Going Through the Motions

9 February 2025

By Royal Flushes

CINDY: I think casino players tend to ingrain their habits so that they do not have to actually think time and again about what they are doing at any given game. The less they have to think the better for them as not thinking puts less stress on them.

ABBY: Let me make this clear. The rudiments of the game; the buying in, how to play the hands in a card game or what bets to make in any table game say like craps, should become less thinkable.

CINDY: You know what to do so there is no debating inside your head about “should I do this?” or “should I do that?” This frees the brain to think about what has to be thought about – what strategy is best for me to achieve my goals?

ABBY: I assume all of our wishes are to beat the games that we are playing. Otherwise, why bother playing? The rudiments of playing the game should be there after awhile with little or no thought involved. You buy in and get your chips or you color your chips at roulette games. You really don’t need much thought to do these things.

CINDY: The focus has to be on the meat and potatoes of the game. Strategies. Best bets, money management, that type of thing. I don’t think your playing strategy is to keep debating inside your head with yourself. If you have studied the game or games you wish to play then you know how you will play them.

ABBY: So, play them the right way.

CINDY: What things do you have to take care of as the game is being played? First, when will you leave the game?

ABBY: There will come a time in many sessions when you think to yourself, “Should I leave the game now?” Generally, that means you should leave the game now.

CINDY: Beforehand at home you should map out the criteria for quitting. I’ve lost too much of my bankroll in this session, time to quit. I am way ahead, take the profit and stop playing. Leaving the game should become an easy decision for you after a while. Never overstay your welcome should be chanted in your head when you are winning.

ABBY: And when you are losing. Never think after a session of play that you will come roaring back and win if you just hang in there for a time. Don't hang in there.

CINDY: If you have a win and start to think “time to go,” then go. That is a clear signal to you.

ABBY: None of these are things to ponder. The first signal is the BIG signal. Heed it. You hear your inner voice say, “Leave, leave, leave”

CINDY: At first you won’t heed anything. For most of us that is a sorry fact. It takes us some time to start to feel right about actually doing the right thing. I think that goes without saying. But doing the right thing is the proper way to handle the game.

ABBY: Remember, you are betting your hard-earned money! You have to be in iron control if you intend to play these games for the rest of your life. The casino has an edge over you, just remember that. The look from here to the far future is dim. That’s why the casino will comp you. So, you think you should quit? Is that inner voice correct? Of course it is.

CINDY: Get into the habit of listening to it. The more it becomes a habit that is obeyed, the less stress you will have heeding your inner voice.