Video Poker Forum

I have a question regarding playing the same game/machine. Given the pay tables being equal, and that your desired play time will be 3-4 hours, do you stay put during the whole time frame or do you "jump around" from different machines and/or games?
 
The reason I ask is I find it difficult to stay at one machine for longer periods of times. Wondering if I need to work on my "sustainablity" at one machine or if its common to move around.
 
Thanks for the input!!

I tend to play at one machine for hours when it is hitting. I give myself goals that I do not adhere to very astutely. Such as, play a bengi and then decide whether to move on. I start at my winning machines from the last visit as a creature of habit. In fact, I usually pick up TWO soft drinks at the self service station before starting to play so I might have staying power.

Tony I tend to jump from machine to machine. I really dont know if its common for people to do this.  I do know its been talked about on the forum before and the guys say it makes no difference.  Its just whatever trips your trigger.

thanks willis, I understand statistically it makes no difference, I just rarely see someone on a machine for a long length of time. Glad to know that you are a "jumper" too!!

If I put $100 in a machine and it only last 10 min. " I MOVE "! ! ! ! Then I`ll try another one of my favorite machines.

We discussed this before and it always seems to be a hot topic. The common advice is both:1. It doesn't matter if you move or not because the machines are random and each hand is an independent event.2. Since it is neither good nor bad, do it if you like.I caution against it, but not for financial reasons. Our oh so less than perfect human minds are so primed to look for patterns, if we give them ANY excuse, they will start finding meaning in meaningless things, creating what I like to call, "The lucky underwear phenomenon".Imagine for a moment if instead of changing machines you frequently changed underwear. You would indeed notice that you did better wearing certain unmentionables and ran badly while wearing different ones. Some of your underwear would be "hot" and others would be "cold". Some might be "due" while others might simply have dodo. You might then start favoring certain garments over others. (Preferably the clean ones).I hope we can all realize that your choice of underwear doesn't effect what hands you get dealt or what you draw on a video poker machine. Neither does changing machines, but it will be much harder to convince yourself of this if you create a situation where your mind can deceive you. Rather than being your friend and faithful companion, where randomness is concerned, your mind is ready willing and able to send you so astray, you'll never find your way back to the straight and narrow road. The best insulation is not to give it a chance.If you switch machines, you'll start noticing hot and cold machines.If you switch games, you'll start noticing hot and cold games.If you switch casinos, you'll start noticing hot and cold casinos.If you switch underwear, you'll start noticing hot and cold underwear.If you don't switch anything, you'll be left with hot and cold playing sessions...Oh and some smelly underwear...at least change those.~FKThe ups and downs of random variance are immutable and irrefutable, we can only change our perceptions and what we attribute them to. If you look ye shall find, so stop looking.

Great advice Frank!  Since I am new to the forum I may ask some questions that have been covered many times before, I appreciate the patience and answers.

Frank: Well said and how true. Just because someone hit a royal, etc. on a machine they just left does not mean they would have done so if they stayed put. Unfortunately, most VP players believe otherwise and would be beside themselves for missing a great hit.

Tony,
While it may not make mathematical sense changing machines, many of us play for pleasure and don't have the $$ to play long hours in losing mode.

SInce I gamble for pleasure (and hopefully short-term profit) my playing enjoyment is a high priority. My attitude is a part of my pleasure. If I'm losing I'm not having a good time. So, if I don't hit on a machine after changing games, my timing, etc. I change machines-sometimes more than once,   My guess is that few of us enjoy playing through all of our "G accounts" while constantly losing. Remember, timing is everything!!!

I use the coffee drinking method to eliminate the need to change machines. I'm regularly getting up to either get or get rid of the coffee. It has the same effect as changing machines.
 
As for the comment on underwear ... ok, I won't go there, I don't want to pick on faygo's system.