Is Video Poker a Game of Skill or Luck

[DaBurglar]

Wow.....great thread.I wish Bob would elaborate about "This site's most prolific posters" spread disinformation that "drives away all the "GOOD players.....wtf does any of that mean exactly?What posters?  what "disinformation?   Who is NOT posting here that SHOULD BE?   and if they were, what exactly would they be saying or sharing that is so all consumingly BETTER than what is currently being posted?    Seriously, this is another dud, another non-starting dead end post by someone with a vested interest in spinning a SPECIFIC narrative about Video Poker and casinos in general.And I am sick of hearing about "SKILL" in VP.    This is NOT rocket science, not even basic 5th grade earth science.....video poker involved basic junior high math, being able to READ and do basic comparative evaluations to determine what Bob does correctly call the most "Advantageous" play choices and situations at any given time, it involves basic self restraint and discipline to NOT play over your head, to NOT play when you have absolutely NO/NONE/ZIP...."advantage", and to NOT drink when you play.NONE OF this involves anything exceptional or special, not even remotely .....except MAYBE....MAYBE a conscientious streak.      And through it all, he continuously minimizes the element of chance (LUCK) which is indeed relevant in a big way to all results (short and long term.)   But then again, what Bob keeps saying and insisting is SKILL and what makes him (and a select narrow group of as yet unidentified "Pros", with a few exceptions he has named in the past) the "MASTER WINNER" that he claims, is indeed RARE amongst the general populace:Most people (sadly) suck at math, even basic math;  MOST people are LAZY, or at least unwilling to CHANGE or alter anything about themselves, their convictions or their habits, to adequately embrace the things Bob says are needed to win long term;   and MOST people who frequent casinos like to Drink, like to overeat, and like to otherwise overindulge in a slew of unhealthy things and activities, such that long term success at almost anything is doubtful, including (obviously) Video Poker.    And finally, most people are NOT LUCKY .......

[Tedlark]

Understated and tactful as usual.

[DaBurglar]

Understated and tactful as usual.Thank you Ted....as always your opinion is valued.    I'd actually like to ask you to expand a little more on your take of the thread topic, I think you are uniquely qualified to address it, more than anyone here, even BOB dancer.    Bob devotes his entire life to this game and achieves levels of success that ONLY are available to him, using methods that ONLY he knows, making a total profit that ONLY he can appreciate and quantify,      But YOU are totally different and above even that!Your success levels are unmatched, unparalleled, and JUST.......PLAIN........UNREAL!    80% PROFITABILITY RATE OF SESSIONS!    And as you have honestly and modestly admitted, you achieve this simply through a positive attitude and LUCK, things which are completely and totally available to the average "everyman" video poker player who reads this forum.....or to put it more starkly, the common "un skilled" "un professional" "Un Profitable" losers Bob Dancer states post on this forum instead of the elite "Elite" who Bob claims are driven off by the likes of.....the likes of.....well, the likes of ME I guess (and Florida Phil, and before him Billy Joe and anyone else who ran AFOUL of Bob Dancer in some form or another.But you are the ideal, the one to whom the "un" crowd can look to for inspiration as well as guidance and HOPE.SO please, spew forth.......

[Tedlark]

DaBurglar I recently made a post and I do not care to rehash it just for your benefit.

[DaBurglar]

DaBurglar I recently made a post and I do not care to rehash it just for your benefit. I do not see ANY post in this thread with YOU as the author other than the two 1 (one) liner posts above.Therefore, since you clearly indicated that what ever you have to say on this topic (hashed or not) is going to be for my  BENEFIT......I MUST INSIST that you RE-HASH away TED!   C'mon. I'll restore your status and make you my friend if you Rehash?    Your life will never be the same, and YOU know it! btw, how's that neck of yours doin'?  

[alpax]

Wow.....great thread.I wish Bob would elaborate about "This site's most prolific posters" spread disinformation that "drives away all the "GOOD players.....wtf does any of that mean exactly?What posters?  what "disinformation?   Who is NOT posting here that SHOULD BE?   and if they were, what exactly would they be saying or sharing that is so all consumingly BETTER than what is currently being posted?    


I was wondering about this myself as well.

[Tedlark]

Oops, DaBurglar I owe you an apology. I was thinking about a different forum posting.


Anyway: Thank you DaBurglar for SKILLFULLY pointing out that I had not made a recent post other than what I did and it was LUCKY that you caught this.....


Could be the only time I've used DaBurglar, skillfully, and, lucky in the same sentence. Ever.

[notes1]

'BETWEEN 10 AND 15% OF PLAYERS, AT LEAST BREAK EVEN.' wow, i am not sure what the perameters are to make such an assertion. if one is talking about frequent players, across the country, over the last 5 years, not counting value of comps, i find that difficult to believe. if one really believes in the math, the overwhelming percentage of play is taking place on negative expectation machines. i would guess the majority of play is at the quarter denomination and the majority of play, at that denomination, takes place at casinos that do not have a postive game available. most play takes place as entertainment, players are not scouting and waiting for that single opportunity, when a casino just might offer some promotion, that makes a game positive.  

[FloridaPhil]

[quote=notes1] If one really believes in the math, the overwhelming percentage of play is
taking place on negative expectation machines. i would guess the
majority of play is at the quarter denomination and the majority of
play, at that denomination, takes place at casinos that do not have a positive game available. most play takes place as entertainment, players
are not scouting and waiting for that single opportunity, when a casino
just might offer some promotion, that makes a game positive.[/quote]Exactly... Outside of a few off strip casinos in Nevada, a positive quarter video poker game is as rare as a "Hope and Change" bumper sticker at a gun range.  

[Vman96]

'BETWEEN 10 AND 15% OF PLAYERS, AT LEAST BREAK EVEN.' wow, i am not sure what the perameters are to make such an assertion. if one is talking about frequent players, across the country, over the last 5 years, not counting value of comps, i find that difficult to believe.

It's definitely not true in Missouri. Over 90% of the players are playing games that are 8/5 DDB or worse. Mostly ultimate X and super times pay. Those games have really helped keep VP alive and well in St. Louis.

I would probably put break even or better players outside of off-strip Vegas at maybe 1 or 2 out of 100. They definitely exist, but they are few and far between.