Non-Numeric Strategies

[Buzzer]

Almost everything I read on here revolves around simultations and mathmateics. While they are certainly the core of successful play and a must have understanding every player needs, they often ingore the human factor.

We make mistakes. We sometimes hold back our bet increases in fear. We sometimes raise our bets more than is justified from frustration at long sessions with few opportunities. We either lose count or make mistakes in the count.

That said - save the find a different game comments. I've been playing for years with a very positive return. My return on playing has been consistenly higher than most simulations show. My style of play is rather unique, and is tailored to my own strengths and shortcomings as a player. I'm asking if others integrate personal factors into their style of play.

Two examples of personal factors in my play are the type of game (i.e., double deck) and trip bankroll. I play double deck because I often lose count and have fewer hands to ride out before the shuffle. I keep my trip bankroll to a minimum whichs makes me play harder (leave the table when the count is negative). With a larger trip bankroll I find myself more willing to ride out more slightly negative counts.

Does anyone else use similar strategies? I'm interested in hearing from anyone who employs any non-numeric/personal strategies.

Okay - next time I'll post this under Vodoo Betting Strategies!:grin:

 

[Brock Windsor]

Wonging out gives you a better return than a play-all simulation, this might be the better than expected part of your edge. Dealer errors, variance, and the possibility your log isn't %100 accurate in hours/hands played/$ could explain the rest.
BW

 

[Sonny]

We sometimes hold back our bet increases in fear. We sometimes raise our bets more than is justified from frustration at long sessions with few opportunities. We either lose count or make mistakes in the count.

We shouldn’t.

I play double deck because I often lose count and have fewer hands to ride out before the shuffle.

That’s easy to fix. A little more practice and you’ll be able to play some of the more profitable games instead of being stuck at the same tables all the time. Your choice of tables can be more important than your level of skill. If you’re not playing the best game the casino has to offer, you’re losing money and taking on needless risk. Get your skills up to par and your bankroll will thank you.

I keep my trip bankroll to a minimum which makes me play harder (leave the table when the count is negative). With a larger trip bankroll I find myself more willing to ride out more slightly negative counts.

That’s something you should be doing anyway. Forcing yourself to play under-funded instead of practicing discipline is a recipe for disaster. If you want to be successful you have to play an aggressive game. You have to play well no matter what happens or what you feel like. If you allow yourself to play a weak game or use a weak style of play, your bankroll will suffer. Learn to play aggressively with a big bankroll. That will allow you to take advantage of unexpected opportunities as well.

It also sounds like your playing is sometimes dictated by your emotions, which can be dangerous. You are more likely to play emotionally when your bankroll is small. You will either be afraid to put out your big bets, steam in order to win your money back or keep playing when you don’t have enough money to play proper BS (with additional insurance bets, multiple splits, doubles, etc.). Being able to control your emotions is a key factor in being successful in any endeavor. Just like in poker, every time you play your hand differently than you are supposed to, your give your opponent an advantage. The casino has the advantage of biased games, a virtually unlimited bankroll and huge volume to overcome the variance. Don’t give them more of an advantage then they already have.

In general I think it would be a better plan to overcome your personal shortcomings instead of finding ways around them.

-Sonny-

 

[hawkeye]

The hardest thing to get used to is keeping the bigger bets out on a good count when you lose the hands. But Sonny's right, control emotions.

 

[bj bob]

Almost everything I read on here revolves around simultations and mathmateics. While they are certainly the core of successful play and a must have understanding every player needs, they often ingore the human factor.

We make mistakes. We sometimes hold back our bet increases in fear. We sometimes raise our bets more than is justified from frustration at long sessions with few opportunities. We either lose count or make mistakes in the count.
Two examples of personal factors in my play are the type of game (i.e., double deck) and trip bankroll. I play double deck because I often lose count and have fewer hands to ride out before the shuffle. I keep my trip bankroll to a minimum whichs makes me play harder (leave the table when the count is negative). With a larger trip bankroll I find myself more willing to ride out more slightly negative counts.

Sonny's advice is well spoken and should be taken to heart.
With that said, let me attempt to tackle several underlying issues you seem to be presenting, i.e your personal "human element". All of the serious players on this forum have had to make the personal decision of allaying our feelings and succumbing to the one indisputable element, i.e the MATH This is and always must be the anchor in the tempest we know as the casino. The very structure of the casino environment is there to divert the average player from his usual behavior. The bright lights, the constant din of slots, the absence of clocks,the everlasting flow of free booze, the ubiquitous parade of pendulous mammaries, and perhaps the most diabolical of all the casino's ploys is that of "monetary suspension" that is trading your real cash into their play money. The seasoned AP must overcome each and every one of these distractions at all times.
In your case you must adaquately fund you trip BR. It's OK to cash in for smaller increments if that makes you "feel" better, but you must have access to the entire sum. I cannot over stress that critical point. It's just when you're almost "tapped out" when the count skyrockets and you're dealt a pair of 8's v. 6 and then dealt another pair on top while catching a string of 2's, 3's and A's in a DAS game. Before you know it you need 8 max bets with hugh advantage. This exact scenario occurs more frequently than you may think and it represents, more often than not, that critical point in time which defines the outcome of your entire session and perhaps even your day or entire trip. So always keep that extra little stash in your wallet/ jock strap for that very purpose.
In addressing the fatigue issue, never play when you're tired. It's just like driving in that sense. You must be table-ready and focused and a good nap or break tends to counteract those seemingly endless depressing negative runs (been there, done that).
Finally, as Sonny stated, don't limit yourself to inferior games. That DD game you're playing might not necessarily be your best choice. If your stuck with D-10, nDAS, H-17 and poor pen, you're just spinning your wheels. There may be a much better EV shoe game right next to you. I, for one ,do share your reluctance to playing shoes, but only because I can't stand the boredom they bring about. As Sonny said, it just takes practice. So, although we must make our plays like "robots" we do have to manage our limitations as humans and the two can co-exist with the proper disipline.

 

[sagefr0g]

Almost everything I read on here revolves around simultations and mathmateics. While they are certainly the core of successful play and a must have understanding every player needs, they often ingore the human factor.

where have i heard that before? your not related to my wife are you?
http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bb/showpost.php?p=94710&postcount=34

We make mistakes. We sometimes hold back our bet increases in fear. We sometimes raise our bets more than is justified from frustration at long sessions with few opportunities. We either lose count or make mistakes in the count.

uhm huh sort of like what them there sims never do.
did you forget about how one might run into all kinds of unexpected situations in the casino?

That said - save the find a different game comments. I've been playing for years with a very positive return. My return on playing has been consistenly higher than most simulations show. My style of play is rather unique, and is tailored to my own strengths and shortcomings as a player. I'm asking if others integrate personal factors into their style of play.

see my tag line (the bottom url) below brotha. and:
http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bb/showthread.php?t=10046
http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bb/showthread.php?t=11134
and i'm sure there's more i posted on erhh uhm integrating personal factors into ones style of play possibly illegaly in places other than the voodoo forum.:whip:

Two examples of personal factors in my play are the type of game (i.e., double deck) and trip bankroll. I play double deck because I often lose count and have fewer hands to ride out before the shuffle. I keep my trip bankroll to a minimum whichs makes me play harder (leave the table when the count is negative). With a larger trip bankroll I find myself more willing to ride out more slightly negative counts.

maybe your not related to my wife maybe your my long lost bro! :laugh:

Does anyone else use similar strategies? I'm interested in hearing from anyone who employs any non-numeric/personal strategies.

come on over to hades, i mean the voodoo forum and lets toss this stuff around.

Okay - next time I'll post this under Vodoo Betting Strategies!:grin:

that's what i'm tawkin bout. got this thing called parrondo's paradox and black swans and stuff i wanna discuss wit ya. :cat:

 

[N&B]

My somewhat myopic view of CC/AP is that if you can't win with a 1-4 spread, don't bother raising the spread. Any common CC/AP strategy is a winner with a 1-4 spread. Pick the 1 unit bet that serves the bankroll, and have at it. Adjusting to bankroll is necessary. The second myopic rule is to develop your play strategy such that the Variance and SD decreases with an increasing index. JM2c FWIW

come over to the human side... we have cookies and milk