Conquer Distractions IF You Want to be A Winning Player

Conquer Distractions IF You Want to be A Winning Player

Ok, so you have my winning system, someone else’s or you have come up with your own,

You are ready to take it live in the casino for the first or hundredth time.

There are many ways to lose and only one way to win so you need every possible edge or advantage going for you when you play.

As an aspiring professional baccarat player, you need to be aware (forewarned is forearmed) of how many distractions you will face as you challenge the casino for its money.

In another blog post, I will cover some other topics related to playing at the professional level but the focus of this article is how to overcome distractions.

Most of you who have been in the casino more than a few times realize that the casino does everything it can to break your focus and distract you from playing “your game.”

The obvious sources are the attractive cocktail/drink waitresses, and the noise generated by the omnipresent slot machines.

Regular loud PA announcements when there is a slot tournament that day ad to the din (why did I pick this time to come?).

There are some less obvious distractions the casino uses also.

Many times when I am playing – and winning – a nice pit boss will approach me and ask an innocent question about my unique custom designed baccarat score card.

I can’t say they always do it on purpose to distract me because they have NEVER seen one like it before. Regardless of their intent, innocent or otherwise, it can result in causing me to lose focus on my next bet.

Sometimes that is enough to break the winning flow…causing me to lose a bet the system would have won but I put my chips in the wrong circle while tactfully trying to cut the conversation short with the inquisitive pit boss.

As soon as an otherwise winning bet is lost, what happens on the very next bet? Yep, if you said that it will lose too. That may be the strongest “spot play” bet ever. lol

How about the dealers? Yes, most dealers are great people just doing their job but occasionally, I run into one who I swear has just been waiting for me… to show up with my handy-dandy aforementioned scorecard.

“I don’t know why you are using one of those things. It’s a fact that this is a totally random game and there is NO WAY using a score card you can change that outcome.”

Now, the dealer had made the outcome of this shoe personal and your pride (especially mine as a system seller) is at stake. Do I need the extra stress and distraction of playing at his table…even though he, or the other players at the table, can NOT change the outcome of the banker/player decisions?
No, if I am smart (no claim for 100% here), I will find another table.

Now let’s discuss you fellow players. Again, most of them are nice people just trying to win a little money. On the other hand, some can be the source of the MOST distractions you can imagine.

I have been at the table with players who were smoking like a paper mill, players who slam the table (some dealers do this too) and cause chip piles to spill when they lose a hand, players who chant “banker, banker, banker” after you just placed your player bet (don’t know why but banker usually wins that hand), players who make constant noise riffling their chips till you want to strangle them, players who are standing by your right ear when you are at sitting at first base carrying on a loud conversation with their friend…in a foreign language…who happens to be sitting at the opposite end of the table, players who are draping themselves over your back trying to bet in your circle when the casino allows “backbetting.”

So noise, the waitress, the pit boss and the dealer not to mention the irritating players at the table… when you add it all up… can be a huge source of distractions when combined not just the single sources which can be distracting.

What is the answer? What do you do to overcome all these distractions which can cause you to lose instead of winning?

First, if noise is a main issue, bring earplugs or headphones (yes, I know headphones are normally not allowed except in a “stadium” setting where I frequently play).

Second, do NOT start a conversation with the other players, the dealer of pit boss. When (not if) they talk to you, keep your replies polite but very short. Hopefully, they will get the idea.

If a dealer, pit boss or other player at your table is insufferable, leave the table. You will not win at that table.

Keep your playing sessions short so that the unavoidable distractions do not generate accumulated stress which can hurt your play.

Above all, treat your baccarat play as a BUSINESS. Do everything you can to make sure you only put your money in play when you have every possible advantage – including a minimum of distractions!