Ok, ok. Calm down everyone. 
Curtis, thanks for the congrats!! In spite of having won my little jackpots
on less than optimum play machines, I was still pretty happy, myself!! I¹m
certainly happy for anyone who hits any kind of good anything on any
machine, no matter what paytable it has.
Bob, I certainly know what you¹re saying, though. I take no offence to your
chiding, which I¹m sure is made in the spirit of ³we should all make the
best of the best paying machines out there and make as much money as
possible.² I agree, and I do play the Optimum Play machines that can be
found at many of the Station Casinos around town.
The thing is, and maybe I¹ll be lynched here for saying it, is that all the
³full pay², single hand machines can get a little monotonous after awhile.
...as can always playing the same games over and over again. Yes, this is a
great strategy for someone who¹s got the goal of making money (or a living)
playing VP, or simply making the mathematical best of their coin-in. But,
as horrible as it may sound, every now and then, a guy¹s just gotta have a
little fun.
That¹s why I was playing the 3/5-Play ³terrible² machines. Sure, it¹s not
mathematically the best payoff...but I¹m willing to give a little back to
the casinos from time to time to have a little more fun trying my
non-mathematical luck hitting the special quads, etc., on some short pay
games. And, thanks to the advice and resources of people like Bob, I still
look for the ³better² of the ³bad² paytables when I get bored with the
Optimums.
(For what it¹s worth, I did check the LV Directory for such machines with
better paytables at the 25 cent level and couldn¹t find anything very
interesting at the places I normally play.)
So, forgive me for my sins, oh! VP gods!! For I have won a few $1000 by
trying my luck. 
Hehe.
BTW, I was at Red Rock again yesterday playing what I shall forever now
refer to as ³The Terribles², and I hit another 4 Aces with the 4 kicker for
another $1000, along with a less significant 4 Deuces at the 25 cent level
for a little $250 boost. A little while later, I hit another 4 Aces with a
2 kicker...unfortunately, I had switched to playing Deuces. 
At the end
of the day, I left with another $800 or so of net winnings to add to this
past weekend!
So, thanks everyone for the congrats and the sage advice. I do appreciate
them both. And for those of you who like real math, do as I say (and Bob
says), and not as I do. 
Cheers,
soundmessage
···
From: Curtis Rich <LGTVegas@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <vpFREE@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2007 23:42:27 -0700
To: <vpFREE@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: [vpFREE] latest pictures
Congratulations, soundmessage! Sometimes, when the full pay machines
are not hitting, you gotta play something else. And, it's sweet when they
hit!
Bab Dancer must be feeling pretty good about himself for trying to
intentionally
embarrass a fellow vpFREEer. He must have had a bad day today. Why else
would he post such a mean spirited comment? I cannot think of any reason
for Bob to post that message - other than to make him feel good about
himself.
On 6/18/07, Bob Dancer <bob.dancer@compdance.com <mailto:bob.dancer%40compdance.com> > wrote:
Nathan wrote: I took the picture whilst the win meter was still going
up.
Simple explanation for something that fooled some experienced
players, including me. Those of us who play bigger stakes are used to
the 4,000 credits showing up all at once as the machines lock up.
Aren't you embarrassed, though, at showing people that you
actually play 9/6/5 DB and 7/5 Bonus (and 9/5 TDB if that is your
jackpot as well)? These are all terrible games and you can find better
at both of the casinos you scored at.
Bob Dancer
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