Deuces Wild Results

[FloridaPhil]

Unfortunately, like most players, I do not have an abundance of truly positive opportunities available to me. Therefore, I choose to play slightly negative, but affordable games. I do not consider myself to be an overall winner at the machines themselves, but consider the cost to be reasonable, given other benefits I receive.

Me too. I do not believe most players have "an abundance of positive opportunities". Those days are gone and are not coming back. My VP play is very similar to what the experts recommend only I play small to limit my losses. From my experience, limiting coin-in is more beneficial long term than trading more coin-in for better odds. That is the major difference in our views of the game.

[billryan]

The major difference between your two opinions is that one is based on sound logic and the other is based on whatever whims you have at the moment.

[FloridaPhil]

The major difference between your two opinions is that one is based on sound logic and the other is based on whatever whims you have at the moment.

Bill, your logic may work with the games you have to play. What would you tell a player who had a choice between a 97.6% quarter game and a 98.9% $5 dollar game? Both games are negative, so I assume you would tell them to stay home? If you are going to play anyway, my math tells me the quarter game loses less money long term. This is the sound logic I am using.

[Jstark]

Long term, both games will eat ALL OF YOUR MONEY.

[billryan]

Phil is like the guy at an AA meeting harping on why no one teaches people how to drink less.
Either one is an intelligent gambler who doesn't play bad games or one isn't.

[FloridaPhil]

Anyone who plays negative video poker for any length of time knows negative games cost money to play. My strategy is to enjoy playing these games at a discount. Everything I have ever posted on this forum has had that same exact goal.

You have three choices when playing negative VP games. You can refuse to play them. You can ignore the cost and accept it as the price of admission or you can reduce that cost by limiting your coin-in. This can be done by reducing the number of hands you play or by reducing the total amount you wager.

Here's my advice. It's your choice if you choose to take it or not. If you do not have access to positive VP games or if like me you do not believe the risk is worth the benefit, learn to be satisfied with playing small. A hand pay is not profitable if it costs you more to win than they put in your hand. The new tax laws make this more important than ever. Comps only have value if you can use them. Free stuff is not free if you have to lose money to earn them.

I want players to enjoy playing VP. It's great entertainment that doesn't have to cost a lot of money to play. You control the games you play. You control how you play them. You control the cost of admission. If you pay more than you have to, it's your own fault.

[billryan]

Funny you should mention the new tax laws. It's a shame you evidently don't get them ,either. I've read so much misinformation here that when my tax guy told me the laws were very beneficial for non pros, I thought he was nuts. Turns out he is correct.

[FAA]

Learn to be satisfied playing small. A hand pay is not profitable if it costs you more to win.
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Absolutely irrefutable. Hand pay is slow to materialize and fast to impoverish me.

[FloridaPhil]

Funny you should mention the new tax laws. It's a shame you evidently don't get them ,either. I've read so much misinformation here that when my tax guy told me the laws were very beneficial for non pros, I thought he was nuts. Turns out he is correct.

Bill, you should get a new tax guy.

In those states that collect gambling taxes, the State is your partner standing around waiting for their cut of your hand pays. Playing VP bigger in those States increases the house edge significantly. Why fret over 1% odds in the casino's favor when the State is going to take at least 3%?

A video poker machine is not an ATM. There are no guarantees anything will happen regardless of the odds or your skills. Video poker is gambling. The odds of you being struck by lightning are 1 in 700,000. The odds you will get rich playing VP are a lot worse.

I believe the best chance you have of beating the casino is to play as small as possible, drink their free drinks, enjoy their comforts and hospitality, be entertained and pay practically nothing. That is not a dream. That is reality.

[billryan]

That's funny. Sad but funny. Your tax advice is as bad as the rest of your game.