Being Uptight

18 January 2022

By Frank Scoblete

QUESTION: I am a good player. I know the rules of the games I play and I keep my money manageable if you understand what I mean. My wife, however, has a different view of my casino playing. She thinks I am always uptight. She thinks I don’t enjoy myself as much as I should. Okay, I am uptight a lot of the times. How can I not be? The games I play do get to me sometimes. I do not play slots or video poker. What can I possibly do about the fact that at times I might be uptight? I play the Pass Line at craps, along with blackjack, and roulette.

ANSWER: Each game has a different flow to it, a different pattern if you will, and that flow can negatively impact a player at certain times in his play. I can’t give you complete advice on your situation but I can go through my way of handling games, meaning when I play them and why.

I play craps when I am ready to attempt to beat the casino by me shooting the dice. I bet only one small bet on other players and I go up on three bets initially on me, bets which are higher than I bet on the other players. I’ll take the dice two to four times and then I am usually finished. I find that craps can put pressure on me because of shooting. I do also make three bets on individuals that I know can roll dem bones.

I am probably putting that pressure on myself. If your wife saw me after a game where I lost, she might get the impression that I was uptight. Still, I do tend to look calm most of the time, even when I lose, but inside? Not necessarily so. I take my shooting of the dice seriously.

The most frustrating thing about craps for most players is having a goodly number of bets on the layout and being wiped out. You win one bet at a time but you can lose all your bets at once. That’s uptight time.

Blackjack I will play only if the game is worthwhile. I want certain rules that are good for me. I do not like the eight deck games so I rarely play them. Six decks? So, so. Blackjack can make a person feel a little harried especially if the other players have an “expert” who wants to give everyone advice. I flee those games. Blackjack means I need certain conditions in order to play it the way I enjoy playing it.

The most frustrating thing about blackjack is the fact that some streaks can be horrible on your emotions. Blackjack can take the wind out of you when you hit a streak of splits and double downs and double downs after splits that you lose. Going into such a hole can rattle you. Most of these streaks should be good ones because the doubling and splitting usually helps the player but they can also be losers. String those together and you will surely be uptight.

Roulette is fun and it is strictly random so whatever I choose to bet has no impact on the game. I find the game relaxing. It is somewhat leisurely. I don’t have to think very much when I play it as I only make the “even-money” bets of red/black, high/low or odd/even. You usually don’t hit long losing streaks playing that way.

I rarely play straight-up bets because they can come in with relatively long losing streaks and that can make you uptight.

My favorite game for relaxing is Pai Gow Poker and I recommend you give it a try..

I love the game and I really love the new version which is face-up Pai Gow Poker. You have decisions to make and those decisions will affect the outcome for you. It is not as intense as blackjack and the game is leisurely. It is a great game to play when you want to unwind from other games. And no one rushes you to play your hands either.

After Pai Gow Poker you can go to your wife and she will probably congratulate you on being so calm and relaxed.

Other games? Here and there I will spend time at them. I used to love big-table baccarat in the high-roller rooms. That game was leisurely and classy. It’s evolutionary descendent mini-baccarat is probably the fastest table-game in the casino. Fast is dangerous for the player.

So here is the deal. If you are feeling the least bit uptight then play a game that is relaxing and doesn’t require too much from you. If you are not uptight then go for the more high-pressure games. The judgment you make has to be about yourself as much as it does about what games you decide to play at any moment.

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Frank Scoblete’s web site is www.frankscoblete.com. His books are available from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Kindle, e-books, libraries and bookstores.