Anyone who plays enough cards or dice will eventually experience a slump. However, what may seem like a slump could actually have more to do with money management and controlling losses.

I recommend keeping a journal of your sessions. Your journal can reveal patterns of your play and provide reasons why you are having difficulty with your game.

Awhile back, a former student called me about being in a slump. The first thing I asked him was if he had been keeping a journal of his sessions.

A review of his journal revealed not so much of a slump, but he was losing more money than he was winning. In seven sessions, he had four wins and three losses. However, in two of the losses, he went bankrupt losing thirty or more units in each session.

In my dice seminar, I explain that students need to be prepared to risk and play one entire betting stake. However, this does not imply playing carelessly losing thirty or forty units. Even if you are losing, it does not mean playing out of control of your game. You may quit whenever the energy is not supporting your game or when the “fun” is done.

The winning sessions had resulted in reasonable profit. The problem had more to do with experiencing the two bankruptcies. The loss of two complete bankrolls was reason enough for a feeling of a slump. I reminded him of the merits of playing with discipline and about paying attention to the energy of the game. I encouraged him to recognize the positives. The units won were commendable and consistent for the winning sessions.

The player needed to be more alert during the losing sessions. The losses caused an imbalance, and it affected him emotionally. He felt depressed and lacked confidence.

“It ain’t no fun when it stops being fun!” Willie Nelson wishes that he had said that, but he didn’t, I did.

The defeated and depressed feeling is devastating to the psyche. Confidence, as you should know, is a huge part of the game. Contrast confidence at the craps table to the confidence of a professional quarterback, a baseball pitcher, or a golfer. One difference, when confidence wanes at the craps table, the craps player has the advantage of cutting their losses. When it is not going your way, it is better to call it quits earlier rather than later. It is better to accept a smaller loss than to lose an entire bankroll and risk additional injury of being demoralized emotionally.

Your battle plan should include minimizing losses. The student’s journal represented an upside-down ratio of loss to profit. It turned out that the slump had more to do with his lack of money management. He lost more money than they had won. Emotionally, it felt like a slump to his ego. In reality, the explanation was exposed in his journal. Simple really, do your best to not lose more than you reasonably expect to win.

In the heat of a game, to go bankrupt or not go bankrupt, is always the fine edge  in a game of chance. It is not wrong to play away one betting stake in the pursuit of a win if you are in a game worthy of investment. After all, the affirmation supports the thought form that the entire bankroll is the price of admission in the game. It is not different to paying admission for a show. You buy a ticket, you watch the show, and you are detached from the fee. It does not matter if you enjoy the show or not, you do not get any of your money back. However, in a dice game, you have a choice to end the show.

The dice or cards can turn in a heartbeat. Suddenly, someone rolls seven passes, and you come roaring back. However, if you find that you are experiencing more than one bankruptcy out of ten sessions, it is something to examine.

A slump is not always just a span of time when you can’t win. Self-discipline and money management are often linked to the losses. Learn to recognize the difference between a cold streak versus an imbalance with the units in the win/loss columns.

Paying astute attention to the energy is the best way to keep yourself out of losing games. Prevent yourself from engaging in the losing situations. Limit your losses. It is simple really – lose less and you will win more.    

Michael “The Professor” Vernon