The Two Camps

The lighter side... playing for entertainment, less concerned about "the math."
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FloridaPhil
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The Two Camps

Post by FloridaPhil »

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billryan
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Post by billryan »

You leave out the third group.
Those that are so addicted that they need their fix no matter how bad the games are. They know it's dumb to play such games but simply can't help themselves.
People who enter the casinos bound and determined to stick to quarters but surrender to the siren call of the dollar succubus.
Those who need their weekly fix playing short pay machines poorly but who rationalize it a dozen different ways.

onemoretry
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Post by onemoretry »

Your analysis overlooks the fact that there is yet another group. This group comprises players who play recreationally, i.e., as a hobby, a diversion, just for fun, etc., and who understand that the best way to minimize the cost of that recreation is to use mathematically sound strategy.

I would suspect that this category includes most of the people on this site.


edog743
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Post by edog743 »

You neglected to add another group. The group that only plays here the people that know that they will get ripped off going to the casino. I call them the smart people.

Casino Knight
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Post by Casino Knight »

To paraphrase Groucho Marx, "I'd never join a group that would have me as a member".

Edited to add: I did go to camp once, Boot Camp. Good Times.

FloridaPhil
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Post by FloridaPhil »






[quote=billryan]People who enter the casinos bound and determined to stick to quarters but surrender to the siren call of the dollar succubus.[/quote]The dollar succubus!  Ah yes, I know her well...   Funny!  





case
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Post by case »

All VP players use math when they play. Some just understand it better

FloridaPhil
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Post by FloridaPhil »





































The dollar succubus is a killer.   Looking back, I am sure this was the main thing Mr. Dancer objected to in my CS strategy.   He knew that 99% of the players who would consider playing single coin quarters would be "steam rolled" by switching to dollars.  Switching to dollars was always a secondary CS option, but he was 100% correct in his assessment.    This option was definitely wrong on my part and I never should have put it in print.  I realize now that my approach to video poker is not something that should be advertised or celebrated.    The CS dollar switch was totally hypocritical on my part as I have criticized Mr. Dancer many times for promoting high stakes play when in principle I was doing exactly the same thing.I've said this before, but it bears repeating.  I consider video poker and casino gambling in general as a totally frivolous escape, not some kind of competition with my bankroll or anyone else.  My wife is a much better VP "player" than me.  She plays max coins slowly, accurately and never ever switches denomination.   At the end of the year, her cost to play VP is negligible.  I play too fast. I don't have the discipline, patience or desire to play like her and it costs me.  The only thing CS did for me was hold down my loses.  Hitting a good run of pot shots was what put me ahead, not CS itself.  If I played like her, I wouldn't have created CS in the first place.I have the means to play any way I wish and I won't run out of money.  Unless your situation is the same, you shouldn't play like me.  Mr. Dancer's strategy is the Gold Standard of profitable VP play, BUT you must have ALL of it , not just a few parts.  Using his strategy when playing negative VP games will let you play longer, but it won't make you a long term winner because the negative odds will eat up all your profits and then some.  You should also be aware that for most of us playing only positive VP games means flying to Vegas or playing at higher denominations.  Playing bigger means dealing with bigger bankroll swings and toughing it through long periods of depressing losses.  If you must play negative games, playing small and accurately will reduce your loses.I hope this helps to resolve some of these issues.  I would like to say that humor is a better way to get a point across.   There is too much pain and anger in the real world.  We don't need any more of it here.




































Waiting4RF
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Post by Waiting4RF »

Thanks for remembering again that the pot shots put you ahead, not CS. You had one $5 machine that kept giving you quad deuces.

FloridaPhil
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Post by FloridaPhil »















[quote=Waiting4RF]Thanks for remembering again that the pot shots put you ahead, not CS. You had one $5 machine that kept giving you quad deuces.[/quote]No problem.  There were three $5 high limit machines next to one another at the Tampa Hard Rock where I would throw in a few $20s each week using CS strategy.  Three weeks in a row, I hit a $20 single coin quad deuce for $1,000 each time.    One of the weeks I hit the max coin button on the next hand and hit a wild royal for $625 besides.   I had the discipline to cash out each time.   Shortly there after the casino disabled the coin selection button on only these three machines forcing a minimum $25 a hand bet.   Later they removed them entirely.   I'm not saying these machines were luckier than any other or that I had anything to do with their modification or removal, but it did seem like a curious coincidence.I have no problem admitting I occasionally do these things.  Like I said earlier, if you can't afford to throw your money away, don't play like I do.  I will go further and say without hesitation, if you can't afford to throw your money away you shouldn't be gambling at all.














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