Keep a log of your exploits
Casino games
Tips on free food
Cigars
The first one is a big sinkhole. I have been running good on negative games and bad on positive ones. I thought I was invincible and pushed my luck at a $25 double deck game and got crushed, exceeding my stop loss. Using a primitive counting system I jacked up my bets when I thought the count was good and lost all my doubles, splits, etc. I learned an expensive lesson in having a bankroll and not playing stupid games.
Have you played any Ultimate Poker online yet?
Quote: EvenBobHow much longer can you last at this rate, any idea?
At the current rate not much. I have shifted my plans and made myself disciplined more to stay away from stuff that doesn't have an advantage.
I went back and played on VPW for a while to see if I was making any mistakes, and turns out I was playing very well, with a few cent errors that come up rarely enough to put a dent into the advantage.
I said to myself I would not end up like the guys that move here, play hard, and burn themselves out due to gambling too much. The only good thing about myself was I recognized it before I went broke.
Quote: djatcThe only good thing about myself was I recognized it before I went broke.
Most people I know who live in Vegas don't
gamble at all, or very little. It used to be
banks would ask you if you gambled when
you applied for a mortgage. If you answered
yes they turned you down.
On July 1st I said this on your blog:
"So you moved to Vegas and you're not an AP?
Need I say where this will lead?"
Do the right thing, stop playing altogether or move.
Benny Binion said "Vegas is full of traps. It'll eat
you up and spit you out if you don't have an advantage."
Quote: djatcAt the current rate not much. I have shifted my plans and made myself disciplined more to stay away from stuff that doesn't have an advantage.
I went back and played on VPW for a while to see if I was making any mistakes, and turns out I was playing very well, with a few cent errors that come up rarely enough to put a dent into the advantage.
I said to myself I would not end up like the guys that move here, play hard, and burn themselves out due to gambling too much. The only good thing about myself was I recognized it before I went broke.
Problem with VP is the variance. Especially if you end up using a lot of your "expected winnings" to live off of.
Quote: EvenBobMost people I know who live in Vegas don't
gamble at all, or very little. It used to be
banks would ask you if you gambled when
you applied for a mortgage. If you answered
yes they turned you down.
On July 1st I said this on your blog:
"So you moved to Vegas and you're not an AP?
Need I say where this will lead?"
Do the right thing, stop playing altogether or move.
Benny Binion said "Vegas is full of traps. It'll eat
you up and spit you out if you don't have an advantage."
Yes I remember this and it was at that point I should have reassessed the situation. Even playing with an advantage means weathering the fluctuations. Casinos offer low odds on BJ and craps but they have the bankroll to withstand losses when they know they will make it right back. I haven't placed a negative bet at all today so I'm pretty happy about that, even though I lost on a positive one.
I did enjoy them, and please add some of the cigar's you are enjoying.
Quote: skrbornevryminYou'll know you've hit bottom when you have to sell your hair to a wig shop. Better get sattelite tv before it's too late. Variance sucks when you're on the wrong side of it. :)
Odd, I just saw that commercial again today and thought of djatc! I was actually hoping that he was doing better than that guy, not worse!
djatc, I noticed that you have been "boycotting" CET properties except for freeplay... Are there no decent VP progressives or Mystery Progressives that you can take down at any of the casinos? Of course, you will still have the same or worse variance problems with the VP, but if the comps are good enough, it may be worthwhile. Also, quite often with Mystery Progressives on slots, they have to be so close to max to be playable that when you find one in range, you're talking about hours or minutes to hit it instead of days. I wouldn't bother with the must-hit-by $30 or less (I've spent $60 trying for $24.xx) or $600 or more (the bigger they are, the longer they take), but the ones in between could be good as long as the meter(s) move at appropriate rates of coin in.
Quote: kewljAs already stated, video poker play contains a good deal of variance. You basically get all your money back, plus a little profit (if you are truly playing +EV) when you hit your royals. In between can be some big hits to your BR. Mailers from the local type casinos with disproportionate (based on your actual play) free play offers, can help reduce these in between swings a great deal, but only if you are very disciplined with your play. This brings me to my second,related point. VP is HIGHLY addictive. I would really keep VP play to a minimum until you have strong disciplinary skills. Concentrate on lower variance opportunities to start.
I can't multiquote so here it goes:
kewlj - Yes the royal is the only way to make a profit, so every session until then is usually a loss. I play anywhere from 3-12 hours and reviewed my strategy to see I am still playing at an advantage. The negative play only seems to come from table games. I have revamped my philosophy and decided not to let any profit go to any other game. As far as low variance goes I don't believe I know of too many, and can't think of anything besides counting in BJ but I believe bankroll has to be beyond VP for that.
JW17 - My blog has been classified by the USAF.... actually not but it's kinda tough to keep writing when things are going south quickly. I hope you understand.
camapl - I can't say I've done too many scouting beyond looking at the must hit by amounts. I did keep my eyes on one but someone hit it before I could jump in. My slot exploits are only in tournaments. It's pretty fun to play an over 100% machine, too bad it's not real money :(
skrbornevrymin - Luckily I am extremely frugal (took some toiletries back home from the hotel, yup) and the value of money is forcing me from spending rent money. I never have been late on a payment (unless there was an error from the creditor) and I'm proud of not screwing people out of money.
Quote: djatc...and can't think of anything besides counting in BJ but I believe bankroll has to be beyond VP for that.
If I were you, I'd skip the VP and just start playing low stakes poker online. (You seem like a smart guy, and there are lots of fish at the low stakes tables/tournaments)
