Here are Bob Dancer's comments (originally posted on
WinPoker) about why casinos sponsor his VP classes:
1. The classes are the best I can make them. My
instructions are to say a few nice things about the casino and tell the
truth about the games. My first class each evening covers Level 2
Recreational, according to the Dancer / Daily naming convention and the
second class covers Level 3 Basic. The class notes are very similar to
what is found on Dancer / Daily strategy cards or Winner's Guides.
2. Virtually nobody can learn video poker from one
class, although many people find a refresher course useful. To get
good, you need to use a strategy and WinPoker (or substitute) until
you have the strategy mastered. Players who use the classes as a
starting point, and go home and practice, can get quite good. Probably
somewhere less than 5% of the people who attend my classes do this.
Most players find practicing not much fun.
3. Many students find classes helpful in learning the
basics. Having a simplified strategy, and having it explained why on a
hand like Kc Qc 3h 4h 5h, holding the hearts is the better play (in
essentially every game with a 4,000-coin royal), gets them over their
fear of playing the game. These players will go away happy to play at,
perhaps, a 98% level. This is a better bet for them than a slot
machine. And the casino isn't afraid of these people.
4. Being known as a casino that offers Bob Dancer
classes is good advertisement for a casino. It is obvious that, at
minimum, there must be teachable games. I only teach at casinos that
have better-than-average games for their area. It's not always over
100% (i.e. I teach 9/6 Jacks at the Borgata), but the casino must offer
a better opportunity than their neighbors. At the Fiesta I teach FPDW,
10/7 DB, KBJW, 10/6 DDB which are all over 100%, and NSU DW, 9/6 Jacks,
9/7 Triple Double Bonus, Triple Deuces, 9/4/4 Deuces Bonus Poker, 9/6
Jacks Multi Strike, and NSU Multi Strike (which are all 99.45% or
higher). How many casinos in the country do you know with those games?
To be sure, 95% of the games at Fiesta ARE NOT these pay schedules, but
most people will find some of these games available every time they go
there.
5. Even though I tell the players EXACTLY where to
find the right machines, after class I'll see some of the students
playing 9-line slots. They wouldn't have been at the casino except for
the classes. And the player feels better about himself, even though he
doesn't follow the rules all of the time. Also, sometimes one member of
a marriage wants to go the class while the other plays Keno or
something during class. The casino doesn't mind this a bit.
6. I recommend that players play like robots ---
following the strategy rules EVERY time. Not one player in ten is
willing to totally do away with their hunches.
7. Most of the players who attend the classes play
some in the casino while they are there --- even though they don't have
the games mastered. This is incremental play the casino would not
otherwise get. And it's profitable play.
8. Video poker is applied math --- or perhaps applied
logic. Winning players tend to be much more intelligent than average.
Most players who TRY to learn video poker will NOT be a net winner.
Wannabe winners are a highly profitable segment of players to casinos.
9. Many players have a gambling budget. If, after
class, it takes them twice as long to lose their "normal" amount of
money, the player is happy with the result, and the casino doesn't
mind.
10. Players CAN learn from the classes. MOST don't make
the extra effort required.
Bob Dancer
Please note that my new email address is bobdancer@cox.net
For the best of video poker products and a schedule of Bob's free
classes, visit <http://www.bobdancer.com/> www.bobdancer.com