Head for the door

15 January 2019

By Frank Scoblete

Picture our hero heading to Las Vegas from New York City ready to challenge Lady Luck in her very own kingdom.

When he arrives he checks into a gorgeous hotel; goes to his gorgeous room, showers in a gorgeous shower and then takes a nap in the gorgeous bed and after hanging up his clothes in a gorgeous walk-in closet and checking out the gorgeous Strip far below him, he know with certainty that he’s there! He’s there in Las Vegas, one of his dream vacation cities. “I am here! I am here!” he says to the world outside his picture window.

Now he dresses in his special Las Vegas outfit that he bought before leaving his apartment in Manhattan and takes the elevator down to the casino. “I am here!” He’s excited; he can’t wait to get into the game, a game he’s been dreaming about for weeks. He’s even read up about the game he is to play and he feels confident, maybe even smug, that he knows enough to win. “Knowledge is power,” says to himself as the elevator opens on the casino floor.

He walks into the high roller room and places two thousand dollars on the $100 minimum blackjack table. He gives the dealer a big smile.

“Hello sir,” says the dealer.

“Hi! Hi!” says our hero sitting down.

“How are you today?” asks the dealer, counting the money and then organizing the chips.

“Fine, fine; I just got in,” says our hero.

“I wish you luck, sir,” says the dealer as he pushes the chips towards our hero.

The dealer gives him a bunch of blacks, some greens. The dealer knows those greens might at times translate into tips if the player does well. Time will tell.

“Thanks,” says our hero.

Immediately the dealer deals our hero a blackjack. First hand! Our hero is now ahead $150. Wow!

“That was great, sir,” says the dealer.

Our hero pushes all of his chips across the layout in the direction of the dealer.

“Color me up,” he says.

The dealer looks surprised. Our hero looks at him and says, “I’m ahead and I’m done for the trip!”

Our hero heads back to his room; packs his clothes, leaves a small tip for the maid; checks out of the hotel and heads back to McCarran airport for the return trip to Kennedy Airport in New York City. He did it; yes, he did. He won! He beat Lady Luck!

I am sure many of you have heard of the expression, “Quit while you’re ahead.” Is it a good philosophy of why to leave a game as our hero just did?

It isn’t. Obviously. Here’s why:

What if you win your very first hand at blackjack or your first roll of the dice or win on a slot machine or any other game at the casino? Do you up and head out the door? I am guessing no casino gambler will do such a thing, or at least no healthy one or any sane one. Even our hero, in reality, would not have left after only one win.

So when should a player leave a game?

Wait; wait for the answer. Just wait. Next week I’ll give some answers to the question of when to quit a game.

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Visit Frank’s website at www.frankscoblete.com. Frank’s books are available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Kindle, e-books, and at bookstores.