It has been a while since our last trip. I think we visited there a total of 4 times together, maybe 5. We stayed at the Monte Carlo our first time followed by New York New York and MGM Grand. I think we did MGM Grand twice.
One of the times there it actually snowed, which is a bit unusual for Vegas but we didn’t complain too much because it’s normally really hot. However, we really didn’t pack for snowy weather and in fact expected to lay by the pool. So instead we gambled, took advantage of the drinks and walked the strip.
Our game was table blackjack … and then the blackjack slots once we ran low on money … and then nickle slots if we really ran low on money. We were total virgins to the game the first time there but the dealers and other people were almost always ready to teach you. But you would soon learn the things you’re not supposed to do, like busting when you should have let the dealer bust. It wasn’t a tough game for us to pick up and eventually we had things down to a science … when to double down, when to stay, when to split, when to hit.
We always had plenty of fun there. We never went expecting to come home winners, but there was one time where everything seemed to be on our side. Unlike one of the previous visits where I think I split Ace’s 7 times and didn’t win a thing because the dealer got 21 too, this time was different.
One of the last times, maybe the last time we were there, we had a streak of luck like no other.
We usually played conservatively. We would each start with $40 (at $10 tables) and once it was gone we would get up and go somewhere else. It was a good plan because we wouldn’t ever get into a big hole. Even if Cari lost her $40, I would loan her some of mine so that we could keep playing together. And then once we would start winning, we would put that original $40 back in our pocket and play with the winnings. If we kept winning, we would continue to put money into our pocket and pretend as if it wasn’t there … and it usually worked, although sometimes that $40 burned a hole in our pocket.
This last time we had some good luck at MGM Grand and then decided to go to downtown Vegas … old Vegas I think. The same place that was featured on National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation. This is where we ran into our streak. I think we went at least 4 full decks without losing a hand. And not only were we winning but we were doubling down constantly on $25, $50, & $75+. Before we knew it we had stacks of black chips in front of us. We’re not high rollers so this was super exciting for us.
To this day we would talk to people about the streak of luck we had.
We always wanted to go back. Just to have some fun. Once we started having kids we put the Vegas vacation on hold but planned to go back in the not-to-distant future.