Machine or the Person?

[FloridaPhil]

Like all VP players I have good days and bad. When things aren't going well, I change machines.  If I'm having a good day it doesn't seem to matter what machine I'm on, the 4-of-kinds just keep coming.   If it's a bad day, I can try every machine in the place and nothing seems to work.  I cash out on every 4-of-kind and last week I cashed 9 tickets for a profit of about $400.  Yesterday I only cashed two, but the guy sitting next to me was having a day like I had the week before.  He even drew 4 aces once and got the other 2 aces and the kicker on the draw.  I find it very curious that luck seems to follow the person and not the machine.  I guess that's what makes Video Poker so much fun. 
 

[luvzlyfe]

Friend of mine used to always says, it's not the azz, it's the chair.   

[shadowman]

It's all part of randomness. The streaks are actually evidence of randomness. Changing machines will not affect one's results over time. Some days it will help and other days it will hurt. We'd all like to find some magic to help us win more often. However, if we do decide to play the only things we can control are the amount we gamble, pay tables and our strategy. The rest is out of our control.

[cook1947]

I am also a seat changer. Sometimes if I am at the video bar poker, the server has a hard time following me, but if the machine is NOT paying, I am gone. Its a good theory for me, but if I do change machines, I try to move away from where I was, as I hate it when I see somebody hit on the machine I just left. I know every machine seems to cycle, but I just can't see popping in $20 after $20 and zero return. You can't change machines at Harrahs Metropolis, as they only have 8!

[Quad Deuces]

I only change to correct environmental conditions I don't like or to get away from a bad button, etc.  I have seen great results turn sour without moving and have seen a lousy day get fantastic.  I know it doesn't matter and I have enough trouble just holding the right cards without worrying about things like "should I move?"

[FloridaPhil]

I've tried moving and staying with mixed results. Back when I played deuces all the time, I used to think a bad spell was good because it signaled a good run coming.    These days I play DDB and cash out all quads and higher.  I change machines until I get a quad then stay.  It's rare not to get at least one quad in my session length of 1000 coins, so I know most days I'm going home with something.  The only thing you can control is the accuracy of your play and the amount you gamble.  I'm playing negative expectation games, so leaving with some money is a positive for me.   The game is hard enough without making bad decisions that cause you to come home with empty pockets.  
 
 

[EDC1977]

I only change to correct environmental conditions I don't like or to get away from a bad button, etc.  I have seen great results turn sour without moving and have seen a lousy day get fantastic.  I know it doesn't matter and I have enough trouble just holding the right cards without worrying about things like "should I move?"
   Good observation. I have enough to focus on without which machine to play. Yes, sticky buttons are a pain in the keester.

[mdmick67]

Sticky buttons will rune your play, concentration and at times cause errors in what you you attempt to hold. Move to another machine!

[Lucky Larry]

Phil,
Smoke, cold (under the AC blower), sitting next to a 'banger/button slapper", or not hitting and my attitude beginning to go negative are reasons for moving. Sometimes moving because of attitude works and sometimes not but. A lot of play I believe is determined by a positive attitude.

[onemoretry]

Phil,
  A lot of play I believe is determined by a positive attitude.
 I don't believe the machine gives a rat's rear end what your attitude is - it simply churns out the next card, or cards.