Swings not bothering me yet

[Friendo]

I am short of N0 in my career, so I have not played long enough to enjoy a thorough and true variance beatdown, but I am below expectation and began my career with a solid downswing.

Weirdly, I just don't care.

I have noticed that the losses do not bother me too much. When I win big, I'm not overjoyed, because I figure I'll be giving most of it back within the next few hours, and then winning some/all of that loss back, and so on.

Surprisingly, nasty ploppies and dealers bother me more. I feel as if I'm managing my behavior every moment at the table.

I'm currently spreading red to light green - basically red-chip play.

The swings are smallish in comparison to what I can raise in a couple of months, so I won't be out of action for more than a few weeks even if I tap out. Basically this period is about experience and bankroll building, on a replenishable bankroll which is big enough to put my bets at 0.7 Kelly anyway.

I have only once walked away from a great positive count because I was losing hand after hand, and I swore to myself that I would never back away from a good count again.

It's possible that I have the right psychological profile for the money aspect of this, even if my counting and index plays could be faster. That long drive home after booking a loss just doesn't bother me.

I can't help thinking that the downswings will be harder to take when they're larger in proportion to my income. Is this because the bets just aren't that big yet? Given the appropriate bankrolls for each situation, is pushing $300 out on a double down during a losing streak a lot harder than doing the same thing on a $100 bet?

Anyone find a threshold at which losses become much more difficult psychologically?

 

[assume_R]

I remember another thread in which somebody said that if losing your big bets bothers you, then your big bets are too high. I suppose I understand that.

Losing a series of big bets in a row bothers me less and less as I play longer in my career, but it does make me question whether I am making accurate decisions and keeping the count accurately. As long as I am playing correctly my goal is to get as many hours in as I can. But when I have a bad session with a bunch of big-bet losses it only makes me question when I've played correctly, which I suppose is a good thing.

 

[The Chaperone]

And in particular if pushing out chips for a double down seems hard, you are in the wrong business. By definition, you have an edge every time you double. You should be thrilled to have the opportunity.

 

[Gamblor]

Losing 5 out 6 x15 bet still bothers me greatly, thus I tailor my betting scheme to avoid this. Losing 5 out of 6 hands at a high TC is not an uncommon occurrence of course, guess you do have to just get used to it.

 

[Renzey]

I am below expectation and began my career with a solid downswing. I have noticed that the losses do not bother me too much. Is this because the bets just aren't that big yet?
Anyone find a threshold at which losses become much more difficult psychologically?

I believe you're unbothered, not because the bets aren't big enough -- but because the losing streaks have not become long enough. In time, you'll have a 500 or 600 hour stretch thru which you're significantly down. It'll seem to go back as far as you can remember. It'll feel like Chinese water torture. High counts will be the continuous kiss of death. It'll seem that there's no reason why it ever should change -- getting pummeled has become the new norm. The money may be no problem, but you'll become genuinely sick and tired of getting your brains beat in. That's where the test is.

 

[sagefr0g]

I believe you're unbothered, not because the bets aren't big enough -- but because the losing streaks have not become long enough. In time, you'll have a 500 or 600 hour stretch thru which you're significantly down. It'll seem to go back as far as you can remember. It'll feel like Chinese water torture. High counts will be the continuous kiss of death. It'll seem that there's no reason why it ever should change -- getting pummeled has become the new norm. The money may be no problem, but you'll become genuinely sick and tired of getting your brains beat in. That's where the test is.

a'int that the truth.
errhh, when it comes to streaks and blackjack, what quantity of an edge would be required to make the streaks seem inconsequential to our psyche?
whatever, just me maybe but it's a frustrating as hell game even if we can make money overall. seems as if we are loosing, loosing and loosing even when we are making money. and unfortunately this isn't a good thing considering the hippocampus. the part of our brain that controls memory and absorbs the effects of repeated insults from negative stress.

 

[LovinItAll]

In time, you'll have a 500 or 600 hour stretch thru which you're significantly down.

Yes, but why? I give to charities, I give the homeless a meal occassionally, I never missed a child support payment in 18 years.....WHYYYYYYY?!?!?!

[edit] More specifically, why am I getting my intestines handed to me right now? I'm waaaaaypast N0, and my losses are standard, but they still suck hyena balls. [end edit]

 

[assume_R]

In time, you'll have a 500 or 600 hour stretch thru which you're significantly down.

How do you deal with that, mentally? That's a very long time to be down...

 

[mjatte]

It's only money.

To deal with losses, I suggest you try to feel more like a gambler. A real gambler is willing to bet literally everything he owns, his entire bankroll, his entire net worth, etc for the thrill of the action. A real gambler has no problem pushing out huge bets, and doesn't care if he wins or losses, as long as he gets to be in action.

I don't think this attitude is a bad one, as it allows you to be less attached to your money. You will have more confidence at the tables, and this will translate into smarter plays and bigger wins. You attitude is more important than you think.

now obviously, this attitude must be balanced HEAVILY with your usual discipline and proper bankroll management of course, making sure your game is solid, etc.

I'm just saying that I think you can have fun and let loose with your attitude toward the game, and not care about money so much, while at the same time caring as much about money as ever. I'm just saying to take a different psychological perspective while still playing your same AP game.

 

[assume_R]

To deal with losses, I suggest you try to feel more like a gambler. A real gambler is willing to bet literally everything he owns, his entire bankroll, his entire net worth, etc for the thrill of the action.

But I'm not! I have never been in this for the thrill. If somebody offered me a boring, dull, part time job for $40 / hour, I would happily take that job and stop playing until my bankroll grew enough to make my blackjack CE higher than $40 / hour.

I suppose I can try to see the romance of the thrill, but would that help me with a 500 hour downswing? I'm not sure...

 

[LovinItAll]

It's only money.

To deal with losses, I suggest you try to feel more like a gambler.

Hmm...how about instead of the mentality of the gambler that is willing tothrow away everything for an andrenaline rush, you instead just view the chips on the table as chips on the table? If you're confident that you're executing a +EV strategy well and that your RoR is within your tolerance, your wins will come

I don't think this attitude is a bad one, as it allows you to be less attached to your money.

Nothing wrong with being attached to your money. In fact, when you shove a big bet out there and lose, just think of it like this:

"I'm getting my money in good. So the house 'got lucky' this time...big deal! They have bunches of +EV games (for them) scattered around, but the players get lucky sometimes. Mine is coming!

I'm just saying that I think you can have fun and let loose with your attitude toward the game, and not care about money so much..

Nothing wrong with hating to lose, either.

“If you can accept losing, you can't win.” - Vince Lombardi

Best ~ L.I.A.

 

[Automatic Monkey]

I am short of N0 in my career, so I have not played long enough to enjoy a thorough and true variance beatdown, but I am below expectation and began my career with a solid downswing.

Weirdly, I just don't care.

I have noticed that the losses do not bother me too much. When I win big, I'm not overjoyed, because I figure I'll be giving most of it back within the next few hours, and then winning some/all of that loss back, and so on.

Surprisingly, nasty ploppies and dealers bother me more. I feel as if I'm managing my behavior every moment at the table.

I'm currently spreading red to light green - basically red-chip play.

The swings are smallish in comparison to what I can raise in a couple of months, so I won't be out of action for more than a few weeks even if I tap out. Basically this period is about experience and bankroll building, on a replenishable bankroll which is big enough to put my bets at 0.7 Kelly anyway.

I have only once walked away from a great positive count because I was losing hand after hand, and I swore to myself that I would never back away from a good count again.

It's possible that I have the right psychological profile for the money aspect of this, even if my counting and index plays could be faster. That long drive home after booking a loss just doesn't bother me.

I can't help thinking that the downswings will be harder to take when they're larger in proportion to my income. Is this because the bets just aren't that big yet? Given the appropriate bankrolls for each situation, is pushing $300 out on a double down during a losing streak a lot harder than doing the same thing on a $100 bet?

Anyone find a threshold at which losses become much more difficult psychologically?

Nobody likes losing. Well, at least not us, there are people who go to the casino with a masochistic desire to become impoverished but that is probably not anyone who studies AP.

It's OK to show emotion. It's even OK to be superstitious! If you like to drive around the parking lot exactly 3 times and park in a particular spot on every trip to the casino, go ahead! It doesn't affect your EV. If you scream and curse when you lose and celebrate when you win, sure that's great. Be as emotional as you want. Just don't let it affect 1) your betting decisions or 2) your playing decisions.

It doesn't bother me to push out a double down bet, because I know that is always to my advantage. I'll tell you what does bother me though- a defensive split with a big bet, especially if I am short-stacked. When I have to push out a heap more cheques on a 33 vs. 7 they can probably see/hear me mutter "S.O.B.," but I do it anyway. My muttering is probably a bad habit, because it indicates that I know it's a defensive split and any player who knows stats like that is a danger to the casino.

Good that the drive home after losing doesn't bother you. There are guys out there who can't stand it and have to drink/use/patronize after a big loss and although that doesn't happen at the table so it doesn't preclude one from being a good AP, for obvious reasons it generates -EV in one's life.

 

[blackjack avenger]

Money Sociopath.

I am short of N0 in my career, so I have not played long enough to enjoy a thorough and true variance beatdown, but I am below expectation and began my career with a solid downswing.

Weirdly, I just don't care.

I have noticed that the losses do not bother me too much. When I win big, I'm not overjoyed, because I figure I'll be giving most of it back within the next few hours, and then winning some/all of that loss back, and so on.

Surprisingly, nasty ploppies and dealers bother me more. I feel as if I'm managing my behavior every moment at the table.

I'm currently spreading red to light green - basically red-chip play.

The swings are smallish in comparison to what I can raise in a couple of months, so I won't be out of action for more than a few weeks even if I tap out. Basically this period is about experience and bankroll building, on a replenishable bankroll which is big enough to put my bets at 0.7 Kelly anyway.

I have only once walked away from a great positive count because I was losing hand after hand, and I swore to myself that I would never back away from a good count again.

It's possible that I have the right psychological profile for the money aspect of this, even if my counting and index plays could be faster. That long drive home after booking a loss just doesn't bother me.

I can't help thinking that the downswings will be harder to take when they're larger in proportion to my income. Is this because the bets just aren't that big yet? Given the appropriate bankrolls for each situation, is pushing $300 out on a double down during a losing streak a lot harder than doing the same thing on a $100 bet?

Anyone find a threshold at which losses become much more difficult psychologically?

Variance of sessions can be greater as your career develops:
The longer you play the greater the chance of bad trips.
The longer you play you may bet bigger; if winning, and will have more variance in real $.

Well, since your avatar is Mr. Sugar, a psychopath you may have the right mindset.

One needs to be a money sociopath, meaning not caring when betting.

 

[Sharky]

i disconnect from the (value) money the moment i take a seat...it's just units to me and i am there to lay down and the more i get on the table the merrier