Loser...and procrastinator!

[mica]

Hi All,

I have put off posting for long enough. Despite all of the great help I got from members/friends here....my trip to Wendover was not the success I had hoped for (and that it a bit of an exaggeration lol).

Someone here advised that if I wasn't used to single deck....I would be in for a wild ride. They were right! A roller coaster couldn't have had more ups, downs and turns!

I didn't keep good records (funny how that works....I can usually tell you almost exactly how many units are involved after a win~).....but when all was said and done, I barely broke even with trip expenses playing BJ (not counting my time).....and actually lost money playing slots and learning how to play texas hold em when I couldn't find an uncrowded table.

I had a couple decent sessions early in the morning. By 10:00 am the tables would fill up with ploppies happy to lose money playing BJ in order to get those "free" drinks! lol

My best session was cut short by a pit boss who became overly interested in getting to know me when my chips started going from red to green. I woke up early that morning specifically to play heads up.....and it was working for awhile. The pit boss completely ignored me for the first 20 to 30 minutes of the session. Weird how he suddenly wanted to know where I was from, who I was with, what I did for a living, was I married, how many kids?....etc. etc. etc. I was distracted enough by his direct questions and eye contact and lost count.

I had several losing sessions. The count would be great....and the dealer or other player would get the faces and aces. Other times the count never got above 1 before it was time to shuffle (btw....overall pen was better than expected). I also encountered dealers paying me losing hands on at least 3 occasions....with such good conditions, I don't know how I managed to do poorly...but I did! Time to re think things.




It is time for me to reconsider BJ/counting as a way to supplement income. It is beginning to seem likely that I was more lucky than smart on the profitable sessions I enjoyed when I first decided to give this a try. At the very least, I think I will take a break for awhile. Intelectually, I know that losing a few/several sessions doesn't actually mean I'm a failure...but emotionally it sure feels like it!

I will continue with a couple local BJ tournaments. The investment (time and money) is minimal compared to the potential profit...plus...and important...I enjoy them.

I will also continue to visit this forum. I have learned a lot here.

Thanks for all the support!

mica

 

[Billy C1]

I think-----

"Barely breaking even" is not a bad thing. If you continue to play, you'll many times experience losses that will make you sick.
Counting doesn't assure you anything in short term play--------it's a "long haul" deal.
The pit boss asked the same questions that I did and probably for the same reason:laugh:. A most opportune time for a cute girl to "capitalize"!!!!!

BillyC1

 

[Friendo]

Losses: frequent and unavoidable

I'm at $0.34 per hour over my last 100 hours.

I really wouldn't sweat this sort of loss.

A session length should be 100 hours minimum - even that wouldn't help me psychologically right now - or even a lifetime.

 

[Most Interesting Man]

To find out if playing would be a good supplement to income calculate your hourly EV and use that to decide if it is worth your time. Don't use your past experiences as you may have had an unsustainable winning streak. Then decide what RoR you want to play under.. 1%? 2% less? Finally calculate the necessary BR and make one more decision if that EV is worth the bankroll.

Well I'm sure you read all this before.

Finally, the one thing that calculations can't help you is to find out if you can stomach the normal and abnormal drawdowns that your calculations warn you of. This is something you must experience firsthand and decide as you go.

 

[creeping panther]

Mica

You live in an area with great games, take advantage.

Counting is not turning you into a magician, you get a small edge and it is a tough road even with a great game. SD I really don't care for, give me DD or 4d or a fine 6d.

Most will fail at counting, there is no shame as it is not for everyone.

CP

 

[aslan]

Hi All,

I have put off posting for long enough. Despite all of the great help I got from members/friends here....my trip to Wendover was not the success I had hoped for (and that it a bit of an exaggeration lol).

Someone here advised that if I wasn't used to single deck....I would be in for a wild ride. They were right! A roller coaster couldn't have had more ups, downs and turns!

I didn't keep good records (funny how that works....I can usually tell you almost exactly how many units are involved after a win~).....but when all was said and done, I barely broke even with trip expenses playing BJ (not counting my time).....and actually lost money playing slots and learning how to play texas hold em when I couldn't find an uncrowded table.

I had a couple decent sessions early in the morning. By 10:00 am the tables would fill up with ploppies happy to lose money playing BJ in order to get those "free" drinks! lol

My best session was cut short by a pit boss who became overly interested in getting to know me when my chips started going from red to green. I woke up early that morning specifically to play heads up.....and it was working for awhile. The pit boss completely ignored me for the first 20 to 30 minutes of the session. Weird how he suddenly wanted to know where I was from, who I was with, what I did for a living, was I married, how many kids?....etc. etc. etc. I was distracted enough by his direct questions and eye contact and lost count.

I had several losing sessions. The count would be great....and the dealer or other player would get the faces and aces. Other times the count never got above 1 before it was time to shuffle (btw....overall pen was better than expected). I also encountered dealers paying me losing hands on at least 3 occasions....with such good conditions, I don't know how I managed to do poorly...but I did! Time to re think things.




It is time for me to reconsider BJ/counting as a way to supplement income. It is beginning to seem likely that I was more lucky than smart on the profitable sessions I enjoyed when I first decided to give this a try. At the very least, I think I will take a break for awhile. Intelectually, I know that losing a few/several sessions doesn't actually mean I'm a failure...but emotionally it sure feels like it!

I will continue with a couple local BJ tournaments. The investment (time and money) is minimal compared to the potential profit...plus...and important...I enjoy them.

I will also continue to visit this forum. I have learned a lot here.

Thanks for all the support!

mica

As you expressed, there is an emotional content to these events, and you have to wait until that emotional content has drained. Then you will be able to look at what happened with fresh eyes. I have always found it curious how easy it is to lose with the best of rules and pen, yet sometimes win in really marginal games, just the opposite of our expectations going in. But the way I have come to look at it is, "Wow, just think what would have happened if I had had that kind of luck in a marginal game! Sure was lucky the pen/rules were good enough save me from what might have been a whopping loss." With such a small winning margin that we operate on, even a .19 HA with 90% plus pen does not guarantee us a win. The short run is ruled by Lady Luck. But all the more reason to continue finding those games with good pen/rules. We need everything we can get working for us.

 

[mica]

Thanks

Friend, Billy and MIM,

Your replies are more proof that this is a great forum w great members! MIM-you provided a good summary of all the factors I need to consider before continuing along this path w the idea of making $$

I have not kept detailed records...but if I had I'm pretty sure the conclusion would be beginners luck.

One of the things I like about tournaments is that I don't have to beat the house...I only have to beat most everyone else....lately that seems much more manageable. The limited loss also helps.

Friend-I hope your EV is substantially improved for your next 100
Hours! U r tougher than me for sure! :cool2:

Billy..,c u benihannas (sp)?

Wendover wasn't a complete loss. I
now have lots of good stories about ploppies to contribute. One guy substantially raised his bet and encouraged me to do so anytime the count went completely south. His rational was that now that all the big cards were gone, the dealer prob wouldn't get a good hand!

 

[21forme]

My best session was cut short by a pit boss who became overly interested in getting to know me when my chips started going from red to green. I woke up early that morning specifically to play heads up.....and it was working for awhile. The pit boss completely ignored me for the first 20 to 30 minutes of the session. Weird how he suddenly wanted to know where I was from, who I was with, what I did for a living, was I married, how many kids?....etc. etc. etc.

I would be interesting to hear how everyone deals with these overly nosy pit bosses. Comments?

 

[mica]

Articulate

As you expressed, there is an emotional content to these events, and you have to wait until that emotional content has drained. Then you will be able to look at what happened with fresh eyes. I have always found it curious how easy it is to lose with the best of rules and pen, yet sometimes win in really marginal games, just the opposite of our expectations going in. But the way I have come to look at it is, "Wow, just think what would have happened if I had had that kind of luck in a marginal game! Sure was lucky the pen/rules were good enough save me from what might have been a whopping loss." With such a small winning margin that we operate on, even a .19 HA with 90% plus pen does not guarantee us a win. The short run is ruled by Lady Luck. But all the more reason to continue finding those games with good pen/rules. We need everything we can get working for us.

Aslan...,u r a great writer..,,one of the most articulate gamblers I know! Always enjoy reading your posts. Am i the only one that Sometimes wonders what members do when they're not counting? Any chance you r actually a well
Known published author?

Thx!

 

[mica]

I agree

You live in an area with great games, take advantage.

Counting is not turning you into a magician, you get a small edge and it is a tough road even with a great game. SD I really don't care for, give me DD or 4d or a fine 6d.

Most will fail at counting, there is no shame as it is not for everyone.

CP

Theres no place like home!

Thx for encouragement!

 

[mica]

Pit boss

I would be interesting to hear how everyone deals with these overly nosy pit bosses. Comments?

In my opinion pit bosses are only pretending to be interested in players when they strike up
A conversation....their goal
Is to distract and disrupt counting! Works well with me!

M

 

[aslan]

In my opinion pit bosses are only pretending to be interested in players when they strike up
A conversation....their goal
Is to distract and disrupt counting! Works well with me!

M

Don't you think they sometimes strike up a conversation to see if you ARE counting, that is, to look for some telltale sign that you're trying to keep the count as he engages you in conversation. I've had that feeling before, anyway. Of course, they must already suspect you are counting to test the waters in the first place. Your quiet confidence, you're growing chip stack, your sudden increases in bet amounts, your command of basic strategy. All of these can add up to "possible counter" even to a pit guy who doesn't have a clue about how to count. And in his mind I'm sure he is the suave, smart, impossible to fool, pit man of his dreams; so he has to play the part. Just tell him, "I like your tie. You have good taste." That ought to take care of him for the session.

 

[AR Nick]

I would be interesting to hear how everyone deals with these overly nosy pit bosses. Comments?

I just talk right back as if they're an old friend. I'm always laughing it up and schmoozing with all of the casino employees by the end of the session. It's the best cover I've found so far. Most don't believe anyone can count, make the right index plays, and hold a conversation all at the same time and without seeming awkward. Good thing, that.

And Mica, don't worry about barely breaking even. Wait until you come home from a trip with nearly 4 digits in losses. Then you're really going to want to commit seppuku.

 

[mica]

4 digit loss

I would be interesting to hear how everyone deals with these overly nosy pit bosses. Comments?

I just talk right back as if they're an old friend. I'm always laughing it up and schmoozing with all of the casino employees by the end of the session. It's the best cover I've found so far. Most don't believe anyone can count, make the right index plays, and hold a conversation all at the same time and without seeming awkward. Good thing, that.

And Mica, don't worry about barely breaking even. Wait until you come home from a trip with nearly 4 digits in losses. Then you're really going to want to


Unfortunately that has already (recently) also occurred!
M

 

[gothic]

wow

Four digits?? Ouch. How long of a session did it take to manage that?

 

[Sharky]

recently lost 25 hundy in 1/2 a shoe, but in the end.....JUSTICE!!! :grin:

of course, doesn't always work out that way

 

[rrwoods]

Four digits?? Ouch. How long of a session did it take to manage that?

I very recently had a winning session that was bigger than my largest loss. Largest losing session was about six months ago (I don't have the record in front of me at the moment) and was $5,900. Largest win as of this recent session is now $6,100. Both of these sessions were just a few days.

 

[blackjack avenger]

friendly advice

Man up:grin:
One has to be very mentally tough, It's not mentioned enough.

When losing some become timid, losing is when one is tested.

Breaking even is not the worst that can happen.

 

[AR Nick]

Four digits?? Ouch. How long of a session did it take to manage that?

Four days. Four long, ruthless days. :cry:

I shouldn't bitch, though. I've won that much in a single session in my home casino, so it's not like I'll be missing my next rent payment or anything. I just wish it didn't have to be that way. Part of it was my fault too. I don't want to litter this thread with everything I did wrong that week, but if you're curious as to what not to do if you don't want to lose a lot of money in Reno, there's a thread in the Nevada - Outside Vegas that chronicles my stupidity.

Unfortunately that has already (recently) also occurred!
M

Ouch. The first time is the worst.

 

[aslan]

I just talk right back as if they're an old friend. I'm always laughing it up and schmoozing with all of the casino employees by the end of the session. It's the best cover I've found so far. Most don't believe anyone can count, make the right index plays, and hold a conversation all at the same time and without seeming awkward. Good thing, that.

And Mica, don't worry about barely breaking even. Wait until you come home from a trip with nearly 4 digits in losses. Then you're really going to want to commit seppuku.

Seppuku is a bit extreme for losing with a mere 1% edge, but you may "feel" that way at times. :laugh: