(07:45 UTC-4)
   It looked like the start to what has become an all to typical quest for the +16 mission....again....a 200/100 blind table, again a melee between pot pushers and kamikaze....but even more intense then usual....kind of reminded me of a typical game of "Gamma World" back in my RPG days....for awhile looked like I had just come to play some slots (went 2/6 and picked up 1,200$)....then on the hand on which the 16+ drop down would appear....Jack/King suited....and no pot pushing....no kamikaze....the flop....King high straight....and 3 to a flush....turn....yup....river....and the flush....really nice pot....then peace was restored....and I for a while was high stake on the table....loosen up a little....played more hands....a couple of decent pots....a couple of blind pots....and decided to play awhile....at the 30 minute mark....a flight of kamikaze and I was gone....
30 minutes played....33 hands played....16+ and 10K+ missions completed....+21,460$ at the poker table....+1,200$ at slots....22,660$ into the bank....
(09:55 UTC-4)
   Just witnessed the best run of cards I've ever see at Blackjack 21....unfortunately the dealer's not mine....I had 17 to 20 5 or 6 times....won once....10 minutes played (played the gap between a drop and another on Poker)....19 hands played....(short table....a few hands head to head)....2 wins....2 pushes....2 dealer busts....down 100$....
   Two games of Crescent....one fizzle....and I nice game....98/104 w/ 6 completed foundation piles....only 1 tableau pile remaining....9 to King of Diamond....if the 9 was on top....but the 10 was...oy vey....
(11:33 UTC-4)
   With the earlier experience on Blackjack 21....I made a command decision and did not play the gap....got two roulette spins coming up after 13:00 local time....decided whether or not to put my head in the noose again....Two hands of Crescent....one fizzle....the other 99/104 w/ 7 foundation piles complete....2 tableau piles left 9 to K of Diamonds....wrong order....
(13:36 UTC-4)
   Decided to take another trip to the Poker table....again a ridiculous mix of a pot pushing table captain and assorted kamikaze and dive bombers with no lulls....20 hands....never a whiff of a decent hand....left 1,900 on the table for the show....
   Despite my last trip to Blackjack 21 I went again....I'm remembering the old phrase " Look up he said, things could be worse, so I looked up....and things got worse....10 minutes played....15 hands....1 win....1 push....1 dealer bust....down 110$ (The Mad Trollie just shakes his head)....If I was a suspicious person....?....
(16:36 UTC-4)
   Third trip Poker....200/100 blind table....30 hands played....left 1,700$ on table....table was a mixed bag....a bit of pot pushing....a dash of my pairs bigger then you pair....a sporadic kamikaze....and a few lulls....won a blind pot, and two small pots....Fall Spades....7 hand game....one 14 over bid....one 15 over bid...."They" failed a nil....and were set 3 other times...."WE" 538 w/ 8 bags...."They"....-55 w/ 5 bags....
(20:46 UTC-4)
   Four more Crescent games....one dog....3 decent games....78/104 + 1 completed foundation pile....79/104 + 4 completed foundation piles....91/104 + 4 completed foundation piles....and a winner in just a workman like game in Fall Spades....
(21:34 UTC-4)
(Day's End Poker)
Total Bank: 104.703'M / Net Gain Today: 959'K / Drops(7)&Roulette(1): 940"K /
Tables/Slots: +19,060$ / Hands Played Today: 87 / Total Hands Played: 20,874 /
(Day's End Blackjack 21)
Total Bank: 185,480$ / Net Gain Today: 1,690$ / Drops(7)&Roulette(1): 1,900$ /
Tables: -210$ / Hands Played Today: 34 / Total Hands Played: 2,870 /
(Postscript)
   I noticed today that Blackjack 21 was loading slower than usual....and because of that I caught the line that shows current number of players....138'K....but that got me to thinking so I check back in my archives and noticed that on 9/22 that same line listed 172'K players....I don't know how many players I've see during play with stack around 5K at one point and few hands later exit with 0....now because I'm retired, and can take full advantage of the drops and roulette and because I usually only bet 10$ per hand....the current pasting I've been taking I can survive....but for most their only option is quit or buy chips....and how many peeps are going to spend money to lose....now I realize that there's a built in house edge in any blackjack game....but....I have researched the game of blackjack in general online....and theory is that at a casino, blackjack has your best odds to win....my style is not to beat myself....but I can't see any style that could consistently win  against the dealer's play I experienced the last couple of days, now I realize that sometimes you can hit a bad streak in any game of chance but....?....but being a glutton for punishment....and having a large bank....I'll keep on keeping on.... 

(07:09 UTC -4)
   I think I must of stumbled upon a meeting of "kamikaze are us"....most times even if there's a nest of them you can find a  brief pause in the festivities and if you catch a decent pair of hole cards....and a good flop....well that didn't happen this morning....but with all the comings and goings....too many blinds....17 hands....down 1,800$....but the +16 mission is the purpose and that has been accomplished and the 2x clock is....well doing it's 2x clock thing....
(11:04 UTC-4)
   Have had a busy and crazy morning so far (details at "Troll54 Where Are You ?" (link over on the left sidebar)) So very little game time two drops and a roulette on both Poker and Blackjack 21, and one game of Crescent....
   My astoundingly bad luck continues on the Blackjack 21 roulette wheel....another 200$.....2nd worst amount....that's 3 in a row....and it has rubbed off on the Poker wheel as well apparently....a bottom of the wheel 60K....oy vey....as for Crescent 76/104 + 4 foundation piles completed....not the start I had hoped for....but it is what it is....
(12:55 UTC-4_
   I, despite how the day is going went to a Blackjack table with a goal....actually two goals....8 wins for 1200 total....and 25 hands for 2800....both goals completed....17 minutes played....26 hands played....8 wins....2 other 21s (lost a 5 card 21 to a blackjack)....4 dealer busts....lost 80$....dealer was hot and I wasn't....Second Crescent game, close but no cigar....97/104 w/ 5 completed foundation piles....
(15:54 UTC-4)
    Second trip to Blackjack 21....11 minutes....14 hands....full table....5 wins....1 push....4 dealer busts.....down 20$....this trip hand potential.....first card Ace 4 times....no blackjack....also hand a few 17 to 20 hands....won 1....on a bust....(The Madtrollie just mutters quietly)
   Two more games of Crescent....an ave 77/104 w/ 1 completed foundation pile....and a pretty good 97/104 w/ 5 foundation piles complete....An all to typical game of Fall Spades....a win....506 pts and 6 bags....10 hands....
(17:04 UTC-4)
   Spent about an hour playing solitaire games that I used to play a lot of but haven't played much recently....I guess I'm just a little burned out only playing the four games I play everyday....didn't keep track of how long or how many....sometimes....okay....all the time I get consumed by stat keeping....Aces Up (relaxed), Labyrinth, Clock, Freecell, even some Klondike which I haven't played in eons....didn't keep stats....just enjoyed playing....but think that I may add Klondike back into the rota of games played on a more regular basis....
(19:03 UTC-4)
   I should know better, but obviously I'm a glutton for punishment....third trip to a Blackjack 21 table....10 minutes played....21 hands....short table with a couple of hands just me and the dealer....7 wins....2 blackjacks, first two hands I played....1 push....5 dealer busts....down 40$....
   One each game of Crescent and Fall Spades....a 78/104 w/ 2 piles foundation piles completed....and a 9 hand....win....557 and 7 bags....usually insanity....
(21:14 UTC-4)
(Day's End Poker)
Total Bank: 103.744'M / Net Gain Today: 179'K / Drops(6)&Roulette(2): 181'K /
Table: -1,800 / Hands Played Today: 17 / Total Hands Played: 20,787 /
(Day's End Blackjack 21)
Total Bank: 183,790$ / Net Gain Today: 1,560$ / Drops(6)&Roulette(2): 1,700$/
Tables: -140$ / Hands Played Today: 61 / Total Hands Played: 3836 /
(Postscript)
   The low spins on the roulette wheel on both games is starting to bug me....but then it's just a couple of games....

(05:31 UTC-4)
   Early start today...."sat" down at a 200/100 blind table....in the big blind....check....flop 4 to a gut shot King high straight....Jack on the turn....bingo....Ace on the river....even better....decent pot....then the pot pushing started....with a "let's go all-in after the river party"....caught a couple of nice hole cards....pocket Queens at one point....missed the flop....a couple of hands before the 16+ drop down....pocket Sixes....in the small blind....small raise....smooth call....flop a pair of Jacks....small raise....smooth call....turn another 6....decent pot....10K+ drop down....and then the mayhem returned....13 hands played....6,025$ into the bank....2 missions completed....a nice start to the day....Blackjack 21....just collected a drop....see about playing later....
(06:49 UTC-4)
   Took my "seat" at a Blackjack 21 table....10 minutes....17 hands....5 wins....1 push....1 split (Aces....1 blackjack, 1-14, 1 win, 1 lost)....down 50$....only 3 dealer busts....and when I had a 11 or less on 2 cards....just couldn't draw a decent 3rd card....had 10 a  couple of times and 11 once....and got garbage....with only 3 busts, dealer was hitting most of it's draws....just have to accept it....
(11:09 UTC-4)
   Once more the Madtrollie climbs the gallows stairs and puts his head in the noose....2nd trip to the Blackjack 21 tables....10 minutes played....usual selection of mostly garbage hands....however....10 minutes played.....18 hands played....8 wins....2 pushes....8 dealer bust....yup that right all 8 wins on dealer busts....up 10$....
   Seven games of Crescent....best game 79/104 w/ 2 completed foundation piles....the rest dogs and fizzles....One game of Fall Spades.....lost count on hands played....a "real set-a-thon"....both sides in a back and forth first "They" were set then "WE"....but in the end "WE" 506 w/ 6 bags "THEY" -130 w/ 10 bags....
(14:55 UTC-4)
   Got on a 200/100 blind table....worst nightmare....gaggle of pot pushes....and I couldn't catch a hand....shouldn't have stayed as long as I did....10 hands played....dropped 2,200$....Second game of Fall Spades....wild game....17 hands "WE" 522 pts w/ 22 bags (lost 200 pts.), were set once.... "They" 246 pts. w/ 6 bags, were set 5 times....
(17:50 UTC-4)
   Third and last trip to a Blackjack 21 table for the day....10 minutes played....18 hands played....9 wins....2 blackjacks....1 push....6 dealer busts....up 30$
(Summary)
   Three trips....53 hands played....22 wins....2 blackjacks....4 pushes....1 split (1/2)....17 dealers busts....down 10$....
(19:54 UTC-4)
   Last two Crescents of the day....93/104 + 5 completed foundation piles and a 100/104 w/ 6 foundation piles complete....2 tableau piles left....King of Heart/Queen....Ace of Clubs/2....Last Fall Spades...."WE" 626 pts + 6 bags....2 nils made...."They" 158 pts + 8 bags....set once....
(22:02 UTC-4)
(Day's End Poker)
Total Bank: 103.465'M / Net Gain Today: 1,045'K / Drops(7)&Roulette(2): 1,041'K /
Tables: +3,825$ / Hands Played Today: 23 / Total Hands Played: 20,770 /
(Day's End Blackjack 21)
Total Bank: 182,230$ / Net Gain Today: 1,890$ / Drops(7)&Roulette(2): 1,900$ /
Tables: -10$ / Hands Played Today: 53 / Total Hands Played: 2,775 /
(Postscript)
   Off day on the roulette wheel on Blackjack 21, 200$ both times....same as the free drops....feast and famine on Joker, 1st spin top of the mark without a chip 800K, and 2nd spin almost bottom of the barrel with 100K....but still with drops a net gain of over 1'M for the day.... 

(10:16 UTC-4)
   Because of the Doc's appointment never logged on until just before 10:00 local time (if you're interested in the results it's posted on "Troll54 Where Are You?" link on the left)....First trip to a Poker table....a den of kamikaze, pot pushers, and a would be table captain....in other words at typical 200/100 bind table....some decent hole cards from time to time....but never hit the flop....19 hands played....16+ mission completed & claimed....2x clock engaged....down 2,900$....Did get in one Crescent game before I left for the the Doc's appointment....an 86/104 w 4 completed foundation piles....
(11:17 UTC-4)
   First run Blackjack 21....11 minutes played....first 5....1 win/4 losses....down 30$....17 Hands....6 wins....1 push....5 dealer posts....down at total of 40$....last 12 hands I only lost 10$....not bad but those first few hands were the killer....
(13:06 UTC-4)
   Riddle me this....How does a dealer or any blackjack player....draw or in the dealers case has to draw....at least 10 times in 18 hands and only bust twice....I sit here totally farmisht....I'm not angry....actually I'm totally amused....but after all it's only a game....and it's not like I'm betting the rent money here....so here are the stats, ( and ant chortles and remember I carry a stick)  10 minutes played....18 hands....2 wins....1 split (lost both hands)....2 dealer busts....lost 140$....now you understand when I say this just isn't my game....I know that there is a house's edge....but sometimes it feels more like a cliff....?....
   Three more games a dog, and two decent games....87/104 w/5.....88/104 w/5....
(14:40 UTC-4)
   I guess it takes me longer then most to learn my lessons....Third trip to Blackjack 21....now I can't say that I got back all I had lost....but I put a small dent in it...besides both sessions were 10 minutes and 18 hands played....they were like night and day....18 hands played....10 wins....2 Blackjacks....1 push....9 dealer busts....up 60$....I've been trying to find a pattern in the game that I could exploited....I'm starting to believe that there isn't one....one of the problems is that in a casino setting the game is a lot slower....more players at the table....no quick clock to make your decision....and no opportunity to just observe play....in a casino you could stand behind the table and watch....so I guess my conclusions are that I will never find a pattern in the game....probably because there ain't one....conclusion play the game if you want to but don't expect to win with any regularity....and besides....if you're retired like me you can make more faux money from drops and roulette than you can lose....provided you don't bet to wildly....Just a workman like game of Fall Spades....7 hands 526 pts. w/ 6 bags....winner....
(22:09 UTC-4)
(Day's End Poker)
Total Bank: 102.420'M / Net Gain Today: 178.1'K / Drops(6)&Roulette(1): 181'K /
Table: -2,900$ / Hands Played Today: 19 / Total Hands Played: 20747 /
(Day's End Blackjack 21)
Total Bank: 180,340$ / Net Gain Today: 1,480$ / Drops(6)&Roulette(1): 1,600$ /
Tables: -120$ / Hands Played Today: 53 / Total Hands Played: 2722 /
(Postscript)
   Net gains are down today not only because of the late start, but also didn't hit the roulette wheel on either game for one of the large amounts....60K on Poker, and 400$ on Blackjack 21, but my health is more important to me than a couple of online games....silly of me I know....

(07:30 UTC-4)
   Found a 200/100 blind table right off....a short table but a good table....won a few small pots....lost a nice pot....river straight beat my trip Kings....later was forced all-in to protect my trip nines....won a nicer pot....covered my earlier losses....and all my calls and blinds....plus a little....31 hands played....16+ & 10K+ missions completed....5,700$ now in the bank....
(09:35 UTC -4)
   Decided to take another shot at Poker.....good table right off lost one nice pot a better straight....won a few small post....one on quad 8's....could get much action....20 minutes played....enter from above a kamikaze....exit stage left, The Madtrollie....28 hands....2/5 on slot spins....down 2,420$....played a little looser then usually, but caught a bunch of good hole cards and payed to see the flop, flop missed more than hit....but it's really great to be able to find a table with no fuss, even on the weekends....
   Three games of Crescent....all in the 70 range....all with at least 1 foundation pile complete....just a bunch of average hands....no Fall Spades or Blackjack 21 as of yet....
( I did do some tinkering with the arrangement of the blog....dropped 1 post from the main section but you can still see the old posts....archive still at the bottom....added a link or two.....re-arranged the left column, and probably something I forgot....)
(11:29  UTC-4)
   First trip to a Blackjack 21 table....First 5 hands....2 blackjacks, 2 wins on dealer busts, 1 loss....11 minutes played....19 hands....10 winners....3 Blackjacks....5 dealer busts....up 35$....First game of Fall Spades....two 14 bid hands....won 1 lost 1 (my fault)....normal crazy hands....winner....518 w/ 8 bags....
   Have added to left side bar "Trollie's current guidelines for Blackjack 21"....its the principles I play by....they work for me....
(13:43 UTC-4)
   Second trip to a Blackjack 21 table....I don't know exactly where the dealer was drawing from but from mine point of view that smelled bad....19 hands played.....dealer only busted once....and that was I a hand that I had Aces paired and split....other then those two wins, I only won 3 hands....all on blackjacks....unbelievable....oy gavalt....down 65$
   Went to the Poker tables for the third time today....got a good table as I judge tables....when I did catch good hole cards, there totally missed the flop....once I had an unsuited 2/10....folded....a 2 on the flop....and a 2 on the river....had was won by 2 pair....but other then that....just never had a hand...16 hands played....2,000$ left on table, all from blinds and calls of blinds....
   Even so coming off a couple of disappointing trips to both games....it is what it is....sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes the bear eats you....if you couldn't lose....it won't be much fun playing....
   Hand my best game of the 5 Crescents I've played so far today....87/104 and 4 completed foundation piles....and the way this day is going I'll take it....
(16:12 UTC-4)
   Third trip to a Blackjack-21 table....10 minutes played....all bets my usual 10$....17 hands....7 wins....2 blackjacks (back to back)....one other 21 (a push)....dealer 2 total pushes....3 dealer busts....
up 10$.....the only way the math works is if 1 of the hands counter was when I entered the table with the hand in progress or the hand I exited without a bet and the 10$ up is from the 2 blackjacks....
   A very pedestrian game of Fall Spades for a change....6 hand winner....515 pts.....5 bags....another mediocre Crescent....74/104 with 1 completed foundation pile.....a Freecell clear in 6 minutes & 4 seconds....& a Clock clear in 2 minutes and 28 seconds....neither of the last two were my best times....but a clear is a clear....
(17:46 UTC-4)
   Blackjack 21 sessions like the fourth of the day makes me glad, very glad, I'm not playing for real stakes....10 minutes played....18 hands....4 wins....2 pushes....3 dealer busts....down 70$....most of the time I was getting garbage hands....12's, 13's or 14's....dealer would have a 2 to 6 showing and more often then not made a hand....the majority of the time I had a 17 to 20....dealer had a better hand....short table....even if you throw out the 2 pushes I only won 25% of hands played....oy vey....sometimes my tactics work....and then there was this session....
(21:09 UTC-4)
(Day's End Poker)
Total Bank:102.242'M / Net Gain Today: 282'K / Drops(6)&Roulette(2): 281'K /
Tables&Slots: +1,280$ / Hands Played Today: 75 / Total Hands Played: 20728 /
(Day's End Blackjack 21)
Total Bank:178,860$ / Net Gain Today: 1,810$ / Drops(6)&Roulette(2): 1900$ /
Tables: -90$ / Hands Played Today: 73 / Total Hands Played: 2,669 /
(Postscript)
   My play tomorrow will be some what truncated....I have one of my twice yearly appointments with my doctor....should be routine but it's scheduled for early tomorrow morning....and may make a stop on the way back to do a little shopping....may not log on before I have to go out....