BLACKJACK PROBLEM!!!!

[Alex424]

So what are you saying. You cannot be a winning addict??

You could not be more wrong!

[Jorge V]

Alex424, I actually did take your response very sensitively as you said. I understand 100% that I am addicted to BJ which is the reason I wrote this post. Why don't I have a problem with craps, roulette, or slots? The fact is I have honestly, never had gambling tendencies when it comes to poker, it is my job. You also never answered my question as to why you feel I am addicted to poker/ have a poker problem. How can you say, "YOU have to want to stop more than anything and the only way is to stop going in casinos"? I agree with the first part in regards to BJ, but the second part is ridiculous. According to you, would it be OK if I just played at home games and online sites where BJ is not available? The fact that I work in a casino obviously makes me vulnerable to my problem, but it is not a good enough reason to quit my job and find another, it just means I have to work that much harder. I am not trying to disguise anything as you suggested, I just gave all my facts in order for other, such as yourself, to be able to better help me. Once again I admit 1000% that I have a BJ problem, but once again I question as to why you feel I have a problem when it comes to poker? None of the information I have given suggests this at all and I am wondering where you came up with this. I really hope you write back as I really want to understand what you are saying, but at the moment it just doesn't add up with the information you have about me. Thanks

Jorge

[Jorge V]

Omaha, once again you have given me lots to think about. I am actually going to look into maybe doing volunteer work as I feel it would work around my schedule better as opposed to part-time work. Honestly, how would I benefit from this other than the fact that I would be able to help others? I have actually been trying to remember how I handled my finances pre-poker. Its hard to do because I started playing poker in casino right after high school. In high school I never worked, mostly because my parents were well-off and they just wanted me to concentrate 100% on school. I guess I never really understood the value of money because, financially, I have had it easy my entire life. I could not even imagine would it would be like for the many people who live paycheck to paycheck. I wish I would have learned the value of money at a young age, but its probably to late as my brain is already "programmed" when it comes to money. i would appreciate any more advice you would be willing to give as I have been given much to think about by all the posters. Thanks again and hope to hear from you soon.

Jorge

[Jorge V]

Alex,
"So what are you saying. You cannot be a winning addict??
You could not be more wrong!"

I agree with you 100% here and would love to hear your response to the post I just made regarding your response. Thanks

[Alex424]

Jorge

You wrote for advice - i gave you mine - your not going to take it so why get aggresive about it. Ive clearly hit a sore point.

You strongly feel you are not addicted to poker, so fair enough i don't know you.

You have 125K reasons to stop going in a casino. Maybe thats not a lot of money in terms of your poker winnings so that is ok i guess.

All i do know is if i was losing 125K playing blackjack even though i strongly did not want to play blackjack, but i played uncontrollably anyway i would not put myself in an environment where it was possible to play blackjack.

Sorry to have hurt your feelings, it was not my intention, but come on man, this is a serious problem, and most serious problems require serious action.

If reading a few posts and a book on trading helps great stuff, and i hope it does.

BTW attacking my suggestions won't help, you ASKED FOR ADVICE - if you don't like it ignore it.

[Black_Angler]

[ QUOTE ]
This isn't exactly a rare problem for poker players.

Here's my suggestion: learn to play winning blackjack. Then one of two things will happen - either you'll be banned from the pit and your problem will be solved, or you'll make money and your problem will be solved. Either way, you win.

[/ QUOTE ]

Couldn't have put it better myself! As a former cardcounter and financial analyst in the casino biz, all they really care about is how you hit their edge. You wouldn't be banned from the entire casino unless you were caught cheating (utilizing a device, for example...but in this case the point would be moot because you would be playing poker just to keep your cell mate Alfnozo from poking your butthole).

My problem on my first go around was that I was trying to count cards and play poker off the same bankroll (big mistake). I've just begun the rebuilding process (shaking off the rust, reading some old books, reading some new books and ignoring BJ) right now and plan to do it only through poker, but being in LA there are plenty of places that offer just poker, so I have no temptation.

If you really can't control yourself, counting cards could be a way to do it. But be forewarned, the variance involved with counting cards in BJ makes the variance in poker feel like your first [censored]. It takes an AMAZING amount of control, and it is so much easier to "Tilt" (and also easier to loose more while tilting) in BJ than it is in poker. If you have any tilt problems whatsoever, I would recommend another route. I know some places will allow you to self ban. I would see if they will allow you to self ban everything but poker. Same route as being barred from BJ without the risks [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

Good Luck.

DW

[Jorge V]

Alex, first, I didn't intend to attack your suggestions. I am grateful that you have taken the time to offer your advice. I understand that I have a BIG BJ problem and I need help which is the reason for me writing for help. I have asked you in my last 2 replies to tell me why you feel as though I have a poker problem and you fail to tell me. You made a strong statement in your first reply about me being addicted to poker, but you dont tell me why. I would love to know why you feel as though I have a problem with poker. I am not attacking your suggestion, I merely want insight into your thinking. I respect your advice and that is the only reason I keep replying, otherwise, I would just ignore your posts. I hope you can take the time to reply to my questions. Thanks again

Jorge

[omaha]

Black angler has raised an excellent point, that I cannot believe anyone else has brought up- that is, find a place that doesnt have bj!!!!

HOLY CRUD BATMAN, SAY ITS NOT THAT EASY BOY WONDER!

Are there any private clubs that have poker at a level that high enough for you to play at?

Even if the levels are too low, and you dont feel you wont "earn enough money", lets be serious. If you can continue your profession, and be UNABLE to play bj, then this will hopefully give you time to figure out WHY you are currrenly unable to stop playing bj

[Sigurd]

I just got a couple of random ideas. They probably aren't feasible, but I might aswell share them with you..

If changing cardroom isn't an option, you could try to bribe the casin/floorman into disallowing you at the blackjack tables. If he doesn't want to disallow you at the tables because you are loosing, offering to pay the casino a fee for the extra service may do the trick.

You could also try striking some kind of deal with some of the waitresses. Each time they ask you if they can get you anything at a blackjack table, you tip them 100$.

[omaha]

bumpity bumpity.

Any updates on the positive or negative side jorge?

I am very interested in how you are going and feeling at the moment!