How do you guys avoid the draw of table games?

[mingorama]

I'm stuck in the stupid win-at-poker, give-it-all-back-to-craps cycle. And normally, I lose it back in a fraction of the time. Yes, I'm a moron.

[Wongboy]

Learn how to play the games optimally and then force yourself to play in that manner. For Blackjack, learn correct basic strategy and whenever you play make sure that you are always following Basic Strategy. The game becomes very mechanical and there is no illusion that you have decisions to make. For me, this also makes the game boring and repetitive. It takes away a huge part of the "thrill". If Basic Strategy alone does not work, then learn a basic method of card counting (hi-lo or even Ace-Five). Combined with BS play decisions this should take away all of the fun.

Same thing for Video Poker. Make yourself master perfect play and the game itself is just boring and repetitive. No fun = No draw.

This is harder for games with no real strategy component like Roulette, slots, etc.

I plan to teach my kids how to maximize EV at every casino game. Not because I want them to make their fortune in the casino. Rather, I want to take away all of the "fun".

[that_pope]

My way of doing this is going to Vegas twice or three times a year and going all out, losing $300-500 a trip overall (after $1000-1500 in poker winnings) and going back home and continuing the grind.

I play 10-20 hours a week at Casino AZ with slots, video poker, blackjack, let it ride and 3-card poker, and have never placed a dollar anywhere that wasn't a poker table.

I actually have more trouble avoiding NL games while totally drunk in Vegas. If I avoided those and stayed at the much better EV table games than trying to win every hand while plastered in Vegas, I would have lost a lot less this previous weekend (see -$1000 in Wynn 2-5 NL game for anywhere between 1 and 4 hours late Sat night where I left my Ipod at the table and was very happy to pick it up at security the next morning).

[Cincy Peach]

I am usually able to maintain an even demeaner at the poker table, but when I find myself about to make a rude comment because some fish rode pocket threes to the river and caught his two-outter, I find it relaxing to leave the table for a few minutes and play a little blackjack.
$5 blackjack is not a deathtrap. The house edge vs the basic stratagy player is a half percent or so, two to three cents on a five-dollar bet. (house edge may differ a bit depending on exact rules your casino uses.) So the -EV for a 15-20 minute '$5 blackjack break' is about a buck. The -EV of playing a single hand on tilt is much worse.

Too, blackjack has a lot of lessons for poker. The primary lesson is that you should focus on playing each hand correctly, rather than obsess over the results of any given hand.

[TMTTR]

(1) GA is not the answer. As I understand it, GA will tell you to stop playing poker as well. They won't distinguish (or allow you to distinguish) between +EV and -EV games.

(2) Most players (and I would guess many responders in this thread) are -EV players AT POKER. The worst of the lot are probably giving up more to the house and winning poker players then they would at an average session of blackjack or craps.

Sooooo, unless you are playing poker to make a living, enjoy yourself at the tables. (Last time I was in Vegas, Phil Ivey and his entourage had their own Craps table reserved at the Bellagio. Ivey was playing $2K on the line and placing lots of large stupid bets. But they were all drinking heavy and having a great time.)

[sirpupnyc]

[ QUOTE ]
If you decide you want to comeback you have to wait at least a yr and then write to the gaming comm.for re-entry. As far as AC, Vegas or anywhere else im not sure.

[/ QUOTE ]
Just be careful what you ask for, because they will give it to you. There was a story recently about a guy (in AC, I think) who had a losing day, took his gambler's remorse right down to Casino Control and cashed it in for a permaban-for-all-eternity. Now he's changed his mind and they won't take him off the list (IIRC the story came up when he sued the state and lost).


ObHow-I-avoid: Haven't the slightest idea how they're played.

[TS Clark]

By understanding math.

[1huskerfan]

The same way I avoid drawing to a gutshot straight on a paired and suited board.

[PorkchopDJG]

I like money.
If those bloodsuckers in Vegas want to only have $10 and $15 blackjack and craps tables when they could easily open up $5 min tables they won't get any of my business.
F them, It's poker only for me.

[mxp2004]

[ QUOTE ]
I am not an expert on gambling addictions but this doesn't sound like one. This seems more like a "tilt" problem. When you leave a session a loser remind yourself you are on tilt and should not gamble at any game any more. Your judgement is impaired.

I have a hard time getting up from the table when I am losing because I think I can win it back. And I notice I start playing looser so I can win it back right now. So, I created a checklist for myself when I identify that I am on tilt.

Just pulling myself away from the table (gambling) and reading the checklist settles me down. I also say the serenity prayer (God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference). As I say the prayer it helps me to focus on what I can't control (bad beats, bad judgement on my part on a past hand), what I can control (my attitude, my behavior, getting back to my opening hand standards), and wisdom (well if nothing comes to mind I just say the prayer again).

[/ QUOTE ]

I think that this good advice. There is also a book called "Zen and the Art of Poker." Some consider it a must-read for serious poker players. I don't know if I would go that far, but it is all about learning how to control the emotions of the game that can cloud your judgment, whether at the poker table or away from it.