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Do You Have Crapstress?
The Crapshooter © 1998 by Larry Edell

Crapstress is your stress level while playing craps in a casino. Many people's crapstress levels go way up when they play, even if they don't have a lot of money at risk. This is due to the fear of failure - if other people at the table make a lot of money on a roll and they don't, sometimes they inwardly feel they have failed. However, some people look at craps as a learning experience - even if they lose. They are just climbing the ladder of success - and it takes more than one step to climb a ladder. They don't struggle - they learn.

Craps is always a learning experience. You can always learn something from every game. A friend of mine keeps a small notebook with him and jots down his thoughts every time he plays. He watches every player at the table and tries to figure out what their systems are and writes them down. Then, when his session is finished, he reviews everything that happened. His crapstress level is low, because he looks at playing craps as an information producing class, not a gambling session. He is then able to change and perfect his own techniques to produce a better profit in his next session.

You probably have enough stress in your business and personal life, so you don't need any more when you gamble. Carry a notebook with you when you play and jot down your impressions of the way you play, and the way the other people at your table play. And the next time you have a losing session, don't get upset, but ask yourself the following five questions:

(1) How am I really feeling?
(2) Why did I play the way I did?
(3) What could I have done differently?
(4) What did I learn from this game?
(5) How will I play in my next session?

You should write these answers in your notebook so you'll have a record of what you did. This way you can refer to your "class notes" when you get home and prepare for your future class sessions!

But remember - keep your crapstress level low. You are constantly learning and progressing - going up the ladder of success one rung at a time!

And, as always, good luck at the tables!

You can get a FREE issue of The Crapshooter, the only newsletter devoted exclusively to craps, by send two first class stamps to The Crapshooter, Dept. GMO, PO Box 421440, San Diego, CA 92142. You'll also receive a FREE catalog and a special FREE offer!



Win Goals and Loss Limits
The Crapshooter © 1998 by Larry Edell

Many of the people that play craps today will walk up to a table and just keep on playing until they lose all of their money. It doesn't matter if they are $100 ahead or even $500 ahead - they just keep on playing. These people have no win goal.

The reason you need a win goal is because tables fluctuate. You can be up $100 one moment and down $100 the next. How do you know when to stop and still leave with a profit?

Your win goal is based on your individual session money, and should be 30% of your buy-in. For example if you buy in with $100 and are $30 ahead, you should quit. Leave the table and go to your room, or have lunch. Then an hour or so later, buy in with your $130, and quit when you've won $39. Be precise. Be disciplined. Follow the plan! Set a win goal and stick to it!

If you keep on playing until you lose all of your money you will do exactly that.

The opposite of a win goal is a loss limit, and its also 30% - very easy to remember! If you buy in for $100, you leave when you win or lose $30. If you buy in for $500 you leave when you win or lose $150, which still leaves you with $350.

You need a loss limit. If you play thinking that you brought $500 so the most you can lose is $500, then you certainly will lose it all. A lot of people bring $500 to a casino really expecting to lose. It doesn't bother them because it was "extra" money that they could afford to spend on entertainment. So they just keep on playing until it's all gone. Wouldn't it be better to stick with your loss limit and come home with $350 rather than nothing?

One of the cardinal rules of craps is to increase your bets while winning but decrease them while losing. But when many people start losing, they keep on playing as if nothing was different, or worse, they keep increasing their bets.

Don't do it! You need a loss limit, and you need to stick to it.

I know, you are hoping for that huge roll where you can turn $5 into $50,000. But really, how often does that happen? You might know someone who knew someone whose best friend's cousin held the dice for five hours and the casino almost went broke. Everyone knows someone who knows someone who did this! But we're talking about your own money here, the same money you use to pay for rent, food and your children's shoes.

It is not a disgrace to come home after a weekend and only win $150. Or even $50. You can always lie to your friends about it. But when it comes to your own hard-earned cash, you've got to protect it.

Remember, go into a session expecting to win "only" $30 on a $100 buy in. Stop when you reach it. If you're losing, quit when you lose $30. In five $100 sessions the most you can lose is $150. The most you can win is $150. Stick to your guns. Set a win goal and a loss limit. Over the long run, you'll win more and lose less! And, as always, good luck at the tables!

You can get a FREE issue of "The Crapshooter", the only newsletter devoted exclusively to craps, just by sending two first class stamps to The Crapshooter, Dept. GMO, PO Box 421440, San Diego CA 92142. You'll also receive a FREE catalog and a Special FREE offer!



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