Dear Frank and Dominator,
I was in your very first class you guys taught in Atlantic City (2003).
My nickname is $Bill. I met a lawyer while on vacation in Paradise Island several years ago. He came up to me and asked me how to play the game. I taught him the 5-Count and told him to get your books. The lawyer lived on Paradise Island and invited me to come stay with him, if I ever came back.
He recently notified me and told me he was flying in to New York for four days and Delaware for a day, but wanted to catch up with me on the craps table.
So, I told him to call me when he arrived in Atlantic City. He did and I went down to meet him. We could not get anything going on the craps table. He asked me to come back on Monday to play with him. I got an emergency chimney relining job and snowstorm. Thus, I did not go back down to AC. Big mistake, he hit four points twice with a lot of numbers in between. He colored out with two purple chips and some black chips! He got comped a free room and food the whole weekend of Friday to Monday and he had never been to this casino before.
So, having been his mentor, I had to pull out my craps practice rig. I knew I had a chimney sweep convention in Indianapolis. Thus, I figured I would hit several casinos. I went to one and lost about $220. I'm a very conservative better. I like to let dice go around the table one whole time before I really bet and then just pass line and 1x odds is my primary betting strategy. I do not really bet place numbers.
The first casino was very tight. I believe they comped me $1.35 for my action of about four hours. I can get $30 comp in AC for same action. I was out of there.
I went to the chimney convention and used GPS to search for nearest casinos. I decided to go back to a casino I was at three months ago in Indiana. Right over border by the airport. I got in there and noticed a "Sharpshooter" bet. So I started asking the pit boss and dealers how it worked? I asked them if the point had to be different, like the "Fire Bet" in Las Vegas and Michigan casinos? They said no. All you have to do is make any point.
I said to myself, "I am going to make the Sharpshooter bet pay me well." I was hitting about two points here and there. I usually have to get the dice three times before I have my best roll. This don't bettor was on the opposite end of me at the table. I started thinking about an article you wrote and I wiped him out. He was playing with about $2,000 in black chips and I had him way down to green chips after I hit four points. But, I forgot to bet on my "Sharpshooter" bet. I got distracted zoning on my points.
I moved to another table.
The smoke was killing me in the casino. The casino was giving away Lexus cars, so it was packed. I decided to take a break and eat. My head was starting to hurt and I was wheezing (asthma). I went to the car and got an inhaler that would keep my lungs from being inflamed. Then I remembered what you said about working the comps and I thought about how my student from Paradise Island had worked the comps. Thus, I went back to the pit boss who said that I had the best roll he saw in a while. I asked him if he can comp me for dinner. He asked me for a players card. I told him I do not have one, so he went and made me one and comped me a free buffet for $47.
I ate a nice buffet and went back to the craps tables. My head was still pounding, so I bought some aspirin and got to a $15 table. I do not usually play at $15 tables. I feel more comfortable at the $10 tables. I do not like to be pushed on my bets.
Then it happened! I had the roll of my life!
I hit the point 4, point 4 again, point 10. I used a straight sixes set on the comeout (trying to hit 2 or 12). I hit high low for $4 a few times and some naturals. But I threw the 3V set for every point. I pounded the casino for nine points! I was in the zone and I was super calm and people were coming up and hugging me. Others were crowding around the tables saying I cannot believe I was not at this table!
After reading your article about the Captain's death, I now realize I have to call the casino and find out my number of rolls. They kept track of my nine points for me, because they had to pay me 200 x $5.00 or two purple chips and my original $5.00 chip back. I cashed out for $1,522. I used Dominator's strategy of going to the table like going into a battle. I realized which way I wanted to tackle the table and I won big time. Remember, I am just a low-rolling barnacle type player. I do not focus on place bets, because I do not want to be pulled out of my zone. I knew I am a point shooter and the "Sharpshooter" challenge made me feel comfortable.
I went back yesterday, 2-28-10, but I could not get anything going. Lost $400 and decided to leave after two hours. I did not realize it, but the dealer said, "You were the guy who hit nine points last night." Then people were coming by the craps table saying the same thing to me. I felt like a star. I am humble too, so I just said "Yes, that was me." My win paid for whole trip. I was proud for the GTC training and I was proud I can tell my student his teacher saved face. Frank you can use this story as a testimony if you like, I do not mind. Have a good one.
$ Bill
Glad to hear about your recent adventures. Happy you won some money. I hope your friend from Paradise Island decides to become a Golden Touch controlled shooter. It is the only way to go as you have clearly shown.
I am extending your subscription to our members-only paid website at www.goldentouchcraps.com.