Blind luck

[pokeherguy]

I've taken the time before to watch others play video poker but it never ceases to amaze me how different others play than myself. My father-in-law is a good example of what not to do but even he lucks up on occassion and falls into a nice hand. I pretty much play by the book and its hard enough to survive by making the right plays so it gotta be tough on them right? I've had a conversation in the past with someone who played crazy because they were convinced the video poker machine dealt certain cards to lead you in a certain direction. They said they wanted to be the one playing the machine and wouldn't allow the machine to play them. Anyway I was waiting to get paid and the slot attendents were moving at a snails pace so since I was on the middle machine I had the time to watch the players on both sides of me. The one to my right was a lady who must have had a thing for flushes of any type because she very rarely would hold a pair unless it was two face cards. I thought I had her style of play figured out but I was wrong, she was all over the board, no rhyme or reason for what she did. The guy played pretty much straight up unless he had two cards to the royal flush and then he would even through away pairs in that case. He was pretty much boring to watch so I went back to watching the lady play. She ended up doing well despite her crazy play in which she was dealt a pair of 6's and a pair of 9's, go for the full house right (she was playing DDB by the way), wrong she held the 6's and drew quad 6's ($500). Maybe 10 hands later she was dealt a full house trip 2's with a pair of A's. She held the 2's (I would probably also) and got the other 2 with a 4 kicker ($1,600). I guess sometimes no matter how wild someone plays even pays off but its gotta be costly in the long run. Oh by the way it ended up taking over 30 minutes for me to get paid on my A's w/kicker.

[EDC1977]

Theres no questioning what that sort of play is going to do to your overall ER and yes, even though they occasionally get a good hit, overall they will pay out rather than win.I'm sure many of us started out this way and bothered to learn proper strategy rather than be a casino statistic! BTW, the gambler would hold for the quad deuces and most DDB players know the correct play for this hand. I won't say I've never made the same decision but since learned proper play for DDB. Hmmmm, ER vs. deuces with a possible kicker? Many nights, I've been in that DDB rut and felt a roll of the dice was necessary to change my luck but something always told me not to play like a gambler.

[cddenver]

I guess sometimes no matter how wild someone plays even pays off but its gotta be costly in the long run.
 
Yes, I agree.  She's passing up on quite a few nice mini-pays by breaking up the FH and going for the gold.  If she were to keep count of the times she tried that and failed I think she'd reconsider her strategy.

[Tedlark]

I personally would go for the quad two's also. This weekend while playing 10 play deuces bonus I was dealt a straight flush with three deuces comprising the hand. I shot for the fourth deuce even though I was passing up 650 credits for the guaranteed dealt straight flush, I didn't get the fourth deuce but I still managed to get 350 credits anyway in the draw. Good luck as always, Ted.

[EDC1977]

Ted, not to be anal but you'll notice the gal was playing DDB. trip deuces on any DW game, especially multi line, you hold the 2's. I checked for the heck of it and found a 24.3 difference between deuces and the next correct hold which would be a 4oak unless the 2 cards comprising the SF were sequential. I'm quite sure you know the correct hold for DDB as well.
Have a good day.

[Tedlark]

Yea, I know but the southside Chicago gambler in me takes over sometimes and I lose almost all control over rational thought. I was watching the guy next to me play this past Sunday and I cringed when he got 4 aces with a 4, got a whopping 125 credits as he was playing bonus poker. He did not come out ahead for his session. Ted.

[clwn2]

Hi everyone, Good topic.  I don't play DW, only DDB.  But, as far as strategy goes I usually play accordingly.  However, when my session is going down the toilet I have been known to go for a long shot now and again.  We are talking only for a quad draw such as the dueces draw discussed above.  Sometimes it seems that an icebreaker is necessary to shake it up so to speak. 
 
I cannot remember when I have fallen for that long shot last since I usually do not have much luck with those types of moves.  For example, when you get dealt a fullhouse with three aces in DDB it is preferable to hold the three aces over the boat.  I can only remember one or two occasions where I have actually hit the aces in this scenario.  I have an uncanny ability to remember this when I am tempted to give up any hand in favor of the longshot.  I like Dancer's line about the chicken and the gambler in these types of situations.  A move I am tempted to make mor often is givng up a made flush for a SF.  I do not remember success with this either.
 
One more thing.  The move that varies from correct strategy that I most dislike is one that has not been discussed yet.  That move would be the mistake. Most of you probably remember me pissing and moaning about missing a quad due to a sticky button.  Whether or not I would have hit the quad makes little difference to me.  The fact that it happened is what got to me.  Had I not spent so much time trying to play correctly and responsibly it would have been a different story.  The fact that the quad I missed involved a kicker only added to the misery.  And, of course, the session was a losing one.  I am sure I am not the only one who has felt like they had been kicked while on the ground bleeding already!  

[EDC1977]

Hey T, you could have just tapped the glass to hold the cards you wanted. Several machines upstairs like that at Viejas with buttons that no workee. I found a 9/6 DDB nickels 3-play but two buttons didn't work. Do you search for a machine with working buttons or sit down and tap the glass? Ah the inconveniences us VP players have to deal with.If that were a slot, the tech guy would be all over it. Total bias in my opinion. Anyhow, I've become very loyal to perfect play strategy regardless of outcome as of late.I've been trying several versions of VP also but tend to shy away from MS,STP and Wheel Poker because of the 6th coin-in and lack of return for that extra coin. I did however enjoy the Tower Poker game at Sams Town.

[Deloradeuces18]

I love when some tourist walks in and hits big right away. Especially the old ladies or retired folks. You know most of them just come and dump their money in the money pile of Vegas so when I see someone win enough to bring their own bit home, it makes me smile inside.