How I play the games

1. I always watch a game before I play. My “stakeout” might end up with a walk. In fact, most often it does.

2. I think of my play in terms of sessions, which are usually short. Again, the idea is to strike quickly and run. Obviously, I don’t “run” as long as the dealer is putting chips in front of me. I run when an opportunity has ended.

3. I start each session with the same modest stake, never any more; never any less, and always begin with wagers at the table-minimum level. It’s a discipline that has saved me from ruin more times than you could imagine.

4. I follow a betting progression designed to ensure that I won’t miss out on a fabulous streak of wins. In years past, I had missed out on numerous opportunities and vowed that I would never let it happen again. My incremental betting habits have forced me to ride these waves when they roll in.

5. I exit a session when one of two triggers kicks in: I lose two bets in a row, or my stake dwindles to 50 percent of its value. There are two points worth noting from this important discipline: (1) I will always walk away with at least a significant portion of my original stake, and (2) I will never lose three bets in a row at the same table.

6. I take frequent breaks. The strict exit rules I follow force me to do this. Breaks from the action can be anything from a stop in the coffee shop to a leisurely walk outdoors. My breaks, incidentally, are not short. Nor do they bore me. I always enjoy the anticipation of my next session.

7. I think positive! Casinos are full of negative people and negative situations. I avoid them like the plague.

8. I always have my intuition switch turned on. It could be the most powerful weapon we have. Few people use it.

9. I leave three things at home: superstitions, systems, and revenge. The first two are obvious. In the third case, I never think of a casino as owing me anything!

10. I always focus on my only objective: TO WIN!