I quit

[moses]

Lone wolf. I will say this, blackjack is the most difficult biz challenge in my life...and I've taken on some doozies. My kids get pissed because I won't teach them. They say I make it look so easy. It's not. Just a mind that's constantly churning.

I remember my first job out of college as an accountant. I really felt I was worth $1200 a month. They said it wasn't in the companies budget and I wouldn't find that kind of money anywhere. So everyday I started putting out resumes during my,lunch break. I was at 3845. A couple days later I walk into 4001, an enormous luxurious building. The owner was a multi millionaire who'd started with nothing. I walked into his office for my interview and it was full of basketball trophies. I'd knew I'd found home.

So 1 Peter 5.7. He taught me more than i would've ever got out of a book or a classroom. I was very blessed to have crossed his path.

[moses]

T3. Your top has to be under their tolerance level. Therefore, you must put in a bottom in line with the tops. This, in itself, will minimize downside volatility.

View the game in terms of quality sessions/hands as opposed to quantity of hands.

[Ryemo]

I got up to about 25k profit within 300 hours give or take. Not sure of the exact hours because the way I track my hours is from when I get to the casino to the time i leave and not the actual time i count down shoes. So it was roughly 300 hours playing mid green low black and got to about 25k profit, but the last 50 hours or so have been brutal and gave back about 18k. During this downswing I lost my favorite casino to play at as I got backed off from there and left me limited casinos to play at, mainly the ones that I have always struggled at. This now leaves me at about 10k profit overall and in the green for the last two years of which I played part time starting at red chips to mid green-low black at about 500-550 hours or so and well below EV. If you count the first 3 years where I didnt keep a log an estimate is I lost about 2-3k so that puts me at only 8k in the green since I started this adventure and to me that's horrible.

Been there and done that a lot now. Those big negative swings suck, but they're pretty common for the stakes that you mention. In the 3 years I've been doing this, I've been on numerous BIG SWINGS (postitive and negative). I've had multiple losing streaks that are anywhere from -$15K to -$25K and I've luckily had quite a few big positive swings that range anywhere from +$15K to +$33K. I won't try to convince you to keep playing, nor will I try to dicourage you either. Only you can make that decision. In my opinion, why does it have to be all or nothing? You don't have to try to go full time pro, but you also don't have to quit cold turkey either. In terms of blackjack advice, all I can say is you have to grind out the hours. If you can look past the short term results and keep grinding, everything will (hopefully) fall into place. This is much easier of course when you don't need to rely on your BR to pay bills and live off of. But if you have $35K just sitting around, just grind out the hours, assuming you still want to play.

Look at it like this; you're not that bad off. You have a degree, you have a $35K savings/bank, and you're not even 30. It could be much worse lol. Good luck in whatever you decide.

[Marvin]

Good luck to me, im gonna need it as im now 27 living at home with no job, no girl, not many friends anymore and with a degree that I haven't even used with also no real work experience that can help me with my degree. I guess the good thing is I have no debt, a car paid off, 35k in savings, and of course the worthless business degree that I might never use, but nonetheless I'm at a real crossroads in my life right now and not sure what to do. And yes, for the ones that can connect the dots, you can now see why I have been out of control on the forums the past 3 months.
#PrayForTheWolf

If you are really depressed, please see a psychologist or a counselor of some sort; there's nothing wrong with seeing one, and it's foolish not to see one if you're this down about your current situation.
You have no debt, you have a decent amount of assets for someone your age. You're objectively not in a bad place economically.

There are various ways to get around the job gap in your resume, if a 9-5, 8-6, or 7-7 job is what you really want.

What is your ideal job?
If every job out there paid an identical salary, what would you want to be doing?

It seems to me that you have the freedom to do whatever the heck you want with your life without being weighted down by debt, kids, or other dependents. You just need to figure out what it is that you want to do.

[LoneWoLF]

If you are really depressed, please see a psychologist or a counselor of some sort; there's nothing wrong with seeing one, and it's foolish not to see one if you're this down about your current situation.
You have no debt, you have a decent amount of assets for someone your age. You're objectively not in a bad place economically.

There are various ways to get around the job gap in your resume, if a 9-5, 8-6, or 7-7 job is what you really want.

What is your ideal job?
If every job out there paid an identical salary, what would you want to be doing?

It seems to me that you have the freedom to do whatever the heck you want with your life without being weighted down by debt, kids, or other dependents. You just need to figure out what it is that you want to do.

That's the thing, i dont know what I want to do. Im actually in a bit of depression, but i dont want to sound like im posting here looking for sympathy, it all kind of just happened that way. I guess if i had to choose something I would like to do it would be something in the sportsi ndustry, maybe being a coach or a scout, or some type of executive for a team or working my way up. The problem is I have no idea how to even get into that industry. Like I said i have literally no job experience in anything. The only jobs I really had were 'driving' jobs whether limo or delivery. Other than that, i worked fast food in high school and at a car dealership. So much for job experience right? I literally must have had the worst jobs anyone could have had by the time they're 27.

[LoneWoLF]

Been there and done that a lot now. Those big negative swings suck, but they're pretty common for the stakes that you mention. In the 3 years I've been doing this, I've been on numerous BIG SWINGS (postitive and negative). I've had multiple losing streaks that are anywhere from -$15K to -$25K and I've luckily had quite a few big positive swings that range anywhere from +$15K to +$33K. I won't try to convince you to keep playing, nor will I try to dicourage you either. Only you can make that decision. In my opinion, why does it have to be all or nothing? You don't have to try to go full time pro, but you also don't have to quit cold turkey either. In terms of blackjack advice, all I can say is you have to grind out the hours. If you can look past the short term results and keep grinding, everything will (hopefully) fall into place. This is much easier of course when you don't need to rely on your BR to pay bills and live off of. But if you have $35K just sitting around, just grind out the hours, assuming you still want to play.

Look at it like this; you're not that bad off. You have a degree, you have a $35K savings/bank, and you're not even 30. It could be much worse lol. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Yea this is my first major downswing, but it's not so much the downswing, but how i only lose at two stores, which angers me even more. I feel like something is completely bizarre there. The thought of me getting cheated feels like I wasted all my energy playing fair just to get screwed and start all over, thats what's getting at me. Sands and Harrahs are the two casinos im talking about, both in PA. I really think something is wrong with the ASM's there, but ill let BJGenious discuss that lol.

[moses]

Lone wolf. Maybe look into the 76ers? I assume you are in that area. Generally, pro sports teams that are down have openings for sales. Since your degree is in biz management and you like sports, it may be worth a shot. Both of my kids went this route. One excelled, the other didn't care for it. The one that excelled now has a high paying marketing sports job on Wall Street.

[BJPloppy]

Lonewolf,

I am sitting here remembering what it was like for me when I was your age. I was in very much the same position as you, having taken a long time to obtain my Business degree. I earned my undergraduate degree while going to school part time. The only thing I was sure of when I graduated was that I did not want to be an accountant.There were eight large firms in those days and I received an offer from two of them. I declined both because accounting did not feel right for me (much to the consternation of everyone older than me that I knew). I was supplementing my income with money earned from casinos while in school, but I was very aware that I was not playing at a level that would sustain the lifestyle I desired. A chance conversation with one of the grad students who taught statistics, made me change the way I viewed blackjack. He had no idea that I went to the casino, he was just bemoaning the fact that his knowledge of statistics had only gotten him the low paying position at a university. He complained that he could probably make more money playing blackjack, but the travel wasn't worth it. His comment helped to clarify my issue. The problem wasn't the game; it was the level at which I was playing. There was also the problem that my win rate had suffered from AC getting rid of the ES rule. I decided to see if the universe wanted me to play for a living. I took the bankroll I had built up from playing, and decided to go for a "Hail Mary" approach to building a bankroll. I lost time after time during monster counts with hands that looked like a hollywood movie complete with splitting face cards and dealers pulling 7 card twenty-ones. Timing is everything.

I then decided to devote my time to figuring out what I really wanted to do while supplementing my income with blackjack. I have figured that out, and over the years, I have never had a losing year, and blackjack has paid for many vacations, nice clothing, and fine meals, etc. I have glossed over the process of figuring out what I wanted to do because it has nothing to do with you. Each person has to make his/her own journey of discovery. The only advice I can give is to keep your eyes open to opportunity (like an AP), and maintain the healthy interest in learning many things. Something will choose you - just relax and enjoy the process of discovery.

I give this advice because it seems you do not yet have the temperament to be a full time AP. That is not a bad thing, it just is. When your situation changes and you have a bigger bankroll, you will still have to learn to live with the swings. I recently lost more in a day than I made working an entire year when I was your age. I just filed it under "shit happens." You will have to learn to accept that things will not always go your way; it is a metaphor for life in general.

I remember reading something on this forum but I can't remember who said it. His/her theory was that the people who go on to do this full time usually started with a positive variance. I have never seen any studies or even surveys done (Norm are you listening?), but I suspect there is some truth in that. I know that if my initial "Hail Mary" had worked my life would have taken a different track. I am happy with how things worked out because I have thoroughly enjoyed my life thus far. Now as I reach retirement age, I plan to continuing learning and getting better at all things AP.

It is an exciting time for me - let it be an exciting time for you!

[Barney112]

Sorry to hear about your problems but considering my problems yours is very small. Read Anthony Robbins awaken the giant Within this is a great book and it will get you thinking what you can really do with what you have right now and you have a lot. Don't give up I've had 4 back surgeries 2 Fusion the last two-and-a-half years the no retirement I'm 53 years old can't work ever again probably I have a 27 year old and a 16 year old great kids but you know they work hard everyday to and they see when I get down and one of them 2 months ago no I read this book years ago and helped me come out of a hard divorce and handed me the book again and thank God I read it I feel better life will be better for all but give the book a chance and it will give you your life back good luck my friend we all go to it most of us don't have no money though you do be thankful

Sent from my B1-820 using Tapatalk

[Three]

Yea this is my first major downswing, but it's not so much the downswing, but how i only lose at two stores, which angers me even more. I feel like something is completely bizarre there. The thought of me getting cheated feels like I wasted all my energy playing fair just to get screwed and start all over, thats what's getting at me. Sands and Harrahs are the two casinos im talking about, both in PA. I really think something is wrong with the ASM's there, but ill let BJGenious discuss that lol.

Just don't play where you are getting beaten as frequently. It is likely just variance and this time next year Harrah's will be you lucky store that you beat regularly. For me only the store with the best rules and pen was a nut I couldn't crack. I had my worst losing sessions there and when I lost 1/3rd of my BR after increasing my spread most of it was left at that store. I wasn't ahead much overall at that store despite the time played and large theoretical EV. The only reason I was ahead at all is I hit a $5K side bet payout for a rare hand matchup. Otherwise I would have been behind. I wish I could finish the story with things turning around but they gave me a BO. Every time I hit the conditions I like, which was a rare event at this store, I got my ass handed to me. The place was a sweatshop and had tolerated me for years despite knowing I was an AP. They pushed back a couple times so I had to tone things down but one day they decided they had enough of me. In retrospect I could have avoided that but if I ever started winning the way I thought I should I would be backed off. Don't miss the place. Like you I felt i was wasting my time there but I believed it would balance out eventually. Either it was variance or I needed to figure something out that made the game more of an opportunity. They had both hand shuffle and ASM's so I know it wasn't the shuffle machines. LoL

[Marvin]

That's the thing, i dont know what I want to do. Im actually in a bit of depression, but i dont want to sound like im posting here looking for sympathy, it all kind of just happened that way. I guess if i had to choose something I would like to do it would be something in the sportsi ndustry, maybe being a coach or a scout, or some type of executive for a team or working my way up. The problem is I have no idea how to even get into that industry. Like I said i have literally no job experience in anything. The only jobs I really had were 'driving' jobs whether limo or delivery. Other than that, i worked fast food in high school and at a car dealership. So much for job experience right? I literally must have had the worst jobs anyone could have had by the time they're 27.

It will be difficult to do anything while you're depressed, so again, take my advice and see someone. You're not a unique snowflake and your problems are not insurmountable, regardless of how they seem. There are trained professionals out there that can help. You likely wouldn't get good advice about which count or what bet spread to use from a random shrink; don't expect to get the necessary help with your depression from an AP forum.

Don't worry about your lack of meaningful work experience.

Many sales jobs don't require experience and will train you while paying you a nominal hourly rate. The skills you develop selling cars, knives, or perfumes (I mention those 3 because companies in those industries are always looking for entry level sales people.) are easily transferable to selling other things. Good sales people are always in demand. Once you prove to be honest, reliable, and competent, you can usually move to other positions within a company easily.

If you don't have a felony conviction on your record, a serious substance addiction problem, or a serious mental or physical handicap then you're already way ahead of a large percentage of the population. I get that this point won't resonate with you because you're depressed and until you address that underlying issue you'll keep focusing on all the things you don't have and perceived mistakes of the past, rather than moving on with your life.

There's nothing wrong with the ASMs at in PA; that's just voodoo thinking.

This is my last post on this matter. It's your life; it's up to you to follow the advice or not; no one will make you do it or do it for you.

MM

[moses]

Also, officiating is a decent extra income. You can move up faster on the east coast because there are so many more colleges. A top ACC basketball official makes $3200 a game. Start young, work hard, be patient, be damn near perfect.

[stopgambling]

Start young, work hard, be patient, be damn near perfect.

and have hope ! Motivate yourself everyday and get to know yourself better . Maybe you are just affected by all these negative thing ,you should dig out eventually (in life or bj)