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Winning With Character Anyone can win
money at a casino. That's what games of
chance, like craps, are all about. But certain regular
players seem to win frequently, while a lot of others lose consistently. What causes this? Is it luck, skill, knowledge, or something else? In most cases, it's
a little of each of those, plus a huge amount of CHARACTER. On the other hand, there is also a tiny, almost imperceptible number of
professionals that are so low-key, you might hardly notice them if it werent for the
good, consistent hands that they seem to roll almost every time its their turn to
shoot. You might think
that its luck, and perhaps a bit of skill and knowledge, but one thing you can be certain of. Its not a coincidence! Let's look at some
common traits that most frequent winners and every professional player has: 1)
They play their
best game all the time. Craps is a
marathon, not a sprint. Someone who remains focused all the time, and doesn't take things
for granted, is the kind of player that will walk out of the casino with more cash than
they entered with. It is the ability to
perform well, day in and day out, which determines the consistent winner. Life is full of distractions, the casino lifestyle
is like life at full throttle. One of my
friends likens it to juggling chainsaws going full rip. Sure, its entertaining, until someone loses
a limb! 2)
They are always
thinking about context. Craps is not a game
of absolutes. What's right in a Hot game, is totally wrong in a Cold game. The right play
ten minutes ago, can be the wrong play now. Every
situation is different, and players who stay alert to the changing differences are more
likely to be winners. 3)
They study and
learn as much as they can. I continue to learn
aspects of strategy during almost every session. Whether
it be improvements to my Precision-Shooting, experimenting with a new method, sizing up
other dice-setters, or maximizing my Comp values, the learning never stops. It pleases me that I am still able to improve my
game on an almost weekly basis, from the things that I have learned or improved upon from
the previous week. 4)
They have
self-confidence, but don't think they "know it all." There's almost
always more to learn, and if you don't bother to learn it, well, like Satchel Paige said, "Don't
look back, somebody might be gaining on you."
Ill be honest with you, I like arriving in a casino, walking up to the craps
table, and buying in for perhaps $1,000, knowing that 19-out-of-20 times, I will end that
session with a decent profit. I also like
being able to confidently know that I can turn the table around, when it
becomes my turn to shoot the dice. Even if
the table has been cold enough to sink the Titanic, the forecast is pretty
good that a tropical heat-wave of equatorial proportions is coming my way. But I also recognize when another players betting
method has a lot of potential, or when another Precision-Shooter is about to tear the roof
of the joint, or when a lucky random-roller is building what could be the roll-of-the-day. 5)
They decide what
their goals and/or motivations are. It's pretty hard to
hit a target if you haven't aimed at it. The kinds of things one does with a goal of
earning a comfortable living is different from the kinds of things one does if they are
just out to have a good time with their friends once in a while. A few players are great
enough to have a realistic goal of being one of the best players in the world. Most of the
rest of us need a somewhat more realistic goal, at least in the short run. 6)
They understand
themselves. You need to
understand your own strengths and weaknesses, and be able to determine threats and
opportunities. It does no good if your
spouse doesn't believe in what you do. In
a later article Ill closely explore this subject, but suffice it to say that most
woman really do not have a fantasy about
marrying a professional gambler. Nor during
career day at school, does a child like to get up in class to explain that Daddy
plays craps for a living. Counter to
that thought, is that actions truly do speak louder than words, and the professional
player has to indeed be very professional in everything that they do, simply because most
people are looking to deflate any notion that craps can become a positive-expectation game
through Precision-Shooting. Believe me, the
battle is not in convincing them, its the battle of self-discipline that you
struggle with even as your bankroll grows to that earned by other professionals like
lawyers, doctors or dentists. 7)
They know when to
change gears. Sometimes it's
right to play with a great deal of discipline, and sometimes it's right to gamble it up a
bit, and the best players can switch styles rapidly, as the situation demands it. If you play one method all of the time, your
losses will surely outstrip your wins on a very regular basis. What will work is if
you use the same winning method in the same
situation every time. Second guessing
yourself is the downfall of most near-break-even players.
Similarly, know when to take a break, or take a well-deserved non-gaming vacation. Keeping things in balance is critical. After two marathon months of island-hopping in the
casino-dotted Caribbean, I ventured into the deepest parts of the Amazon rainforest of
Brazil and Equador, with some other like-minded intrepid explorers. The casino may require jungle-warfare tactics, but
two weeks in the real jungle refreshed my mind, body and
spirit, plus it restored that critical balance. If you put a great
deal of energy into following these principles, you will be pleasantly surprised when your
current results improve. Character has a lot
to do with winning consistently, and it is that consistency that brings home the profit
nearly every session. Good Luck & Good
Skill at the Tables
and in Life. By: The Mad Professor |
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