Strange days indeed.

KJ · 01-31-2013, 03:36 PM

(title from John Lennon lyrics)

January 2013 was probably the strangest month of my blackjack career. I was ill for a few days, so I only played 23 days. 20 winning days, 3 losing days. Months total -$13,662.50.

Now I have had bigger losing months.

What made these results kind of strange was not the totals, but the breakdown of events. The first day that I played in the new year, I experienced a 5 figure loss.

It was my first 5 figure loss in one day in over 15 months, so I guess I was due.

20 of the next 21 days that I played, I recorded winning days. The problem is they were all relatively small wins, only 4 where even 4 figures, with one small loss mixed in. Then on the final day of the month, yet another 5 figure loss. The second in 15 months.

Now 20 winning days consisting of mostly small wins and 3 losing days consisting of 2 very big losses, would seem kind of normal for some sort of progression betting system where you experience many small wins and an occasional much bigger loss, but this was not the case. This was my normal BJ play results, although in the last 10 years, I have come to realize BJ results are anything but normal.

So this peculiar month, resulted in only my second losing month in the last 16 months. I am guessing it is no coincidence that this string of 14 out of 15 months with winning results and 15 months without a 5 figure losing day ran simultaneously.

I did experience some positive results in a couple non-BJ related area that knocked my total loss for the month just below 5 figures, but all in all, I am really looking forward to February!

**zengrifter** · 01-31-2013, 04:02 PM

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**Smartpart** · 01-31-2013, 04:05 PM

I imagine February will be good to you.

**Baberuth** · 01-31-2013, 04:17 PM

I really hate to hear you recorded a loss for a month and although it wasn’t many consecutive losing sessions, there were 2 huge loss days. Knowing your knowledge and short session play and exit plan, it bothers me that you could have 2 such losing days. I wish it was not the AP way. Although not a pro and certainly not in your league, I have experienced a long streak where losing sessions are few and I don’t look forward to a negative variance such as you had this past month.
In your review of play did you find anything that could have contributed to those losing days that was common. For example, my play is MUCH better one on one and I wonder why I ever allow myself to play with others. Sometimes one other is OK, but when 2 others have been there it relates to the losing sessions. I am glad to see you are geared up for February with confidence. Best wishes.
Baberuth

KJ · 01-31-2013, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by Baberuth

I really hate to hear you recorded a loss for a month and although it wasn’t many consecutive losing sessions, there were 2 huge loss days. Knowing your knowledge and short session play and exit plan, it bothers me that you could have 2 such losing days. I wish it was not the AP way. Although not a pro and certainly not in your league, I have experienced a long streak where losing sessions are few and I don’t look forward to a negative variance such as you had this past month.
In your review of play did you find anything that could have contributed to those losing days that was common. For example, my play is MUCH better one on one and I wonder why I ever allow myself to play with others. Sometimes one other is OK, but when 2 others have been there it relates to the losing sessions. I am glad to see you are geared up for February with confidence. Best wishes.
Baberuth

I don't play too many tables with more than 2 players, so that isn't relevant. The reason that I choose not to is about time. You are going to get those same amount of rounds in at a shorter time with fewer people at the table. Now in the one sense, I have time. I have all the time in the world. I am not pressed for time, nor will I by pass an opportunity because it is too time consuming. But the part of 'time' that is a concern to me, is the extra time spent at the table. If it take me 30 minutes to play 45 rounds at a full table rather than 10-15 minutes with 1 or 2 players, then I am at the table two or three times as long. That is two or three times as long for someone to take an interest in my game. That is the real big negative for me and the real big concern that I have about 'time'.

Now, I do see what you are saying with the short sessions, Babe. Short sessions means more sessions and more sessions means a better chance for things to work out the way they....um....should. But, I think there is one idea that trumps that and here it is. Blackjack is just strange. Sometimes you are the windshield. Sometimes you are the bug. No matter what you do, that's just the way it is. In January, I was a big, fat, slow bug.

**zengrifter** · 01-31-2013, 05:02 PM

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**Goatlife** · 01-31-2013, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by Tthree

IFunny game of streaks.

This game is truly strange.. I have also had the weirdest month... the first 13 hours of play i lost 14k.. the next 10 hours of play i won 16k.... the next 18hours i lost 21,500. The next 20 hours i won 30k... Total profit for the month

Total profit for the month 10,500.. This **** is crazy.., this is by far the biggest swings i have ever had..

the crazy part is my max bet is only around 2x300-2x400..........
I did basically play super fast mostly heads up this whole time on thinly cut shoe games....prob at least 150 hands avg per hour

I played 61 hours this month and worked full time at another job.... I need a rest!!!!!!

**Tom** · 01-31-2013, 06:49 PM

Hey, don't feel so bad. I heard on the wire this morning someone lost over $100,000 they had invested in a bio-stock. At least 2 others got margin calls, and I'm sure many more lost a chunk of their retirement. This happened in less than 3 hours.

I haven't played this month, or this year yet but am hoping to take a trip in February. I ended 2012 breakeven so not sure what to expect of 2013, hopefully winning

**zengrifter** · 01-31-2013, 08:38 PM

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**zengrifter** · 01-31-2013, 08:45 PM

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RS · 01-31-2013, 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by zengrifter

The general black-swanesque pattern of BJ BR correction IS like that: The losing streaks are more violent then the winning streaks. Yes/no?

Winning streaks aren't violent, they're good!!

**zengrifter** · 01-31-2013, 10:16 PM

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**blackjack avenger** · 02-01-2013, 05:23 AM

One thing many players do that causes violent $ swings is they use different bet ramps at different casinos.

Example:
Casino A $75 max bet
Casino B $400
Casino C $800

Their $ results cluster around the $800 bets. They can be up hands across all casinos but down $. Their game has a lot of variance and is less determined by skill

Sorry for your loss KJ, ever had a 5 figure loss in one shoe? Now that takes a higher level count!