Taking a sabbatical

[FAA]

I have only gotten a RF once when dealt 4 to a royal at a casino.Yikes. I got one a year into playing; dealt two in JOB. Break even sessions are becoming the norm, ending -$10 to +$10. Sominex City. But I don't know a damn thing about Dueces and DDB and Friends would wipe me out in a heartbeat. Might be time for a break myself!

[FloridaPhil]

[quote=FAA]Break even sessions are becoming the norm, ending -$10 to +$10[/quote]Jacks or Better has the lowest variance of any video poker game.  If you can find 9/6 in your chosen denomination, it doesn't take many comps to make it a decent enterprise.    The problem most people have with jacks is the boring nature of the game.  Waiting 40,000 hands for anything above 125 coins is a long road sometimes.  Personally, I think it's one of the best games in the casino if you can hang in there long enough.

[FAA]

it doesn't take many comps to make it a decent enterprise.Yeah, it's in quarters. But the comp situation is brutal. They raised it to $50 for one Tier Point, so a ton of dud hands over five times as many hours. Up to last year, before my time, was apparently a comp feast. Unless employing the Cheap System, a cold machine can bust regardless. I couldn't believe how uncooperative mine were yesterday. Dollar machines seem to let me play, but I never exceed minimum, and I would be furious with a $250 Royal Flush.

[FloridaPhil]

Got it.   I never recommend using the Cheap Strategy when playing Jacks or Better. 40,000 hands is way too long to wait for a possible $62.50 royal... 

[onemoretry]

The problem most people have with jacks is the boring nature of the game. 

I have played a lot of multi-line 9/6 JOB (5 lines 50c, or 10 lines 25c). If you can find games like that, they are, in my opinion, not boring at all.

[FloridaPhil]

I can see that.  Playing 10 lines at a time should bring a royal 10 times faster (hopefully).  Of course you are betting $12.50 a hand, so you need a bigger bankroll.  In my case that would mean betting at least $7,000 an hour.  A little too rich for my comfort level.  If the comps and cash back bring the game positive, it's even better.

[OTABILL]

I have only gotten a RF once when dealt 4 to a royal at a casino.Yikes. I got one a year into playing; dealt two in JOB. Break even sessions are becoming the norm, ending -$10 to +$10. Sominex City. But I don't know a damn thing about Dueces and DDB and Friends would wipe me out in a heartbeat. Might be time for a break myself!



We would not be taking a sabbatical if break even sessions were the norm. That would mean a night out at minimal cost. We are not even factoring in comps. Locally, comps are more gifts than free play, at least at Casino Arizona/Talking Stick.

[wildman49]

 Locally, comps are more gifts than free play, at least at Casino Arizona/Talking Stick.Bill,  My wife will be out there Monday to Friday and will be very close to Casino Arizona. How busy is this casino? Is the area safe late at night early morning? Wife just asked do they pay?  lol  Thanks for any help. Wildman

[OTABILL]

[QUOTE=OTABILL]
 Locally, comps are more gifts than free play, at least at Casino Arizona/Talking Stick.Bill,  My wife will be out there Monday to Friday and will be very close to Casino Arizona. How busy is this casino? Is the area safe late at night early morning? Wife just asked do they pay?  lol  Thanks for any help. Wildman
[/QUOTE]

Casino Arizona is in Scottsdale, or rather the reservation just east of the freeway. Area is generally good but like every place else, you need to be careful especially if you win big. They have good security on-site and will escort you to your car. There are taxi's available as well. We only play single line, 0.25 DDB progressive (and bingo) so I can't really talk about other VP or slot machines. For the DDB progressives, 0.25 pay tables are 7/5 and 6/5. Not good but when in the past the meters rose quickly they gave us reasonable returns. Not any more. The progressive on these machines are on the royal, AWAK, Aces, 2,3,4s WK, and 2,3,4s. One reason we are on a sabbatical is that we have not had much success there (and elsewhere) recently. In the past, we did ok, primarily because we would play the 7/5 progressive, get a reasonable amount of 4oaks and hit our share of progressives with elevated amounts. As I have mentioned elsewhere, this good bank was changed into multi-game, multi-amount a few years ago and our fortunes, and the meter rate, seemingly diminished accordingly.

Casino Arizona is usually very busy this time of year because of the snowbirds and spring training. It is smokey, especially at night. No non-smoking area (except bingo). Talking Stick is nicer and more modern about 5 miles north of Casino Arizona. It has an attached hotel and has a closer feel to a Las Vegas resort. As I mentioned, there are others who are more knowledgeable about Talking Stick and even other machines at Casino Arizona.   

AP players would not be caught dead playing these DDB progressives at either casino.

[FAA]

AP players would not be caught dead playing these DDB progressives at either casino.AP players would not even be caught dead playing 9/6 JOB w/$1200 progressive jackpot. Only $1220 to reach their sacred 100%. We would mostly be sitting on our hands if we were APs. BTW, casino break even is a loser if factoring in my $20 sunk transportation cost.