I have had countless extreme shoes but there's one from last night, that will stand out for a long time. I wasn't at my regular primary casino but I was at another property that I sometimes play at and I knew some of the people playing. I joined the game and it was near the end of the shoe, it was just winning a few and losing a few, not doing anything. Got into the new shoe after the shuffle and burn. 

It was late, after midnight, most of the faces were long with obviously lost funds.  I was next to a lady I have known from the casinos for several years now.  She was stacking her chips in what I call the pyramid style in front of her, which is three or four stacks against the rail and then one less stack in from the rail, then one less stack in from that and usually the header on it, so it's simply shaped like a pyramid. 

She had nine stacks of $250 each. She told me she won a few $250 bets and parlayed them to $500 and lost the $1000 wagers or won those $1000 wagers and lost the $2000 wagers.  After we played numerous hands sporadically, I looked and she had $2500 left. I had a little bit more than that but not much.  I asked her if she was going to buy-in again or what her plans were. This was turning out to be a win-push-grind down a little type of session.  Nothing really happening in so many words.  Then she told me she had several chances left trying to build out $250 each time, nine times. She told me she was into the session with the money on the table she had for $4000.

She stacked all of her chips together and said out loud, "I got to chance it and if I win this, I got my money back and I'm up a little bit and I'll leave, if I lose I'm going to leave". 

She turned to me and said, "come on let's do it, Bang Bang Bang on the Door Baby".  Oh yes, The B-52s, man she's trying everything I'm thinking to myself.  She really is a hype player and when she is hyped, she becomes real aggressive, seen it so many times. 

She puts the $2500 on banker, the hand goes quick with a 6 for the player and the bankers got a two card 7. She looked at me and said, "you really believed I was going to leave huh?".

She immediately stacks up the win on top of her wager, slides it down to players side, not one bit of hesitation.  But her hand is still on top.  I'm following her simply because she is on a mini roll and she is great about catching up and winning a few, exactly what she is in the process of doing.  She takes her hand off of her wager and announces, "let's roll".  She flops over a face card and a 5 for the players, the dealer flops over two face cards for the bankers.  She gets the third players card and sighs, exhales loudly and flips over a 7.  She says, "now we get reduced to a F******* 2!".  She stands up, leans in a bit and is pointing at the dealer in the process of flipping the bankers third card over.  Of course she as well as several others are loudly reciting, "Monkey-Monkey Time-Show Us That Monkey".  The dealer flops an ace!  She goes crazy!  High fives all around and fists pumping into the air.  Several large wagers were on that one. 

She is sitting with $10,000 now, roughly $7,500-$8,000 of win.  Looks at me and says, "whatcha think".  I said, "up to you, you call it".  I been mimicking her and I don't want to change anything.  She pushes it all up on the bankers side, but as normal she keeps her hand on top of it.  She has a table max wager and I am near the same.  She looks at me once more and says nothing, just looks.  She nods her head forward, as if saying, yes—no?  I push mine out on the bankers and say, "you work the cards, just do it". 

Cards come out and there are a few people wagering on the bankers with us and two others on the players.  Players return a 10 and a 3.  She works the bankers cards and goes through verbalizing what the lines are before looking at the corners.  She has a 4 line and a 3 line.  She turns and turns them and peels them both back.  A 9 and a 7.  Players return a 7 and she immediately goes into celebration status, "we got this, we got it!".  Dealer slides her the bankers third card.  She peeks at the side and mumbles a 2 line card, a 4 or 5.  She slid the card up a bit, still upside down, puts her finger smack in the middle of it and peels it back, while repeatedly saying, 5-5-5-5.  She flops a darn 4!  Tie hand.  She looks at me and of course, isn't very happy at all.

Now she is rushing the table.  She is leaving her wager on the bankers and while everyone else is fidgeting around with their wagers, she puts her hand on top of her table max wager.  Looks at me and says, "you know after something like that, it is usually a players natural coming out".  I said, "let's switch our wagers down to players".  She keeps her hand on her wager, still in the bankers spot.  She says at least three times that she doesn't like it.  Dealer taps the table twice, but she isn't paying attention.  She takes her hand off and proudly and clearly announces, that we are ready. 

Players return a 3 and a 2.  Dealer slides her the two bankers cards and she laterals them to me.  After the standard, "next time let me do that" from the dealer, I look at the cards.  I got a face card and either a 4 or 5 I tell her.  She is pleading for a 5 of course.  I saw the dot in the middle and without turning it over, tell her it's a 4.  She punches me in the shoulder telling me how she knows the players are either going to pull a monkey or a something small.  I flip the 5 and she smacks me once more and smiles a tiny bit.  The guy wagering the largest on the players peeks at his third card.  Throws it in face down after much ado.  Dealer flops the 8 the guy threw in.  My comrade is yelling, "snowman-hello beautiful snowman". 

We both color up.  Another one for the books. Short and sweet in many ways. 

SIDE-NOTE:  Camaraderie is great IMO, of course camaraderie does not and will not change values of what is set to be presented.  However, in many cases camaraderie allows many bac players (including myself) to wager larger amounts, hype a winning section or group of hands and other things that allow us to win larger and additional hands that we might not have have been able to do otherwise. 

Huge advantages to us, but still (as I write) so many continue to play for what has won and lose, then go into the recoup stage).

As you said:  "Best strategy to employ is to chase what we name as 'minimum profit goal', situations where 'more likely events' are entitled to come out clustered at least by 1 step.
More intricated is the situation where a negative event will be played as 'isolated' as being affected by huge volatility."

Like your summation:

"General probability and actual probability",

How about if we say—General Probability = Actual Probability = Doability.  ??

Am I Wrong?:  "In my opinion and that of others I respect, admire and know are experienced and serious players, is the following. There is no secret, magical, developed, mathematical or scientific protocol-formula or procedures for winning at any casino game that will guarantee wins each and every time you sit down by employing them.  Period!"

Am I Wrong?:  "Now with the above said, with passion-purpose and experience you most certainly can profit from table games within the casino. But it is never going to be by reading a simple book or following a system you purchased with all kind of enticing promises and so-called 'proven results'. Never ever, seriously."

Am I Wrong?:  "...their material can never be the definitive protocol to consistent, easy, repetitive and for sure winning sessions.  Never ever.  Period."

The rest of what I wrote, I was trying to bring out points for attention getting and the silliness many believe that mechanical wagering will always prevail, are dead wrong.  Especially the flat betting and continual recouping betting.

AND YES ABSOLUTELY: "Meaning win more $ than one loses."  But NOT with an easy mechanical safe-guaranteed-never lose a session-system just waiting for you to rack in the cash, etc., etc., believe in me for less than $100.00 (or whatever it costs) for sale product.  Never.  (Meaning every session or damn near every session with the ludicrous and asinine claims/enticements promised.)

AND YES ABSOLUTELY:  "However, it typically isn't due to some wizardly bet selection methodology. Certainly not with a preplanned mechanical bet placement,...etc. . Mostly with money management and discipline (and most importantly handling losing sessions)."  Of course, a hell of a lot more than 100%.....!

OMG!  I received this gift yesterday.  Absolute Beauty with its Leather Binder.  Brand new! Gold Gilted Pages!  Silk Marker Strap!

The Special Edition Of:
THE BACCARAT CASE

FROM: The Notable Trials Library

This edition was published in 1992.  Originally published in 1933. 

This Special Edition has a introduction by the very well know, Alan M Dershowitz, Esq. 

The Baccarat Case is about A British Nobleman and close friend of the Prince of Wales that had cheated at baccarat.  The trial in the law courts, Queens Bench Division of London during 1891 about playing Baccarat the year before in 1890. It is about slander of William Gordon-Cumming against Mrs. Arthur Wilson and others.

Going to be a great read of historic legal history involving baccarat.  A nice addition to my book collection!

Nothing to beat the house ITLR.

OK let's admit it. That statement is correct. Frequently written, frequently sided, frequently argued about.

Books, systems sellers, forums, etc. Plenty of written material out there. Tons and tons of promises, guarantees, sworn by reviews and so on. There are a handful of good basic books no doubt, but deciphering through what's available to find those is kinda like draining the swamp to see what will benefit you.

In my opinion and that of others I respect, admire and know are experienced and serious players, is the following. There is no secret, magical, developed, mathematical or scientific protocol-formula or procedures for winning at any casino game that will guarantee wins each and every time you sit down by employing them.  Period! 

With that said here are just a few of what a random search of casino gaming books provided from the dust covers, by the authors or a customer review from a 'verified purchase'.

FIRST ONE I READ:  "I am not going to claim you can win every time but reading this book allowed me to win $987.00 starting with only $100 after reading the book. The next time I made $375.00 starting with only $50.  So over three days I made over $1,300.00.  Simply because I followed what the book said that I paid only $29.00 for!"

NEXT ONE:  "The book I just mentioned is how to control the dice so you can hold them on average 15 to 20 minutes every time you step up to the table. Sometimes you can hold them for 45 minutes. You learn how to set, grip and throw to get predetermined numbers."

NEXT ONE:  "The power betting strategy pays for the book thousands and thousands of times over and over. No questions about that."

NEXT ONE:  "This fast reading best seller is updated to show beginning and intermediate players how to beat the casino at all the popular games including the latest slot machines."

NEXT ONE:  "I'm selling my secrets for under $100 because I care about my fellow player, I dislike the casino that takes most all players hard earned money. There's no doubt about it you will win large amounts of money with my system."

Now with the above said, with passion-purpose and experience you most certainly can profit from table games within the casino. But it is never going to be by reading a simple book or following a system you purchased with all kind of enticing promises and so-called 'proven results'. Never ever, seriously.

How do people survive writing and publishing worthless books, systems and related information? Because of money. People will buy them and believe in the written promises as proven, real, and so called 'proven' ways to get over on the casino as factual, researched and luckily made available. 

But in true reality most all of the information, systems and conversions of data and techniques and of course, the 'deciphering of statistical results' are wrong. Their promises of what most everyone of them publish is more than obnoxious, it is offensive and wrong. Especially for playing sessions at a casino consisting of anywhere from 1 to say 8 shoes each time.

Of course the carelessness and neglect of the consumer comes into play.  Which are all the people that believe it is math and statistical technique applied to any game, which will allow them to profit thousands and thousands of dollars with the easy winnings just waiting for them.

Bottom line. This sensationalized information turned into 'How to beat the casino' or 'How to win easy money', etc. etc., are coming from authors that are well aware their material can never be the definitive protocol to consistent, easy, repetitive and for sure winning sessions.  Never ever.  Period. 

Those making the type of statement and promises, "read my book or follow my system" and "you will make easy money, guaranteed wins, beat the game" and so on, are all inappropriate and unprofessional in every way whatsoever.

"Remember this. The house doesn't beat the player. It just gives him the opportunity to beat himself."

– Nicholas Dandalos (professional gambler)

Baccarat.  Our wagering decisions are frequently and enormously fueled by lies from others as well as our own beliefs that most would be better off without.

To understand how to win, what might happen and how presentments probably will not-but might follow something; you will never find definitive answers to.  Baccarat is unlike all the scholastic, mechanical and technical/industrial teachings, the way we were/are taught-instructed, whereupon there is a definitive solution for most every situation or problem.

Coupled with, "I have won previously by wagering so-and-so after such and such", or the event of "XYZ almost always appears and it has not yet", etc. Those are powerful subconscious things that do influence most all players at the baccarat table. Every single time.

There are basically three modes of wagering at the table. 1)  Your decision based on what you believe;  2) Follow others because they are winning or seem to be in the groove; 3)  Sit and watch.

Let's look at those three modes.

1)  When it works it's great. Adds win money, adds emotional positiveness and confidence. However, our beliefs, which you must realize, are well less than 50% in most every session that will come about and we can capitalize off of. And that is the key, see explanation below. (#1 Explained)

2)  Usually works for one or two wagers, but the absolute highest percentile of time fails after those and your frustration level will be compounded with large amounts of, "why in the F*** did I do that?".

3)  If hands develop and win that you picked, you will become frustrated and add to a larger clouded judgment you already had.

#1 Explained.  I will state that in all the years I have played, my wins are most certainly less than 50% of my wagering. Not one doubt about it. That is why flat betting will never prevail in the highest of the high percentile grouped any way you care to analyze it. Positive Progressions will add advantages and fuel to your play if you know how to develop and apply a Money Management Method that works in your favor and to your advantage when you win.

And of course we attempt to duplicate our wins with reasonings. Such as equalization, naturals cut or stick, ties cut or stick, chop chop, etc. etc. And if we start to win numerous Wagers (more details at: https://betselection.cc/index.php?topic=11605.0), we open ourselves up for, "I knew it-I found it-It's going to happen again without a doubt", and those types of self promoting statements. And most mistakes are made if flat betting again after initial wins—then it happens and you win again, so you are further convinced the parlay and use progressiveness should be employed but the highest majority of all times, it falls off and you lost the wager. Of course because you convinced yourself you found it and were right, etc., you wager once again with progressiveness on the same and another loss amounts. And that becomes the typical, "I gave it all back and I lost my win money as well as my buy-in money scenario.

There are so many false hoods and so many lies that are either published, sold as systems, talked about with great drama on forums  or sold in books, that it is pitiful. Take all the statistics you want. Attempt to deduce those down to one or two or three or four or five shoes and the odds of being able to win the wagers preached, session after session after session are so totally in favor of the casino, I hate to think about it. 

Sure, whatever you are believing in by using some kind of statistics might occur, but it will not under any circumstance, be consistent and repetitive shoe after shoe or at any time within a session continuously, session after session after session. And the few times it works gives you such fuel and motivation to continue the attempt, if you don't wind up continuously losing your buy-in risk capital, you put huge amounts of strain and unnecessary risk on your buy-in and/or previously won profits.

Reference, "The winning is often more difficult to manage because we have to make decisions re: how we are going to parse the just won monies. Our MM should be predetermined and rock solid based on ones specific objectives."

I see almost every single session I play, most all people giving all their win money right back, over and over until they grind down their buy-in.  Then they buy-in again and repeat until it too is gone. 

This occurs over and over with the same regular players as well new ones the highest percentile every single session. 

I would have to say, their wins are their fuel, their ignition and lighters.  And what is sad, there are certainly some good strategic players within them, (except for their total lack of any MMM). 

SIDENOTE:  Most people I talk to, overhear talking and lots I read what they write all over the Inet ref MMMs;  It seems they believe the term is pretty limited to building their bankroll with wins, wagering larger, stop wins and losses (usually 3-5), and other protocols using their win money, etc.  WoW, totally in the casino's favor, 100%. 

Here's what happened.  At the Baccarat table.  We were all winning (our group of 5), mostly playing together for a couple of shoes.  Full table with plenty playing over our shoulders.  All spaces have 3 spots, one seated and the other 2 standing.  Anyways, like I said we were all winning.  Dealer change and we were working on 3 Winning Bankers hands and the dealer gets tapped out.  New dealer, we all look at each other and mouth the word 'Players'.  (For some unexplained reasoning, most of the time it does fall off or cut from Bankers with the new dealer coming in.  Why?  No reasonable explanation, but it certainly does.)   

A second look at each other and we are all at table max wagers, we mouth the word Bankers.  Okay, we are all on the Bankers.  Players return a Natural 8 and I say, "Houston, we got a problem".  Then the Bankers return a Natural 9. 

The 5 of us get paid, color up and walk away.  We cash out and decide to go off property to get dinner.  Once at the restaurant and seated at the table the others look at me and say, "Houston, we got a problem".  Laughs and high fives.  Good times.  So I say, let's all name as many famous movie quotes and whom they are from within 5 minutes each without stalling and the winner, second and third runner up pays nothing for dinner and drinks.  The other two pay the entire bill.  We all agree.  We all had steaks or seafood and the drinks included cognac, brandies and other premium types.  The bill is always over $100.00 each.

I got second place and here are mine.

Batman:  "I'm not going to kill you.  I want you to do me a favor.  I want you to tell all your friends about me"

Superman:  "I'm here to fight for truth and justice"

Clint Eastwood:  "But being as this is a . 44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?"

Al Pacino:  "Say hello to my little friend"

Clark Gable:  "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn"

Judy Garland:  "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore"

Strother Martin:  "What we have here is a failure to communicate"

Robert Duvall:  "I love the smell of Napalm in the morning"

Pat Welsh:  "E.T. phone home"

Sean Connery:  "Bond.  James Bond"

Cuba Gooding, Jr.:  "Show me the money!"

Jack Nicholson:  "You can't handle the truth"

Alfonso Bedoya:  "Badges?  We ain't got no badges!  We don't have to show you any stinking badges!"

Arnold Schwarzenegger:  "I'll be back"

Tom Hanks:  "Houston, we have a problem"

Sylvester Stallone:  "Yo, Adrian"

Tom Cruise:  "I feel the need for speed"

Those were my 17.  Other guy got 22.  Someone jotted down mine and I copied it last night. 

One for the books.   

From my heart and soul. Winning is everything, but you must handle it with complete consciousness. Most all will shrug off everything I'm saying here and lose not only their winnings each time, but continuously their buy-in amounts.

Winning is nice, of course. But winning is what leads to danger in the game. Without a doubt, the number one largest cause of immediate and aggressive losses. Newbies will never understand so just skip the article because it will probably only confuse you.

Yes, without any doubt whatsoever, without winning there would be zero reason to play. With that admitted, said and laid out, read on if you want to learn.

1). Winning feeds large amounts of positive emotions into the player.  Most have no idea how to handle the influx of winning within a shoe or at the end of it. 

2). Winning tends to override all plans, guidelines and paths all players believe they have and plan to play by.

3.  Winning alters thought.

4.  Winning fuels additional play which is almost always based upon emotions and hype.

Winning convinces most all, that whatever came about allowing the win or wins, will continue or will be repetitive within the shoe. And most of the time it was probably a coincidence. Hard to decipher at the table, I agree, but factually and statistically true beyond a reasonable doubt.

So many players, both new ones as well as experienced, never recognize the concurrence and casual connections between their reasonings and the appearing outcomes from the shoe with winning hands. Sure there might be a few that were absolutely planned, but the majority of them were not at least how they came about. If you care to admit it, you're honest.  Those that link the concurrence and label it factual and statistical are dead wrong and causes great future losses trying to be repetitive with those. 

Would've-Could've-Should've. We have all been there, honestly. No purpose served, only adding frustration and bad emotions every single time. Reference what is coming out of the shoe, the total additions and/or reductions to each hand, how long the same trend lasts, how a series of hands were formed, etc. etc. etc., the list is long and that is what I mean, Would've-Could've-Should've, frustrating yourself into another world.  Especially after a series of wins.

The win is extremely powerful and absolutely convincing to the person playing. And without even knowing it, that is what changed your mind, thought process and will cause you to give it back and begin the ugly chase to regain it. That is exactly what happens the highest majority of all times with players capitalizing nicely during a shoe.

***Because winning is the most influential event of the game. Nothing else compares. Huge psychological subconscious and some conscious beliefs are immediately formed from winning. Be careful.  Those beliefs normally take over and altar most all players thoughts, don't be one of them.

We normally follow what has won us something. Naturally we don't follow or wager on what has lost us money. However, we tend to forget about the 'change up', that so frequently happens. When you win, stop a second and think about what I just said, consciousness and not following only what has just caused the win. 

How are you engage or disengage is the key and because there are no written protocols, that will always work in your favor, remember that. Wins and further wins are capitalized on by being able to continue and stay in the groove, knowing how to cope with drawdown and using win money as capital, will work in your favor. Allowing win money to alter your emotions, clarity and picture will force you to give it all back and jeopardize your buy-in aggressively.

***Unfortunately, expectations and characteristics of what has happened, as well as what has not yet happened with the shoe are usually the largest factors most players allow to govern their play. Reread that and hopefully you'll understand it.

Unfortunately wins are not a clear path to additional wins, what so many truly believe each and every session. It is because those very same things that caused the win, do not and will not at work other times. And unfortunately any way you slice it, the reasoning to your wins work less when you tally the characteristics of them up.  Hence, is why I say, win and give it back and chase for the loss.

Understand winning and how it comes, why it came, why it doesn't and most of all, how to apply it to your Money Management Method.

How you engage or disengage with the winning process is the absolute key.

Seriously, if think you're going to pull up to the casino, walk in, buy-in with your money, play-point at the score board and follow others, win, then walk out each time or the majority of them with profit, you are so far from reality you might as well plan on going to the moon in a couple of weeks!!!

Seriously!

$25,000.00?  Seriously dude! Was the judge his cousin?

Besides the age factor, what the hell is a "emergency payment to the fire department"?  Maybe it fit under the casino property's 'cost code center' of 'MCP' (municipal corruption payments) in their pay-outs section?

The table was almost full, there was a pure chop chop happening.  Probably about 7 or 8 hands and it was about 25 hands into the shoe.  Sat down, bought in.  Only one available seat next to a guy not many like at all.  He is pretty much a consistent players side bettor, the highest majority of the time.  Nothing wrong with that, but it is his constant obnoxious comments and actions that get under most other peoples skin that are playing.  For example, most people might be on the bankers side with plenty of black and purple chips or larger stacks of green, and he will be on the players  side with the table min to $75-$100 at most.

A typical hand would go something like, players first two card total 1 and bankers first two totals 3.  As the dealer is pulling a 3rd card for the player, he would certainly be saying out loud, 7 or 8–gimme 7 or 8, in sharp loud broken English. 

He is ALWAYS OBNOXIOUS, not one doubt about it!  He is S.E. Asian and talks extremely limited English, but recites numbers and select words well, the rest of his talk is always in S.E. Asian. 

Seriously, no real problem most all the time.  To each his own.  My personal way of acting is, unless I am on a side where everyone is on or I am the largest or darn close to being the largest bettor, I rather not say anything until the hand is over.  $4,000-$5,000-$6,000, etc., on one side collectively, then a sole person wagering &15-$25-$75 on the other side is perfectly acceptable, but why say something before the hand is over hoping everyone losses with considerably larger money than myself?  Compounded with extremely seldom does that guy wager with everyone on a sole side. 

Okay.  But the other night, like I said I believe everybody was on the bankers, several covering the Fortune 7 bet as well. It was 2s and 3s in the beginning 15 hands or so with maybe one single and then the chop chop when I came in, with a couple of ties. I believe there were seven maybe eight chops and a Banker when I bought in just appeared.  I put my bet on the bankers and several others did as well. Others went with the chop for the players side. It was a players, lost my first hand. Of course the guy laughed and talked  something I did not understand. Still no real problem, just normal.

The next hand he does not do anything. Most all go on the bankers because of the chop, a few did not bet. The guy does not wager. It was a Bankers, Still with a consistent chop chop. Now, the next hand. The guy wagers first and immediately starts his small talk; chop, continue, win-win, etc. Most do stay out. A few on the players side. Myself on the bankers and wagering on the fortune 7. The others have no Fortune 7 wager.

Players first two cards totaling 3, bankers first two cards totaling 2.  Mister Obnoxious stands halfway up and leans in a bit and says five, give me five card. Players get an ace. So naturally as the dealer is ready to pull the bankers card, Mister Obnoxious says, monkey monkey monkey coming out.  Okay, the song is definitely playing in my head, I don't know why I came here tonight. I got a feeling something ain't right. I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair.  I actually said those three lines out loud.  The dealer is holding it back, she is making eye contact with me because she knows how Mister Obnoxious operates. 

The dealer is about ready to bust out laughing but controls herself.  Now normally with anyone betting the opposite side, I don't call for cards.  Maybe if I am on the banker side and covering the Fortune 7 and the players having less than seven with the first two-three cards, I might call for a six or seven if the bankers have a zero or one and bankers are drawing their third card. 

But with things going the way it was, I just had to say, give me that 5, yes ma'am give me a 5 please. The dealer pulls the card and put it on its edge and she could see it before we see it and she quickly blinks at me and I can feel it in my heart that it was a five. As she blinked her eye, I immediately said, I got a feeling something ain't right (you know, from the song by Stealers Wheel) and just about everybody bust out laughing because they all got what was gonna to quickly happen except for Mister Obnoxious.

She flops the 5!  Fortune 7 time!  So I say very loud, there it is that 5 you called for, beautiful! And the guy went FRIGGIN Berserk!!! Oh my God, totally berserk. Loud, screaming, yelling and of course all in S.E. Asian. No one answered him, not one person. Dealer was holding it in, very obvious. It was one that I will not soon forget.

 

Ways to combat:

"...In a word, when we win 'too much' after one shoe or few shoes dealt, it's because we benefited from the chance and not for being smart.

And no one ploy in the world could prevent to get, sooner or later, a perfect symmetrical losing situation of the same density, moreover aggravated by the HE...."


Key Point:  Wins are put into and divided into the 1/3rd, 1/3rd, 1/3rd protocol.  Then your bankroll is governed by its beginning as well as one of the 1/3rds.  The other two 1/3rds should not used for gaming. 

The governance doing that equals advantage. 

But one must win.  Winning is extremely subjective and individualistic but the handling of money/wins is the downfall that sucks most all in to the negative.  IMO.