Bob Dancer

Did you hit any jackpots? Did you get a great comp? We all want to know!
Tony Felder
Forum Regular
Posts: 87
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 1:07 pm

Bob Dancer

Post by Tony Felder »

I will preface this by saying I have never read his book. I was suprised last night when I was watching one of those various shows of "how to win in vegas". One segment was on the best odds and a clip on video poker game on. During it they interviewed Bob Dancer as an authority and a man who made a million dollars in 6 months playing video poker.
 
I was shocked to hear that 1/2 of the million dollars was won on a single night. He hit a jackpot for $100,000 and later his wife hit one for $400,000. I don't know why this bothered me and still dont, but it sure seems like it would be a lot easier to make a million if you have a bankroll of $500,000!

Frank Kneeland
VP Veteran
Posts: 762
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 6:59 pm

Post by Frank Kneeland »

Bob has always played games that I considered too risky to play, but he did well on them. Hay that's great, for him.I worry that it would have been far too easy for it to have gone the other way and that others that try to follow in his exact foot steps might not fair so well.By contrast my career has been spent playing extremely safe things with far less potential for "big wins".When we had the show together it shocked me how different we were, even though , allegedly, we were in the same business.~FK

Lucky Larry
Video Poker Master
Posts: 2693
Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:35 pm

Post by Lucky Larry »

Tony,
Some of those who know Bob better can give background but, if I recall correctly not long ago he stated that to start out now professionally one would have to have over $50K. I'm still waiting for my sponsor or until I become part of the 1%.

He probably plays more ((coin through) in a month than many of us will play in a life-time.

Frank Kneeland
VP Veteran
Posts: 762
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 6:59 pm

Post by Frank Kneeland »

$50,000 is far too little to play VP in today's market with the low edge games now available to the masses. 50K would be enough to do what I do, but that's an even more elite job that requires partners and years of training. So add two years of living expenses to get to the level where you'd be making enough to live on.~FK

Tony Felder
Forum Regular
Posts: 87
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 1:07 pm

Post by Tony Felder »

Thanks for the insight Frank and Larry. I guess I will have to get his book and see what he has to say.A few months ago I got the crazy idea I could do this and be semi-successful. Playing about 15-20 hours a week I was able to turn $1K into $10K in about 8 weeks. But the next 8 weeks I have not fared as well and I have not been able to mentally adjust to the losing streaks.I admire the "focus" that the both of you must have to play 8-10 hours at a time and to be successful at it. I am going to continue to practice and hone my skills but I may come back for some help on the "mental" part of the game.


Lucky Larry
Video Poker Master
Posts: 2693
Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:35 pm

Post by Lucky Larry »

Thanks for the response Frank. I was curious and it may have been mentioned earlier but I missed it. With the lower return games how many teams do think are functioning currently in Vegas?

Are their times when it is effective for entertainment players to work as a team? (When a progressive is sufficiently high for example: 150% of RF)

LL

Lucky Larry
Video Poker Master
Posts: 2693
Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:35 pm

Post by Lucky Larry »

Tony,
For small players like Sweet C and I we play lower denominations 25¢ and 5¢ multi-hand. And, since we are retired and both operate off the same "G" account bank roll it is mandatory that we play to win the most we can. At higher denominations we would be out very quickly. Even then it is difficult if one of us isn't hitting.

My suggestions are to keep practicing to perfect your play on 2-3 games. Use software like the one here if you have a PC or Freeslots.com if you have a Mac.

I also keep a cheat sheet and my download on my phone to check a hand if I'm unsure.

I prefer low variance games like Deuces Wild and DWB. Sweet C prefers DWB and higher variance games like DDB and TDB. When she hits it can be big payouts but there are long dry spells. I prefer the low variance to stay in long enough to get a big hit.

Finally, it comes down to LUCK!!!


Frank Kneeland
VP Veteran
Posts: 762
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 6:59 pm

Post by Frank Kneeland »




Thanks for the response Frank. I was curious and it may have been mentioned earlier but I missed it. With the lower return games how many teams do think are functioning currently in Vegas?

Are their times when it is effective for entertainment players to work as a team? (When a progressive is sufficiently high for example: 150% of RF)

LLOther than my small six man group I know of no real teams in Las Vegas Currently. If they existed I'd know about them. It's down from two or three plays a day to one or two plays a week.The best edges are still to be found playing progressives, and it only takes two people to play in shifts. I laugh at the tiny returns so called AP's consider worth playing these days, and won't touch them with a ten foot poll. If it's under 2% you'll find me home playing with my cats.I do play a tiny little bit at the palms just to keep my comps alive because I love the food there.Playing progressives is not for recreational gamblers, it's hard work.~FK

shadowman
Video Poker Master
Posts: 3587
Joined: Mon Oct 23, 2006 5:42 pm

Post by shadowman »

When I was spending my winters in LV my main play had a 2-2.5% edge almost every day. However, it was only quarters. There were also some 3-play progressive quarters that often got above 2% and a couple of other dollar games between 1-2%.
 
Everyone of these disappeared just before I quit spending winters there. I was down to playing with about a .5% edge at the time. Not hardly worth the time even though I only played 15-20 hours a week as it was.

onemoretry
Video Poker Master
Posts: 3050
Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:00 pm

Post by onemoretry »

Tony,
I also keep a cheat sheet and my download on my phone to check a hand if I'm unsure.


I've never really liked the term "cheat sheet" as applied to using reference material to help with deciding how to play a particular video poker hand.
 
The term implies that the practice is unscrupulous, and I don't think it is at all.

Post Reply