How do you handle a big loss?

Decided to play blackjack at a local bar to kill some time while my wife finished a late night at work. I'm usually in control of myself but tonight was an exception. I bought in for 20 units as usual (I'll use units as my actual $ loss would be insignificant to some on the board...but not to me). That was gone in 20 minutes. This is where I usually walk away. Not tonight. Bought in for another 20 units. That was gone in about 15 minutes. Things have got to change, right? Long story short... finally walked away down 95 units. This was by far my biggest loss at the blackjack table. I'm feeling a mixture of anger and embarrassment at my lack of control at the moment. I fessed up to my wife about my loss right away when we met for dinner. She was a gem and didn't give me a bad time about the loss. Obviously it's still bothering me though. My question is how do you handle a big loss?

 

Goose and tonic.

 

in all seriousness though, been there and done that many times.... the best healer for how you are feeling is the same as for a divorce, death of a friend or family member, or other poor decision; time. It will erase or minimize your hurt.

 

Welcome to the degen club. The big stupid losses never get easier you just learn to deal with them. The worst is when you chase good money with bad and turn a nice winner into a big loss. At least you were down the whole time. The only thing you can do is tell yourself you won't make the same mistake next time ... which may or may not actually happen, but it will make you feel better now.

 

It depends. If I was playing a good game where I had an advantage and just was unlucky, I don't like it but don't feel awful. If I play a game where I'm at a disadvantage and should only play a short time for entertainment, then i feel stupid and sick to my stomach.

I've played on days where promotions gave me at least a 1% advantage and gotten crushed. But if you keep putting yourself in good positions, the math should catch up. Same thing with bad games. The math is going to get you sooner or later.

 

i take a break from the casino, in fact i dont even feel like gambling when i have a big loss. but time heals all wounds as they say and its true. sorry you lost so much i know what it feels like.

 

it always hurts, but I never play anything that I can't afford to lose

 

I call myself a dumbass several times and maybe stew on being foolish for a few days and then move on.

 

Same here. Back in the day I've had nights where I've gambled way more than I should of and woke up the next day feeling like shit and hating myself. After learning some tough lessions I no longer do that.

 

Journaling. I put it in my journal. Break all my plays down and whatever emotions that were taking place to cause the loss in each bet. To break down what was going on and why I broke my own rules. Tons of self reflection and introspection. This will reveal my weaknesses hopefully then think and write down the possible remedies and solutions to the problems. Helps to develop my mental A game where next time I would not repeat. Since I pay for the mistakes might as well to learn from them and not to experience them going forward. Hopefully the loss was painful but will not take me out of the game so I will see it as casino tuition. Bad move is to ignore it and move on. Might feel better to be in denial but long term would be detrimental. Also journal my wins too because I might get cocky thinking I am invincible then having things bite me in the ass the next time. After 2 1/2 years with some real pain at times learned tons especially about myself and nowadays I don't journal that much only when I up my minimum bet.

 

Now the darkness only stays the night-time
In the morning it will fade away
Daylight is good at arriving at the right time
It's not always going to be this grey


George Harrison, All Things Must Pass

 

SteveWilson- a 95 unit loss stings. Trust me I know the feeling. I've had worse days.

Want to know what I do? I grab another stack from the safe and get my ass back out there.

 

I switch games for awhile. My game of choice, UTH, happens to naturally have big up and down swings and 100 units either way is pretty much my expectation of the hi and low for a given session. Most of the time, it falls somewhere in between, but it does hit the 100 unit every so often. Basically, after you experience a 100 unit loss a few times, you get conditioned to it. If anything, it will help you to gauge what kind of bankroll you may need to play at a particular level.

 

I don't risk that much to have such a problem.

 

After a big loss, I go back a few weeks later regardless. After a big win, I got back a few weeks extra happy.

 

Ice cream.

Time is a good one too.

 

Time. I like the goose and tonic also since that is one of my faves, especially in Vegas.

 

I earn more money so I can do it again.

 

make the money back up some other way

fire the maid and do your own cleaning, ditch the pool boy and clean your own pool, winter is coming so set the heat on 52 and put on a sweater, don't eat out for a month and instead cook for your wife at home something cheap that takes effort, fire the personal chef, fire the lawn service and mow your own lawn, mow your neighbors lawn for an extra 5 units, brown bag lunch for work (I like budding lunch meat anyway, but not as much as Boars Head), ditch the HBO and Showtime and NFL package and watch on firstrow sports online for free instead......no netflix watch online (just google the movie and look for the links that are free it takes like 2 minutes max if you know what you are looking for).....lastly forgo the number of gambling trips it takes to catch back up

do that until you are "whole" 150% of what you think you lost through lack of control and then when you would regularly gamble again you will have your regular bank roll +50% to try and catch back up (terrible way to gamble), but then if you get down 100% of your regular bankroll that is when you have self control and stop and you still have that 50% and you will walk away with that 50% and feel good for still being ahead 50% of a normal gambling session bank roll and having self control and take it and spend 50% of it on the wife and save the other 50% for next time and you will have 125% of a normal bank roll for that session

 

This is what I did yesterday. Pushed too hard at wrong time.

How I dealt with it today was to play light. Did the shopping, eat out for a long meal, enjoy the hotel room.

Tomorrow get back on the horse and try again.

Fk