My "Strike Three" Rule

[EyeHeartHalves]

As usual, my thread has only been inspired by other recent threads. This will most likely only interest newbies and some others. The following text is a little insight as to how I personally choose to end a session of blackjack.

When you're deep within a shoe and the count is very high or you've been wonging around for a while and you're down thousands of dollars, your perceptions and self-awareness can become warped. One could call it "the fog of war." So, when should you call it quits? Even if heat wasn't an issue, you can't play on and on forever like a mindless robot without making mistakes or "screwing around" because of sheer boredom.

Whenever I "can't see clearly through the fog of war," I start adding up "Strikes." If I can cite three strikes, I end the session. What do I when it's time to end a session? Go play something else within your means such as VP on 3x Cashback days. Go have a cigar. Get a burger and a beer with your comp dollars. Drop a duece. Go home. Go to sleep. Go procreate or simulate such. Whatever you do, do not return to that pit on that shift for that day.

So what is a "Strike"? Well, you have to make up your own if you are going to steal this style of play but I can give you many examples of individual strikes as follows:

For every 30 minutes (give or take 15 minutes depending on the situation) spent in the pit, that's a Strike.

If I'm down for the session in an amount that is greater than or equal to five of my smallest bets, that's a strike.

If I'm in excess of $3,000 in either direction (+ or -), that's a strike.

For every other person playing at the table who's not a teammate, each one of those is a strike. Notice that there's no way in hell that I'd play the only open circle on a 7-box table no matter how high the count is.

If I make a mistake with reguards to deck estimation, playing decision, a RC error--no matter how small or a betting error, each mistake equals a strike.

If the dealer makes a mistake and pays me too much or doesn't take down a losing bet and no one says anything or catches the error--each one is a strike.

Every time the dealer hits her soft-17 and wins or pushes, that's a strike. Notice, this is not possible in S17 games.

If I haven't eatin in the last 12 hours, that's a strike.

If I haven't slept in the last 18 hours, that's a strike.

If I have to go to the bathroom so badly it hurts, that's a strike.

For every casino personnel standing around your table, watching you (not the dealer), each one is a strike.

If the phone rings at the podeum closest to you, that's a strike.

If absolutely no casino personnel are near you except for the dealer, that's a strike.

Every time a shoe ends with a max-bet out--win, lose or draw, that's a strike (unless there's a good reason why you should be betting high on the first hand of the next shoe).

Okay, in case you haven't figured it out already, YOU MAKE THESE UP ON THE FLY. However, just because one bad thing sticks out in your mind, that alone is probably NOT a good reason to end a session. Also, you should be aware that this Three Strikes system of mine has NOTHING TO DO WITH wonging in or wonging out. We're talking about YOU STOPPING.

 

[MAZ]

As usual, my thread has only been inspired by other recent threads. This will most likely only interest newbies and some others. The following text is a little insight as to how I personally choose to end a session of blackjack.

When you're deep within a shoe and the count is very high or you've been wonging around for a while and you're down thousands of dollars, your perceptions and self-awareness can become warped. One could call it "the fog of war." So, when should you call it quits? Even if heat wasn't an issue, you can't play on and on forever like a mindless robot without making mistakes or "screwing around" because of sheer boredom.

Whenever I "can't see clearly through the fog of war," I start adding up "Strikes." If I can cite three strikes, I end the session. What do I when it's time to end a session? Go play something else within your means such as VP on 3x Cashback days. Go have a cigar. Get a burger and a beer with your comp dollars. Drop a duece. Go home. Go to sleep. Go procreate or simulate such. Whatever you do, do not return to that pit on that shift for that day.

So what is a "Strike"? Well, you have to make up your own if you are going to steal this style of play but I can give you many examples of individual strikes as follows:

For every 30 minutes (give or take 15 minutes depending on the situation) spent in the pit, that's a Strike.

If I'm down for the session in an amount that is greater than or equal to five of my smallest bets, that's a strike.

If I'm in excess of $3,000 in either direction (+ or -), that's a strike.

For every other person playing at the table who's not a teammate, each one of those is a strike. Notice that there's no way in hell that I'd play the only open circle on a 7-box table no matter how high the count is.

If I make a mistake with reguards to deck estimation, playing decision, a RC error--no matter how small or a betting error, each mistake equals a strike.

If the dealer makes a mistake and pays me too much or doesn't take down a losing bet and no one says anything or catches the error--each one is a strike.

Every time the dealer hits her soft-17 and wins or pushes, that's a strike. Notice, this is not possible in S17 games.

If I haven't eatin in the last 12 hours, that's a strike.

If I haven't slept in the last 18 hours, that's a strike.

If I have to go to the bathroom so badly it hurts, that's a strike.

For every casino personnel standing around your table, watching you (not the dealer), each one is a strike.

If the phone rings at the podeum closest to you, that's a strike.

If absolutely no casino personnel are near you except for the dealer, that's a strike.

Every time a shoe ends with a max-bet out--win, lose or draw, that's a strike (unless there's a good reason why you should be betting high on the first hand of the next shoe).

Okay, in case you haven't figured it out already, YOU MAKE THESE UP ON THE FLY. However, just because one bad thing sticks out in your mind, that alone is probably NOT a good reason to end a session. Also, you should be aware that this Three Strikes system of mine has NOTHING TO DO WITH wonging in or wonging out. We're talking about YOU STOPPING.

Are you freakin kidding with this post? So according to your strike rules if you sat down to play, the count got good, at that moment nobody but the dealer is near you(strike1) the phone happens to ring(strike2) and a pit boss comes over to answer it(strike3) your leaving? Get a grip dude. Its making assinine rules like these that makes a player a loser. Some of your points have merit but not really in the context of your system. Just for example, you should never have to piss so bad it hurts. That should be 3 strikes by itself if you get that far. That just means you've been sitting around like a headstone for hours. I know for damn sure there will be counts where you should get your lazy ass up from the table and go take a leak. Theres a helluva lot more wrong with your thinking here but I don't have the patience to go through it all. My advice is stop trying for the creative writing award and just play the game with some friggin common sense.

 

[creeping panther]

Maz

Are you freakin kidding with this post? So according to your strike rules if you sat down to play, the count got good, at that moment nobody but the dealer is near you(strike1) the phone happens to ring(strike2) and a pit boss comes over to answer it(strike3) your leaving? Get a grip dude. Its making assinine rules like these that makes a player a loser. Some of your points have merit but not really in the context of your system. Just for example, you should never have to piss so bad it hurts. That should be 3 strikes by itself if you get that far. That just means you've been sitting around like a headstone for hours. I know for damn sure there will be counts where you should get your lazy ass up from the table and go take a leak. Theres a helluva lot more wrong with your thinking here but I don't have the patience to go through it all. My advice is stop trying for the creative writing award and just play the game with some friggin common sense.

Great post:grin:

CP

 

[Automatic Monkey]

...Just for example, you should never have to piss so bad it hurts....

He didn't say "piss", he said "go to the bathroom." What if you have to do the other thing?

Besides, let's say you have the bullhead or something, then it's always going to hurt. Does that mean you can't play? That's no excuse not to play. I don't even count that as a strike.

 

[blackjack avenger]

With It Ness

I am sure most of us have things we look for to determine when it may be time to move on. Who is to say that most of his cues have not served him well.

Possibly one of the most important traits for long term success is "with it ness":joker::whip: or the ability to know what is going on around you.

 

[EyeHeartHalves]

Are you freakin kidding with this post? So according to your strike rules if you sat down to play, the count got good, at that moment nobody but the dealer is near you(strike1) the phone happens to ring(strike2) and a pit boss comes over to answer it(strike3) your leaving? Get a grip dude. Its making assinine rules like these that makes a player a loser. Some of your points have merit but not really in the context of your system. Just for example, you should never have to piss so bad it hurts. That should be 3 strikes by itself if you get that far. That just means you've been sitting around like a headstone for hours. I know for damn sure there will be counts where you should get your lazy ass up from the table and go take a leak. Theres a helluva lot more wrong with your thinking here but I don't have the patience to go through it all. My advice is stop trying for the creative writing award and just play the game with some friggin common sense.

I'm glad I got you so upset:eyepatch: In my defense, if no personel are around and someone answers the phone, that's still only "one bad thing" happening at once. I wasn't saying you should get up if your example happens. I was saying the exact opposite. I was saying that just because one bad thing is happening or one thing is making you uncomfortable (such as a Turtle Head), you should NOT stop playing. I was implying that should not dwell on little pansy issues like "I have to go pee-pee" or "I just lost $3K in an hour."

Good luck on your next trip MAZ--have a nice fall.