Look, I get the thrill of chasing those shiny tournaments, but they’re often just traps dressed up as golden tickets. From a horse racing angle, I’ve learned to skip the hype and stick to what I can measure. Focus on stats you can verify—like a horse’s past performances, track conditions, or jockey records. Tournaments love to push "sure wins," but nothing’s guaranteed. Set a strict budget, maybe 10% of what you’d normally bet, and don’t touch it once it’s gone. Also, track your bets like you’d track a horse’s form; it keeps you honest. If the event smells like hype over substance, pass. There’s always another race worth your time.