Video Poker/Machine Plays

[Exoter175]

Big respect on a 16 hour vp play exoter, anything over 5 hours on a machine and there's a growing thought in my mind to find the closest gun store and put myself out of my misery. I could probably put in a 10 hour day with a 6% edge but be pretty depressed at the end of it no matter how much I made.

I don't do it often, but the Promotion was so good for what I was given, that I had to milk every minute of every hour out of it to setup multiple facets of my game. Not just the amount of money I made, which I couldn't care less about, but rather the sheer "point" values I had attained, essentially with them "paying" me to play. I'm not sure if I said it in this post or another, but my "machine" plays this year are going to be reigned back a little for more time on BJ, with a strong promotional emphasis on those days taking priority as I attempt to maintain tier levels for "appearance's sake".

Not that VP isn't a solid source of income on certain promotional days, but like you said, it'll make you want to find a way to end your misery. VP is honestly one of the most "hollow" AP moves that I've encountered in my "young" career.

[RS]

Big respect on a 16 hour vp play exoter, anything over 5 hours on a machine and there's a growing thought in my mind to find the closest gun store and put myself out of my misery. I could probably put in a 10 hour day with a 6% edge but be pretty depressed at the end of it no matter how much I made.

I put in an 11 hour play few months ago. It wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be.

[Three]

The game is addictive and kills your spirit. Not a good combo. I try to avoid playing it except when it is a big plus EV like free slot play and promos. Play the free slot play through exactly once and cash out.

[Exoter175]

I put in an 11 hour play few months ago. It wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be.

Were you after a progressive or playing "strategy" as fast as possible for those 11 hours? For me it was an endurance race where I was attempting to be 1st the whole way, but with the knowledge that mental fatigue would set in eventually and I'd have to be prepared to negate it.

The game is addictive and kills your spirit. Not a good combo. I try to avoid playing it except when it is a big plus EV like free slot play and promos. Play the free slot play through exactly once and cash out.

I'd hardly call VP addictive, even with all the W2G's I've signed for it, for me its a soulless game that I loathe, but know that I need to play it conditionally.

[RS]

Were you after a progressive or playing "strategy" as fast as possible for those 11 hours? For me it was an endurance race where I was attempting to be 1st the whole way, but with the knowledge that mental fatigue would set in eventually and I'd have to be prepared to negate it.

Was not playing as fast as possible. I knew the play would take 11 hours coasting at 1000 hands per hour. If I try to push myself to go any faster I start to get really fatigued really quickly.

That's what scares me about playing progressives, especially by myself or with few other seats -- I could be locked in for 20 hours before someone hits a snapper.

[moo321]

I've found different games to be much more or less tolerable. I like Deuces Wild. I generally hate slots. JoB is just ok.

[darco77]

I like Deuces Wild. I generally hate slots. JoB is just ok.

Fully agree on all three, with the Bonus games (BP, DB, DDB) falling somewhere between JoB and DW. The possibility of hitting quad deuces keeps DW interesting, while slots are a yawn fest. One notable exception would be the bonus round featuring the large breasted blonde hoisting a couple of beer steins!

[Exoter175]

Was not playing as fast as possible. I knew the play would take 11 hours coasting at 1000 hands per hour. If I try to push myself to go any faster I start to get really fatigued really quickly.

That's what scares me about playing progressives, especially by myself or with few other seats -- I could be locked in for 20 hours before someone hits a snapper.

Yeah, in my case it was about speed during that 16 hour stint. the faster I played (with complete accuracy) the more I would reap from the benefits of the promotion.

I've found different games to be much more or less tolerable. I like Deuces Wild. I generally hate slots. JoB is just ok.

I prefer JoB, DW isn't bad, not a real fan of any of it, but I do have a slight preference for and against a few of them. Slots I can do all day if there's an actual advantage to be had and I can play on a day with a promotion well enough to mitigate the negative variance that runs rampant in Slots.

Fully agree on all three, with the Bonus games (BP, DB, DDB) falling somewhere between JoB and DW. The possibility of hitting quad deuces keeps DW interesting, while slots are a yawn fest. One notable exception would be the bonus round featuring the large breasted blonde hoisting a couple of beer steins!

I know exactly what you mean about that buxom blonde girl. The other night, while forcing myself to play that machine, I managed to get 40x with 4 locked straight across. It was quite the spin :P

[muffdiver]

Fully agree on all three, with the Bonus games (BP, DB, DDB) falling somewhere between JoB and DW. The possibility of hitting quad deuces keeps DW interesting, while slots are a yawn fest. One notable exception would be the bonus round featuring the large breasted blonde hoisting a couple of beer steins!

In MN (mainly Grand Casino at Hinckley) the most popular vp game is One Eyed Jacks. It's the only vp game variation where "suits" matter and that makes the game strategy the most difficult of any. The pay tables used make it slightly over a 100% game with PP (perfect play) but it appears that very few are adept at using PP. When using PP, boredom is avoided in this game for the few times each year that I play it and I consider it a fun challenge.

muffdiver

[tiny]

The highest edges that you're going to find on VP and machine play are going to be free play, rebates, and promotions. Learning what casinos give generous free play, what you need to play to get it, and what you need to do to maintain it is largely trial and error so you're probably going to spend your first few months experimenting. Networking definitely helps but not many people are going to be willing to share high edge plays or very vulnerable promotions. Progressives, promotions, and rebates are mainly found through scouting the casinos.

You can find 100%+ games but they're typically in lower denominations so it may not be worth your time. Same goes for multiplier days. It's an edge but there are more lucrative ways to beat VP.

[21forme]

You can find 100%+ games but they're typically in lower denominations so it may not be worth your time

Speaking of time, most 100+% VP machines are dialed down to the slowest play setting.

[Three]

Speaking of time, most 100+% VP machines are dialed down to the slowest play setting.

Can't you tell by looking at the pay table?

[mcallister3200]

Can't you tell by looking at the pay table?

huh? He's referring to how fast you can play, not a paytable. Like sometimes you can set the speed at one of three speeds yourself, on the slow setting each cards comes up slowly/seperately. Some machines you don't have a choice, the machine is set at a slow speed, even on a -ev full pay machine like the 9/6 JoB at Four Queens. Doesn't matter how fast you play you aren't getting more than about 600 hands an hour on it. Sometimes you can get a tech to adjust the speed, but they might have to ask the slot supervisor and the whole ordeal takes 5-10 minutes plus potentially earmarks you as at least having a functioning brain.