Negative Game Strategies
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2019 8:14 am
I play negative video poker games. Chances are, you do too. I don't seek out negative games, they are the only games offered in the denomination I am comfortable with playing at the casinos I frequent and I enjoy my time at the casino. If you are going to lose long term regardless of how you play video poker, does it matter what strategy you use?
Over the years, I believe I have used every video poker strategy possible. From playing single coin to max coin dollars, I've tried them all. I learned from the experts on this forum and from observing other players just like me. I learned the most by watching my wife play. Her discipline is phenomenal. She plays max coin quarter single line deuces wild no matter what happens. She never changes games or denomination. She tries to play the best odds available. If she's losing for longer than a few hours at a time, she finds something else to do. She modifies the computer based strategy slightly to fit her desires. This doesn't seem to hurt her. She plays negative games, so she does have a cost to play. That cost is incredibly low. She keeps two bankrolls. One she regularly adds to and a second bankroll she plays out of. On rare occasions, she has to move money from one to the other. If I could play video poker for the rest of my life like her, I would consider it quite an accomplishment.
I try to play like her, but I can't. I need more excitement in my day at the casino. I could gain that excitement by moving up in denomination or by playing multi line games. It has been my experience that this increases my cost to play video poker substantially. I love hitting big jackpots. I don't like what it costs to hit them. So what do I do?
When I go to the casino, I start out playing like my wife. Like her, I only play single line Deuces Wild. Over the years I have observed that my money lasts longer playing this game than any other game. I ask players around me if they have noticed this as well. Most agree. What I am playing for is a quad deuce or a royal. If I don't hit either one, I stay with quarter play. If I hit one of these hands, I take more risks. There was a time when I systematically increased my bet on a frequent basis. I hit some great jackpots this way, but it only increased my losses. There is no doubt in my mind that staying with the same game and denomination all the time is the most efficient way to play video poker. You may already know this. I wish I did, it would have saved me some money.
So when I hit a quad deuce or a royal and move up, am I hurting my results? In my opinion, Yes. The game is still negative, so I am adding to my losses. Is the added cost worth it to me? Yes. The feeling you get when you get a hand pay is one of the best greatest feelings a small time player can experience. As long as I control myself, I can tolerate the extra cost.
The Recreational Forum is here to share our experiences. Gambling is a mind game. I know very few people who think like a computer. If you are having a good day, do you increase your bet? If you are losing, do you do the same thing? Does it work? Do you stay with the same game all the time? If you knew for a fact that you are going to lose long term playing a game, would you still play it?
Over the years, I believe I have used every video poker strategy possible. From playing single coin to max coin dollars, I've tried them all. I learned from the experts on this forum and from observing other players just like me. I learned the most by watching my wife play. Her discipline is phenomenal. She plays max coin quarter single line deuces wild no matter what happens. She never changes games or denomination. She tries to play the best odds available. If she's losing for longer than a few hours at a time, she finds something else to do. She modifies the computer based strategy slightly to fit her desires. This doesn't seem to hurt her. She plays negative games, so she does have a cost to play. That cost is incredibly low. She keeps two bankrolls. One she regularly adds to and a second bankroll she plays out of. On rare occasions, she has to move money from one to the other. If I could play video poker for the rest of my life like her, I would consider it quite an accomplishment.
I try to play like her, but I can't. I need more excitement in my day at the casino. I could gain that excitement by moving up in denomination or by playing multi line games. It has been my experience that this increases my cost to play video poker substantially. I love hitting big jackpots. I don't like what it costs to hit them. So what do I do?
When I go to the casino, I start out playing like my wife. Like her, I only play single line Deuces Wild. Over the years I have observed that my money lasts longer playing this game than any other game. I ask players around me if they have noticed this as well. Most agree. What I am playing for is a quad deuce or a royal. If I don't hit either one, I stay with quarter play. If I hit one of these hands, I take more risks. There was a time when I systematically increased my bet on a frequent basis. I hit some great jackpots this way, but it only increased my losses. There is no doubt in my mind that staying with the same game and denomination all the time is the most efficient way to play video poker. You may already know this. I wish I did, it would have saved me some money.
So when I hit a quad deuce or a royal and move up, am I hurting my results? In my opinion, Yes. The game is still negative, so I am adding to my losses. Is the added cost worth it to me? Yes. The feeling you get when you get a hand pay is one of the best greatest feelings a small time player can experience. As long as I control myself, I can tolerate the extra cost.
The Recreational Forum is here to share our experiences. Gambling is a mind game. I know very few people who think like a computer. If you are having a good day, do you increase your bet? If you are losing, do you do the same thing? Does it work? Do you stay with the same game all the time? If you knew for a fact that you are going to lose long term playing a game, would you still play it?