Handling a winning streak

[mickeymouse]

As some of you know I started this hobby at the end of last year, and as some of you know, I was experiencing an extremely demoralising losing streak (at the nadir, losses totalled $5700 from my all time high achieved in Februrary).

Since then I have won five consecutive sessions and won back a total of $3700 of my previous losses. I finally experienced the relief of a good run at a favourable count, although I had to use quite a bit of camouflage.

It's kind of difficult where I am because there is only one casino in my city and it is not large (only about 10 tables in total). The next nearest one is over a two hour drive away, and quite frankly, there is no venue within a 5-hour flight that has better playing conditions/rules.

Theoretically, the correct strategy is to keep playing, as every hour played is more expected value. Practically speaking, it is very difficult to avoid the fact that the staff know that I have been going on this winning streak. In your opinion, would you take an extended break or resume playing after a few days?

[Orangechip2]

Practically speaking, it is very difficult to avoid the fact that the staff know that I have been going on this winning streak. In your opinion, would you take an extended break or resume playing after a few days?

I'm glad the roller coaster is climbing back up the hill for you Mickey. My last few sessions have been brutal, no worries though.

Since that is the only store with a playable game within close driving distance I'd keep going. I like the idea of using camo since that is your main spot. The only thing I'd recommend is don't play the same shift every single day. Switch up the shifts you are playing, that is if your schedule allows for that to happen.

[mickeymouse]

I think when I was winning before I expected to keep winning, because winning doesn't affect the chances of your next session, just because you won nine of your last ten sessions doesn't mean you'll lose the next one. And then I went crashing back to earth with a thud. Reality bites with venom.

As far as shifts go at my local casino you run into the same people no matter what shift you work. There is not really any way to avoid recognition. It's pretty much the occasional deliberate error, judicious rat-holing and playing a small amount of -EV games (we have SLOOOOW low-minimum single zero roulette) when the count on your table is really bad. It really doesn't eat very much into one's theoretical EV.

[ZeeBabar]

I am in a similar situation. I stand out but also, the casino personnel know all of us locals well. I use opportune moments to leave the table when ahead (pit busy elsewhere, dealer shift) and ensure they know when I have lost. When I leave the table with a win, I head for the exits, let them assume I had lost all and when I lose, I walk away with about $75 and head towards the cashier. To my amazement, after a year, my meticulous records showed me winning about $2k, their won
/loss record of me had me losing $8k.