Open Mind to play better.  Having a Closed Mind will just have a negative effect, plain and simple]

        Preconceived Protocols Employed
        [Very dangerous in every way!  Your expected systems cannot and will not prevail in this game.  Not really much sense to discussing it, but you will lose much greater than you win.  A few hands here and there might fuel a player's thirst and quest when he gets lucky using this but he will suffer]
           
#4)  Drawdown
       [Don't get confused with 'Stop Loss'.  This should be the maximum decrease you will allow in your wagering attack.  You can still wager, as I said a Drawdown is not a Stop Loss.  However, a player has to be careful as to the amount of his buy-in he is willing to risk and aggressively go after the point where he will hopefully start winning.  For example, I might have a 10 unit Stop Loss for my initial 40 unit buy in.  I might also employ a 15 unit drawdown for my progressions or plain initial win.  Units can be different value for the Stop Loss and the Drawdown]   [Since to me, this is also a very important area, I copied the following from an article about Drawdown:  However, we should estimate and predict correctly the drawdown in our money management decisions.  The betting amount for these losing bets must always be available.  Obviously, our total capital must be much more than the maximum drawdown, so that we don't go bankrupt!In addition, after taking the drawdown into account, there should be enough money to continue betting at the same pace according to our betting system, without any decrease in the bet size.  Moreover, enough capital must be available for the next drawdown curve.]

       Stop Loss
       [Some players have them and some do not.  I take a 'Stop Loss' at meaning--what will I stop my play at during a shoe or section.  Others will say a 'Stop Loss' means--how many hands or how much will they accept losing before they walk away.  Locally where I reside, I play considerable smaller at the local casinos than what I do in Vegas, Southern California or Atlantic City.  So, what I bring is my buy-in, not my gaming bankroll.  I am okay with losing my buy-in if I have a bad night, it is not my bankroll and does not mean I am broke, etc.  Set what you are comfortable with for each]

       Win Management/Reserve
       [It is vitally important that you manage your win money and place something into reserves, not only for your bankroll but for other purposes out side of your bankroll.  It is far too personal for me to tell you what and how, but once you figure it out, your conscious should be happier]

       Money Management
       [I have written about this and mine after I win, is a 1/3rd, 1/3rd, 1/3rd money split to manage my winning and remainder of my buy-in.  I have detailed this in other posts and after playing for many years, this is my single greatest factor that has helped me hold win money]

       Progressions
       [There is a heck of a lot of threads mentioning progressions on this board and every other board.  It is a subjective topic.  I have found that 1-3-2-6 and/or 1-3-2-4 has assisted me tremendously with some flat-betting fitted in-between.  IMP it is extremely difficult to hold win money and build up without some type of progressions.  It does not have to be a set progression, I only employ a set progression now because it helps me stick to it and it is kind of programmed inside of me.  Another one of my greatest factors that has helped me be more successful than losing]

Met someone at the casino last night after the baccarat tournament over at the regular table games section on the main floor.  He was kind of young, probably in his 20's.  He was fuming mad.  I have never seen him before and quite obvious he was new to the game.  He questioned a couple of hands such as Player have the first 2 cards total point value of 6 and the Banker have its first two cards with a total of 7.  And then, when the Players 3rd card was a 7 and the Banker had a two card 6 he yelled at the dealer not to draw.

When the game ended and the dealer was coloring up some chips for players and preparing for the next shoe, etc., this guy tells me how he purchased a system on the internet for about $500.00.  He told me some of the 'moves' it taught him and they were nothing more than someone's fantasy about being able to win anytime with them.  I attempted in brief to tell him, anything could win and anything could lose.  At times there are certainly chances what he told me could prevail and other times--as he just witnessed, those pre-determined wagers would lose.  In short, the so-called system called for wagering on the opposite side after a double of any one side and as well, wager OTL decision when there is greater than 3 single B's and/or P's already on the board.  There were a few other pre-determined wagers he was supposed to make, but every one of them is no more than wishful thinking in the author's opinion.  All packaged up and presented to the novices of the game as gospel and money in the bank. 

McDonald's on the way to a Baccarat Tournament..........

Well, I stopped at a McDonald's along the highway on the way to a Baccarat Tournament I was given a seat at last night.  It was one of those newer style tournaments that have become so popular the last couple of years with most casinos, where as they fund the tournament with actual buy-in money 'fees' and the players are allowed to walk and cash out their chips if they have anything left, etc.  They also give you a certain amount of matching non-negotiable chips strictly for play as well within the round(s).

Anyway, I stop at the Mickey D's to use the restroom and I wanted to grab a snack and about the only thing I will eat at the place is their original Filet of Fish sandwich.  I had an hour to drive or better so I figured it was better than a bag of chips and a candy bar across the street at the gas station.

I ordered the Filet 'Meal' and the teenage kid looks up at me and says what size drink.  I never finish the drink or the fries, so that is why I ordered the 'meal deal' or whatever it is entitled--figuring it was a small drink and fries.  So I said, 'small please'.  He rings it up and it was just slightly over $7.00.  I looked at the menu and it said $5.79 and of course there is tax on that.  I really didn't think much and waited a bit and got the bag to go.  Outside in the car, I figured I was charged wrong, not a big deal, probably a buck at most difference but the way the whole thing went down, was just wrong.  The teen kid, not even a 'thank you', little eye contact, only once, and why was he asking what size drink--the 'value meal' or 'meal deal' comes with a specified size I thought.  I went back in and asked the kid.  He said, I changed the size of the drink so that automatically voids the 'meal deal' and the sandwich was $3.79, the small drink was $1.00 and the med fry was $1.79.  My total was .80 greater than the 'meal deal' which came with a med drink and a med fry.  Since I ordered a small drink, I had to pay extra.  I said to him, 'seriously'?  He looked at me square in the eyes and said, 'yes'.  I asked for the manager and she came over, I started and she interrupted.  She said she was sorry and it happens all the time, not their doing it is Mickey D's policy to ask a customer what size drink they want and then the order automatically changes, etc.  She gave me a free coupon for an entire meal and mentioned, she wished Mickey D's corporate would change that policy. 

So I drove out to the casino and enjoyed my 'free' food of sorts.  I never really pay attention to this stuff because when I go to these kind of places the kids are usually with me and the 2 ten year olds pretty much always want to do the payment transactions the past couple of years.  Of course they do that so they can pocket the change!  Little rascals, they have it all figured out already!

I finished 2nd out of my table and have a spot at one more round before the Chinese New Year big tournament the last Saturday of this month.  Must have been the luck from the fish sandwich!