So far pretty disappointing at the Rincon

[Dan Druff]

Last night I got a wild hair up my ass and decided to go to the Rincon for a "3 in 1" video poker trip.

I call it "3 in 1" because you can show up at Rincon late at night, play 2.5 hours to earn 2500 tier credits (at $5 video poker), go to sleep, play again sometime after 6am when you wake up, earn 2500 tiers again, go to sleep at night, wake up in the morning, play 2500 tiers again in the morning (after 6am), and go home.

Doing the above, you will spend less than 36 hours at the Rincon, yet will have earned 22,500 tier credits when you include the 5000-per-day bonus.

Thursday this month is 5x RCs, so that's an added bonus (though it only works for one of the sessions).

I haven't run well in video poker lately. Playing mathematically perfect strategy on the best machine available (here it's Ace$, which is 99.40%), but just not hitting many big hands.

I have NEVER hit a royal (seriously), and again I came close several times tonight but failed.

Finally hit quad 2s ($1000) near the end of the session, but then lost $250 back before I quit at 2500 tiers.

Overall lost $2125 in first session. Not good.

Got dealt 3 aces three times, one of which was almost qualifying for ACE$ ($20,000 if it hits), but it was A-x-C-E-x, which wouldn't have counted even if I hit. Did not get the 4th ace in any of them. Got dealt 4-to-royal once, and didn't get it. Also got about four other 4-to-royals after drawing.

Maybe one day I'll finally hit my first royal. I just can't get them.

[Dan Druff]

BTW, they are making changes here, so hopefully they don't wipe out the 99%+ video poker here like they did at Laughlin (or change it to $25/tier credit like they did in Vegas).

One of the changes they just made was removing the $1 and $2 denominations from the $5 Aces and Faces/Ace$ games. Didn't affect me because I was going to play $5 anyway, but I don't like to see these kind of changes.

The only decent video poker at CET properties in California/Nevada is now at Harrahs Rincon, Harrahs Reno, Harrahs Tahoe, and Harveys Tahoe. Everything else has gone to crap.

[Dan Druff]

To show how frugal they're getting, they actually were considering charging me to stay here, despite me being Seven Stars. (I'm not guaranteed a free room unless I give 48 hours notice.)

Getting the free room wasn't tough, but getting a room actually blocked was. I didn't want to face the street. To block the room, they made me hold it with a credit card. I was angry when I realized that they charged my card an $81 deposit for the comped room, which they said they reverse upon check-in! Nobody informed me that this would happen. Now I have to watch my credit card statement online to make sure I really get the $81 back.

[Dan Druff]

Does anyone know the strategy adjustment for ACE$ versus 8-5 Bonus?

They're almost identical games, except ACE$ gives you $20,000 instead of $2,000 if you line up four aces labeled A-C-E-$ in order without any cards in between. It's VERY tough to do (much tougher than hitting a royal, even though it pays the same), so I pretty much just ignored that in the strategy, and figured it will be a sweet $18,000 bonus if I manage to fluke into hitting it.

I'm just playing straight 8-5 bonus strategy.

[Alan Mendelson]

One of the changes they just made was removing the $1 and $2 denominations from the $5 Aces and Faces/Ace$ games.

I often play $1 and $2 Aces and Faces in the video poker room. Are these games no longer available? In the high limit room is where I play $5 Aces and Faces. I have not seen $5 Aces and Faces in the video poker room.

Does anyone know the strategy adjustment for ACE$ versus 8-5 Bonus?

I think the only strategy adjustment is that when you have a full house with three aces, and the three aces are in position for the $20,000 bonus that you hold only the aces and forfeit the full house. At least that's how I would play. I have never seen a strategy for the game.

[Dante]

Todd,

Must suck to have to play a machine fairly to earn your tc's.
Maybe you could troll around rincon and try to find another
"Glitchy" machine.

[Dan Druff]

So all trolling by Dante aside, here's my update for Day 2:

Played $5 Ace$ again.

The theme of today was quads.

I hit four 3s ($1000), four 8s ($625), four kings ($625), four 2s ($1000), and four jacks ($625). The jacks were especially unusual because I was dealt them directly, and didn't have to draw for them. Interestingly, only the quad 3s were a situation where I was dealt three of a kind and drew the fourth. The 8s, Ks, and 2s were all pairs that became quads after drawing.

You would think that 5 quads in 1000 hands (far above expectation), resulting in $3875, would have made for a monster day.

Unfortunately, that's not what happened. Between a staggering number of missed flush draws, long stretches of failing to get 2 pair or better, and lots of jacks-or-better deals that failed to improve, I lost $3475 on the other 995 hands I played. I only walked away ahead $400.

Today was a 5x RC day, so at least I earned $125 in RCs for my play instead of $25.

I actually had an outside shot of hitting ACE$ for $20,000, when I was dealt A-C-x-x-x, but I hit just a third ace in the fourth position.

Visited the Diamond Lounge today. Wasn't all that impressed. They only had out fruit and tortilla chips at 6pm. They did have one guy walking around with a tray of veggie egg rolls, but I wasn't interested. I did like the fact that the lounge had its own soda machine. I hate having to get the waitress/bartender to serve me a Coke in these lounges.

There are some terrible-paying video poker machines inside the Diamond Lounge, but plenty of ignorant gamblers playing them!

Went to the spa at 1pm. Recall my bad experience there in March: http://vegascasinotalk.com/forum/showth...arrah-s-Rincon!

Interestingly, they have replaced both the hotel manager and the spa manager since then. The new spa manager seems a lot more competent. The one back in March just tried to cover up my being cheated with a bunch of lame excuses. Did not meet the new hotel manager, but props to her staff for quickly authorizing my replacement 90-minute massage (as promised in March) and the hotel covering my tip, even though the agreement was with the former hotel manager who is now gone. The massage was good.

Found out from reading another website that I am entitled to two free buffet entries per day as a Seven Stars member at Rincon! As much as I hate buffets, I can't pay for food here knowing that I can eat for free at the buffet, especially since I'm alone. Not expecting much, but I'll go down there shortly.

Alan, you said that you want me to check on $1 and $2 Aces and Faces in the "video poker room". What is the video poker room? Where can I find it. The high limit room is where I've been playing -- the ones with the $25 machines in the back. Where is the video poker room?

Didn't hear any construction noise today, which is good. I was worried that it would interrupt my sleep, given that I slept during the day.

Still can't get my Seven Stars gift bag. They've been out of them!

Does anyone know if Pala/Pauma/Pechanga/anything else does Seven Stars status matching?

[Alan Mendelson]

Alan, you said that you want me to check on $1 and $2 Aces and Faces in the "video poker room". What is the video poker room? Where can I find it. The high limit room is where I've been playing -- the ones with the $25 machines in the back. Where is the video poker room?

There is a huge area of only video poker machines. Ask any of the casino workers for the video poker room. It is off to the side of the main casino floor and about a three minute walk from the high limit room.

[Perdition]

Pechanga - Talk to Casino Host or Player's Club Supervisor for card upgrades and matching.

Pala - No matching

Syucan - No Matching

Valley View - No matching

Barona - Talk to Player's Club Supervisor for tier matching.

Pauma - Never answered the phone.

Pechanga and Barona didn't outright say yes, but they seems receptive to the idea of hooking up a big player and basically said instant upgrades do occur for high level players. Barona by the way has a Cadillac or 50k cash drawing everyday that you don't need to be at to win. That seemed interesting.

[Dan Druff]

Pechanga - Talk to Casino Host or Player's Club Supervisor for card upgrades and matching.

Pala - No matching

Syucan - No Matching

Valley View - No matching

Barona - Talk to Player's Club Supervisor for tier matching.

Pauma - Never answered the phone.

Pechanga and Barona didn't outright say yes, but they seems receptive to the idea of hooking up a big player and basically said instant upgrades do occur for high level players. Barona by the way has a Cadillac or 50k cash drawing everyday that you don't need to be at to win. That seemed interesting.

Thanks!

So it looks like it would be a waste of time going to any of these places.

[Perdition]

Barona seems decent. They have 8 VP games over 99.54% with the highest being 99.92%. at 1 dollar, 5 dollar machines at 99.79% and 25 dollar machines at 99.73%. The comps system seems a bit high at 600k coin in on VP for highest level and it won't be as far reaching as CET but you get better odds and 1 for 1 tier credits with no restrictions on machine. Barona also seemed the most eager to do instant upgrades and free items. If you ask for Dakota, you could get more info personally if you wanted. Maybe Alan or someone else that has gone can give more info about Barona but at least worth checking out to see if they will cater to you better than CET does.

[Dante]

todd,

I will be in high limit at rincon at 100 pm tmrw 11/15. I would love to discuss my problems with you personally.
Don't be a pussy and show your face to discuss. C ya there and maybe you can bring Benjamin.

[Dan Druff]

todd,

I will be in high limit at rincon at 100 pm tmrw 11/15. I would love to discuss my problems with you personally.
Don't be a pussy and show your face to discuss. C ya there and maybe you can bring Benjamin.

You can discuss your problems right here in the open.

I'm not having heart-to-heart talks with forum trolls in the middle of Rincon.

Why are you bringing my 3 year old son into this? You're coming off as a freak here.

[Alan Mendelson]

Barona seems decent.... Maybe Alan or someone else that has gone can give more info about Barona but at least worth checking out to see if they will cater to you better than CET does.

I've never been to Barona. I think the drive there would be almost an extra hour after discussing this with my son. Since I am a "day tripper" and would not stay overnight the travel time there is actually getting close to driving to Vegas instead.

By the way, if anyone is driving to Vegas consider the over-100% video poker machines they have at Primm (it's been a while but they have them) and at Gold Strike in Jean (the "real coins" casino) they have a $5 8/5 Bonus game with a progressive royal jackpot which can be very attractive at times. There are also $1 progressives on double bonus.

Regarding asking the other casinos to match your "tier level" from Caesars: I don't understand why? What would they do for me? If I walked into one of those casinos and showed them my 7Stars card would they give me a $500 annual dinner?

The reality is, there are really few benefits for a 7Stars player that have any real "cash value." The "cash value" is in the dinners, free rooms, and air travel, and a few shopping sprees they throw in... and not much else except that you can have a special line at the cage. Honestly, I think the value of 7Stars for me works out to about $3,000 per year since I don't make any of the trips.

[Count Room]

Dan: Let us know when you get your first royal. It's always a thrill to see that happen. I've had 4 dealt royals in my own lifetime of play and once drew two royals in less than 20 minutes. You'll see them sooner or later!

[Dante]

You can discuss your problems right here in the open.

I'm not having heart-to-heart talks with forum trolls in the middle of Rincon.

Why are you bringing my 3 year old son into this? You're coming off as a freak here.

Just like I thought Todd. You preach about people and companies hiding behind the internet. But when confronted you cower just like the exact people who you despise.
You really are a socially akward retard.

[sassycat]

So is the diamond lounge at Rincon like the ones' in Vegas/Tahoe where they only serve "hot" foods (aka wings) from 4-6pm each day? Is it very big? I noticed that you said that there are actually machines in there so that is something different compared to other CET diamond lounges.

Thanks for your report and good luck.

[Dan Druff]

Just like I thought Todd. You preach about people and companies hiding behind the internet. But when confronted you cower just like the exact people who you despise.
You really are a socially akward retard.

You are the one hiding behind the Internet.

You're posting under a screen name, refusing to say who you are, and even refusing to explain exactly what your beef is.

If you are such a brave guy, how about posting your full name and picture?

You know mine.

I owe you nothing. If you have an issue with anything I do or say, come to me politely, state who you are, and then I'll give you the courtesy of a real discussion.

Instead you're hiding in the shadows and dropping my 3-year-old son's name into the same post as where you claim you're going to find me at the Rincon.

THAT is the true definition of an Internet coward.

Now identify yourself or get the F outta here.

[HKMHORNS]

If really in to fine tuning strategy another change to ACE$ Bonus is whenever you have AK, AQ or AJ off suit you hold only the Ace as long as the K, Q, or J isn't in the right spot and you have no flush or straight penalty cards to the Ace. I believe playing normal 8/5 Bonus strategy this game would yield a return of 99.4012% and making all the changes you can get up to 99.4065%. I think throwing away the Aces full house is a definite must to change. The other changes add very little. Would love to see a picture if you ever nail the ACE$ for $20,000.

[Alan Mendelson]

HKMHORNS thanks for joining and thanks for the post. Yes, I can see why you would drop an unsuited high card with an Ace if that unsuited high card would ruin the chance for the ACE$ big jackpot.