Doing well in multiple B&Ms; Poor in one

Lucere · #1 10-09-2007, 05:53 PM

For live play, there are three local casinos and a home game I frequent regularly. I do well in the home game and 2 of the casinos. However, at the third casino I do horribly. I can't figure out if this is because of the players (i.e., typically bad, typically suck out artists), just bad runs (i.e., variance that ironically only seems to occur at this one casino), or some psychological block that kicks in whenever I play there because I typically do poorly there. I'm curious to know if anyone else has experienced something like this and if so, how they overcame it (if they did).

By the way, I posted this here instead of the psychology forum because it's 1) limited only to B&M play, and 2) might not have anything to do with psychology.

bapazian · #2 10-09-2007, 06:05 PM

The cards are random no matter what casino you are playing at. The only differences would be what limits you may be playing, the lineups at the tables, and your luck on the given day. Unless the players are significantly better at the one casino then you've probably just been running bad there. As you describe the players, suckout artists, it doesn't seem like they're better players.

But if it really bothers you that much and your superstitious or something just go to one of the 3 other locations you can go to instead it should be an easy decision.

As to my personal experience with this my one friend who I often go gambling with is a curse to my luck. Nearly every time I go with him he runs like a god and wins like 300 on a f-ing 2-4 table and I go 100% carddead get [censored] on by the deck and lose a rack at 4-8 or something. When I go without him i tear up the tables. Its just random luck really so I still go with him and lately its been the opposite.

So ya, don't be superstitious, go wherever the games are good don't focus on past results due to running bad.

Lucere · #3 10-09-2007, 07:05 PM

Thanks for the reply. To clarify, I'm not superstitious, so I don't want things I say (e.g., "psychological block") to sound like I just think this one casino has bad mojo or something. Instead, I just want to figure out if there might be some systematic reason for why I don't do well there compared to other places.

One thought I've had is that the players at all 3 of the other locations are typically better players than this place, so maybe I do better against players who actually understand it's not a good idea to go all in with J3 off against a solid player who shows strength (typically with a good to great made hand). In that case, maybe it just is variance, but it's bad enough that I want to know what's causing it.

Percula · #4 10-09-2007, 07:16 PM

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I can't figure out if this is because of the players (i.e., typically bad, typically suck out artists)...

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One thought I've had is that the players at all 3 of the other locations are typically better players than this place, so maybe I do better against players who actually understand it's not a good idea to go all in with J3 off against a solid player who shows strength (typically with a good to great made hand). In that case, maybe it just is variance, but it's bad enough that I want to know what's causing it.

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Its not variance, you are not adjusting to the game conditions. How to adjust would be a good strategy post.

steamboatin · #5 10-09-2007, 07:41 PM

How many hours of play at each location? I suspect small sample size syndrome but it could be variance or like Percula said, failure to adjust to different game conditions.

Do bad beats put you on tilt? At the risk of stating the obvious, the later game that you describe will have much higher variance.

Lucere · #6 10-09-2007, 07:46 PM

sample size isn't the issue here. and no, I don't go on tilt easily from bad beats. there have been so many lately at this one casino that I'm actually pleased with how well I've maintained composure all things (beats) considered.

steamboatin · #7 10-09-2007, 07:52 PM

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sample size isn't the issue here

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Sample size is always an issue. You are spreading your play over four venues, I doubt very seriously you have a significant sample size at any one unless you are talking about multiple years of play .

tessarji · #8 10-09-2007, 07:56 PM

Sample size is the issue here

redfisher · #9 10-09-2007, 09:02 PM

At what point are these suckout artists putting the majority of their money in play when they beat you? Are they really sucking out a 3 outer after all the money is in or are they making implied odds plays on you because they know that you'll pay off?

Wyrm2 · #10 10-09-2007, 09:11 PM

Is there some sort of issue with when you play there? What I mean is, do you have to drive further to get to the casino you are running bad at, which might be a problem if you are tired etc...

Conversely, is it the closest place, and you only go there when you don't feel like travelling far, in which case the bad day may be affecting your play?