BJ streakiness at Intercasino

[dickens1298]

I just wanted to share an experience that occurred recently at Intercasino.

My usual modus operandi is to set session limits for profits, then cash out when I reach that goal. I vary this "hit and run" tactic at the beginning of the month when I'm seeking to meet WR - at $15-20 initial bets, however, I can usually make the WR within an hour.

Several nights ago I deposited $500 at Intercasino. Wasn't seeking any sort of major windfall, but felt fairly confident that I could pick up $50-100 in profit. Boy - was I wrong.

The $500 quickly whittled down to around $250. I could not hit a hard hand to save my life - continually busting out on my 13s and 14s. I would win a hand, then lose several. Angered, I actually "tilted" (breaking a cardinal rule), and deposited another $500. I figured with a bankroll of $750, I could increase my bets to play "catch-up".

Of course, I was wrong. The beating continued, until my bankroll was down to $300. Then I sought to reach at least $500, rationalizing that it wasn't such a bad day if I just lost my initial bankroll. With $30 wagers, I literally wavered around the $200-300 mark for about 90 minutes.

Until the streakiness hit again. When you are beat by a point on double downs, you KNOW it's a bad night. Or when you double on 11s and 10s against dealer 6s, draw a low card, only to see the dealer hole card as the...ace. OUCH.

Finally...I was down to $40.50. That's right - after about 3 hours of play, my $1000 bankroll was whittled down to a pittance. In frustration, I bet my last $40, pulling a 16 against a dealer 10. Deciding that basic strategy was simply not working for me, I stayed, and the dealer - busted.

I won the next several hands, betting the same $40, and playing the same way, staying when I should have hit. Miraculously, I won.

Then I hit 3 blackjacks in a row. Within 20 minutes, I reached my goal of $500. Breaking my vow to quit once I hit that goal (and breaking a second cardinal rule), I increased my bets, and managed to end the (long) night actually up by almost $100 (including comps). Needless to say, I decided it prudent to quit while I was ahead.

Moral of the story? None really. I thought it rather curious that I was able to have such a horrible losing streak (losing almost $1000), and then able to win it back all in an equally improbable winning streak. Certainly made the fatigue I felt the next day tolerable knowing that I came out ahead...as opposed to down a thousand.

[frafi]

just a tought.
I think it would it be better to start with the table minimum ($2), play a little bit and when things are going wrong, quit and come back later. That would limit your losses a bit.

[KasinoKing]

At least you weren't playing just to meet WR on a bonus - then it REALLY takes the piss.

Great recovery!

[dickens1298]

Originally Posted by frafi

just a tought.
I think it would it be better to start with the table minimum ($2), play a little bit and when things are going wrong, quit and come back later. That would limit your losses a bit.

The dollar amounts are all relative. I prefer slightly larger bankrolls to support slightly larger wagers so that the time feels more "worthwhile". Although the risk is obviously higher, I am not that risk-adverse. Typically though, under similar circumstances, I would have taken a break from playing during the losing streak - the fact that my obstinance ultimately paid off does not detract from that glaring break from one of my most basic principles.

[caruso]

Originally Posted by dickens1298

My usual modus operandi is to set session limits for profits, then cash out when I reach that goal...wasn't seeking any sort of major windfall, but felt fairly confident that I could pick up $50-100 in profit...then I sought to reach at least $500, rationalizing that it wasn't such a bad day if I just lost my initial bankroll...

And then there was Vegas.

That, in fact, is the moral of the story: your irrational beliefs are the same irrational beliefs of the all the players whose losses that town sprung from and still thrives on. The funny thing is, you'll go back for more, as will they, "fairly confient" in your and their irrational beliefs.

[dickens1298]

Originally Posted by caruso

And then there was Vegas.

That, in fact, is the moral of the story: your irrational beliefs are the same irrational beliefs of the all the players whose losses that town sprung from and still thrives on. The funny thing is, you'll go back for more, as will they, "fairly confient" in your and their irrational beliefs.

Gambling is - by and large - a negative expectation game, so by definition we all have a certain "confidence" that we will win. Otherwise we're better served spending our money elsewhere.

I gamble for fun, and yes, hopefully to make money. With the comps I receive from land casinos it generally makes it worth my while (one casino, for example, comped my gf and me tickets to several NASCAR races...another comped me tix to a recent Bill Cosby performance), and my comps from online casinos generally offset any losses in the long run.

If me being "irrational" translates into entertainment, the potential for winnings, and other benefits, then I'd rather celebrate my irrationality then pooh-pooh it.

[toofast4u]

Isn't it funny how the last few $$ in your account seem to be the luckiest??

I have had this happen many many times, just when you are about to throw in the towel, and bet the farm on that last hand, then wham, you get a blackjack, or a series of good wins. For me, I usually win up to within a few $$ of my original deposit, then the mother of all losing streaks hit.

Mind games, I tell ya. They have our brains soo figured out.

[gfkostas]

Once at Intercasino I was down to 16 pounds and then after an enormous streak(if i could only knew that it was coming ) i reached 300pounds and called it a day.Was I happy....

[trick]

Intercasino can be nasty.. once lost 17 times in a row.... (doing a somewhat disastrous Martingale variant)

[dickens1298]

Originally Posted by trick

Intercasino can be nasty.. once lost 17 times in a row.... (doing a somewhat disastrous Martingale variant)

Agreed.. just got slaughtered last night.. brutal.

Of course, the offset to that was when I ran up a $500 to over $3000. So it definitely goes both ways...