BLACKJACK PROBLEM!!!!

[PunchOut]

i am so GLAD i read this post.

i am a 6-12 to 15-30 player and NEVER play black jack unless im on vacation in vegas. last night on the way through the casino to the poker room, i walked up to a 25$ blackjack table and slapped a $500 bet down. long story short i walked out with $6500.

i hope to god that i have the discipline from now on to not try and make that easy buck again [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[Jorge V]

There is nothing wrong with playing BJ every once in a while as form of entertainment. I have a problem because I cannot seem to stop when I start, even when I am winning big. Its all good as long as you have it under control.

[omaha]

Good to hear a couple of things.

FIrstly, you are a winning poker player. THis is a very hard thing to do, as we all know.

It sounds as if you are a horrid blackjack player.

I find this interesting on a cerebral level. I remember reading one blackjack book when i was eighteen and basically broke even, forgetting about cards. I think with basic strat you are about a 1% dog? So, if you are betting 50 at a time, then you should be theoretically losing a dollar.

Learing poker has been sooooooo much more difficult for me on so many levels. Everything depends on everything else, and of course, the answer to everything is 'it depends'

How exactly are you tilting off your blackjack money? Is it not realising the massive variance, or ignoring basic strategy?

I truly sympathise with your situation, being a pro gambler, basically living in a casino, winning in one portion of it, and then losing it in another.

Do you have anyone who you can trust to keep you away, a poker buddy, or female friend?

Is there a self exclusion policy available at the casino?

I suppose that one could always play at the lowest table, but the problem is that gamblers love to gamble, to feel the joy and the pain, which you dont feel at a $5 table.

[SplawnDarts]

[ QUOTE ]

Bingo. Counting cards is hella easy. FTR, they don't ban you from the whole casino if they catch you counting cards do they? I haven't done it seriously enough to ever get caught.

[/ QUOTE ]

Based on the fact that Andy Block (sp?) is playing the poker circuit without difficulties, I believe you'd probably be ok.

Of course, someone less famous might not be extended the same courtesy.

[johnnyrocket]

learn to beat the game or go ask the supervisors to ban you from black jack if u want and they will do so

[r3vbr]

Playing winning blackjack isnt that hard.
Search amazon for some Arnold Snyder, stanford wong, sklansky books.

all it takes is dedication.

[Jorge V]

Omaha, I understand the basic strategy of BJ. I am HORRID when it comes to betting. I bet more when I am losing than when I am on a roll. Basically, I tilt off my money when I start losing many hands in a row because I just increase my bets which gets expensive. I have several good friends who will watch out for me if they see me, the problem is most of them are usually never around the pit area; hence, dont see me playing there that often. I cannot get myself barred from the pit area, I already tried asking about that. I understand my problem is pretty pathetic, but I am serious about getting help or finding ways to cope with this before it gets MORE out of control (which would be pretty hard as it is already out of control). Thanks

[Jorge V]

r3vbr, thanks for the suggestion, but I am trying to stop playing BJ completely, I don't want to learn how to beat it. I would love it if I could get to the point where I never played another pit game for the rest of me life, thats the goal.

[sdp]

I know someone like this - he is a great high limit winning player and will be up 8 or 9k and lose it all within 10 minutes at the BJ table. My suggestions come from observing him, just my 2 cents.

In several of your posts there seems to be a helplessness factor i.e., 'I seem to find myself playing' etc. If you are willing, I think you need to bring more conciousness and awareness of your mental state from the minute you walk in the casino. It sounds like you feel like you are on auto pilot and that is usually related to a subconcious urge. There are many reasons that people feel the need to gamble/lose - a need to punish yourself being one, a need for action another. You are succeeding in an area where 90% of people fail, when you consider that, what thoughts come to mind?

Even if you still play BJ the next time you go to the casino, pay close attention to everything you are thinking/feeling while this is going on. If you are unable to focus, it is time to consider what else you are avoiding in addition to considering what is it that you are getting out of playing BJ.

[demon102]

jorge reread my op in this thread