[griffdog]

Let's just say that today was not a good day for me at the ol' book. And so I need to vent for a moment because I know most of you have been there.

Started off well...got some wins with some early soccer bets, had a nice positive balance before the NFL games.

My card for the day was Jacksonville ML, Bears ML, a five-team teaser with the Colts (-1/2), Vikings (-1/2), Texans (-1/2), Bears (+10 1/2), and Jaguars (+3 1/2), Villanova ML, and a two-team teaser with 'Nova and Cincinnati. Nothing too crazy, really.

I was at the movies while the early NFL games + the Villanova game were going on, and at one point, I checked my scores...Chicago up on GB, Jacksonville close with Miami, 'Nova up on Temple at halftime.

Thought to myself, 'I'm going to win at least one of these bets then...'

Little later, check my scores. Villanova? Lost, and with it went my two-team teaser. Bears? Lost. Jacksonville? Lost. To compound the misery, I lose my five-team teaser by a half-point on the Jaguars, on the very day I decide against buying a point on my teasers like I do a better percentage of the time.

So...I'm zeroed out now. And pissed. And rethinking the way I play.

I usually do better when I have one or two plays that I really like and leave it at that, with a little room for a bold pick, a teaser, or a halftime bet.

But I'm thinking that perhaps I'll do a lot better in the long run if I limit what I do to one, maybe two plays a day. Not to mention it'll allow me to get more work done instead of score-watching distracting me.

Or maybe I'm just annoyed about a terrible, terrible day. Probably a little of both.

[/rant over]

What approach works best for some of you?

[Fiasco]

for the most part, avoid teasers and parlays...

and employ proper bankroll strategy not letting any one play determine your wagering habits...

a 1% base unit works well... (depending on if you can reload or not)

and don't have any more then say 5% ( really 2 or 3

[Fiasco]

don't let any one play or day of plays influence your betting habits

try a 1% base unit and don't have more then a certain amount of units on a game...

I bet up to 5 units on a given play but those plays are rare... and I can reload rather easily if I need to...

[EaglesPhan36]

You simply cannot do one play a day. No one has the balls to do it. NO ONE. Simple idea is to find out which sport is your best, stick with it and just don't make "all-in" bets. Stick to strict percentages of your overall bankroll and play that almost every time - MAYBE, doubling it on a play you love.

[tltaylor89]

Pick youre spots buddy

[Chi_archie]

doesn't have to be just 1 play a day, but if you can control your impulses that way... you might as well learn some advanced math and learn how to figure out how to find + expected value plays

[Masu485]

Originally Posted by EaglesPhan36

You simply cannot do one play a day. No one has the balls to do it. NO ONE. Simple idea is to find out which sport is your best, stick with it and just don't make "all-in" bets. Stick to strict percentages of your overall bankroll and play that almost every time - MAYBE, doubling it on a play you love.

i play just one/day at 3.33% of my BR.

let me tell you, i like it a lot more than 10-20 plays/day by far. i can focus everything on just the one game, see what everyone thinks about it here, or at covers, or on espn. then at gametime, i can just sit back and watch it, knowing i have no other games going on. it's a good feeling.

today i had one early soccer game that pushed and that was my day.

[griffdog]

I'm learning little by little. Being on here and then keeping track of my picks has helped me out a lot. I've been betting for a little over a year, but I was doing it pretty blindly until I started reading the forums here and then getting involved.

I do need to get better about bankroll management, certainly. That's been my biggest weakness. I also follow a lot of sports closely (NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NCAAB, NHL, soccer, baseball & tennis when they're in season, even auto racing from time to time), and that can lead to me spreading myself a little thin if it's one of those days when there's a lot of action. Def. agree about having some sort of limits with that as well.

I think in the end, I just lost my sheeit about a promising day gone bad, haha. I just need to make sure I weather those bad days with some left in my bankroll from here on out.

[iceminers26]

Originally Posted by Masu485

i play just one/day at 3.33% of my BR. let me tell you, i like it a lot more than 10-20 plays/day by far. i can focus everything on just the one game, see what everyone thinks about it here, or at covers, or on espn. then at gametime, i can just sit back and watch it, knowing i have no other games going on. it's a good feeling. today i had one early soccer game that pushed and that was my day.

Agree, its the smart approach and it is way more relaxing/enjoyable watching the game.

[Sawyer]

Being selective is a good thing. Of course, it doesnt mean that you should play 1 game / day. There may be 3 games you like. I like playing 1-3games/day. Playing 15-20 games at same time is not my style..

[G's pks]

Of course you can do a play a day or even less... I finished 2-1-1 last week and up... I may of had 3 or 4 losing weeks since June....and those have been small...but most of my winning weeks are small too...(but they add up)... All about discipline, doing your homework, money management, and self control.

[ryanjep]

its all about self control

[griffdog]

What's self control?

[G's pks]

[quote=griffdog;2749671]What's self control?[/quote]


Control of one's emotions, desires, or actions by one's own will.

You have to be able to do it by yourself...major character flaw in most people which allows the books to clean up...