LUCK VS. STRATEGY

[chattycattty]

Other than delving into the metaphysical, what are some of the things that you do to make a difference as far as timing goes LL ?

I agree that having luck on your side is far superior to video poker skills and the selecting of pay tables. Skills, pay tables, deciding on which casino has the best rewards program and cashing in on their rewards program according to who best serves your needs all represent good common sense but in the end if you don't get those big hands you are going to lose and if you are extremely unlucky you are going to lose big.

If anyone else has some techniques that help bring about those big hands be all are wanting more of, feel free to share. Off the top of my head the only thing I can think of is to go into the casino with a positive attitude and make sure you maintain it the entire time you are there. And be prepared to move to a different machine if it appears to be in a cold cycle. I have done that before and had someone sit down and within a few pulls pull a royal flush off it so who knows.

[olds442jetaway]

The last few trips with less pressure to worry about hitting the big one have been much more enjoyable playing mostly single coin. I think I posted recently that something like 23 or so straight machines game me a tiny profit and I cashed out. It is weird how someone ( like myself last year ) can play the same machine for hours and hours and lose big. You step away, someone else sits down and they hit a big hand right away. I am actually glad for them though I see plenty of people who get really upset when that happens. My feeling is if you feel that pi...d off all of the time, then your unlucky streak will just continue.

[BobDancer]

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[olds442jetaway]

I agree with most of what you said. The only problem for most players is that long term is really long term and represents millions of hands played over decades. Most people will not play that much therefore rely on being at the right place at the right time. I do agree though that paytables, strategy, and consistency are very important. Last year, my returns failed badly as you probably know from my prior posts. I attribute that to mostly being inconsistent and playing at too high a level for a relatively short period of time playing catch up. The only catch up I achieved was a spot on one of my favorite shirts.
     Edited to add...yes promotions too. The approximately .5 percent given to me in free play should have been a big help last year if I played a little more consistent. While I can't take things like free rooms, food, shows, gas, and gifts from last year to the bank, the value of same strictly from a balance sheet point of review means on paper I about broke out even last year. This year I will not be chasing the 96 or 97 percent games that feature big premium hands with poor paytables. Even though those games represented less than 30 percent of my play, they had a big impact on my bottom line.

[g pop]

it's luck, if you are given a pat hand on the deal its nothing but luck. I play more than I should in the Colorado casinos and I've been dealt Royals and 4 of a kind with the kicker, if you follow Dancer's theory of playing with the odds you can play for a longer amount of time and increase your chances of getting better hands.

[chattycattty]

I guess you agree with me Bob that pay tables, learning strategy, and playing with the proper players card club represents the common sense aspect of video poker and what we have control over. But luck is more important than you think it is.

Success in video poker depends upon exercising common sense and having better than average luck more often than not during a series of sessions. Luck comes into play because none of us sit in front of the same machine 24/7 waiting for the 99.54% pay back or whatever game we are playing to run its course.

Just as some people have better attitudes than others and some people are smarter than others and some people are better looking than others some people are luckier than others. I do not know why it is that way but that is just the way that it is. I guess that is where the phrase I would rather be lucky than good comes from.

[FloridaPhil]

[quote=chattycattty]Success in video poker depends upon exercising common sense and having
better than average luck more often than not during a series of
sessions. Luck comes into play because none of us sit in front of the
same machine 24/7 waiting for the 99.54% pay back or whatever game we
are playing to run its course[/quote]  Very well stated.  

[olds442jetaway]

Agreed! The only thing I would add is that long term for some of us is longer than our lifetimes and many of us will never come close to 99.54....

[EDC1977]

Attitude is very important. I just like the idea that I have a chance at changing the final outcome of most of the hands I play. I'm not 100% accurate but damn near it at the game versions I play. I don't have the memory retention of some of the VP masters here on this site and others but I tend to hold my own. Overall, I'm near the return rate I expect from the games/paytables that are offered me when I enter a casino so I have no complaints. I play recreationally as many do. Enjoy yourself in the house and try not to let the outside world bother your play

[moneypenny55]

I play video poker on videopoker.com to improve my game and try new games before I go to the casino. I love the different choices.
Go PATS!