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A Guest Harvest Adv. Story REGGIE
Cahuilla Casino Hotel
I had visited the newly-opened Cahuilla Casino Hotel in Anza, California, last week, but was able to buy only a few chips from the tables. So yesterday, what with race riots and such closing down the Beverly Hills office, I decided to return. Wednesday afternoon, only two of the four card tables were open. And when I asked to buy a few chips, I was turned down by a Pit Boss who said they needed to keep all their chips at the tables for the players. Those Cahuily Cahuillans. Big disappointment. Mulled this over for a few minutes and came up with a plan.
I went to another Pit Boss (a lady) and asked her if I might "make a reservation" to play cards. "Of course," she replied. "You will be next up." The afternoon was looking better immediately, I just had to say and play for a Cahuile.
A space opened at the blackjack table within five minutes, and I was called over. Sat between a fat lady and a Masked Man who was not the Lone Ranger. Threw down $100 and got my stack of chips - a $25, ten ones, and the rest in fives. Looked through the fives, and - wow! - there was one I had not seen on my earlier trip - a "house five" the same color as the Grand Opening ones but a different design. Now the day was looking even better. I'm far from a "pro" but usually I have some luck with blackjack. Not so yesterday. Kept getting dealt 16 and that's a tough number to be stuck with. Won maybe two hands, lost a bunch more. The dealer "collected" some fives from the lady and tossed them into her rack. I noticed the chip in front was another of those house chips. But the only way to get it --- had to have blackjack and be paid with that exact chip. Luck smiled. I was dealt a queen and a king, high hand at the table and that chip was mine!
Dealer changeover. We played a few more hands. Masked Man came up with 19. Dealer drew and had 18. Inexplicably, she drew again, and pulled up the two of clubs, and announced that the house won with 20. I muttered, "House wins twice on that one." Masked Man was not as jovial, he called "foul" and the Pit Boss had to come over. (Dealer must hit soft 17 per the felt.) The dealer admitted her error. Pit Boss said, toss the two into the slop pile and Masked Man now wins the hand. I was hoping the Fat Lady would start singing and the game would end. But that didn't happen so I stayed in one more hand and excused myself from the table. They wanted me to turn back the smaller-denomination chips but I was not having that, ran outta there with my stack, Cahuite happy.
J. Eric Freedner
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