We have all taken down notes on strategies involving Blackjack. We are also made aware of the streaks of good luck and bad. Our techniques and theories are in place. But most of us overlook the emotional facet. The psychology of a player is just as essential as any strategy, technique or luck itself.

Here are some sticky situations you can overcome.

You are fear-ridden. Just as when we fear a test we tend not to fare well, a gambler when nervous can never win. He may be disturbed, unsure or just afraid of getting busted. Whatever the case, fear and fret always lead to bad judgement. A gambler must at all times remain unperturbed.

You are losing to a newbie. Yes, it happens to the best of us. Everyday is not Sunday. There are those days when however shrewdly you play you end up losing. To make matters worse, the beginner playing next to you wins. His decisions may have been bad but his luck wasn’t. As a good gambler learn to maintain your cool. Laugh off this quirk of fate.

You are overconfident. Expert players know the right moves back and forth. Their experience can sometimes lead to recklessness. They may have to pay a big price for their overconfidence. An experienced player is as subject to follies as a beginner. One bad move may deal a coup-de-grace to your illustrious record. Be cautious at all times. Never take a game for granted.

You fall prey to the Gambler’s Fallacy. Many myths exist regarding gambling. One such myth has it that your previous hand influences the next. So if you lose one, chances are you win the next. Never give in to such fallacies. Play your game strategically.

To excel in any gamble, one must strike a balance between strategy and apt psychological approach. “Mind over body” is what is usually said. In this case it’s mind over the “House”.