Real Life Play vs. the Numbers?

[FloridaPhil]

Sure.  I think that's the interesting thing about Video Poker, everyone
has different goals. I didn't understand that at first and got hung up
too much on the numbers.  I think a lot of players become discouraged
with video poker because they find it impossible to locate positive
machines or to play at 100%.  Too bad, as they are missing a ton of fun
if they just concentrated on the experience instead of trying to compete
with some impossible standard.  As 100% machines start to become less
common, video poker experts and writers will need to adjust their
rhetoric.  There are lots of great reasons to play and enjoy video poker
without kicking yourself because you're not a long term winner.   Sorry
for beating a dead horse, but that's a sore spot with me.  

[BillyJoe]

No argument here, Phil.. Keep on truckin'.. One point, which I am sure that you are aware of, is that you need a larger bankroll to play at the $1 denom versus quarters.

[FloridaPhil]

Absolutely.  That's why it's so important to get the balance between quarter play and limited DDB $1 play correct.   My wife and I started doing something in the last six months that shows how this works.  She plays Jacks .25 all the time.  She does this because she can play for a long time without losing too much money.  She never gets up too much unless she gets a Royal, but she doesn't bust often either.  When we first sit down to play before we do anything, we both play the first $20 in $1 DDB.  Most of the time nothing much happens, but more times than you would think we hit a quad or a straight flush right off the bat.  It's tempting to keep playing DDB, but experience has taught us that 4-of-kinds are pretty unique events and we go back to our original plan up a significant amount.  8/5 DDB is worthless as a full time endeavor, but used sparingly and consistently, it can help you to keep your head above water in a negative expectation video poker environment.