Boring

21 November 2024

By Royal Flushes

CINDY: I don’t think we’ve ever covered this in all the years we’ve been writing.

ABBY: Lead me the way.

CINDY: At what point does the game you are playing get boring for you or you just want to end it and go to another game? You could be ahead, behind, even, but the actual playing doesn’t do it for you anymore and you want to move along? Perhaps you are feeling a sense of boredom? Something like that.

ABBY: Interesting question. I have not spent an extended time at the table in the last twenty years. A couple of hours, maybe, and I am ready to change games or take a break to do something else. Marathon sessions aren’t in my world anymore. If I put in a few hours it will be at different games combined.

CINDY: Do some games get to the boring level rather fast and some games hold your interest for much longer. Any games you never get bored at? Then why would you leave them?

ABBY: Okay, you too. You tell me and I will tell you.

CINDY: Deal. You first.

ABBY: I can play roulette for about an hour and then I am done. I only make the even-money bets because I cannot stand those long losing streaks. I will then go to blackjack if I get a spot at a full table – you know the last open spot. Give me another hour, maybe two, here. If there is an “expert” at the table who tells players how to play I might short circuit the playing and head somewhere else.

CINDY: I can play craps for a very, very long time. I play the Captain’s 5-Count and I only make one or two bets. I never get bored at craps. If someone asks me why I bet only one or two spots, I just tell them I am saving my money for a hot roll or something to that effect. I seem not to get too tired or bored at craps.

ABBY: Craps does that for me too. What about blackjack for you?

CINDY: I like it but it does get tiring when the other players are themselves somewhat boring. The small conversations can get deadly dull but that is somewhat rare. Blackjack would be my second game I guess you could say.

ABBY: How much time?

CINDY: A couple of hours maybe.

ABBY: I find I like a quick hit at mini-baccarat, maybe twenty decisions and then I am done. Too many really superstitious players at that game. You almost never find a table without one person really going nuts when she (it is usually a she too) feels the gods are against her.

CINDY: Most of the new games can get tiresome fast so I don’t put too much time at them. I think the players at the new games are not long-term casino gamblers. They can be newbies. I’m not exactly sure on this however.

ABBY: Would you say we are traditional types of players? We stay within the regular games?

CINDY: Very much so.

ABBY: Slots?

CINDY: No more than a half hour. I do not get really engaged at slots. What about you?

ABBY: No more than an hour, maximum. Just me and the machine? Short term only.