Expected gain or expected loss?

[mirakal]

Well, even I who play with little money when we have a poker tournament with my friends, I get angry if I lose, but not so much because I lose those few euros, those few cents, it's the competitive nature of the game that makes you want to win.

Angry is a strong word, maybe it’s better to just learn how to control your emotions, that’s really important, especially in poker. Bluffing happens all the time, so if you let your emotions show, your opponents can easily take advantage of you. I’m not really a regular poker player, but from what I’ve seen in tournaments and even in movies, keeping your emotions in check is a must.

[lionheart78]

So I’m wondering, which side do you guys think is more important? The expected profit or the expected loss?

For me, these two are but important; but what is more important is to stay within the realistic boundaries of gambling.  If we fail to stay in the boundaries of reality, we may loseo ourselves and get trapped in the illusion of looping chasing losses and chasing wins.  One cannot expect a profit since winning in gambling depends on the RNG, while expected losses may make us comfortable losing money, which is not ok.

 It is always better to be in the neutral zone, where we can expect a realistic win while maintaining a reasonable amount to lose.

[Su-asa]

The only way the lost figures can be recovered is when you keep on playing. But how can a gambler keep on playing when he's low on money or even run out of money. The thing is that evey gamblers have a pay day but that doesn't mean you shouldn't gamble responsibly in by staking what you can afford to lose. When you are low on funds the important thing to do is quit and continue next time when you have money. Based on the kind of mindset most gamblers have, they are beginning to depend on their bets. Meanwhile the chances of winning is very slim.

[Orpichukwu]

Maybe those who only think about winning and don't consider losing as something that's common in gambling are those who think they have some kind of good luck charm that makes them only win and not lose. There are people who make themselves believe in such; instead of treating gambling like others do, they see themselves as people with special skills.

When some gamblers become too confident in gambling, they no longer accept gambling as luck. They think that if they bet on gambling, they will win and this kind of confidence becomes a big problem for them. Winning and losing in gambling is completely uncertain, but if someone tries to gamble with certainty without considering it uncertain, then he will lose. When someone is overconfident, they tend to deny reality which becomes a big reason for their loss.

That overconfidence is one big problem some gamblers need to solve if they really want to start seeing gambling the way it's supposed to be seen and their disappointment level reduced. Without reducing the confidence level some have in their skill, the amount of loss they will be witnessing will keep on increasing.

[_BlackStar]

-snip-

Angry is a strong word, maybe it’s better to just learn how to control your emotions, that’s really important, especially in poker. Bluffing happens all the time, so if you let your emotions show, your opponents can easily take advantage of you. I’m not really a regular poker player, but from what I’ve seen in tournaments and even in movies, keeping your emotions in check is a must.

The atmosphere of the game can sometimes make players lose control of their emotions - I think that's normal. Even though I don't gamble directly like at table games, I understand the emotional state of a game when a player's hopes of winning are dashed. Anger can be triggered by this - this can become a weakness for the player, who then loses even more. Emotions can destroy gamblers - as a result gamblers tend to be irrational in making decisions and that is the negative side of poor emotional control.

[Questat]

Both. You don’t get to win decent amount of profits if you’re also at loss. So you have to be mindful of your bets, whether this will make you profit a lot or will make you only suffer losses. Set balance on your bets, without minimizing your future profits while you continue to maximize prevention of loss.

Gambling is also a game of strategy and critical thinking. If you are not capable to make wise decisions, you will never be profitable enough, but will only end up losing and regretting.

[TopT3ns]

Both. You don’t get to win decent amount of profits if you’re also at loss. So you have to be mindful of your bets, whether this will make you profit a lot or will make you only suffer losses. Set balance on your bets, without minimizing your future profits while you continue to maximize prevention of loss.

Gambling is also a game of strategy and critical thinking. If you are not capable to make wise decisions, you will never be profitable enough, but will only end up losing and regretting.

The manner in which an individual reason when making risky choices indicates the degree of maturity of the person to handle his or her desires. Most people perceive the glamorous face of profit and do not remember that in all endeavours, there are chances of losing. An enterprise attitude to decision-making will ensure that one is not overwhelmed by emotions. All opportunities are not supposed to be explored, particularly where the result is uncertain. It would be better at times to wait before jumping into what will be great in the short run.

The most important thing should be to know what to do and when to go further, as the most serious mistakes are usually made when a person thinks that he is the most able to do something. The logic is set aside in favour of the urge to win and all strategies are lost. The correct choice will therefore not only be about the end but also be the ability to remain consistent in thought and remain level headed when under stress. It is fun to win but are willing to stay composed when losing is worth more since it shows that one is mature in their deeds.

[sunsilk]

We can choose both of them to be more important, the expected gain that we think of is just an illusion at the beginning until it happens.

But with the expected loss, it might have the same description of being expected but we'd definitely going to lose. So, the acceptance is ready and that makes it easier for a gambler to move on.

If we have met the expected gain, that's good as a gambler because you've reached the goal but it's pretty unlikely that every gambler's expected gain is quite that low so, it's getting harder for each of us to have that kind of expectation gain that's acceptable.

[rodskee]

Well, even I who play with little money when we have a poker tournament with my friends, I get angry if I lose, but not so much because I lose those few euros, those few cents, it's the competitive nature of the game that makes you want to win.

Angry is a strong word, maybe it’s better to just learn how to control your emotions, that’s really important, especially in poker. Bluffing happens all the time, so if you let your emotions show, your opponents can easily take advantage of you. I’m not really a regular poker player, but from what I’ve seen in tournaments and even in movies, keeping your emotions in check is a must.

a really good poker player can read other players and can identify their tells it can be a flinch or bouncing of your leg so make sure to remove all your habits when playing because those indicate your emotions which the opponent can use against you

[mak013]

We can choose both of them to be more important, the expected gain that we think of is just an illusion at the beginning until it happens.

But with the expected loss, it might have the same description of being expected but we'd definitely going to lose. So, the acceptance is ready and that makes it easier for a gambler to move on.

If we have met the expected gain, that's good as a gambler because you've reached the goal but it's pretty unlikely that every gambler's expected gain is quite that low so, it's getting harder for each of us to have that kind of expectation gain that's acceptable.

I think that we mustn`t even use such words like "expected gain". We have to work on it, try ourselves to increase profit, but we mustn`t think like "we have to win". Even in sport betting we can`t get 100% win rate.
But we easily can lose all our money. That`s why we must think about loss, not because we must lose but because we must remember that gambling is about risk and don`t risk critical sums.

[tabas]

a really good poker player can read other players and can identify their tells it can be a flinch or bouncing of your leg so make sure to remove all your habits when playing because those indicate your emotions which the opponent can use against you

Opponents or other players in the side table can literally tell if you're just playing to bluff. Because if you're not going to do anything about it and you're so reckless, that means that they have monitored you. And so with that, as you expect things with yourself, you should think of the possible loss if you're not careful with it. Basically, expecting a loss is what's always on my mind as this protects the emotion that I have and making me feel not so bad if ever I have started to lose whether it's with the sports bet that I do, plinkos or even poker.

[Accardo]

That overconfidence is one big problem some gamblers need to solve if they really want to start seeing gambling the way it's supposed to be seen and their disappointment level reduced. Without reducing the confidence level some have in their skill, the amount of loss they will be witnessing will keep on increasing.

Confidence about losing is certain, winning isn't. Except in a skilled game where the player has won an opponent a couple of times, holding back to confidence or being sure for winning is a wrong step to gambling. And the risks of losses are too high for the gambler, who thinks because after two consecutive wins has to be sure of the next win, and goes ahead to wager big amounts, the next result isn't going to be a win, and when that happen the gamer would regret the action and develop anxiety.

[Orpichukwu]

That overconfidence is one big problem some gamblers need to solve if they really want to start seeing gambling the way it's supposed to be seen and their disappointment level reduced. Without reducing the confidence level some have in their skill, the amount of loss they will be witnessing will keep on increasing.

Confidence about losing is certain, winning isn't. Except in a skilled game where the player has won an opponent a couple of times, holding back to confidence or being sure for winning is a wrong step to gambling. And the risks of losses are too high for the gambler, who thinks because after two consecutive wins has to be sure of the next win, and goes ahead to wager big amounts, the next result isn't going to be a win, and when that happen the gamer would regret the action and develop anxiety.

For skill-based games like poker, it's very much understandable if you have won against someone over and over again that your confidence level is high, but the person should also understand that while they are too confident they will win, the opponent might have been undergoing some kind of training to upgrade their skill in the background, so the game might not end as always but become competitive, and there is always a chance for a change in the result in the end.

[bubilas]

In recent weeks, I've been losing constantly, and I've come to expect nothing but losses from gambling. My thinking has become decidedly negative, and I've started to think I no longer understand gambling.
More precisely, I've lost my sense of luck. It used to be easy, but now it's just the same. So, I'm thinking of taking a long break from gambling, I don't know for how long. Because the fun is waning, and the expenses are increasing.

[sunsilk]

We can choose both of them to be more important, the expected gain that we think of is just an illusion at the beginning until it happens.

But with the expected loss, it might have the same description of being expected but we'd definitely going to lose. So, the acceptance is ready and that makes it easier for a gambler to move on.

If we have met the expected gain, that's good as a gambler because you've reached the goal but it's pretty unlikely that every gambler's expected gain is quite that low so, it's getting harder for each of us to have that kind of expectation gain that's acceptable.

I think that we mustn`t even use such words like "expected gain". We have to work on it, try ourselves to increase profit, but we mustn`t think like "we have to win". Even in sport betting we can`t get 100% win rate.
But we easily can lose all our money. That`s why we must think about loss, not because we must lose but because we must remember that gambling is about risk and don`t risk critical sums.

I think that there is no difference about trying to increase the profit in gambling and expecting a gain.

They're both the same IMHO and that's fine if someone thinks of expecting a gain through gambling. But I agree with you about that we shouldn't think about "we have to win".

Because we know that when we gamble, it should be expected that we're going to lose. To each their own on that part and mindset.

[eisen33]

In recent weeks, I've been losing constantly, and I've come to expect nothing but losses from gambling. My thinking has become decidedly negative, and I've started to think I no longer understand gambling.
More precisely, I've lost my sense of luck. It used to be easy, but now it's just the same. So, I'm thinking of taking a long break from gambling, I don't know for how long. Because the fun is waning, and the expenses are increasing.

While I was reading your post, the first advice I wanted to give you was to take a break, but when I read to the end I saw that you had already reached this conclusion yourself. When I play, I don’t expect to make a profit, I just play, but I won’t hide the fact that I would like to win more often than it happens now. I decided for myself that I would take a break if I had a long losing streak, but it happens to me that I don’t have large streaks of both winning and losing, everything alternates very often and I can’t figure out how to change it, maybe this is normal or maybe it’s my level in betting.

[Akbarkoe]

Honestly, most of us think more about how much we can win, right? We plan the payout, imagine the run, and dream about hitting that one big bet. But not a lot of people actually think about the amount they’re fine losing.For me, that part matters more, especially if you’re betting long-term. If you can manage your losses, you’ll last longer. The wins will eventually come, but if your bankroll’s gone early, that’s it, no next chance no comeback.

So I’m wondering, which side do you guys think is more important? The expected profit or the expected loss?

The average person gets into gambling because of profit, don't discount that because gamblers will have expectations about the winnings they might be able to get from gambling.

Your argument is the same as responsible gambling, you use money that is ready to be lost in gambling by having limits every time you gamble both money and time, in detail you navigate the losses that you can possibly get and you don't want to be stressed by it and have more capital to gamble another time (meaning you don't spend it all), we discuss it in other language to give it meaning.

[ralle14]

My old self would've picked the expected win, but now i'm all about the loss and stopping the bleeding of my bankroll. I'd rather have my bankroll survive for the longest time than fixate on the winnings that'll eventually come at some point.

I still try to look at the potential gain, though, just not all the time, as it makes me overlook the worst situation that could be right around the corner if i'm too locked on the idea of wanting to win.

[o48o]

Honestly, most of us think more about how much we can win, right? We plan the payout, imagine the run, and dream about hitting that one big bet. But not a lot of people actually think about the amount they’re fine losing.For me, that part matters more, especially if you’re betting long-term. If you can manage your losses, you’ll last longer. The wins will eventually come, but if your bankroll’s gone early, that’s it, no next chance no comeback.

So I’m wondering, which side do you guys think is more important? The expected profit or the expected loss?

Good attitude.

I don't know anyone planning how much they are going to win, because only thing you can make plans for is what you already have.

By being aware how much you spend, you'll not only last longer not only in gambling, but in life as well. Because financial crisis that came from overspending can lead to vicious circle, where you end up paying premium for everything, including the debts you had to take to cover your basic needs.

[Accardo]

For skill-based games like poker, it's very much understandable if you have won against someone over and over again that your confidence level is high, but the person should also understand that while they are too confident they will win, the opponent might have been undergoing some kind of training to upgrade their skill in the background, so the game might not end as always but become competitive, and there is always a chance for a change in the result in the end.

It also depends on the level of skill the opponent posseses, or the height of energy left of the winner, could determine how low his thinking would be in the game, which may end up causing losses. Once concentration is not full, a skilled gamer is also expected to lose, despite playing with someone they've been winning for sometimes.