Tampa Update

[olds442jetaway]

Hmmm! Golf....Been there done that too. On the golf team in 8th grade. Wicked slice that could only be partially corrected over the years from this left hander. Rewarding when you get a 2 on a 220 yard par 3 like I did or hit a 285 yard nice drive which in the day was a boomer. But frustrating, Holy Cow! You are headed for an even par round. That in itself is rare. You have 2 holes to go. You know that the last hole is a nice easy par 3. Straight uphill and only 160 yards. The 8th hole is a long par 4 but except for the many sand traps, isn't too bad. You hit the trap on the 8th. Duff your sand wedge and are still in the trap. You over correct and end up in another trap. You get an 8 on the hole. On to the 9th. You drive the green with your 6 Iron. The green is like the rolling floor in a fun house and downhill to boot. You end up 6 putting and get a 7. Bummer! You head for the bar and spend the rest of the afternoon there!

[olds442jetaway]

The wife plays almost exclusively DDB. Nickel games with bad pay tables. Yet every year, percentage wise she ends up losing less than me. She has a steady game usually 3 lines at a quarter a line. More often than not she will get a short streak of low number quads with kickers or pull the Aces. Royals once in awhile. She is smart enough to quit too and head up stairs to read and relax. I play better pay table games, but am all over the place betting nickels, quarters, and dollars. Hit a hand pay and stick with dollars for the rest of the session. You already know the quote....rest of the story.

[FloridaPhil]

The wife plays almost exclusively DDB. Nickel games with bad pay tables. Yet every year, percentage wise she ends up losing less than me.

After 2 million hands or so, I have found the most efficient way to play VP is to play the best game slow, accurate and at the same denomination. Putting that in practice is the challenge. All the minor jackpots between royals don't mean much. They give you a thrill for a day or two, but you end up giving them back. It's the royals that make the difference.

I must be happy with small wins and not panic when I am behind. I also need to stop dreaming of big jackpots. Video poker is a marathon. If you play the game like a 50 yard dash, you make the game much more expensive than it has to be. There is no game switching or denomination juggling strategy that will change that.

[FAA]

I have exactly what you need. Caesars JOB Progressive only does quarter. But it usually eats twenties like rabbits eat lettuce. I get hopping mad and hop over to the dollar section ten yards away. Then the real losing takes over. Even if I could self ban from that area, I'd head upstairs for the lesser tables.

[FloridaPhil]

Most Recreational players play VP for the short term. I understand this as I have been one of these players. We play video poker like a slot. We put money in the machine hoping to hit a big jackpot. If not, we move on to something else. The anticipation of a jackpot is the majority of the entertainment. One out of 10 trips a jackpot happens and the other 9 trips are written up as the cost of the game. We make all kinds of moves in an attempt to "force" a jackpot, like changing games, changing denominations, changing machines, walking out ahead, anything to satisfy us so we can go home happy. Sometimes our plans work for an extended period of time and we think we have the game figured out. Soon or later, the "strategy of the week" quits working putting us back where we started. If this works for you, it's your money do what you want. My experience tells me it's going to be an expensive journey.

After all these years I have come to the conclusion that the best financially beneficial way to play VP is not necessarily the most entertaining. Sitting in front of the same game doing the same thing over and over again for days at a time is boring. I can tell you with confidence that playing the best game in your casino the best mathematical way at the same max coin bet yields the best possible financial result. If that is your goal, do that.

If you increase your denomination, you will have bigger bankroll swings. If you catch a $4,000 royal playing quarters, you will jump for joy. I have done this numerous times. Eventually you will give it back trying for another. If you are on a tight budget, there is nothing wrong with playing single coin for cheap entertainment. If you are going to play single coin, start there and stay there. Bet the smallest possible amount so you can laugh at single coin royals, if you can.

In my opinion, the experts are right. VP is a math exercise plain and simple. The longer you play the more you will see that. If you don't have positive games, you will not profit long term. What you can do is use comps and incentives to limit the cost. If those comps and incentives are good enough, they may turn the game positive. I may not be able to stay on course, but I have the coordinates. We'll see what happens.

[FloridaPhil]

If you catch a $4,000 royal playing quarters, you will jump for joy. I have done this numerous times. Eventually you will give it back trying for another.

I should have said this. If you are playing quarters, switch to dollars mid play and catch a $4,000 royal, you will jump for joy. I have done this numerous times. Eventually you will give it back trying for another.

[onemoretry]

Most Recreational players play VP for the short term. I understand this as I have been one of these players. We play video poker like a slot. We put money in the machine hoping to hit a big jackpot. If not, we move on to something else. The anticipation of a jackpot is the majority of the entertainment. One out of 10 trips a jackpot happens and the other 9 trips are written up as the cost of the game. We make all kinds of moves in an attempt to "force" a jackpot, like changing games, changing denominations, changing machines, walking out ahead, anything to satisfy us so we can go home happy. Sometimes our plans work for an extended period of time and we think we have the game figured out. Soon or later, the "strategy of the week" quits working putting us back where we started.

This would more accurate if you replaced all words such as most, we, our, us, etc., with I, me, my, etc.

[FloridaPhil]

For sure. I'm not on this forum to conduct a class. I'm here to talk about what happens when I play VP. I've tried everything you can think of and some things you may not have. This is where I am now.

I don't care how anyone else plays VP with their own money. I do think if we were free to talk about our ideas openly we would all benefit. It's better to be wrong and open to discussion than to dig in believing you are always right. I have never met anyone that I couldn't learn something from, even it was what not to do.

[Tedlark]

Phil you continue to preach the same tired sermon. You again stated: "I have come to the conclusion that the best finalcially beneficial way to play VP is not the most entertaining."

Please ammend this to say:"I have come to the conclusion that the best financially beneficial way FOR ME to play VP is not the most entertaining.

When you continue to write like you did you must heed OMT's advice and speak only for yourself and not other people because you really can only talk for yourself. Or your wife if your marriage is that strong.

[FloridaPhil]

I have come to the conclusion that the best financially beneficial way FOR ME to play VP is not the most entertaining.