A mind game

Discussion in 'Psychology' started by Rearden Metal, May 11, 2013.

How much of your net worth do you wager? (see below)

  1. 10% or less

    12 vote(s)
    27.3%
  2. 15%

    5 vote(s)
    11.4%
  3. 20%

    3 vote(s)
    6.8%
  4. 25%

    1 vote(s)
    2.3%
  5. 30%

    4 vote(s)
    9.1%
  6. 35%

    1 vote(s)
    2.3%
  7. 40%

    4 vote(s)
    9.1%
  8. 45%

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  9. 50%

    5 vote(s)
    11.4%
  10. 60%

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  11. 70% or more

    9 vote(s)
    20.5%
  1. If you're not able to minimize the risk of taking a loss on any particular trade to less likely than one in six (and I know I've never been able to do that), your risk in playing the hypothetical game is <b>less</b> than you face ordinarily in the market already. The odds are wildly in your favor and you don't go for it just because the format is different- dice rolling instead of financial instrument trading? You can probably see how one might consider that illogical.
     
    #11     May 11, 2013
  2. All that kind of ratio,risk per trade,chances,probabilities,odds,etc are a scenario for the Dreamworks Studios.

    Take a trade,and when it goes against you,you`ll notice that it is suddenly an unknown territory for you.What are you gonna do?Let me tell you,even the most greatest 'odds' sometimes fail.
     
    #12     May 11, 2013
  3. Josef K

    Josef K

    Since the odds are so in my favor, I say what the hell, 40%. If I lose I still have 60% left and a year to try to get back the 40% before my next roll of the die.
     
    #13     May 11, 2013
  4. You picked the same as me, while everyone else chose to wager far less (so far). Note that there's no precise 'right answer' here, although I can't see any good reason for a professional trader to ever want to pass up on playing at all.
     
    #14     May 11, 2013
  5. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Be careful you forget you can not just lose 40% if the six is your roll. Then you have zero. Zero money for one year. Then you can play again with $500,000. So what will you do in one year with no money?

    Too if the money is $500,000 for the bet, but you have really less in the real life, then for example 10% loss is $50,000. But you really do not have $450,000 safe if in real life you only have maybe $200,000 for example. Then really you lose 25% not 10%
     
    #15     May 11, 2013
  6. That scenario is not exactly similar to trading. If I go all in and the die comes up six then I WILL lose everything. But in trading if I go all in and the trade goes bad, I can still get out with some/most of my money.
     
    #16     May 11, 2013
  7. Josef K

    Josef K

    No, you've misread/misunderstood the rules of the game. I only bet 40% ($200,000), so I can only lose 40% ($200,000). If I win, then I win $200,00, but if I lose, I still have $300,000 left, which is a pretty substantial sum that could be used to raise more capital.
     
    #17     May 11, 2013
  8. Every year you start again with $500,000? Set aside enough to live on for the year and bet the rest.
     
    #18     May 11, 2013
  9. Josef K

    Josef K

    Not if you're long options overnight and the underlying gaps severely against you. Then your position could become worthless before you have a chance to exit it.
     
    #19     May 11, 2013
  10. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Yes, I understand now. You only lose what you bet if 6 is on the roll.
     
    #20     May 11, 2013