The Ultimate System - Chapter 10

Living the Dream

Even with his eyes shut tight, David was shocked to see the figure displayed on the screen—$99,155.12. It seemed utterly unreal. However, he couldn't shake off the odd thought that the progressive jackpot meter had remained unchanged since he had begun playing. Despite losing badly before that big win, he was certain he had fed at least $7,000 or $8,000 into the machine, so he expected the meter to reflect at least some movement.

Although David didn't immediately understand why the stationary progressive meter bothered him, it soon became clear. When he finally opened his eyes, the gambling machine had been replaced by a nightstand, which just held an alarm clock, a lamp, and an empty glass that had once contained whiskey.

It had all been a dream.

"What the hell?\"

He found himself questioning aloud, despite being completely alone in his room. As he stood up, his legs felt a bit unsteady, and he glanced at the alarm clock, discovering it was 11:24 a.m. The vivid dream about the Quick Hit machine felt more immersive than any dream he had previously experienced, leading him to question whether he really had won nearly $100,000. Intrigued, he decided to check his wallet for answers.

Upon opening his wallet, he counted only $2,990. Attempting to piece together the events of the previous night, he recalled his rapid loss of $1,000 at the blackjack table and the subsequent purchase of another double jack, but the rest seemed to have been dreamt up. His dream had been so lifelike that he couldn’t remember getting back to his room or going to bed.

It appeared that he had dozed off—perhaps lost consciousness—still dressed and with his shoes on. However, it seemed that at some point, he had tucked himself under a blanket. Taking in his surroundings with confusion, he muttered to the empty room, 'I wish the blackjack game had just been a dream.' A dull ache in his right heel reminded him of rolling around in bed and wearing his shoes far too long, as small sores began to form on the back of his foot.

He found himself pondering whether he had actually made it to his room by himself. For a moment, he thought about calling downstairs for clarification, but quickly dismissed the idea, knowing the staff might not have the answer. Moreover, if he had indeed returned on his own, inquiring would only lead to embarrassment. Opening the left section of his wallet, he spotted the room key still inside, indicating he had likely let himself in.

The details of the blackjack game eluded him, but he was surprisingly unconcerned about the result, given that he still had nearly $3,000 available. Talking to the silence around him, he added, It’s odd I’m not more upset about all this.

Not sure how to proceed, David opted to take a lengthy shower. The lunch buffet was set to open at noon, and he planned to head down for his first complimentary meal of the day. Despite consuming much more alcohol than usual in recent years, he didn't feel ill; instead, he was immensely hungry.

As he exited the elevator and made his way toward the buffet, he spotted Nate Frazier heading for the staff elevator. 'Good morning, Nate! How are you doing today?'

'I’m doing fine,' Nate replied absentmindedly, adding, 'You realize that not playing on the first night of a three-night stay doesn’t leave a great impression, right?'

While David couldn't remember the specifics of how things had played out, he was clear about having lost $1,000 at blackjack. 'I did play last night!' he defended.

'Well, if you count the free play, then maybe,' Nate responded, 'But that doesn't really count, does it?'

'I didn't only use the free play,' David said, a hint of irritation in his tone. 'I lost a grand at the blackjack table as well!'

Nate wasn't particularly fond of David, but he realized that criticizing someone for not gambling after they've lost $1,000 was not a good move. 'I didn’t even see you at the tables last night,' he said. 'I apologize; I’ll look into it and give you a call on your cell.'

Not overly concerned about the interaction, David shrugged and continued on.

After finishing his meal at the buffet, David thought it wise to keep as much money as possible—preferably aiming to get close to $4,000—to test out his new 'Ultimate System.' He figured it wouldn't be practical to ask Evan for a ride to the bank from the casino, so he resolved to walk instead.

He withdrew $610 from his balance of $612.22, bringing his total bankroll back to $3,600. He considered taking a cab from the bank back to The Golden Goose but ultimately chose to save every penny possible in case his system led to losses and he needed all his cash for a final bet.

On his walk back, David took some time to kick at snow piles, observing how the flakes would part from the clumps and dance in the air. He noticed a couple of kids sledding down a hill on improvised sleds made from garbage can lids and smiled. With $3,600 at his disposal, he reflected on the many opportunities it presented—he could easily afford a skiing trip at a nearby resort instead of spending the day in the casino. He also found it puzzling that Nate believed he hadn’t gambled the previous night, as his wallet told an entirely different story. For a moment, he questioned if he had indeed played blackjack, but then reminded himself that blackjack was the only active game at that time.

By sometime between 4:30 and 5:00, David returned to the casino. Just then, his cell phone rang, and he noticed it was Evan calling. With reluctance, he answered the phone.

"Hey, Ev, what’s going on?\"

Evan Blake didn’t take long to get to the point, saying, 'I was just worried about you, making sure you're not doing anything reckless.'

'As I mentioned before,' David replied, 'I only brought $500 with me.'

Evan countered, 'That’s a considerable amount of money.'

David's indifference was evident in his voice, 'That might be a lot for you, but my expenses are minimal, so it really doesn’t concern me.'

'Well,' Evan concluded with a resigned tone, 'Best of luck to you.'

David ended the call without further comment, only for the phone to ring again almost immediately. 'Damn it!' he exclaimed. Glancing down, he saw it was Nate calling, so he answered, 'Hey, Nate, how’s everything going?'

Nate was surprised by the upbeat tone in David’s greeting. 'Hey, all is well. I need to apologize for earlier; I spoke with the Table Games Director, and he reviewed last night's footage. You did indeed lose a grand. I'm not sure why my boss didn’t include you in the system; it seems to have been a simple oversight.'

'Alright,' David said, 'I take it that clears things up. Is there anything else?'

'Actually, yes,' Nate said. 'To make amends for giving you a hard time, I arranged a $100 meal comp for you at the steakhouse, valid for tonight or tomorrow. It’s a much nicer option compared to the buffet. Additionally, I’m adding $100 to your free play for today only. You'll have $120 today, but it will drop back to $20 tomorrow.'

David was genuinely surprised by this kind gesture. 'That sounds fantastic, thanks, Nate! I’m eager to dine at the steakhouse!'

Nate found the reaction somewhat confusing. While it was common for patrons to thank him for a $100 food credit, David’s enthusiasm was surprising, given he was known to drop substantial sums at the blackjack table on an average Wednesday. Nevertheless, he reassured, 'No problem, David. Sorry for the mix-up.'

'You've definitely made up for it,' David responded.

Searching his wallet for his players club card, David suddenly remembered he had left it at the blackjack table the previous night. The pit boss on duty had neglected to inquire about how much he had lost and didn’t recall much either, as they had been preoccupied with a Sudoku puzzle. Eventually, seeing no players at the table, they tossed David’s card into the trash can.

David went to the players club and obtained a replacement card. As he walked through the high-limit room without any specific reason, he smiled at the Quick Hit machine with a $15 maximum bet, thinking, Just a dream. He scanned the array of other machines but really missed the Winning Wolf game he usually enjoyed playing for free. Even though he knew that video poker was a smarter choice, he didn’t care much about the $120 in free play when he had $3,600 in his wallet.

Eventually, David settled on a machine titled Fireball Frenzy and began playing at $1.00 per spin. As he counted his spins, he reached eighty before experiencing a setback to $55 remaining on his ticket. Finally, he struck it lucky with seven fireballs, unlocking the bonus and allowing him to select additional fireballs. He managed to choose two, which netted him a hit of just over a hundred bucks. While he didn’t encounter another windfall quite that significant, he did trigger the bonus several more times during his last twenty spins, ending with $204.33 left on his ticket.

After cashing out, he disregarded the small change, satisfied with holding $3,804 in his wallet—just shy of the $4,000 he had from the night before. He had almost entirely forgotten that $610 of that total had come from his bank account earlier that day. In his mind, he was essentially back to even.

Typically not one to postpone rewards, David made his way to the steakhouse to redeem his comp. He was able to enjoy an appetizer along with two entrees, keeping the total just under ninety bucks. He inquired whether the remaining comp amount could be applied as a tip, received confirmation it could, and chose to tip with whatever was left. Although it didn’t quite reach 15% of the total bill, it was a generous gratuity by David's standards.

He carried the second dish he had chosen back to his room and placed it in the refrigerator – a mouthwatering chicken parmigiana served with asparagus. Earlier, he had eaten a steak downstairs, which he found somewhat dry. This was likely due to the fact that he had only ever known to order his steak ‘well done.’ Unsure about the side dish, he had simply asked for french fries to accompany both of his meals.

Once back in his room, David turned on the television and was starting to enjoy his time when an alarming realization struck him – he needed to get in some playtime! He recalled reading posts on the WizardofVegas Forums about players being expelled from casinos, which absurdly prompted him to think that if he didn't start gambling soon, he could face being evicted from his hotel room. Glancing at the clock, he saw it was almost 8:00 PM, which meant he should still have access to all the table games he wanted.

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As David descended to the casino floor, he spotted Sammy at the craps table. After exchanging the usual greetings, he inquired, \"Are Nick or Malcolm here today?\"

Sammy laughed and answered, \"Sometimes I really question your memory. Malcolm is caught up with his career in the NBA, being a professional basketball player keeps him quite busy these days.\"

"Got it,\" David replied, even though he genuinely couldn't recall when the NBA season began, \"How about Nick?\"

"Nick’s business tends to slow down during this time of year,\" Sammy replied, \"You won’t see him around much until around June. His appearances will be quite rare until then.\"

"That’s a shame,\" David concluded.

"Good thing I’m around,\" Sammy remarked while glancing at the otherwise deserted table, \"Without me, the crew would just be at a loss for what to do. Why not take a few turns at the dice?\"

Feeling more secure with three thousand dollars in his wallet, David peeled off eight $100 bills and bought in, saying, \"Make it all green.\" Then, after some thought, he pulled out a single dollar and added, \"Just lock this up for the crew.\"

"Very generous, sir,\" the boxman acknowledged, \"Thank you very much.\"

David finally realized that waiting for other players to roll the dice or for the dice to come back to him was pointless. Instead, he opted to wager on Sammy’s roll. He placed one of his $25 green chips on the pass line. Sammy picked up the dice and rolled them across the table, but they landed a bit low.

"Three, Crap, Three.\"

David felt indifferent about this result and chose to bet $50, bringing his total down to $725. Sammy then rolled a dice combination known as snake eyes.

After considering his position, David placed three green chips on the don’t pass line, sensing that Sammy was not having much luck. Though his stack had diminished to $650, a win on this bet would restore him to $800. Sammy glanced at him with a cheeky smile, saying, \"You’ve already lost faith in me, huh?\"

"Don’t take it personally, Sammy,\" David replied.

As it turned out, David's decision was wise because Sammy rolled a midnight on the next attempt. Although David hadn’t won anything, his $75 was still safe. Sammy’s following roll was a six, and David decided not to place any odds, and after four more rolls, Sammy succeeded in marking his point with a hard six.

"Here we go again,\" David muttered.

"It’s still early,\" Sammy replied.

David was puzzled whether the table was experiencing a losing streak or if it had turned choppy due to that one win on the pass line. He recalled one of the guiding principles of his Ultimate System: 'When in doubt, change games.' Turning to Sammy, he shrugged, \"I’ll come back to the dice later.\"

With that, David made his way to the Roulette table with a double-zero layout. He placed six green chips on red and waited for the croupier to proceed.

The croupier raised an eyebrow at David’s chips, asking, \"You intend to play with those?\"

"Absolutely,\" David confirmed, \"I’m fine as they are, no need to break them down.\"

"Alright,\" the croupier agreed, \"However, if any other players arrive wanting to use green chips, both of you will need to convert to roulette chips, understood?\"

David nodded, and the croupier sent the wheel spinning.

The ball danced around the wheel and, just as it appeared ready to settle on Red-27, it suddenly jumped to Black-29 at the last moment. David felt his frustration boiling over, exclaiming, \"FUCK!!!\"

"I’m sorry, sir,\" said the croupier.

The anger wasn’t solely due to the outcome. David had noticed that the last three turns had landed on black, punctuated by two red spins, with the four previous spins all being black as well. It was only his second game of the evening, and he had neglected his own system. \"Not your fault,\" he muttered to the croupier, placing a $200 wager on the third twelve. The last four numbers had fallen on black from the third twelve, including a repeat of 33.

The croupier spun the ball again, and after a few moments, she called out, \"No more bets,\" despite David sitting alone at the table, practically holding himself back from betting more. The ball eventually landed on Red-7. The way it came to rest left no room for doubt about the outcome; it was almost as if it had been drawn to the seven slot.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, SHIT!!!\"

The croupier couldn’t suppress a giggle, perhaps unintentionally, while David had cursed seven times, building the comedic effect significantly with the last emphatic, ‘Shit.’ Left with uncertainty about his next move, David realized switching games was now his best option.

With his remaining twelve green chips, he headed to the three-card poker game, thankfully finding another player seated. David patiently awaited three consecutive hands in which the dealer either failed to qualify or qualified with a pair or lower. As soon as that happened, he made a $150 ante bet.

When the dealer dealt the cards, David reached for his, but the dealer requested, \"Please wait until the red light is off, sir.\" David sighed but complied. After the hands had gone into the discard pile, the red light turned off, replaced by a green light, and David saw he had a pair of deuces. Naturally, he matched the $150 ante bet with a $150 play bet.

The other player decided to fold, allowing the dealer to take the folded player's ante bet and discard their cards. Then, using a fluid motion, the dealer revealed his hand, showing a pair of fives. \"Damnit,\" David muttered.

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Just like that, his $800 evaporated, and he found himself counting his remaining cash. No matter how often he recounted, he always landed on $3,003. Thoroughly disheartened by the swift loss, he considered retreating to his room.

To return to the elevator, David had to pass by the craps table where he noticed a young man who had made a dollar fire bet successfully shooting the dice and already establishing four points. The winning streak was apparent, right in front of him!

He fished out ten $100 bills and leaned in to buy in for the full amount, but just as he did, something grazed the back of his hand...

"No roll,\" declared the supervisor. Ironically, after deflecting off David's hand, the resulting roll would have yielded a 3-4 and a seven-out.

"Goddamnit!\" the young player shouted, \"That would have been another three; do you have any idea how much you just cost me?\"

"Sir,\" the supervisor calmly stated, \"It's critical that you do not place your hands or anything else over the table when the dice are out.\"

David felt cornered and nearly lashed out, but he caught himself at the last moment, recognizing he was in the wrong. \"I apologize, I’ve already lost $800 tonight,\" he admitted.

"I’m sorry to hear that,\" the boxman responded, not particularly bothered by David’s losses, \"But you do need to comply with the rules. Would you like to buy in now?\"

Despite his embarrassment, David thought about leaving the table but stayed put, finishing his buy-in of a thousand dollars and stating, \"All black.\"

The dealer on his side of the table distributed ten black chips after the supervisor made the count, and David ended up opting to place a put bet – surprisingly enough – putting one of his black chips on the pass line. Although they could have advised making a place bet on the six, the crew’s irritation with David’s blatant breach of craps etiquette was evident and delayed the game.

Ultimately, it mattered little; two rolls later, the kid rolled a seven, losing his pass line and odds bets, but he did collect for hitting four points. Convinced he would have rolled a hard six had David’s hand not interfered, the young man shot him a friendly, \"Fuck you,\" as he exited the table.

David was feeling immense frustration, grappling not only with the fact that he was losing at everything he touched but also recognizing he wasn't winning any friendships during this downturn. Murphy’s Law echoed in his head, commanding every moment of the day, at least since he stepped into the gaming area. To his surprise, he found five dice in front of him.

"Are you shooting?\" the stickman asked directly.

David had resigned himself to the notion that everything was set to go wrong for him that day. He picked up two of the dice, setting them aside hopelessly, then took his full stack of nine black chips worth $900 and placed them on the pass line.

Uncertain if he would crap out on the come-out roll or establish a point only to miss it by rolling a seven, one thing was for certain – David was utterly convinced that he would lose that $900. He toyed with the dice nervously, but knowing his fate wasn’t easy to accept. It wouldn’t be so bad if he didn’t have to witness it, he thought. With his eyes closed, he tossed the dice over the table.

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"Seven, seven, front line winner!\" the stickman shouted, \"Pay the line!\"

David abruptly lifted his head in disbelief; it turned out the dice showed a 2 and a 5. Just like that, he found himself back at a total of $3,800. He sat in silence, astonished, as the dealer collected several black chips, placed them next to his current stack, and then piled on even more. Glancing over at Sammy, who had a broad smile on his face, David said, \"Uh... let Sammy have the dice; I think I’m done for a while!\"

With determination, David strode over to the cashier, clutching his eighteen black chips, and asked to exchange them for hundreds. He cheerfully fished out a single bill and dropped it into the tip box, saying, \"This is for you,\" directed at the cashier.

The cashier replied with a hint of sarcasm, \"Thank you, sir.\" He had perceived David as somewhat rigid because, in his experience at the Golden Goose Casino, players who walked in with that many chips typically had purchased in for one or two hundred and scored big on some side bets. Little did he know, David had merely broken even on an even-money bet.

David felt quite satisfied just to have walked away with his $3,800 intact; only three minutes prior, he had been seriously contemplating whether to risk his last two grand on a buy-in...

Back in his room, David wandered around, feeling restless. The moment the door clicked shut, he was struck again by 'The Itch.' Although his plan involved jumping from game to game, he recognized that he had been playing recklessly. His betting patterns diverged from his refined approach of 'The Ultimate System,' and his method, primarily involving negative progression, scarcely qualified as a system at all. He mused aloud, \"Is it wise to start with large bets and then scale them back as you win?\"

After considering his own question, David quickly responded aloud, \"No way! If you'd been making big bets from the beginning, you would've been obliterated right off the bat!\"

At a loss for what to do next, David glanced at the clock and noted it was nearly midnight, indicating that most table games would soon shut down. Nonetheless, he decided to head downstairs for one last look at the Roulette board, hoping to crack that puzzle. In his rush, he nearly collided with a woman exiting the elevator. As he approached the gaming area, he noticed the pit boss from the night before getting an earful from a sharply dressed gentleman.

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The pit boss spotted David and her irritation intensified. She vaguely remembered him from the previous night, realizing he was the reason for her reprimanding by the Table Games Director. She had lost track of the conversation and reluctantly tuned back in, hearing, \"...and you even have a host! You're managing one table with two players, and you can't be bothered to submit a rating for anyone?\"

"I apologize,\" she interjected, \"I don't know how I forgot about that.\"

However, she seemed oblivious to the fact that the table games area was under close surveillance. \"Let me tell you why,\" the Director continued, \"Because you were too busy focusing on your puzzle book.\"

"I'm sorry,\" the pit boss replied, conceding, \"That probably makes sense.\"

The Director corrected her, saying, \"It certainly does. You had two players, count them, one-two. Not only should they have been rated accurately, but you should also be able to tell me how much was bet on every hand! We had to give the guy significant comps to make up for your negligence—hundreds of dollars all because you neglected your responsibilities. You barely even glanced up when he came in!\"

"It won’t happen again,\" she replied.

"It absolutely won't happen again,\" the Director concluded. \"Because if it does, your position here becomes untenable. I try to be lenient and allow you some time with your puzzle book only when there are no players around and absolutely nothing to attend to. Meanwhile, your dealers can only stand around, growing more exhausted. Perhaps I should make you stand with them all night instead.\"

The pit boss remained silent, and the Director stormed off, deciding to let the issue lie for now. He opted not to strip her of the privilege to handle her puzzle book during slow times, but if he caught her distracted while players were at the table, her employment would be in jeopardy.

By the time David finished observing the altercation, he realized that the roulette table must have closed before midnight. Although the board remained illuminated, he noted that he had likely been the last player. He sauntered into the poker room, only to find it completely empty. Sammy had apparently left, and the craps team was busy counting down, preparing to close shop.

The three-card poker table had also wrapped up for the evening, leaving David with little choice but to either play blackjack with a dealer different from the girl from the previous night or seek a different activity altogether. He rummaged through the thirty-eight $100 bills in his wallet for what felt like the tenth or eleventh time since leaving the cage, ultimately deciding against blackjack. It wasn’t about fear of losing; rather, he felt it would be too awkward to play at that table, especially after catching the pit boss’s glare and knowing he was at the center of her reprimand.

Although David usually didn't drink and had woken up feeling less than stellar that morning despite getting out of bed naturally, he resolved to enjoy a few drinks anyway. Having strutted around with a whiskey glass the previous night instilled in him a sense of class and importance, something he wanted to replicate.

Magically, he had accrued $30 in food and dining credits, so he decided to indulge in three more double drinks and tip the bartender $3. The bartender—a familiar face from the night before—recognized him, as there weren't many patrons visiting the bar that time of year, and asked, \"Same order?\"

"Yes, please,\" David said, handing over his card. \"Just charge it to my comp dollars and tip yourself a dollar for each round.\"

"Very generous, thank you!\" the bartender responded sincerely.

After David received his double Jack, served neat, he set off to find something entertaining to do. He wandered back into the high-limit room and set his eyes upon the Quick Hit Platinum machine, the same one featured in his dream the previous night. He noticed that the grand jackpot had settled at just over $85,000, and idly pondered where the lucrative amount from his dream had originated. A significant part of him hesitated to try the machine, but ultimately curiosity got the better of him and he felt compelled to test if his dream held any truth.

Inserting his player card and eight $100 bills, David began betting $15 per spin, replicating his approach from the dream. After roughly a hundred spins, he was excited to hit five Quick Hit symbols, which were valued at $237.53 at that moment, and then on the very next spin, he landed some free games!

His excitement building, David hurriedly attempted to ascertain where the twenty free games and the Wild + Five Free Games were concealed. Realizing he had no clue, he settled on closing his eyes and running his hands over the screen until something happened. Eventually, he selected the Wild + Five, but the remaining boxes yielded only seven free games, bringing his total to twelve.

Although the number of free spins wasn't quite what he had hoped for, they turned out reasonably well. David managed to trigger a retrigger and hit another five Quick Hit symbols, resulting in a nice bonus of $300 during the free rounds. Ultimately, the bonus spins netted him $415, and he realized he was now up to just over $1,100 overall.

In the commotion of his excitement, he also noticed that he had downed what remained of his whiskey. After printing his ticket and slipping it into his wallet, he made his way back to the bar for yet another drink.

"Good to see you!\" the bartender greeted with enthusiasm. \"Are you winning?\"

Despite the norm for casino employees to refrain from asking such questions—and even receiving training not to do so—it was common for bartenders to inquire. Occasionally, security personnel would also ask how players were doing, but only if a rapport had been established. Yet, for some reason, many bartenders considered it perfectly fine to ask.

Completely overlooking the $600 he had withdrawn less than twelve hours ago, David replied, \"Yeah, I’m up over $300.\"

"Try to win more!\"

"I will,\" David assured him. \"No need to worry about that!\"

After receiving his drink, David contemplated the idea of returning to the Quick Hit machine for another attempt, but ultimately decided against it. Instead, he pulled out his slot ticket and seated himself at one of the bar-top games. Choosing the Deuces Wild game, which featured a $5 maximum bet, he set out to play by a sound strategy. Most hands he managed to play correctly, though he occasionally tossed aside promising three-card straight flush draws along with inside straight draws.

Having lost about $100 when he hit 'Deal,' he was surprised with a delightful hand: Three Deuces! Though he doubted he'd hit a fourth, he chose to hold onto the three deuces and made the attempt—successfully landing the deuce of clubs for an additional $1,000!

David had a total of $2,010 and some additional coins on his ticket when he decided to cash out. To show his appreciation, he left a ten-dollar tip for the bartender. After downing his whiskey, he handed the cup to the bartender along with the ten-dollar bill and his players club card, saying, \"This is for you; please pour me another drink and deduct it from my comp dollars!\"

When David gave that tip, it was quite surprising coming from someone who didn’t appear wealthy. At that particular time of year, any gratuity felt generous, and the bartender responded with a heartfelt, \"Thank you, sir!\"

David chuckled to himself. He found it amusing that the bartender was so thrilled with a ten-dollar tip, especially considering he had just won a thousand bucks with relative ease. \"No need to thank me!\" he replied casually.

He counted the money in his wallet multiple times before leaving the bar, confirming that he had accumulated five thousand dollars in hundreds. However, he didn't realize that despite his recent winnings, he was only up by about $400 over the past two days because he had withdrawn $600 from the bank earlier that same day. If you asked him about it, he’d probably have a vague recollection.

His first instinct was to find a slot machine that would allow betting of $50 or $100 per spin, but surprisingly, he quickly brushed that thought aside as imprudent. Instead, he checked the time on his phone—ten minutes until two—and decided he still felt lucky enough to try his hand at blackjack. He dismissed any blame directed at the pit boss, thinking it was all on her.

Approaching the blackjack table where a male dealer was dealing cards, or rather not dealing since the table was empty, David placed five $100 bills on the table. The dealer announced, \"Changing five-hundred.\"

The pit boss, with a flourish of sarcasm, responded, \"Indeed, change five-hundred. Cashing out five hundred dollars at Blackjack Table Three. We appreciate your business at the Golden Goose Casino and wish you the best of luck, sir, may you be our next big winner!\"

The dealer struggled to suppress a smile as David returned the gesture by playfully flipping off the pit boss. He seemed unaware of the underlying tension but found the exchange amusing. Normally, he worked the morning shift but was doing a double shift today due to a coworker calling off. In truth, he couldn't stand the pit boss and would consider quitting if he had to work with her regularly. \"How would you like your chips, sir?\"

"Um…\" David hesitated, not having given it much thought, \"Just give me two black chips and the rest in greens, but make sure to include fifty dollars in reds.\"

The dealer took a moment to process David's request, but soon handed over two black chips, two stacks of five green chips, and two stacks with five red chips each. \"Good luck to you, sir,\" he said in a neutral tone.

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Still uncertain about his strategy, David eventually decided to place one black chip and four green chips in the betting area for a total bet of $200. The dealer dealt him an initial card—an eight—and then another card, which was another eight. The dealer had a five showing, setting off a spark of hope in David that tonight could mirror the previous night's luck.

David placed another chip in the designated area and announced, \"Split,\" while mimicking the motion for splitting cards. The dealer placed a three on each of David's eights.

"Here we go,\" David muttered, pulling out three more C-notes from his wallet and exchanging them for more black chips. He placed two behind his first hand of eights and drew a ten for a total of twenty-one. For his other hand, he set aside a mix of chips but drew only a deuce.

"Please, dealer,\" David requested, \"I hope you don’t draw a twenty-one on me.\"

The dealer shrugged, remarking, \"I certainly hope not, but the cards have a mind of their own.\"

The dealer revealed his second card—a five—then drew a two followed by a four, finally revealing a ten!\"

"Twenty-six,\" the dealer stated calmly, \"It seems that's too many. How would you like to proceed?\"

David was elated with the outcome. Although it was more predictable than the previous night’s surprise winnings, he was thrilled he had doubled his bets on both hands. \"Um, right, um, please convert everything to black chips!\"

The dealer complied, starting with an announcement of an eight-hundred-dollar payout, then proceeding to convert those winnings into black chips.

Just like that, David discovered he now had $5,802 in his possession, bubbling with happiness. \"Actually,\" he began as he slid a black chip to the dealer, \"Could I get four green chips?\"

If the dealer felt any frustration from the minute spent exchanging the same chips back and forth after the hand had finished, he didn’t allow it to show. \"Check-Change One-Hundred,\" he professionally announced, handing David his four green chips.

"Do you guys keep your tips?\"

"The tips are shared equally among the dealers,\" the dealer informed him.

"But, not the pit bosses, right?\"

"No,\" the dealer quickly corrected, \"Management staff aren’t part of the tipping pool.\"

"That’s good,\" David replied, extravagantly sending a green chip to the dealer. With a dash of flair, he spun it over to him, adding, \"Lock that up!\"

"Thank you, sir,\" the dealer said, clearly pleased. \"That’s incredibly generous of you!\"

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After cashing out at the cage and tipping his two singles, David now had a total of $5,775. He thought about returning to the bar for another drink, but realized he must have just missed the bartender. The cocktail waitress was in the area, preparing her last round, and offered to get him something, but he decided against it.

Climbing up to his room, he kicked off his shoes and thought that another shower would elevate his already excellent mood. Over the past two days, he’d legitimately won over a thousand dollars while indulging in two subpar buffets and enjoying a memorable dinner at the steakhouse. Remembering he still had an entree waiting in the fridge, he felt a sudden pang of hunger and scarfed it down in under five minutes.

Seated comfortably in an armchair with his feet resting on the ottoman, he almost forgot about the shower he had wanted to take. By the time he recalled it, he had started to drift off to sleep and, with his last bits of energy, managed to kick off his shoes.

A couple of hours later, he stirred awake around five in the morning, briefly troubled by what he thought was heavy rain pounding against his window. To compound the situation, the bright golden light streaming in from the large Golden Goose sign outside didn’t help his agitation. Irritated, he got up to close the curtains.

As the thought flickered through his mind that maybe his recent winning streak had just been a figment of his imagination, he decided to check his wallet. To his relief, it was indeed real, and he confirmed that he had $5,775 available.

He idly pondered whether he could convince Evan to look for a bigger place. He had more than enough funds to cover half of the first month's rent and a security deposit, while still retaining over four grand. He recalled Evan mentioning other available units in their building. However, after reflecting on it, he concluded that he didn’t want to ask Evan to leave a place he enjoyed, and he realized for the first time that he simply didn’t want to live alone.

Despite the infrequent and often contentious conversations with his mother, he recognized that she was just a call away if he needed her. Deep down, he understood that living in his cluttered basement with the dripping pipe (which he still hadn't fixed) was more tolerable than facing total solitude.

He reminisced about his childhood, trying to recall some joyful moments. It seemed as though everyone around him had exciting tales of sports victories, experimental adventures, college parties, academic achievements, and all sorts of experiences that painted youth as joyous. In contrast, for David, his childhood was lonely with very few memorable highlights.

Interestingly, David found he was less socially awkward now compared to his younger days. Evan was his only friend, and while he wasn't necessarily bullied, his shyness kept him from interacting with peers. Consequently, he spent much time feeling isolated and despondent, and he could count his romantic relationships on one hand—more precisely, two fingers.

Growing up in this manner led David to believe that people had an innate dislike for him without any justification. In reality, they simply didn’t know him, and he hadn’t made any efforts to change that perception. As he matured, David felt like reflecting the disdain he thought society held for him right back at them. Naturally, this resulted in becoming a person that others generally found unlikable.

Long before he started giving out small tips here and there, even when the usual faces at the craps table held disdain for him, David felt like the money he displayed earned him a degree of respect from fellow players and the staff. However, most of the other players knew he worked as a deli attendant at A Penny Saved, and his newer habit of betting large sums had mainly elicited concern and a degree of pity. In fact, it was pity that prompted Sammy to give him a ride a few months back.

It didn’t take long for David to notice a change in how the people at the table interacted with him, especially Sammy. He thought that the shift in attitudes was solely due to the substantial amounts of money he was putting on the table. What he failed to recognize was that their newfound kindness stemmed from his own change in behavior; he had started to treat others with genuine respect. Over time, this small act of decency sparked a chain reaction among the players, and he eventually became more than just someone they tolerated—he was considered ‘generally liked’ at the craps table.

David was oblivious to the fact that, right before the kid whose game he had accidentally interfered with left the table, he received a rather colorful farewell. Sammy had intervened on David's behalf, telling the kid to leave and not to take his frustrations out on David. If David had caught Sammy’s words, he might have realized that he had a true ally in Sammy—someone who cared about him more than he initially thought. In reality, Sammy seemed more protective of David's growing bankroll than excited about it, and he was almost inclined to say something if David continued to gamble.

Almost.

The respect or even basic tolerance that David had garnered was mostly from the older crowd of craps players, who he had just begun to share some of his winnings with, as well as the bartender. Bartenders are always fond of anyone who tips them well; for instance, a newly released sex offender who doesn’t leave a dollar tip would be seen as a pariah, while one who tips on every drink would be viewed with considerable leniency.

While David was enjoying a moment of peace and falling back into a light slumber, he had taken a moment to check the money he had on him, not for the first time, but five times more before dozing off. Just as he was about to succumb to sleep, he felt an unexpected pang of yearning for his friends Nick and Malcolm. He began to think about possibly waiting to try out his new gambling strategies until they arrived, as he found the table lacked its usual appeal without their presence along with Sammy.

______________________________________________________________________________

The next morning, David found himself awake around nine o'clock, astonished at how early it was, given that he had downed six shots the night before. He was eager to confirm that the events of the previous night weren’t just a figment of his imagination. Again, he counted his wallet, finding it to contain $5,775.

Since he wasn’t in the habit of being awake in time for the breakfast service, he quickly showered and headed down just an hour before it would start to transition to lunch. He was pleasantly surprised by the freshness of the breakfast food, especially in contrast to the other meals served at the buffet, except for the yogurt which unfortunately had gone bad.

After finishing his meal, he glanced at his phone and noted the time was just past ten. Initially, he thought he would enjoy several plates of food but ended up feeling satisfied after just two rounds. The dishes featuring potatoes had been particularly filling. Contemplating another shower felt unnecessary, so he decided to seek out a way to use that day’s $20 in bonus play.

Yet again, he checked his wallet and saw it now contained $5,770 after tipping the buffet attendant a generous $5. For a solo diner at a complimentary breakfast buffet, which was priced at only $7.99, that was indeed an exceptionally kind gesture.

Finding himself unsatisfied with the slot machine selections, David chose to return to the Quick Hit slot he had played the night before. Upon inspecting the machine, he realized he was almost like a permanent fixture there, as he was the last one to play. He loaded his bonus credits, put in $70 of his own money, and began betting $5 per spin.

David quickly dwindled down to $20, but then he triggered some bonus free spins, and excitement sparked as the cash registers rang in his head. However, he only managed to secure five free games without retriggering, ending up with only a mere $35. Following that, he lost the next eleven spins.

With a heavy shrug, he pulled out his wallet again to find it contained $5,700. Strangely, even amidst his reckless betting over the previous months, losing that $70 felt particularly disheartening. With $20 in free play, he pondered the sensibility of having added that $70 to the game.

He wandered through the table games area, but many of his preferred games were still closed for the day. After asking the pit boss on the morning shift, he learned that most dealers had been reduced to only six-hour shifts during this slow period, causing many table games to remain closed until noon. David felt a little disgruntled but understood there was nothing he could do about it.

Instead, he made his way to an area of the slot section he believed he had never explored before. A sudden cloud of cigar smoke enveloped him from a nearby player, making him cough. Looking down at the smoker, he politely inquired, 'Could you mind not smoking?'

"Well,\" the older gentleman replied nonchalantly, \"Since this area is designated for smokers and I’m seated while you’re not, I guess it’s not my problem.\"

David turned to check the area, noticing a glaring red neon sign labeling it as ‘Smoking Slots.’ He looked back at the old man, curious how he had managed to avoid severe health issues for so long, and simply said, \"My apologies; you have a point.\"

After exploring the smoking section, David discovered that the slot games available there were the same as those found in the non-smoking area. He thought it odd that patrons could smoke freely at the bar and in the table games section—and with all areas being closely located to non-smoking slots—yet needed a separate section just for slot players.

With a desire to discover something new, David strolled through the casino. He pulled on the doors labeled 'Showroom,' only to find them locked. Although there were no conferences taking place, he spotted a sign indicating 'Conference rooms' down a hallway past the elevators. To his surprise, those conference rooms were open, and he decided to take a look around. He stepped into a smaller conference room adjacent to the main ones.

A voice called out from his right, \"Can I assist you, sir? Are you looking for something?\"

"No need for concern,\" David replied, \"I’m just curious about what this room is used for.\"

The man responding seemed a bit annoyed; it had nothing to do with David, but more with the fact he wasn’t on the clock yet. \"This is primarily a conference room, but when it’s not booked, it becomes the employee break room. We usually have snacks like donuts, coffee, and English muffins here before shifts or during breaks.\"

"Are you taking a break right now?\" David asked, not realizing that bothering someone off the clock could be seen as rude.

"I’m a dealer,\" the man responded, \"I haven’t started my shift yet, but I think I’ll be dealing Mississippi Stud today. When the conference rooms are full, snacks are moved to the break room, but it’s quite small, so we often use this space instead.\"

"What’s Mississippi Stud all about?\"

The dealer was just about ready to give David a subtly curt dismissal, as he was keen to enjoy his coffee, paper, and muffin before starting his shift. Yet, he reconsidered. \"I won't explain the game right now since I’m off the clock, but if you swing by my table once my shift begins, I’d gladly help you out with it,\" he offered.

"Sounds good,\" David said. \"I hope I enjoy playing; I usually play pretty big amounts.\"

"Great,\" the dealer replied cheerfully, \"I could definitely use some action—I've only had four players in my last two shifts combined.\"

"See you later.\"

David went back to his room, attempting to access Wnternetradiomercedes.com on his phone. Luckily, the site had been optimized for mobile use recently, making navigation seamless. He found the rules for Mississippi Stud, which made him recall having played it casually before.

Even those who aren't experts quickly learn that Mississippi Stud is akin to Let It Ride, just flipped around. Instead of pulling back bets when the hand looks grim, players find themselves needing to wager more anytime winning seems likely. It's undoubtedly a game for thrill-seekers or lower-tier players who usually prefer to bet higher amounts on other games.

Feeling an adrenaline rush, David realized that this game could be pretty risky.

With a pair of kings after the first community card, David transformed his initial $25 bet into a $200 profit in a heartbeat. He lost the next hand while ambitiously chasing it down, but was soon back on track when he paired kings again with the second community card and found himself up $250 overall. He was bewildered by his unexpected winning streak but delighted with the game nonetheless!

He swiftly folded the next four hands because they were glaringly unpromising, but then he made a pair of queens with the last community card and got back to a $250 gain. Next, he was dealt a pair of kings again right from the start and ended up landing four of a kind, catapulting him to an astonishing tally of $10,250!

Overcome with excitement, David could hardly believe his fortune—turning a $25 bet into a $10,000 profit. Although he had ultimately wagered a total of $250 for that hand, that detail hardly mattered at the moment; he had faithfully pursued a winning hand all the way through!

Naturally, David realized that the chances of landing a four-of-a-kind with just a few hands were slim. However, he was pleasantly surprised to discover numerous lesser hands that still offered impressive payouts! The speed at which he managed to make such a remarkable hand left him in disbelief, and he thought that if luck continued to smile upon him, it might just be the right moment to take a break for a bit.

David contemplated how the majority of players inevitably faced losses while playing Mississippi Stud. After all, if they didn’t, the casinos wouldn’t be raking in profits. He reflected on why many gamblers ended up losing and concluded that extended playtime was often the culprit. Hence, David devised a strategy: consistently bets of either $25 or $50 at the outset and call it a day when he had amassed a profit of at least three thousand dollars.

Just think about what transpired during that casual game, he mused with excitement. If I can effortlessly score ten thousand, then securing three thousand should be a piece of cake!

David decided to head back downstairs, not only to show the dealer who had been so understanding before his shift how to place larger bets but also to demonstrate how to secure substantial wins! Lately, he had been experiencing a streak of good fortune that made him feel unbeatable, and his recent success on Wnternetradiomercedes.com seemed like a promising omen. He had realized that having luck on his side was no longer necessary; he had identified the key to success in this game was understanding when it was time to walk away.

Brimming with excitement, he jumped into the shower. Even though he had already showered that morning, he wanted to feel completely refreshed for his imminent big moment. Despite his usual choice of very relaxed attire at the casino, he opted for his black slacks and crisp white shirt, taking the time to iron them to perfection.

Today, he thought to himself, is destined to be the most amazing day of my life.

After what felt like an eternity of preparation, David finally made his way down to the casino floor. A quick glance at his phone revealed it was 1:30 PM, meaning the Mississippi Stud table would almost certainly be available. He headed toward the gaming area, searching for the Mississippi Stud sign, only to find... a different dealer.

"Excuse me,\" he asked the dealer, \"Where's the younger guy who usually deals this game?\"

The older dealer scratched his head in confusion. \"Mike, are you referring to Mike?\"

"No, I mean the dealer that's supposed to be working this game today!\"

"I’m just filling in for breaks,\" the older gentleman explained. \"I’m relatively new here, although I’ve been dealing cards for a long time, so I’m not very familiar with the staff. Let me call the pit boss over. 'Excuse me, miss, this gentleman has a question.'\"

"Can I help you, Mr. Landstrom?\"

David Landstrom was taken aback; it was the first instance where a member of the casino staff had referred to him by name without expectation. He was quickly becoming a notable figure in this establishment. Oddly enough, he didn’t recognize this lady at all! Shaking off the surprise, he inquired, \"Who’s the regular dealer for this game today?\"

Without hesitance, the pit boss replied, \"Matt is the dealer for this game today.\"

The relief-filled dealer chimed in, \"I knew it started with an 'M'!\"

Ignoring the older man's comment, David pressed on, \"Is he the younger guy?\"

"I wouldn't say he’s young,\" the pit boss clarified. \"He’s in his early thirties—might just appear younger, but I haven’t really paid much attention.\"

David nearly interrupted her mid-sentence; it was crucial to him that the dealer was indeed the same one he hoped for. \"He has blond hair, right?\"

"Yes, that's correct, Mr. Landstrom. He's the only blond guy dealing anything today, so you're definitely in luck!\"

"That’s fantastic! Any idea when he’ll return from his break?\"

The pit boss glanced at her watch. \"He should be back in less than ten minutes. Are you planning to play with him?\"

"He doesn’t realize half of what’s going to happen,\" David replied with assurance.

The pit boss was uncertain how to interpret his remark; she briefly wondered if David was trying to flirt with Matt, but quickly dismissed the thought. \"Well, I wish you luck, and feel free to buy in with Phillip here,\" she said.

"Yeah,\" Phillip added, \"I’ve got nothing else to do. I’m getting bored giving breaks to empty tables. Honestly, I might forget how to deal at this rate...\"

David considered preparing his chips with Phillip while waiting for Matt but feared it might complicate things. \"My apologies, Phillip,\" David responded, \"But I feel that fate is insisting I wait for Matt.\"

Go back to chapter 9 .

To be continued in chapter 11.

About the Author

Mission146 is a devoted husband and father of two, who often finds himself not living up to the expectations many have of him, and he is quite content with that. Based in Ohio, Mission146 manages the everyday grind as a salary employee while enjoying documentaries, philosophy, and discussions about gambling. He is open to writing for compensation and invites interested parties to create an account on WizardofVegas.com and send him a Private Message for requests.

Written by: Brandon James