I Cannot Afford to Have a Favorite Game

[BobDancer]

Post unable to migrate

[billryan]

So what is your price point to play a game you enjoy more?
For example, if Quick Quads is worth 100% of X an hour but Double Bonus is worth is 100.5% of X, is it ever Quick Quads.
Are you willing to sacrifice any EV to play a more enjoyable game?

[Vman96]

So what is your price point to play a game you enjoy more?
For example, if Quick Quads is worth 100% of X an hour but Double Bonus is worth is 100.5% of X, is it ever Quick Quads.
Are you willing to sacrifice any EV to play a more enjoyable game?

I will to a small extent. Or if they are close, I will lean to the lower variance game because even though I love VP, I'm fairly risk adverse.

I casino hop a lot though, so I get a wide variety of games in my diet anyway, and I think that's part of the fun!

The attitude that Bob argues against though is why if I ran a casino, DDB would NEVER be my best paying game.   

[BobDancer]

The attitude that Bob argues against though is why if I ran a casino, DDB would NEVER be my best paying game.    That's simply smart a business move.DDB players, as a group --- definitely with some exceptions, care less about pay schedules than other video poker players. If you look back at pictures of jackpots on this site that were posted playing games tighter than 97% and you'll see it's 8-5 DDB (at 96.8%). Those machines get just as many royals and AWAK as the better games --- and people proudly post pictures of them. And as long they are willing to play such bad games, casinos will give the the opportunity.

[BobDancer]

So what is your price point to play a game you enjoy more?
For example, if Quick Quads is worth 100% of X an hour but Double Bonus is worth is 100.5% of X, is it ever Quick Quads.
Are you willing to sacrifice any EV to play a more enjoyable game?Yes, sometimes, but I can't put a precise number on it.A half percent difference would be huge. When you're playing $10 single line, say $40,000 coin-in per hour, a half percent difference would be $200 per hour. That would be a lot to give up "for fun."Often the numbers are pretty rough estimates --- such as I know I'm going to get a nice mailer from a particular play, but I don't know if it will be $100 or $1,000. So pinning down your hourly is a guess. Same with drawings. I've been in a lot of those (and never in a raffle --- I've never heard of those in casinos but you used to hear a lot about then on this site). It's always a guess as to how many tickets are in the drum. Finally, there's also the "Happy wife --- happy life" factor. Sometimes we make decisions based on Bonnie preferring one set of comps or gifts to another. I can't put a number on it percentage-wise, but if it's not too far upside-down, we'll do it according to her preferences. If I put up a counter-argument, she'll usually back down because she doesn't really understand the math of video poker and she'll take my word on the EV. But I generally don't make such a counter-argument because keeping her happy has real value to me and chasing EV is a goal, but not an all-consuming one.

[billryan]

Got it. Thanks.

[DAAnMAAn]

What if one substituted the word "favorite" for the word "strongest" game? Let's say a player knows how to play nsud deuces inside and out, but next to the game is a full pay double bonus poker game that the player knows... but not inside out, same points/comps. What is the better choice for that player?

[BobDancer]

What if one substituted the word "favorite" for the word "strongest" game? Let's say a player knows how to play nsud deuces inside and out, but next to the game is a full pay double bonus poker game that the player knows... but not inside out, same points/comps. What is the better choice for that player?
Your skill level is certainly a consideration --- and Video Poker for Winners gives you an estimate for how accurately you play.If you play at, say, 99.3% accuracy on a 100.17% game, multiplying those two numbers together gives you an effective rate of 99.47%. In you play NSU at 99.8%, them multiplying 99.728% times .998 gives you an effective rate of 99.53%, which would be higher in this particular case (although close enough for practical reasons --- given these are just estimates of your error rate based on a few thousand hands).Either game could be better depending on your actual error rate. Using your error rate in your calculations is smart play.

[Raner]

I don't seem to fall in any player category...
When I go to a casino, I'm there for one thing and one thing only, To try to beat the casino.
Over the years, I've managed to stay ahead as far as my winnings go.
I can honestley say, I'm ahead around 20 to 25 grand, I don't keep records but that is a honest number.
This is my situation.
I live in Texas so I have to travel 1400 miles to get to Vegas (Each Way).
Allegiant air is the only carrier that has good deals. But I have to drive 120 miles to get to
the departing flight airport.
When I go to vegas I play at Station Properties, My favorites are Green Valley Ranch and Red Rock, I also like Boulder Station.
When I go I book the flight and then I just contact my host to book when and how many days I need.
The reason I only go 2 to 4 times a year is because to get to Vegas is a pain in the Butt.
So for me the normal perks don't apply because I can't take advantage of them.
The only thing I can take advantage off are comped room and meals which I always get.
I play dollar single line video poker.
My games are 8/5 BP and 10/6 DDB...( I can play 100% correct strategy on both game versions,
But because of pilot error will use 99%)... (I always play Max Credits)
I play an average of 36 hours on a 3 day stay. (Between 600 to 700 hands an hour)
Here are the VP versions available at Green Valley Ranch (Red Rock and Boulder Station are the same)
So here is my question to you all.
What would be the two best versions of VP that I should be playing in my situation...
Oh, one more thing, If you know of a casino that better fits my situation please let me know... Thanks...

[buffalochips]

Maybe want to consider drive-able Boyd or CET properties in Shreveport/NOLA in between sister property trips to Vegas....But beware that most Gulf area casinos "exclude videopoker" from special point days....and have poor paytables....