By Matthew Warburton.
Becoming an effective advantage player requires a knowledge of basic blackjack strategy, along with any card counting techniques that you’re using. However, no matter how knowledgeable you are, you’ll still need to execute these strategies effectively and consistently during play.
Doing so requires a great deal of focus. Any slipups will eat into your Return to Player (RTP) and give the house a bigger edge. The problem is that making complex decisions for hours on end can cause cognitive fatigue.
What is Cognitive Fatigue?
You can think of cognitive fatigue as the mental equivalent of physical burnout. Similar to an overworked body, the mind has a tendency to shut down when it’s had too much. This results in a lapse of concentration, less creativity, and lower quality decisions.
When playing casino games like blackjack, cognitive fatigue often leads to more mistakes at the tables. In the worst cases, it can impact your bankroll as these mistakes compound to obliterate your edge.
There are many potential causes of cognitive fatigue, including a lack of sleep, poor nutrition, or high stress levels, as well as the cognitive load of the decisions you’re making.
Some Casino Games Cause More Cognitive Fatigue Than Others
Not all casino games deliver the same level of potential cognitive overload. The online slots available at Slots LV casino are easy to learn and don’t involve any strategic decision making. The outcomes are passive in the sense that you only need to click “spin” to play the game.
Games like slots have a fixed RTP, so your only real decision is which game to play and how much to bet. You’re unlikely to experience cognitive fatigue in the true sense of the word.
This is very different to a live blackjack session, where every decision you make directly impacts outcomes. If you play using the optimal strategy, you can bump up your RTP to close to 99.5%, depending on the table rules.
However, blackjack strategy requires a dedicated and standardized approach to the game based on established math. You’ll be standing, drawing, splitting, and doubling based on your own cards and the dealer’s visible upcard.
Sticking closely to blackjack theory yields the highest returns, but it’s also mentally demanding. Add card counting systems to the equation and you’ll soon be feeling the load.
Put simply, games that involve complex decisions can lead to cognitive fatigue, which in turn can damage the quality of future decisions.
The Small Mistakes That Damage EV
If cognitive fatigue starts to happen, you’ll no longer be able to trust that your own decisions are perfect. In a casino game like blackjack, this can directly lead to the following mistakes:
Basic Strategy Errors – Basic strategy is the foundation for every high EV blackjack player. Fatigue can lead to mistakes when it comes to drawing, missed doubles or splits, or lapses in concentration that can cause you to misread the situation entirely. Your RTP will quickly drop if these errors creep in.
Counting Errors – If you’re also using card counting in a live environment, your cognitive load, and therefore potential for fatigue, is even higher. You could end up losing count, miscounting, or miscalculating the true count.
Bankroll Decisions – Cognitive fatigue can also lead to more impulsive decision making, such as increasing bets or chasing losses, which is rarely good news for your bankroll. Always stick to your original plan when it comes to bets and play within your bankroll, no matter what casino game you are playing.
So, they are the potential problems that can occur when cognitive fatigue happens, but what are the solutions?
Recognize the Warning Signs
The first step to take when it comes to managing mental fatigue is to recognize when it’s happening. Your reactions will be unique to you, but may include some of the following:
- Taking longer to make your decisions.
- Struggling over decisions that you would normally know.
- Losing count of bets or cards.
- Forgetting recent hands as soon as they happen.
- Becoming overly emotional or reactive to wins or losses.
If you notice one or several of these signs, you may be experiencing cognitive fatigue.
Managing Mental Energy and Preventing Cognitive Fatigue
Given that the causes of cognitive fatigue include lifestyle factors like lack of sleep and poor nutrition, you can take steps to prevent it before your session even begins. Start by coming to the tables well rested and well fed. Stay hydrated during games and avoid distractions that will further increase cognitive load.
Once cognitive fatigue begins to take effect, it’s incredibly difficult to come back to an optimal state while you are still under the same stress and still making decisions. So, the single most effective solution is to take a break to help you reset your focus. If you are really tired, stop for the night.
As you become more aware of how fatigue impacts your play, you can start to schedule these breaks. Track how you feel and how your performance fluctuates throughout your sessions. The aim is to be able to play your A-game as often as possible so that cognitive fatigue doesn’t eat into your win rate.
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