losing streaks

[li_ka_shing168]

I want like to share my pain

Hello to all people, I would like to share my painful losing streak. I have surrendered to casino now. I have fu**ing enough of losing, I have been losing 21500$ from Sept until yesterday almost half of my total bankroll has vanished, a total of 95 hours, 31 days have been played (40 sessions). I have enough and I decided to stop BJ for a period of time ( a minimum of two days lol, quite a long period :laugh: ) . I have turned aggressive these days, lost all sense of emotions. I can't support these losing streaks anymore.:cry:

 

[blackchipjim]

losing

I like to start out that losing is just that losing. Why you are losing is sometimes a mystery and takes careful self examination. Many books go over the reasons and the list for self review. If it's not you because you are a proficeint counter and errors are kept to nothing then overbetting may be the factor. I've lost 130 units in 12hrs of play so is that natural or am I making mistakes. The standard for deviation tells me it's to be expected, depressing yes, but expected. The old saying goes" it's not the losing that bothers me, it's the not winning that does".

 

[ycming]

My friend in canada had a down swing of 150 units within an hour ! He lost his max bet 13 times!

Pure depressing defo!

Ming

 

[UK-21]

My friend in canada had a down swing of 150 units within an hour ! He lost his max bet 13 times!

Pure depressing defo!

Ming

He shouldn't have doubled his A,5 v 4 when he had a max bet out. :grin:

 

[ycming]

He shouldn't have doubled his A,5 v 4 when he had a max bet out. :grin:

lololol may be

Ming

 

[Tarzan]

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal does not have such good blackjack games. No need to go into all the details why because those of you that know the difference already know and those of you that don't need to study or read a little more before you play anymore blackjack.

This post is proof positive about what I said in another post pertaining to being on a limited bankroll with not enough ability and/or experience and having an ice cube's chance in hell of success. Jason is a professional or at least a semi-professional player that knows what he is doing from what I know or what my impression of him is. A big enough bankroll and the emotional stability to stay clear, focused and logical when some of that fluctuation factor catches up to you is the only way you will make it. Even the very best blackjack player going is not invincible or subject to huge negative swings. It is better to be an iceberg rather than an ice cube if you are visiting hell so you can hang in there and last longer, since someday hell will likely freeze over.

I was whining at Flash the other week about my income for (this) year is roughly 25% less than what it's been relatively steadily for the last 10 years or so at this point, the end of the third quarter and talking of my evaluating my hours in, casinos played at, conditions, strategy evaluation, etc., etc. to try and evaluate WHY. Look at it all with a microscope! He said something along the lines of not worrying about it and stressing over it since I am still quite profitable, what about the "just a batch of bad luck" factor with no circumstantial or mitigating contributing factors-- standard deviation. Not GOOD enough for me! I have to pick apart every shred of my little notes on my play for the first 3 quarters of the year right down to every penny. "What are you going to do... chop back your dealer/waitress tips and other expenses by a percentage point or two to bring your number up?" he asked. "Hell yes!" I replied... "I can grind an extra $12 a week if I juggle it right... I KNEW there was a good reason to be hanging out with you!" I said this sort of jokingly but I look at the numbers, the income closely and take it all very seriously. I know those whacky swings can occur and that my only defense is to be a good financial manager and be VERY aware of what the cash flow is doing at all times and if there is anything that I need to do to insure my continued profitability.

 

[blackchipjim]

On the money

I commend players who are exacting in their quest for the prize. The are meticulous in their play and record all sessions with notes and overview. This is a trait of true ap and something to strive for. I have always been amazed at the mental attitude of the professional or one striving to become one. Many an author has always stated in their book you either have the guts for this game or you don't.

 

[kewljason]

I thank you for your kind remarks, Tarzan. I like your BR, iceberg to ice cube analogy. The larger the bankroll the better! Not only sustains you through those negative swings, but the larger it is lowers the anxiety level during such times. I try not to spend too much time analizing my play, but like yourself, tend to re-examine everything more closely, (probably too closely) during the down swings, like the one I was in at the start of this thread.

We all know that these down periods are part of the cycle, but going through them is still difficult. As much as we try to take the emotional aspect out of it, we are human.

I have been very lucky in my brief 6 year career, in that the very few negative swings I have encountered have been very minor and very shortlived. My earnings chart has basically been a very moderate but steady upward line. Again I say I know that I have been very lucky. The 3 month, 20% BR loss at the beginning of this thread has been my most severe to date, which why I am still learning to deal with it. You can read about negative fluctuation and know that its going to happen and is well within the normal expectation, but it's still a whole different thing to experience it.
I think it's part of the learning process and as blackchipjim said part of the mental attitude necessary to become a professional that we are striving for.

 

[BillytheBJkid]

You can read about negative fluctuation and know that its going to happen and is well within the normal expectation, but it's still a whole different thing to experience it.
I think it's part of the learning process and as blackchipjim said part of the mental attitude necessary to become a professional that we are striving for.

"striving to become a professional"? Dude, you told me you were a professional? why are you giing out advise like you know what you are doing, if you are just learning?

 

[johndoe]

"striving to become a professional"? Dude, you told me you were a professional? why are you giing out advise like you know what you are doing, if you are just learning?

kewljason is a professional player, and he certainly knows what he's doing. That does not mean there is no space left for professional development. Even the best players in the world are still learning, every day.

You'd be well advised to listen more and talk less, Kid, while the adults are talking.

 

[psyduck]

Dude, you told me you were a professional? why are you giing out advise like you know what you are doing, if you are just learning?

Listen carefully kid: learning is a life long process!

 

[kewljason]

"striving to become a professional"? Dude, you told me you were a professional? why are you giing out advise like you know what you are doing, if you are just learning?

Well dude, when I used the term professional earlier in this threat, i was referring to the manner in which one conducts them selves. I don't remember labling myself a professional. That word has been discussed and debated in other threads. You will have to decide for your self what the meaning is. What I did say was that I have supported myself from my blackjack winnings for six years now. I haven't made a great deal of money, but enough to pay my bills and live the same or better lifesyle that I had when I worked. And of that, yes I am proud.

And yes I am still learning and experiencing new things all the time. I have learned a great deal from the folks on this board and others like it, which is why I try to answer questions when I can. Hoping to give back some.

You however, seem to ask questions without making any attempt to find the answers, most of with are already answered in various threads on this site. Then when you receive an answer that you don't like, you seem to get angry and go on the attack. I, as well as others here have been most patient with you, but that is wearing thin.

 

[nc-tom]

I have now endured 3 months of losing. In fairness 4 of those weeks, I did not play while recoving from a medical situation, but am down 276 units (nearly 7K) over 280 hours or what I estimate to be 25,000+ hands. I am fairly confident at some point this trend will turn around, but this represents the longest negative slide I have encountered (I know I've probably been lucky in this aspect) and am growing a little frustrated.

While I know this slide is probably minor compared to what some of you have encountered, I would be very interested in hearing your war stories. Perhaps, your previous experiences with brighten my day.

Wow amazing post to read for me at this time. misery loves company is all I can think of .This year has sucked for me as well as some of you from reading this. Since my all time high in Sept of 08 down 27%. just back from a trip and lost 85un in 6 hrs of play. You start to almost get gunshy feeling that you will never win you max bet. As blackchipjim mentioned all the books we have read have mentioned that this might or will happen and you just have to suck it up and get the money out there when its proper. Another reason why bank roll management is so important.

 

[Dopple]

I agree with the more experienced players in this forum. I have found everyone to be very helpful here and will alway show those that offer to help the respect they they so deserve.

 

[kewljason]

update

Just to update my situation from when I initially posted this thread a few weeks ago. Have been on a up swing past week and a half making up nearly all of the loses from the 3 month losing period. ( I am now down only 11 units from beginning of july). I know to many of you this seems like a very unremarkable period, but for me it represented the longest decline and now bounce back in my 6 year career. I only lost between 20 and 25 percent of my total BR, but I know, I got a little nervous. It was a good learning experience for me that hopefully will better prepare me mentally for similar swings in the future and confirmed the need for a large BR. Thanks again to those who offered encouragement and shared your stories.

 

[matt21]

Just to update my situation from when I initially posted this thread a few weeks ago. Have been on a up swing past week and a half making up nearly all of the loses from the 3 month losing period. ( I am now down only 11 units from beginning of july). I know to many of you this seems like a very unremarkable period, but for me it represented the longest decline and now bounce back in my 6 year career. I only lost between 20 and 25 percent of my total BR, but I know, I got a little nervous. It was a good learning experience for me that hopefully will better prepare me mentally for similar swings in the future and confirmed the need for a large BR. Thanks again to those who offered encouragement and shared your stories.

COngratulations!! Glad to hear it.

 

[FLASH1296]

A beginner at BJ who is learning the elementary basics of Card Counting
is well-advised to take to heart Flash's Dictum:

The longer you play:

The more likely you are to show an overall profit for your efforts.

The more likely you are to experience painfully long losing streaks.

However, the probabilities of the above events never reaches 1.0

 

[oldtim]

Just to update my situation from when I initially posted this thread a few weeks ago. Have been on a up swing past week and a half making up nearly all of the loses from the 3 month losing period. ( I am now down only 11 units from beginning of july). I know to many of you this seems like a very unremarkable period, but for me it represented the longest decline and now bounce back in my 6 year career. I only lost between 20 and 25 percent of my total BR, but I know, I got a little nervous. It was a good learning experience for me that hopefully will better prepare me mentally for similar swings in the future and confirmed the need for a large BR. Thanks again to those who offered encouragement and shared your stories.

Good for you, mate!!! :joker:I'm so glad to hear that from you!:grin::grin: