Almost killed myself last night

[Automatic Monkey]

Playing $25 DD at the Barona. I was doing everything right, using my sidecounts, spreading properly, and the dealer kept dealing himself 20 after 20 after 20 after 21 after 20 after 20. I was getting the counts, but it was almost like the count didn't mean anything.

After a few hours of this and blowing through $1000, I felt it. Chest pain! On the left side and spreading into my shoulder. Seems my cursing, banging on the table act when I lose a hand had become more than an act and the stress was getting to me. What's more, I couldn't get a drink. This is the second Indian casino I've played in that didn't serve alchy and the second time I've been slaughtered like this. So I have a theory: that my act is moderated by alcohol and if I don't have it as a counterbalance the stress may get too much, the act becomes to real and it affects my play and health. The bad news is that's a symptom of being an alcoholic. But the good news is I have learned something valuable!

I'm going back right now to try to get some back. But I'm going to take a couple of aspirins first. It would be a shame to croak with a high TC. I wonder if Heaven accepts foreign cheques. The other place doesn't. Besides I hear they only have 6:5.

 

[Tom]

Sorry to hear about the bad punch you took. I think everybody has taken a brutal #ss whipping before and felt the pain,I sure have(many times).

An occasional glass of wine seems to get along with me.

Now would probably be a good time to bet conservatively,relax and be patient,maybe enjoy a small glass of wine(where available). If I were you I'd probably drop my minimum to $10.

Good luck,
Tom

 

[Count Luckula]

A $1k hit does hurt, but shouldn't be unexpected when playing quarters. That kind of swing can happen very quickly. As long as you're playing a good game, and your bankroll and sanity can handle it, you shouldn't lower your unit size. It will just take you longer to make up for the bad session.

Making money is nice, but not worth jeopardizing your health.

On that note, keep those free drinks coming!

 

[The Mayor]

I recall a day trip I took down to San Diego a few years back, I took $1800 for the day's bankroll and intended on playing low green. I lost the bankroll in just over 5 hours.

-- Mayor

 

[Nameless for now]

Get to a doctor, anything else is -EV

Monkey... this is NOT a normal response to stress. Stress doesn't cause chest pain, coronary artery disease does. The stress just brings on the "tell". The problem you should be worrying about it not your act or your game, but your health. Unless Barona has cardiologists on staff, you should be headed to a doctor for a stress test, not to Barona. I know you're not home, but San Diego has some of the best heart care in the country--go now. The game will wait.

>After a few hours of this and blowing through $1000, I felt it. Chest pain! >On the left side and spreading into my shoulder. Seems my cursing, banging on >the table act when I lose a hand had become more than an act and the stress >was getting to me. What's more, I couldn't get a drink. This is the second >Indian casino I've played in that didn't serve alchy and the second time I've >been slaughtered like this. So I have a theory: that my act is moderated by >alcohol and if I don't have it as a counterbalance the stress may get too >much, the act becomes to real and it affects my play and health. The bad news >is that's a symptom of being an alcoholic. But the good news is I have >learned something valuable!

 

[deZerTomB]

a thousand is not worth dying over. I can think of very few things that are. hehe.

I try to take the attitude to live to fight another day when it comes to losing sessions or streaks. I even walked away from a table with a positive count after losing my loss limit on my last vegas trip. Didn't get struck by lightning or anything. Of course it helped that I didn't have any more c-notes in my wallet. Back to the room for a break and more cash. Clear your your mind and then analyze playing conditions and strategy for errors. Maybe it was just variance. I go to casinos like I go to restraunts, if the food and service are terrible or they treat me like dirt, why should I go there?

The indians serve drinks here in the coachella valley, but not barona.I've never been to barona but heard it has a nice golf course.

Sorry to hear about the loss, but keep your head up and heart pumpin'. We need all the counters we can get. Overwhelm the ba$tards! Go back and take their money, that'll heal some wounds.

 

[Tom]

I think you jumped the gun a little quick.

"If I were you I'd probably drop my minimum to $10."

The results can be a RELAXING benefit because variance decreases, ev increases,what more you want?

 

[Rob McGarvey]

Amen to That

Stress will kill you by itself, but having a less than magnificent heart will make it easier for your out of control brain to kill you. Many new counters take their holidays and go play BJ and never relax. Bad bad bad. Once your bankroll is as big as King Solomon's, THEN you can relax and play black...grin I find that if I drink rye n coke the coke peeks my counting functions and the poison calms me so I do not feel fear of making the proper bet. That is one drink. Coffee does the same for my morning play. I like to come down and have my free coffee (which I tip $1 for) and get my freak on first thing. Then I like to fat out with brunch, check out the sports book, then go for a dip in the hot tub. Come back at 1130 and join the addicted lunch crew that plays during their lunch in Vegas for the fun of it. Then it's nap time. Around 230 I repeat the morning coffee BJ and fat out, and go for another nap. In the PM I spiff upa bit, make it look like I'm looking for female company, and go after the tables again, this time with the RnC in hand. About 3AM I'm up due to my incessant visions and have to play to forget the most realistic dreams.

Your act is no longer an act once you become the part. That is how you beat a lie detector, you actually become what you are not. So unless you want to become dead, get a new act, and take care of your body, it's the only one you get. As for your trip to the pearly gates? Only one way in bro, and the don't cash chips from other places.....grin

 

[Big Cowboy]

SEE A DOCTOR NOW!!!

Automatic Monkey, I agree with Nameless for Now. This is no joking matter. What you experienced is classic for heart disease. Not to add any more stress to you losing $1K, but you really need to be evaluated by a physician. You are no good to yourself either incapacitated or dead. Then you'll never ever have to worry about EVs again.

 

[MrPill]

Norepinephrine does funny things!

A.M.,

Sounds like maybe you do need to step back and take a breather. When your anxiety level runs so high due to the stress of your session, then alot of weird stuff can happen. When your neurotransmitters get a boost from the situation and your body gets ready for the "fight or flight".

Nobody likes to take such a loss, but if you are playing at a level that your bankroll can support, then it sounds like your not ready to be betting at that level. This was a loss of only 40 units which I think folks here will agree can and does happen.

If you beleive in the math and your not overbetting your BR, then you need to be able to go with the flow and not be affected by the session. As others have stated, it's not worth it if it causes you such anxiety.

I hope you take a breather and re-evaluate your situation for a while. Maybe set a lower loss limit before taking a break if loosing 40 units causes you so much anxiety. Take the "flight" next time and get ready for the next session.

Pill

 

[Stealth Bomber]

Get to a cardio-diagnostic specialist...

then if you have a some blockage, seriously consider ALL the options. Look into getting about 30 treatments of Chelation Therapy instead of bypass surgery. I've done it. Check the internet and learn.

 

[Automatic Monkey]

I'm still alive

Thanks for the good advice all. I doubt that I have heart disease but I might get it checked sometime. But from now on I'm going to have my aspirin and Red Bull before every session.

Went back the next day and got about half of my money back, felt much better.

 

[Automatic Monkey]

Oh, and the important stuff...

... almost forgot!

Playing conditions at Barona:

SD, DD, and 6D shoe. Rules are excellent- H17, DOA, DAS, LSR on all games. How often do you see LSR on a pitch game? All 6D shoes were using CSM except for one, and no one was dealing the hand shuffled one.

SD was in the high limi $100 pit only. There was also some SD Superfun being dealt.

Penetration on the DD was awful. 60% max and some dealers as low as 45%. Still, the very advantageous rules do a good job of making up for it. If you are a black chip SD player this place deserves a visit. No noticeable heat spreading 1-8 at $25 DD.

 

[Lower Your Bet; See a Doctor]

Re: Get to a cardio-diagnostic specialist...

Man:

You were so stressed out at losing a K playing green that you felt like you were ready to go into cardiac arrest?? Take the advice and get a check-up; it could save your life!

WRT to losing sessions. They happen all the time and the swings in this biz are too extreme to get upset or excited about based on the results. All you can do is be properly bankrolled; play good games and play well and get the hours in. The wins/losses are beyond your control and should not be your focus. If your "act" stops being an "act" then maybe it time to determine whether your financial and/or emotional bankroll can handle then swings. This is a self-assessment that only you can do.

BTW - I played this week at one of my favorite venues. I went with 2 friends from work (non-counters who mooched a free meal off me); anyhow I dropped 13K playing black at a great game which really bummed out my friends. Anyhow I didnt think twice about it and fell asleep the minute we got in the car for the trip back to the hotel while they were jabbering away about what they could have done with the dough.

Its a tough game; even tougher if you get emotional about the results.

Good luck!

wong out