Problem with Gambling?

Dear all,

I know we haven't spoken for a while, and we probably won't be speaking for a long time, but I just wanted you to know that.... wait, "brb."

So, where was I? Oh ya, I have been going to the casino lately--after a few weeks of NOT going (because I lost money, which was when the last entry on going to the casino was dated).

Nicholas thinks I have a problem with gambling. I agree that playing roulette and whatever "chances" game is "gambling" and I have decided to only play holdem. I want to divert the next time Nicholas introduces me to someone like Inez bringing forward my "problem with gambling," to which she would say "that's interesting," which to some people would appear embarrassing, but not me--I fly that flag with glory and pride, and lots of honour. But no money, so maybe you're right, Nicholas.

Each time I go there (to the casino), I recognise more and more people. It's the funniest thing, but what can you say to just 8 designated "Poker Zone" tables. I guess it's the minimal approach. I can practically make friends but I don't think that's a good idea over the tables. They have a rule against friends playing on the same table.

There's a rake of 10% with a cap of $10 maximum. That's pretty high, I thought. Every time I take in a huge pot, it looks smaller than normal, but I don't know--it could just be me.

Sometimes, you'll play with players who take themselves way too seriously. Sometimes, just sometimes you'll find arrogance and condescension at your table. Most times, when I do take the pot off them, I just feel like rubbing their faces in my victory over their "supposed poker acumen." Like a little "Fuck off, old man, it's my turn now" right to their face, but I do not. It's people like that who make you want to take their money so badly. So don't play with your emotions.

I realise one thing though, and it's when a new player enters the table. All of us will be immediately interested. Like the other day, this kid comes in all reckless and aggressive with unusual large raises and straddles. That had the table curious and amused, laughing at the hands he would play with; confused, even. I told the others that "I love that kid" because it appeared like he didn't know how to play and just threw his money at me and kept coming back with $100 each time. I think we all shared that thought.

But back to that gambling problem, as above. Yes, perhaps I do have a gambling problem, but it's not when I play poker. Playing holdem makes me happy. Of course, winning makes me happy too, but you can't play to lose, and winning somewhat means that you are playing better, becoming a yardstick or a measure.

7up

So far, I haven't won at poker from the casino at all. The best I've done is broke even or maybe $7 up. "7up"

That's the trouble with me: I initially start off doing pretty well in the game, which is when I get reckless or bored--possibly both--and start playing my weak hands or maybe even overvalue my hole cards a bit.

I know I can play better, but I don't have that much time to play with--3 hours is the most usually.

It's always good to scope out the playing hall before you begin your game. There are regulars on every table. There is not one table where there isn't a recognisable face--I don't know them, but I know they're here more frequent than I am. I can't sit on a table without seeing someone I've played with before. And I don't even play often.

This is where you need to be careful as some of the players are here with each other. There's always a suspicion of an unfair game going on. Like today, where this married couple couldn't sit on the same table--I've played with them countless of times. Today, there was suspicion over whether they had signals for each other.

Where does all this lead me anyway? I'm still $122 down from all the bad calls I've been making since I was $15o up.

Sometimes. Sometimes, you're just outmatched by better players. Sometimes, your reads aren't as good as you thought they were--you get blinded into calling strong hands with cards you shouldn't have been playing with in the first place. Bad calls. Bored calls.

These are the kind of calls that release you from victory. Take a break once in a while, kid.

Start of a Bad Day

It began maybe 2 weeks earlier. I've had these irregular sleeping patterns since. I thought I had it under control--I almost did. But that was yesterday.

I was in bed right before 10pm. And I wasn't even interested in playing low stakes hold 'em at my brother's friend's house. What a waste of 3 hours, and $10. We left by 1:30am.

Seven hours, $200 later, I'm back from the casino, unable to sleep once more. Today, rapid roulette just made a new enemy of me. How could I even resist? The house was so close to the city.

Happy Mother's day--meaning: no full sleep.

Tai Sai

The game 'Tai Sai' has just grown on me. The game with 3 dices in a glass jar. 'Tai Sai' translates to big/small. My strategy--not complex--is to spread $20 onto 4 total-sum spots. The total sum spots are just values from 4 and up that indicate what the sum of all three dices add up to. The best odds you'll get are from 9-12 due to their frequency. I won $100 just from doing that; which isn't much to be proud of.

Yes, we were at the casino again. Two days in a row. And yet I have not tried my hand at hold 'em. Each time I want to take a seat, words of warning from my brother stop me.

Sitting at the roulette machine, drinking drinks like beer and Jim Beam cokes, and smoking more frequently than ever. I'm back into this line of work. Tsk...

Back to the Casino

It's not so surprising how many people are at the city casino on a Wednesday morning--mostly Asians.

I didn't really know why I was there. I didn't feel like playing anything. That was till I saw the Hold'em tables upstairs. A maximum of $100 buy-in on the tables. It's a pretty small section of possibly 6-7 tables.

"I'll skip this round," I thought. "Shark attack waiting to happen."

After a half hour of just observing, my brother and I went downstairs; which was where I started to itch for a round of roulette after watching a few spins.

I put in $20 and cashed out $90 the first time. Then later after the second beer, went back to the table and inserted another $20 and came out with $101.

This was Rapid Roulette--where the betting time is shorter. So I missed a few hits, but no point thinking about that.