Ferrari or Prius?

[FloridaPhil]

I think the kind of cars a person drives tells a lot about their personality.  Some people like dependable, economic transportation.  They don't want surprises and they sure don't want expensive upkeep.  Other people want a car that gives them a thrill just to sit in it.  They want their cars noisy, exciting and they want something to happen when they hit the gas. In my life I've been poor at times and I've been rich, but I always wanted to drive an exciting car even if it was an old junker with a hot rod motor.What does this have to do with video poker?   I think it explains why there are so many differences in the way we play VP.  There is no doubt that playing only the best games, slow, accurately and at the same steady denomination is the most profitable way to play VP.   My wife plays this way all the time.  She never varies her strategy and her cost to play is extremely low.  Unless you have full pay games available to you, I doubt many amateur players on this forum could best her results.When I go to the casino, I want an entirely different experience.  I try playing her way, but sooner or later I become bored and start to play the way I really enjoy.  I don't go to the casino to make a profit.  I go to the casino because I like to win $1,000 or greater jackpots.  Winning $250 doesn't do anything for me.  I also don't like losing thousands of dollars a day. My favorite way to play VP is to take small pot shots on big machines.   I limit my play to $20 a pot shot.  My best results have been on slots or $5 deuces wild.  I'm thinking about trying $10 machines in the near future.  I set $100 increment cash out limits and only play max coins with the casino's money.   With $300 I will get at least 15 of these $20 shots.  A good number of those $20 will turn into $100 or more.  At $25 a hand, even a small win can pay big.  To play this way takes a lot of discipline.  It's easy to get sucked into thoughts of casino riches and start hitting the ATM.  I stick to my budget and keep the small wins.  I don't concern myself with big wins, they take care of themselves.Many members of this forum are confused when I say I play a lot of single coin quarter VP.  Playing single coin quarters is by far the cheapest way to play negative VP games.  I do this as a way to tread water between pot shots.  Hitting a $62.50 royal doesn't bother me because I'm waiting for something better to happen.Do I do better than my wife who has the same daily bankroll?  Sometimes.  Her ride is slow and steady.  My casino ride is bumpy and exciting.  She plays along with a $30-$100 a day loss, hits a brace of quad deuces or a royal and she's back in business.  I lose my pot shot money often, then jump way ahead of her on a big win.  That's what I am playing for.I could switch to $5 or $10 machines and experience them all the time.  Gambling involves risk.  I like risking $300 much better than $30,000.  Enough said.   I am not encouraging anyone to play like I do.  Unless enjoying the thrill of a big win is more important to you than losing a few hundred dollars, don't do it.   What's lost is lost.  Don't ever think the game owes you anything.  "The math says it's due to hit!" is a fools motto.If obtaining the best financial return is your motivation, play like my wife.  My cars are expensive and they break down often.  They can also burn the tires off and will scare the heck out of you in high gear.  It's your money...

[FAA]

I have full pay and still can't beat her. Not with a $100 BR. If I double it, it's a banner day. Next step is $200 BR and play JOB with some real abandon. Cold machines usually stay cold. Lose $20 and cut bait. Harder to do than say.

[FloridaPhil]

My wife's daily bankroll is $300.  Playing max coin quarter deuces wild, it is a very rare occurrence for her to lose more than that even on a long trip.   She doesn't move machines much.  She stays with the same game no matter what happens.  If she's having a bad day, she goes shopping.   She also plays very slow and double checks every hand.  It's painful to watch, but it works.Here's the interesting part.   My free play and comps are nearly triple hers.  I guess the casino knows I'll pay them more than her and they are right most days.  Every now and then they pay me back, but it doesn't seem to matter.  I doubt any APs are living off my losses, but if it makes them feel better to think so it's fine with me.

[FAA]

I'm a double checker also, mostly on dollar play. It helps to stretch out the day. Hell, this is futile. Without a $300 BR I won't win much. At $100, bust is right around the corner.

[FloridaPhil]

I believe there are lots of players who enjoy the excitement of VP pot shots versus the consistency of level play.  We may not admit it openly, but everyone takes a shot once in a while.   The casino is selling dreams and my dreams are not made out of playing all day for a $250 quad deuce.  If someone can ever prove to me how any strategy can force the cards to produce jackpots, I may change my mind.  Until then, I'll keep doing what I do.

[OTABILL]

We drive a Prius C while our VP go to games, before we stopped playing because of the smoke, have been max coin DDB and occasionally TDB.

[FloridaPhil]

Smoke is a real problem in casinos.  Thankfully, the Tampa Hard Rock just put in a huge new non smoking casino adjacent to the regular casino.  Hopefully this catches on around the country.   My wife would never go to Tampa with me because of the smoke.  Now she wants to go every week.I have driven and raced some of the fastest street cars ever made.  I still own a few of them.  I keep one car just to drive back and forth to the casino.  It's a Honda Civic with a turbo motor.  

[billryan]

I could have sworn someone promised, yet again, to stop talking about this nonsense.

[FloridaPhil]

You have been misinformed.  We agreed not to talk about it on the Strategy Forum.  One person's strategy is another persons nonsense.  This works both ways.  I have the luxury of playing VP any way I wish.  I choose to play the way that provides me with the most fun for my money.  This gives me the opportunity to try things other people wouldn't consider.  That's what the Recreational Forum is about.I like the way I play and am not afraid to tell people what works for me.   I've tried playing VP by the math and I find it boring and costly.  My wife disagrees, but she understands our differences and doesn't try to tell me how to play.  My suggestion is, if you don't like what I post on this forum don't read it.