Deciding when to leave the casino

ABBY: “Always leave when you’re ahead.” That might be the most famous saying or advice given by players and writers about casino games. But does it make any sense? Think about it clearly.

CINDY: That advice has superficial logic to it but it can’t stand up under scrutiny. You go to a table game or a machine and you may win on the first roll of craps, or your first hand at blackjack or at Let It Ride or your first decision at roulette or your first spin of the slot machine – so what are you supposed to do? You just get up and go now that you are ahead?

ABBY: And what about the players who do not win their first or second or third decisions? What should they do? Should they keep playing until they have lost it all or until fate steps in and let’s them ultimately win? We know that probably won’t happen most of the time.

CINDY: So what about that advice then?

ABBY: You become like a mummy, stuck to the game for all eternity. Of course, that is ludicrous.

CINDY: So when should you leave?

ABBY: I think you give yourself a certain amount of money to play a session with and that session can end after you find you’re getting tired.

CINDY: And don’t push yourself through tiredness. Stop play when you know you aren’t operating at full steam. I think that is good advice. The casino isn’t going anywhere and it will be there later when you want to resume play.

ABBY: Now if you are winning and you think to yourself, “I’m winning, maybe I should call this a session.” Well, then, call it a session. Or if you are thinking, “I’m not having a good game maybe I should call this a session.” Well, then, call it a session.

CINDY: Maybe you are ahead and you still want to play because you aren’t the least bit tired and you also want to keep winning – what then? That could be a dilemma, right?

ABBY: What I do is keep half my winnings and play with the other half or make up a percentage for myself; maybe you keep eighty percent and play with twenty percent. But however you do it, you are going to be taking home money. You’ll have your win and you’ll still be able to continue play for a while – what could be better than that?

CINDY: What if the worst happens and you lose all the money you gave yourself to play that session? Well, that choice is simple. It is over for now. Cut and run. Never dig into your purse to get more money. Your session is over. That might take discipline for many of us to do but it must be done.

ABBY: Do not get more money from your credit line or the ATM or credit card machine. Do not dig away at your money. Your session is over. You have to learn how to call it quits when things are not going well for you.

CINDY: It is never too early to quit but it can be too late.

ABBY: That’s a good saying.

CINDY: Yes, it is!