Page 17 - September 2002 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Mby Bill Burton
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
y friend Al is a serious blackjack player. His world revolves around the mathematics of the game. He thinks that luck is a four-letter word that should not be used in polite company. When he has a bad day at the table he refers to it as a negative uctuation and a good day is
a positive one. My friend Jack is a poker player who believes that even a bad player can get “Lucky” from time to time. I believe that Luck determines the way the cards are dealt and knowledge determines how you play them for the best results. The ebb and ow of positive and negative uctuation is luck. The right end of the spectrum is good luck and the negative is bad luck.
In the short term Luck will be a big factor in determining whether you win or lose. This is true of games that have positive expectations as well as games with a high house edge. If you are playing games with a high house edge, such as slots or Roulette, luck will be the only way to win. In the long run you will lose at these games. The casino will see the long term because they are open 24/7 and the math will equal out for them. But if you are only an occasional visitor to the casino it is possible to have some short term wins. This is the reason that people go back to the casinos. If the outcome of each visit were based strictly on math you would never win because there would be no deviation from the long-term results. If this happened no one would play. If you knew you would lose ve cents on the dollar every time you bet a number in roulette or pulled the handle on the slot machine it would be pretty silly to just hand over money.
For games of skill like poker, blackjack or video poker the “Luck” factor will even out as you reach the theoretical result referred to as the long run. Many wonder what constitutes the long run anyway. Is it a million hands or two? There really is no speci c answer. Some casual players may never play enough hands in a
attitude. Compare these traits and see how many t your personality.
LUCKY
UNLUCKY
Optimistic
Pessimistic
Confident
Unsure
Happy
Grumpy
Generous
Miserly
Outgoing
Introverted
Keeps Quiet
Complains
lifetime to achieve long-term This doesn’t mean that you don’t need to learn the proper strategy for these games. The knowledge to play proper strategy to the best of your ability will help you move toward the positive end of the spectrum. Just believing in luck is not enough to improve your chances. A wise man once said, “Faith will move mountains, but you better bring along your shovel and be prepared to help with the
results.
It’s just possible that your attitude can change your luck. We’ve all heard the saying, “When life deals you lemons, learn how to make lemonade.” The person who turns an adverse situation into an advantageous one is sometimes looked upon as being lucky, when it was actually their attitude that brought about the luck.
Here is a little exercise you can do to help change your attitude and your luck. When you get up in the morning think about the luckiest thing that has happened to you
“Luck determines the cards you are dealt. Knowledge and skill determine how you play them. A lucky person finds a way to use his abilities to come out ahead. This is true in casino games and is also a factor in the game of life.”
in your life. Maybe it was meeting that special person in your life or nding a hot stock that tripled overnight. Perhaps it was that one time you were in “the right place at the right time.” Keep the thought of that event in the back of your mind. During the day, if things don’t go exactly right, think back on your past good fortune and don’t get discouraged.
work.” In the casino your shovel will be your knowledge of proper play.
There is no guarantee that this will immediately change your luck, but as Sheryl Crow sang in her song, “If it makes you happy it can’t be that bad.” Being happy is one of the traits of a lucky person.
Good Luck!
Until next time, remember: “Luck comes and goes... Knowledge stays forever.”
Bill Burton is the Casino Gambling Guide and columnist for the Internet Portal, About.com. He also writes for several national gambling publications. He is the author of Get the Edge at Low Limit Texas Hold ’em, scheduled for release in October of 2002.
See his articles at www.casinogambling.about.com.
Luck determines the cards you are dealt. Knowledge and skill determine how you play them. A lucky person nds a way to use his abilities to come out ahead. This is true in casino games and is also a factor in the game of life.
We all know someone who is extremely lucky. Think of the luckiest person you know. You will nd that person is usually happy, outgoing and upbeat. They know how to make the best of any situation. On the other hand think about someone you know who always seems to have bad luck. Do they complain and gripe all the time? The “Lucky” person is usually the one with the positive
September 2002 Page 17