I just finished a primer class with GTC in Oct. 2016. I then went on my annual election day trip to AC. I usually stay from Sun-Tue taking advantage of my comp room offers on my total rewards account. My instructors did advise us to practice for 6 months tracking approximately 5,000 rolls before walking into a casino. But on the other hand, Dom did say in class., “Have a plan before you walk into the Casino…” So my plan was to bring a $800 for expenses and playing with the goal of performing what I call a “Pen Test” Pen is short for Penetration.

My Penetration test objective would be to feel the environment of each casino and study the table. The rail height, the feel as my throw is being perform. Listen to the landing of the dice as it hits the table. The behavior of the dealers and the stickmen, pit boss, use the 5 count and practice my throw in a live play situation to determine where my comfort zone and irritation tolerance was.

At first, I was thinking the minute I go into my throw routine a dealer would yell out “Hey GTC student” to throw me off. Surprisingly, it was not any of the Staff that works at the Table, it was the other players that kills my concentration, below are the type players that throw off my game.

1) Obnoxious Don’t player: For whatever reason this don’t player would yell out “Just throw them dam dice, what you waiting for!!!”. WoooSaaaa, I faulted my throw because I wanted to get Brooklyn on this dude.

2) Taking Hands: Sure my Uncle Joe was Italian and loved to talk with his hands and mouth, but I doubt he would do it when the dice is in the hands of the shooter. I faulted with a balk throw.

3) Late Bettor: These are people that process information slowly, the late bettor decides to bet in your line of fire when you are releasing the dice. And they do it over and over after warnings.

4) Teach Me Craps: There are people asking you what do these boxes mean when you’re in the middle of your five count or trying to focus on the throw.

5) High Roller: There was a guy who bought in for 7K on my roll and put it on Ploppy and place bets. I faulted on my throws thinking about this guy has a lot of money on the line for my throw.

Note on #5: I later saw him at where I was staying at and colored in for 150K on an hour roll from a shooter who set the dice with the reverse 3V set with the YO facing. You know you won big when your being escorted by two security guards to the cage. (The ladings were random, and the shooter colored in for 3,330, said he was only 330 ahead and gave the dealers 30 tip)

Then I finally arrive at the Trp Casino. In the past I would always lose money at this Casino. Surprisingly, everyone was great, dealers, stickman, pit lady and the players were civilized and quiet. I was able to focus, I can hear the voices of Dom and the GTC instructors (“Like in Star Wars, Mr. PiP use the force!”), telling me to square my shoulders widen my stance etc. “I felt it come all together”, a common term used here. It’s like watching a slow motion picture seeing the dice roll off your fingers in the perfect arch spinning in the air and slapping on the felt showing a Hard way not only once, but three times in a row. Hitting my point 4 times in a row. I have to admit that the crowd was to civilized that I was expecting claps and wind up physically slapping myself on the back which made a couple of the players laugh. On color out, one of the dealers complimented me on my play and thanked me for doing the cap the pass line bet with a dollar for the dealers.

Lessons Learned:
1) As Dom and Nick@night warned if the environment does not feel right to you just pick-up and leave. I should of swallowed my pride and left during 1-5.
a. Dealers energy
b. Sane players
c. “If it feels like you seen this movie before, you know the ending…Time to leave”
2) Focus on my game and tune everyone out.
3) Practice, Yes I may have long rolls on focus but there were some that I saw fall off axis 6 or 1 showing and double pitch 7 out when I did seven out.
4) Primers out there, don’t lose hope. You need to practice and track your progress.
5) Betting strategy, I went to the table with a small Session bankroll. I plan to do 10 hands per session and if possible 10 sessions each trip. (What type of Trip bankroll should I have?)
6) I am here for the long haul I don’t expect to be an expert overnight but I am confident with lots of practice and taking another refresher with GTC after 6 months I will be in a better position and maybe Mr. PiP will someday be rolling the bones subconsciously, just like driving a CAR, both the dice and I will become one and each throw will respond accordingly. I want to be that guy someday with the pumpkin patch leaving with my security guards, but it would be my hour session throw that makes the money.

Til next trip,
-Mr. Pip

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