LUCK VS. STRATEGY

[Lucky Larry]

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.



I found in the past I often got into a rhythm of play. If my play is not in the right timing sequence I alter my timing by using several strategies:
Changing whether I hit the deal or another button, tap the screen instead
Changing the number of hands
Rotating through the number of credits 1-5 before I hit deal,
Changing speed or on/off turbo.
Taking a break or finally changing machines.

I don't believe there is any scientific method to the madness but it doesn't hurt.

[chattycattty]

I also think rhythm and attitude are extremely important. As well as being able to focus and concentrate and eliminate distractions. All of this goes into timing and is just as effective when you play regular slots. Doesn't seem like in a logical sense any of it would make any difference but it does seem to help improve your chances.

[olds442jetaway]

Anyone ever see another patron squeeze into a spot right next to someone on a hot roll on a craps table, a waitress come up and ask the shooter if he wants a drink, or if the dice fly off the table and the shooter doesn't call same dice or the house delays play in some other manner, the next roll is almost always a guaranteed 7 out.
    Many many years ago at Foxwoods, I had a once in a lifetime 55 minute roll. They tried all of the above on me including changing the stick several times. I just kept my head down and kept making numbers not talking to anyone.
     Well, we all know there is always the straw that broke the Camel's back. The house finally found two really attractive gals somewhere with extremely low cut tops on and moved them down to the far end of the table where my dice would usually land. They had them throw their money onto the table for a chip buy in just as the dice left my hand. One die stopped dead on one of their bills and was a 6. The other proceeded to roll down to the end and bounce off the wall and was a 1 ending my roll. The entire table was in an uproar, but when we finally stopped screaming, yelling and almost lifting up the table and tipping it over, the girls were gone and were never seen again in the casino.

[VPJC]

I'd rather be lucky than good. How often have you heard this expression or used it yourself. Being good is great and wonderful for your self esteem. Being lucky is heavenly.

[Minn. Fatz]

"If you're good and lucky you can't do anything wrong." -- Julie Krone

The point of being, or getting, good at VP is that you are going to be losing in between the times you hit a premium hand. Being better means you will lose less during those dry spells and therefore gives you a better chance of being +EV overall. The big hands come when the big hands come, statistically at a certain rate, but there's bunches of variance, negative as much if not more than positive.

[Sheppard]

There's definitely something to this luck thing. I play with a friend who's unbelievably lucky. We switch machines that have been hot for her and she immediately hits a Royal. Happens at all different casinos, too. I think there's something in her fingers...