Years ago when I was an “advantage player” whenever I went on a trip up to what I consider the most beautiful part of this country, I would have rushed & scrambled around so I could hit the machines as soon as I got there, played far into the night for as long as I could stay awake, then planned each and every day around my time with the machines. On a four-night stay-over like this one, I’d have easily wasted away at least 10-12 hours a day pounding my way into the proverbial “long-term” on the video poker machines. After all, I was an educated, experienced optimal-play “expert” who foolishly believed – as all AP’s believe – that I was “playing with an edge” over the casino. And what a great big fool I was...

That’s easy to say now, but I can also understand why those still caught up in that same rut are having such a difficult time listening to what I have to say from the other side of the fence. When I was that AP, the only thing that mattered was the math, and the only thing I was interested in was what promos were where and when, so I could create a positive play situation in my mind. You see, a theoretically >100% opportunity is only that way if you play it into near-infinity, yet AP’s pretend that particular machine will yield positive results for the few hours they are at it – win or lose. And if you are misled enough to believe in phantom bucks, then there’s absolutely no way you CAN lose.

These days – and for the past 12 years since I woke up from that long-term nightmare – going up to the Lake Tahoe area is like a mini-vacation of rest and relaxation, and I do it at least four times every year. And even though I will rarely fly after having practically lived on airplanes for most of the preceding 25 years, when Harrah’s offers my wife and I a free flight up that way, we’re usually on it. But there’s one big difference between why I go and why others go: My hands are not sweating in anticipation of getting a gambling fix. I’m going for a break from the heat and to spend some time together with my wife, whom I just didn’t see that much of during my working career. All the other guys are going to gamble.

This trip began on a Monday and it took off from the easiest—but furthest from us—airport in the Phoenix area: Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, a 65 mile drive. But once there it’s smooth sailing, as few people use the place right now. We left on time and arrived in Reno at about 5:30pm. That evening all we did was have a few drinks in the Diamond Lounge while I watched the games on TV, and then the usual great dinner at Andreoti’s.

Tuesday we took a walk over to Bill Harrah’s auto collection at the Reno Automobile Museum. Not knowing what to expect – and the fact that I’m a car guy from way back – we thought a quick hour is all it would take. However, the place turned out to be so intriguing and so unbelievable that four hours later we finally left. It’s just as interesting reading the history of the cars inside as it is looking at them. Ever hear of a “Jerrari”? I did around 1970 and I’ve always wondered what it was like. Now I know every square inch of it.

Tuesday evening we met some of my wife’s visiting family at the Eldorado and we all had an enjoyable time for endless hours at Brews Brothers Pub. Suddenly it was 11pm, everyone was tired, my wife’s family went back to their hotel to get ready for their flight home in the morning, and we walked back across the street to Harrah’s. One thing that never changes on that part of Virginia St. is the number of bums and degenerates hanging around and begging. Even most of the walkers seem like life’s leftovers, especially at that hour of the night.

In the morning we took the hotel bus to the airport where I rented a car so we could go up to Lake Tahoe for a one night stay in a Regency Club suite. I was wondering why I received such a decent offer because I’ve only played there once last year, and when we arrived I found out why. There was virtually no one there. The restaurants were empty, the casino was empty, and even Regency club – with all its glorious freebies – was empty. We nearly had the entire place to ourselves.

On Thursday it was time to cash in some free-play back at the Atlantis then go over to the Tuscany Tower at the Peppermill for the same – only we stayed there because the room was so nice. At each hotel I ran my free-play through once and I think I totaled $80 or so and it might have taken a whole 10 minutes – unimportant because that’s really not what I was there for.

If you’ve never been to the newer Tuscany portion of the Peppermill I suggest you give it a try. It is as classy as it gets up there, and the rooms rival the best standards anywhere in Las Vegas. I didn’t try them but one of the bars has a great selection of 8-level machines (5c - $10) – the only ones I’ve ever seen like that. The stated denominations are 5c/25c/$1/$2/$5, but nickels are 1-50 credits and the rest are all 1-10 credits. My next trip up there will definitely see me playing them, starting at quarters.

Friday morning I called to check out of the Hyatt, Atlantis and Harrah’s and I checked out of the Peppermill before heading back to the airport. Many people ask me how in the world I can go to a gaming destination and not play. It’s easy: If I’m there for a vacation then a vacation I will take! Video poker does not and should not take over anyone’s vacation ever. I used to be an AP, and that dictated that I look for and play video poker as often and for as long as I could stand – vacation or not. Now, no longer a slave to the machines, I’m able to do my own dictating. Some people cannot. I am here to help.