Video Poker Forum

I think that the terminology being used is part of the confusion here. The word "cycle" does in fact imply a repeating pattern or process which I think we can all agree that no one is claiming is the case with VP machines.

The term "streak" is more accurate because it more correctly describes the properties of randomness, where we know that streaks will occur, but they are unpredictable. A hot streak can be followed by another hot streak and vice versa. In fact, in a random process, the direction and duration of the streaks will be just as random as the outcomes of the individual hands.

I am not superstitious nor do I subscribe to a machine being hot, cold, due, tight, loose or rigged. I "hop" to give me a different perspective on the casino floor, because of sticky buttons, or to escape (or gravitate to) other players. If a machine I was playing was "hot", i would be just as apt to leave as stay. I do tend to stay more than move only because there are certain features that i may give up by moving even one seat adjacent- sometimes differences in speed control, volume, double up, game variants, etc.

Get off a bad machine. Move. You can sink hundreds of dollars and not hit a FOAK. I like sitting on a machine that shows a cash out amount. Just my opinion. Good luck!