I’ve had big wins and I’ve had bad losing streaks. This was my short two year blackjack career. Like other players, I have a chance to win through my actions. Of course, I won──isn’t that the point? What’s missing is hard to deal with.
It’s really hard to lose for a long time, even if you know you’re playing by luck. With experience, these changes can be controlled. I’ve had a lot of bad experiences that inspired me to write about the psychology of loss. For example, once, I faced a failure that tested my courage.
The key to playing well is not technique. It’s not just about knowing the best bets or the size of your bankroll. Understand the nature of the disease. This separates the layman from the expert and is rarely discussed in blackjack books. Many people fail because they don’t understand this. Understanding the psychology of loss is the first step. Having a productive game is important.
What kind of gamer are you?
Let’s say you just got back from a weekend trip to Las Vegas. This is your fourth birthday, extending the birthdays you missed by three months. Which player are you?
Type A: Feeling sad and sad after returning home. You can’t believe you lost $1,600, which lasted three months. You’ve lost $8,000 since your last move, and you’re eating. Think about what you could buy with that money. You know you’re a tough player, but I can’t believe you’re so unlucky. You remember when the dealer got a 5-card 21, you lost a big pot and died.
Type B: I will be satisfied when I go home. Excellent performance, EV higher than expected. You won’t win any money, but you know the bonus contribution will be nice. You knew you hadn’t celebrated a big win in a while, but surprisingly, you weren’t happy. You stick to your game plan and play longer than you thought you would. Thanks to the consultant’s good judgment, I got $300 in EV due to the seller’s error. Even if you lose money, you know you played well and had fun.
If you’re reading this, you’re probably a type A gamer. Your expectations and thoughts about money are holding you back. It will prevent you from winning the chance to play football. Becoming a Type B player is difficult, but you can do it by changing the way you think about money and yourself. I call Type A players non-players and Type B players experts.
Money related
We are all about money. Money can buy a house, a car, a boat—even happiness. What do you do when you win or lose a big bet? Non-players often feel sad or disappointed when they lose a big bet, but are extremely happy when they win.
Being emotional after winning or losing money can hinder your ability to perform well. Betting too little or too much depends on demand. It comes from victory or defeat. Most gamblers have no emotional reaction to winning or losing big bets. Players focus on thinking about winning or losing big bets. Professionals often lie to make it look like they are cheating.
The dealer dealt a 5-card 21. At this point, you might be thinking: I’m close to a click, but who’s stuck now?
Conclusion
A full understanding of the psychology of death is critical to effective gaming. Understanding and controlling your thoughts about winning and losing will transform you from athlete to professional. By changing your mindset and taking the focus away from financial performance, you can become more efficient and stay competitive. Remember, it’s not about talent or money; It’s about maintaining a professional mindset and focusing on long-term EV rather than short-term profits.