Is this only me?

#1
In general, I would say this is a matter of consciousness or self-control (which we as counters should have way more developed vs. "normal" players... gamblers) but often "something" happens and I tend to lose track of how much money I have on the table.

A couple of days ago I was playing a (loosing) session. Into the game for $500 in chips (1-12 spread, $10 unit) and down almost than $400. Then after several so-so shoes, it finally started to come back. After one more shoe I was down only $120. The very next Hand, TC was +2, I bet 4 red chips, get a 12, hit it to 18, the dealer turns a 17.

OK, some background here: This was after at least 2, maybe 3 hours and around 3am, at this point, i'm usually accepting it as a losing session and trying to quit before I feel tired and start making mistakes.

BACK TO THE STORY: So at this point i'm only down $100 or less... good time to make a couple minimum bets to cool off, color up and go home... BUT dealer makes a mistake and takes my 4 red chips instead of paying, I instantly call the PB attention, the floor is getting called, etc. The mistake was pretty evident but the PB isn't positive about how many chips I was betting, I had four but he's thinking 3 or 2... (maybe because until then I was flat betting $10 or not betting due to bad TC) Also, this was the second time a mistake occurred on the session (previous time dealer gave card to next player without me making any signal or saying anything... he wad 10 and it was an ace).

OK, THE IMPORTANT PART HERE: So the supervisor gives me the chance to continue playing or wait till the floor confirms with video, etc. At this point, the smartest thing would have been just to stop playing, altho the count was starting to go up the whole incident definitely got me off my game.... But I continued... long story short when the shoe was over I was down $425. Played for an hour and a half more with no major win, went home $440 down.

(sorry this is already way too long)

After this, I started thinking of different similar situations when I was loosing, made my money back after 2-3 hours and did NOT leave ending in a $100-150 loss... Is it just me? anyone with some advice? Situations similar to this tend to be making my winning sessions a smaller win (IE up 400, walk to other casino and end up down 100 so only up 300 total) and my losing sessions a bigger loss (like the one I just described).
 

Meistro

Well-Known Member
#2
What time do you wake up? I find it's best to play a couple of hours after I wake up, because then I am fresh, alert and less likely to make mistakes. Towards the end of the day I am tired and less able to play accurately.
 
#3
Meistro said:
What time do you wake up? I find it's best to play a couple of hours after I wake up, because then I am fresh, alert and less likely to make mistakes. Towards the end of the day I am tired and less able to play accurately.
Around 11-12 noon. Table games only open from 6pm to 6am down here.
 
#4
Well, it sounds like good advice. A good session could be right at 7-8PM after a nap and shower, casinos not crowded, no drunks and me being fully awake.
 

Meistro

Well-Known Member
#5
Exactly. I would hit the game up right at 6 pm for maximum chance of heads up play, and so it is earliest in your day. Gambling after you have been awake for 15 hours is a real no-no. Did they end up giving you your 8 chips back? At least you managed to spot that. I am constantly auditing the game, retallying my hand and verifying whether I won or last. You simply cannot afford to allow any harmful dealer errors.
 
#6
Yes, I asked for video confirmation and I had my money back (entire bet) the first error and got the 8 chips as well the second time. Something else about casinos, at least here in Perú, is that, at least at my level of betting, there is no heat what so ever even after betting 80-90 a hand and the starting with the min bet the next shoe. In a city like Lima casino personal has very little power to intimidate sober educated people. Also, games are legally regulated and constantly supervised by the government.
 

Meistro

Well-Known Member
#7
that's interesting, I found the opposite in medellin, the staff there was very savvy with regards to counting. maybe it helps that you are from peru so you fit in whereas a gringo in latin america sticks out like a sore thumb
 
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