Types of Video Poker Players

[FloridaPhil]

One of the best books on video poker I have ever read is Dan Paymar's "Video Poker Optimum Play". This is an old book that has been updated numerous times. It's still available on Amazon. The version I have was copyrighted 2004. The author does not go out of his way to tout his superior intelligence or promote his accomplishments. This is a straight talk book explaining in easy to understand language the basic ins and out of video poker.

Some of the math discussed in this book has been since refined by other authors. He doesn't group all players into the same category. He acknowledges there is a difference in the goals and desires of different groups of VP players. One of my favorite chapters talks about these differences. I thought it might be a good subject for our forum members to discuss. Here is an excerpt from Chapter one. I shorten it a little to save typing.

Types of Video Poker Players by Dan Paymar

1. The novice. The typical novice is a purely recreational player who is attracted to the game by its speed, apparent low cost and the fact that in most games the top jackpot is won by the royal flush. Unfortunately for them, these people make numerous errors that cost them money and increase the house edge.

2. The somewhat advanced player. These players spend a lot of time in the casino. They have learned to play above novice level, either by reading a book or through experience alone. They have not learned an accurate strategy fully, so they could be giving up as much as two percent to the house. The somewhat advanced player does well enough that video poker becomes low cost entertainment with a good prospect for an occasional win. The rare royal flush, or the more frequent small jackpots keep them coming back. They may value comps more than the edge on the game itself.

3. The serious player. He may be an infrequent visitor or a regular. What sets him apart is that he has made the effort to learned reasonably accurate play for at least one game and he plays only the games where his skill can yield over 100% long term payback including comps and other side benefits. Video poker provides a long term gain for this player, but it is probably as much a source of entertainment as an income.

4. The semi professional. This is a skilled player who supplements his income by playing video poker. He probably has a regular job or is retired. He very likely plays for both enjoyment and gain. He may be playing quarters or dollars, or even higher stakes depending upon his bankroll and comfort level. As long as he doesn't overplay his bankroll he will be a winner in the long run. He also gets a lot of slot clubs comps and special promotions.

5. The professional. This is a highly skilled player who may depend upon video poker as his primary source of income. He has several attributes that most other players may lack, including the aptitude to learn a new game quickly, the ability to play several games at near perfect accuracy for many hours a day, the discipline to always make the mathematically correct play and a bankroll sufficient to ride out fluctuations in the games. More importantly, He knows how to evaluate promotions and extract the most from them as well as comps and regular slot club benefits.

6. The vulture. These players may consider themselves to be pros, but their modus operandi is anything but professional. Instead of spreading their play around to realize regular income, they take advantage of short term opportunities created by recreational players, in effect robbing them of jackpots they have built.

7. The compulsive gambler. This player may also fall at least partially into any of the above categories, but lacks the discipline to play only the good games and/or limit his play according to his bankroll. He may or may not have read a good book on video poker, but even if he has often makes "hunch" plays instead of following the correct strategy. As with all compulsive gamblers, he will not stop until all his money is gone and he has dried up all sources of loans.

I am a Number 2 type player. Cheap entertainment is my primary goal. I would like to be a Number 3, but I don't have positive games an comps available in a denomination I am comfortable with playing. Which type of player are you?

[Carcounter]

I am a 3.

[Eduardo]

Interesting... I can't figure out where I would fit in, even with 7 options. I'm not sure this is a complete list. If I had to pick one, I'm closest to #3. But I don't play advantage games exclusively, so that knocks me out of that group.

My profile would be I have taken the time to play a couple games very well. I spend most of my play on positive pay tables in Vegas because I know the returns are better. Often I will plan the bulk of my bankroll to seek out and play these positive machines, but I'll play a little on other machines if it is not convenient or if others I'm with want to play I will join in. I'm not obsessed with "advantage" play because I don't play often enough to really take advantage of those opportunities. But I play correct strategy as best i can. I never lose much money, because I don't bring much money. And I only play a couple times a year.

I'd say i'm in a category not listed: "Experienced Casual Vacation Gambler."

[FloridaPhil]

Paymar's book is pretty old. Before 2008, it wasn't that difficult to find a positive VP opportunity. Since then, VP pay tables have steadily dropped. To counter this, I play small to reduce my coin in. I only play big enough to earn comps that matter to me. If it weren't for free rooms, free play and comps, I doubt I would go to a casino on a regular basis. We use those comps as mini vacations which we both enjoy.

I can play a number of games accurately. Can I play 100% perfect forever? No. Can I keep from making major mistakes? Yes. I'm somewhere between a 2 and a 3. If I lived in Vegas, I believe I could possibly be close to a 4.

[FAA]

It's easy to get Compulsive. This happens on a fourth of my trips. Of course, said compulsion led to today's RF. I was a pathetic loser on tilt. Only $60 left, having squandered $120. What fools these mortals be!

[billryan]

Is he suggesting that playing positive progressives is somehow wrong? That the money somehow should belong to the sheeple who played it enough to turn a bad game good?

[FAA]

We all know to hammer away at those, I trust.
I ignored the general advice to never put >$20 in a machine. I fed it a $102 TITO today. $40 was gone in forty minutes. Then came Roy!

[Tedlark]

FAA, what was the process like when you asked for a check?

[FAA]

TITO, ID. That's the way you do it. Money for nothin' and your check's for free!

[olds442jetaway]

I was hoping you would catch that one. Yep your check’s for free. Resist dollar play if you can except a couple of hands. The program geeks hiding in that little room with the monitors are chomping at the bit. Give FAA a few cat’s eye marbles, but the multi color Shooter marble belongs back in our sack.