Can You Keep From Losing?

[FAA]

I was so set on playing in a comfortable non smoking area that I indulged in 9/5 JOB and 7/5 BP. Fortunately the machines were in a decent cycle. But that was really bad judgment with better tables on the building.

[stevel96a1]

after that night in ballys aces and faces 99.25 i cringe when i see 7/5 jacks or 7/5bp never again will i set up a decent roll into those types of games.

its 99.54+ or higher or nothing i do have a soft spot for 9/6 like everyone thats a fan of the game but if have option to play fpdw or a progressive poker thats better choice

[FloridaPhil]

I understand many members of this forum would prefer not to discuss playing negative VP games. These games are a fact of life for the vast majority of casino visitors. Our experts like to pretend everyone has the option of playing positive VP games. They don't. They say everyone who doesn't have positive VP should stay home. They won't.

If you are among those who play negative VP games, limiting losses is just as important as playing perfect is to an Advantage Player. The thing I find amusing is the imaginary line between positive and negative games. The prevailing theory is if the odds plus comps are 100.00000001%, the game is profitable. If the odds plus comps are 99.999999999%, the game is a loser. Does anyone find this believable?

If you are going to play seriously negative games, the strategy is different. If you play these games like you have an advantage when you don't, you will lose a lot of money. The casino doesn't want you to know that. They want you to continue to pump money into the machine waiting for a royal. If and when it does come, you will lose so much money you will need three more royals to catch back up.

I went to Tampa today for my weekly VP entertainment and I totally enjoyed the day. I played VP from 9:30 until 3:00 PM. I hit quad aces four times and came home with money. I switched to dollars and racked up a bunch of comp points. I played the best game they had as perfect as I could. While you guys were contemplating your simulations, I was playing negative VP and I got paid to do it. Life is good.

[Jstark]

You got paid to play GO? So you're ahead lifetime? If you aren't, then you haven't been paid anything!

[FloridaPhil]

While I was playing in Tampa today, I witnessed a perfect example of what happens when you use AP strategy when you don't have an advantage. I played the same machine all day. A young woman next to me was playing max coin quarter 8/5 Double Double Bonus. She kept running out of money. Each time she asked me to save her seat while she went to the ATM. This went on for hours. Each time she would come back with another hundred and "slurp" "slurp" the machine would take it in. At about 2:00 PM I looked over and she had been dealt quad 4s with an Ace. I congratulated her on what I thought was a $200 win. She turned to me and told me she had just switched to single coin. I didn't know what to say, so I didn't say a word.

I'll bet she reduced her bank balance today by at least $500. If she had played 8/5 DDB Bonus the way I would have, she would have lost $50 bucks at the most. A loss is a loss, but I'll take losing $50 over $500 any day. I could have told her about my single coin switch "guarantee", but she would have punched me in the face. Some things are better off not said.

[Jstark]

You got paid to play GO? So you're ahead lifetime? If you aren't, then you haven't been paid anything!

Stupid auto-correct on mobile!!! I meant VP.

[markinca]

While I was playing in Tampa today, I witnessed a perfect example of what happens when you use AP strategy .... A young woman next to me was playing max coin quarter 8/5 Double Double Bonus.

Yet another piece of evidence that you haven't got the slightest clue what being an AP or 'AP strategy' means.

[FAA]

Great story regardless. DDB players all richly deserve their fate, which is likely busted and dusted! What a foolish decision to pursue this quagmire game.

[stevel96a1]

Mark do you live in the east coast? do you have access to positive video poker games? it just seems like everyone talks down to anyone who doesn't have the option to play a positive game. even a crummy 100.17 won't deliver much damage especially oppose to a 96% game to ones bankroll, i played my first positive full fledge game and it makes retire from atlantic city crappy video poker games, even though 3 days or 1 session can not determine ones fate in video poker but man you feel it with the non short pay tables, i played alot of different video poker games and playing each one on average 10min i know the pattern of my session bankroll can endure and what short pay on jacks or better means. so all sums it up play a positive game or expect to lose. theres no way around that pay table it is the mouth of God

[FloridaPhil]

Mark do you live in the east coast? do you have access to positive video poker games? it just seems like everyone talks down to anyone who doesn't have the option to play a positive game.

Not everyone on this forum does this. Most members of this forum play negative games because they have no other choice. You don't hear from them because they know the strategy police will mock them, call them names and troll their every post. It's a shame that a few members can ruin a good idea like having two forums.

The difference between playing positive VP games and negative games is easy to understand if you really want to. Most players don't want to, so they play them both the same way and suffer the consequences.

There are only four things that can happen when you play VP on any given day.

1. Win a lot
2. Win a little
3. Lose a little
4. Lose a lot

When you play net positive VP games, you have an advantage over the casino. Playing more hands bigger is better. Numbers 1-4 will still happen. Over time the game should produce a profit.

When you play negative games, the casino has an advantage over you. Playing less hands smaller is better because it reduces the money you are paying to play. Number 1-4 will still happen. Over time you will lose money.

If you are going to play a lot of video poker you must know the odds in the games you play. You must know the comps and incentives the casino offers and what it takes to earn them. The young woman I described in my above post didn't have a players card. I asked her about that and she said she didn't think it mattered. Mistake number two...

If you determine the games you have to play are net negative, you should play small so you don't overpay for your entertainment. Don't get sucked into thinking you are going to beat the casino because you aren't. Don't think you are luckier than others either, because you won't be. Walking out ahead will make you feel good for a while. It will never make you a long term winner playing net negative VP games.

There is nothing wrong with playing negative VP games. The only thing wrong is playing them like you have an advantage when you don't.