Jump to content

The RORSCHACH test, and unintended consequences


Recommended Posts

  • Baccarat Hall of Fame Member

Back in the 1960's and 1970's, The RORSCHACH test was commonly administered to individuals as a means of assessing their personality characteristics and how they might react to a given set of circumstances.

Way too complicated for me to describe its nature and origins, but Wikipedia can do that for you. ( It is also know as "the ink blot test")

And yes, in 1976, before I was hired for a job, I was given this test. And at the time, I wondered " what the heck could this have to do with my job performance?"

It was never explained to me, but yes, I still have the "report" on this test and the psychologist's assessment of how well I might preform in the job...( as well as a host of other personality "traits" which could help, or hinder, my value to the company...)

Just what does this have to do with baccarat? ( of course you know I have that answer...)

So last night, way past my bedtime, I found myself all alone at a table down at a casino on Freemont Street, here in LV,NV ... chatting up the dealer as best I could...when it all came back...

Was patiently explaining to the dealer ( who had just started dealing Baccarat) how many baccarat players interpret the "patterns" of a shoe to " predict" what will happen next...in other words, whether to bet Player or Banker, depending on previous outcomes in the shoe, and what "patterns" they believe exist in that shoe that will help them "determine" what likely will happen in the hands to follow...

In fact, I was standing at the tote board, showing her how many approach this, when I came across this pattern...

P

B

P

B

P

BB

PPP

BBBBBB

PP

BBBBBB

I stared to explain using the analogy of how this "pattern" reminded me of the left side of a butterfly, and how some Bac players might "interpret" this data to "fill in" the rest of the drawing to "create" the right side as being the "mirror image " of the left side already up on the tote board...

I sat back down, and sufficiently ahead on my units, offered to demonstrate to the dealer what I was talking about, and actually " play" as if the pattern would project itself as a "mirror image of the first part"

And you probably already know, just like Paul Harvey might have predicted, THE REST OF THE STORY...

Here you go, beginning to end...

p

B

P

B

P

BB

PPP

BBBBBB

PP

BBBBBB

PPP

BB

P

B

P

B

P

( then came a BB...)

I was just as surprised as the dealer was, and given that I bet those last 10 hands as shown, I was well rewarded for the effort...

The rest of the shoe was comfortably handled with NOR+/4D betting, but on this night alone, winning those 10 IAR made the drive home all the more pleasant, me thinking back to the RORSCHACH test, and that 3 hour psychiatric interview a long time ago...

Remarkable, in a sense, that it worked out the way it did, and I probably "corrupted" a new dealer's thinking into "this is what happens all the time"

But I have to admit...when I got home, I got out Dr. Riewald's report on the results of his interview ( including the RORSCHACH test), and I have to admit that many, many of his findings were "spot on" in predicting how I might react in a business or personal situation over the many years which have ensued.

Oh, and for those of you wondering WTH?, "ink-blot analysis" is the core of many gaming theories...

( look it up...)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use