[buztah]

Chasing seems to be the biggest problem most of us novices here have. Why do we do it? Why do we have a psychological urge to get back that lost money right now and risk all our winnings over the past months just because we lost a few profits? You'd think we'd be happy to be up overall and common sense tells you you can't win em all. So why the phuck do we chase?

Master this and we come out ahead.

[Deuce]

Buzzy, take a few nights off pal. Take your lady friend or a hook and get some good food, some wine, some cheese, smoke a joint, get a bj, just relax pal. Treat yourself.

[buztah]

I'm not wagering today or tomorrow, deuce. Good advice. Just trying to clear my head and come out with a new and improved me for this coming week.

[pavyracer]

I do Chase because they have better rates than Citi.

[pokernut9999]

Have a plan and stick to it. If you have to write down all the rules do it and post it next to you comptuer.

[imgv94]

I haven't chased in awhile. Feels good

[brock]

Ive done it many times I have not learn my lesson

[Poker_Beast]

Gotta chill and let it pass then get back in the action.

[rjt721]

Hang in there. I'm in the midst of the worst streak I've ever had: 2-13 in my last 15 wagers, 1-13 in college hoops, yet have never had even the temptation to force a play I wasn't confident in, knowing from past experiences it will only make matters worse. Nothing wrong with taking a day or two, maybe more, off to clear your head.

[mofome]

why do we chase? easy answer. it eases negative anxiety.

[mofome]

Originally Posted by rjt721

Hang in there. I'm in the midst of the worst streak I've ever had: 2-13 in my last 15 wagers, 1-13 in college hoops, yet have never had even the temptation to force a play I wasn't confident in, knowing from past experiences it will only make matters worse. Nothing wrong with taking a day or two, maybe more, off to clear your head.

hope you whoop ass this week man. ive read your posts and you know your shtt. you know you'll be fine.


gl

[rjt721]

Originally Posted by mofome

hope you whoop ass this week man. ive read your posts and you know your shtt. you know you'll be fine.


gl

Thanks mo, I enjoy your insights as well. Best of luck to you.

I'm no math genius, but the statistical probability of losing 13/14 at -110 (or better) has to be quite low.

[clcoyle93]

Originally Posted by buztah

Chasing seems to be the biggest problem most of us novices here have. Why do we do it? Why do we have a psychological urge to get back that lost money right now and risk all our winnings over the past months just because we lost a few profits? You'd think we'd be happy to be up overall and common sense tells you you can't win em all. So why the phuck do we chase?

Master this and we come out ahead.

to me this quote from "Two for the Money" says it all.

You're a lemon. Like a bad car. There is something... there is something inherently defective in you, and you, and you, and me, and all of us. We're all lemons. We look like everyone else, but what makes us different is our defect. See, most gamblers, when they go to gamble, they go to win. When we go to gamble, we go to lose. Subconsciously. Me, I never feel better than when they're raking the chips away; not bringing them in. And everyone here knows what I'm talking about. Hell, even when we win it's just a matter of time before we give it all back. But when we lose, that's another story. When we lose, and I'm talking about the kind of loss that makes your asshole pucker to the size of a decimal point - you know what I mean - You've just recreated the worst possible nightmare this side of malignant cancer, for the twentieth goddamn time; and you're standing there and you suddenly realise, Hey, I'm still... here. I'm still breathing. I'm still alive. Us lemons, we **** shit up all the time on purpose. Because we constantly need to remind ourselves we're alive. Gambling's not your problem. It's this ****ed up need to feel something. To convince yourself you exist. That's the problem.

[mofome]

Originally Posted by rjt721

Thanks mo, I enjoy your insights as well. Best of luck to you.

I'm no math genius, but the statistical probability of losing 13/14 at -110 (or better) has to be quite low.

you're mature about the hard times, which is something i admire in those that are successful at this. i have a tough time keeping emotion separate from my money management, you seem to be good with it. we both know 08 will have many hot streaks, maybe the first starts tomorrow.

[5 star bomb]

i chased today... I wont do it again

[ChuteBoxe]

Roughly -15 units on my NBA record this year came from 3 days of chasing. Stupid.

[The Seer]

Originally Posted by ChuteBoxe

Roughly -15 units on my NBA record this year came from 3 days of chasing. Stupid.

Chasing cost me over 20 + units that I was up in the College football bowls from New Years to the National Championship ans I've been doing this for over 15 years. Sometimes it just gets the best of you.

[CAPN CRUNCH]

I only chase when I am heavily medicated. In fact, gambling is not very fun sober. Life is not very fun sober, for that matter.

[shasso]

Originally Posted by CAPN CRUNCH

I only chase when I am heavily medicated. In fact, gambling is not very fun sober. Life is not very fun sober, for that matter.

Hmm.. i suddenly have an urge to dedicate a decent part of my balance, get drunk, pick a game i don't know much about and bet it all while saying '**** it!'.

Why does that seem fun

It really does, i wanna do it..

[CAPN CRUNCH]

Originally Posted by shasso

Hmm.. i suddenly have an urge to dedicate a decent part of my balance, get drunk, pick a game i don't know much about and bet it all while saying '**** it!'.

Why does that seem fun

It really does, i wanna do it..

Who said pick a game you don't know much about? Good drunks always pick their games at work before they get drunk. If you had been following along you would have read that it is difficult not to chase when one is fukked up and losing as may be the case. Even Walters would have a hard time picking winners after a quart or so of JD!

[frostno98]

Originally Posted by pokernut9999

Have a plan and stick to it. If you have to write down all the rules do it and post it next to you comptuer.

I do exactly the same thing too, and it drastically improve my bankroll management.

[rake922]

we chase to get our money back as soon as possible...

[Deuce]

[mofome]

Originally Posted by CAPN CRUNCH

I only chase when I am heavily medicated. In fact, gambling is not very fun sober. Life is not very fun sober, for that matter.

what kind of medication? xanax and a beer?

[area51steve]

Originally Posted by buztah

Chasing seems to be the biggest problem most of us novices here have. Why do we do it? Why do we have a psychological urge to get back that lost money right now and risk all our winnings over the past months just because we lost a few profits? You'd think we'd be happy to be up overall and common sense tells you you can't win em all. So why the phuck do we chase?

Master this and we come out ahead.

The reason people chase is simple when you think about it.. You want your next win to actually feel like a win instead of having it feel like your just getting back money back you lost.

[Cee]

I chase since 5 star taught me how.

[Cee]

Originally Posted by Deuce

Sounds like JJ has a cashier ringing people up in the background

[imgv94]

Originally Posted by rjt721

Hang in there. I'm in the midst of the worst streak I've ever had: 2-13 in my last 15 wagers, 1-13 in college hoops, yet have never had even the temptation to force a play I wasn't confident in, knowing from past experiences it will only make matters worse. Nothing wrong with taking a day or two, maybe more, off to clear your head.

This is proof that no one is immune to losing streaks. If a solid guy like rjt can lose 13 out of 14 anyone is..

[Wrigley]

we want to get back to where we were thats why we chase

[purecarnagge]

Always chase on dogs

[slacker00]

It's like telling a little white lie. Sometimes you gotta tell another lie to cover the first lie. Then lie again to cover the first two, and on and on. If you always tell the truth, you never get caught in a web of lies. Then again, in that case, you probably have no personality either.

You gotta take the good with the bad. Gambling can be good if you take sharp angles and manage the bankroll intelligently. But, it's like walking a tightrope. If you fall, you might fall hard. Be careful up on that high wire. Maybe practice on the low wire for a while, if you need to build confidence.

Then again, maybe gambling is just entertainment like your hookers & crack addiction. If that's the case, just party on and don't sweat the small stuff.

[The HG]

Yeah, I could write chapters and chapters on the psychology of chasing in gambling, and in fact there are a lot of parallels to regular life, it's just it's a very obvious phenomenon in gambling because there's no massaging reality when it comes to a bankroll - a number is a number no matter how much you wish it were a different number.

But always remember, whatever bet you make, or are thinking of making, it is its own bet. It doesn't matter what happened in your previous bet, previous 10, previous 100 bets. If you have a bankroll of $1,000, and you have a bet that you think you have a 55% edge on, with a -110 line, those circumstances are completely independent of whatever else you might have done in the past, and connecting them will only reduce the wisdom of your actions on that bet.

The bet you have in front of you is the only one you should be thinking about when deciding what to do about it. Once you get into the habit of seeing things that way, the temptation to chase gets reduced. It's just a matter of habit. Remember, there's nothing wrong with not being a maniac when gambling for the long-term.

[jjgold]

If you are going to chase yes chasing dogs is your best chance to get out.

[buztah]

Yes, JJ. In my experience of chasing I tend to go with heavy favorites, thinking they are "safe." LOL!

HG, very solid post. Quite insightful.

[mofome]

Originally Posted by The HG

Yeah, I could write chapters and chapters on the psychology of chasing in gambling, and in fact there are a lot of parallels to regular life, it's just it's a very obvious phenomenon in gambling because there's no massaging reality when it comes to a bankroll - a number is a number no matter how much you wish it were a different number.

But always remember, whatever bet you make, or are thinking of making, it is its own bet. It doesn't matter what happened in your previous bet, previous 10, previous 100 bets. If you have a bankroll of $1,000, and you have a bet that you think you have a 55% edge on, with a -110 line, those circumstances are completely independent of whatever else you might have done in the past, and connecting them will only reduce the wisdom of your actions on that bet.

The bet you have in front of you is the only one you should be thinking about when deciding what to do about it. Once you get into the habit of seeing things that way, the temptation to chase gets reduced. It's just a matter of habit. Remember, there's nothing wrong with not being a maniac when gambling for the long-term.

nice post HG.