vpFREE2 Forums

Optimum use of free play

#1

> As Harry said, it makes the most sense to play a game that is
> similar to the level you normally play.
>
> --Dunbar

···

*****
What confuses me is that a significant number of VP players treat these
free-play opportunities differently than cold hard cash. I don't get it.

Sure, sometimes there are restrictions that a casino can put on free-play
usage, like the good VP. At the Aquarius in Laughlin you counldn't load it on a
progressive for some reason. Some joints still have old Bally or Sigma games,
like the Pioneer, that you can't do free-play on.

So why do players take pot-shots with free-play?

Bluestreak<BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> See what's new at
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#2

GRAYTLEEGRAY wrote:

What confuses me is that a significant number of VP players treat
these free-play opportunities differently than cold hard cash. I
don't get it.

So why do players take pot-shots with free-play?

I would presume that in being unable to cash out the Free Play without
limitation, such a player doesn't feel that treating it as part of
their bankroll is warranted ... until such time as they do cash it out.

Until then, it's "casino money" and not subject to their own bankroll
constraints in deciding how to wager it.

- H.

#3

<<GRAYTLEEGRAY wrote:

What confuses me is that a significant number of VP players treat
these free-play opportunities differently than cold hard cash. I
don't get it.

So why do players take pot-shots with free-play?>>

It takes more discipline than many player have to play it through only once. We make it a habit to play Free Play through more than once ONLY if the rest of our play after the first run-through is a "good" play. In some cases, we are going to play more anyway because we need the points to reach some weekly, monthly, or quarterly goal. But in many cases, after the first run-through, the play would have a very low EV, below our standards of a "good" play.

We get around $5000 a month in Free Play. We don't consider that the "casino's money." Once it is in our mailbox, it is our money and we don't consider it something we can waste on low EV plays. During the first play-through, the casino does have some control over that money and we are bound by some of their constraints, i.e., the best games offered.

Once you finish playing it through once, however, you do not have to let the casino decide what to do then. Don't fool yourself; it is now your money and it becomes a part of your bankroll. If you play it carefully, just as you do any part of your bankroll, you will have better long-term results.

···

________________
Jean $�ott
The new " FRUGAL VIDEO POKER
SCOUTING GUIDE" and other frugal
products are available at my Web site,
http://queenofcomps.com/.

#4

Thank you for the many thoughtful and thought-provoking responses.
It's very interesting to learn that $1 9-5 JOB is a viable choice. I
had expected most of you to steer me away from it. It's
counterintuitive to me, but I'm willing to put my faith in the "Dunbar
Analyzer" and the wisdom and experience of this group. So, I'll go
with $1 9-5 or $5 9-6 (or a mixture of the two).

Again, thanks. Very helpful.

Pat Roach

#5

What confuses me is that a significant number of VP players treat these
free-play opportunities differently than cold hard cash. I don't get it.

Some strange conclusions are made when free play isn't separated from
the results of the machines on which it's made.

Sure, sometimes there are restrictions that a casino can put on free-play
usage, like the good VP. At the Aquarius in Laughlin you counldn't load it on a
progressive for some reason. Some joints still have old Bally or Sigma games,
like the Pioneer, that you can't do free-play on.

So why do players take pot-shots with free-play?

I find I do just the opposite. I play a lower denomination with
higher percent value than I normally would. At Stations, for example,
I play 25¢ deuces instead of $1 10/7, whereas normally, I prefer a $1
play that's .6% worse than a 25¢ play. I never play much more than
the mnimum, though, on those machines, so maybe the shortness of the
play is why I do it.

#6

<<GRAYTLEEGRAY wrote:
> What confuses me is that a significant number of VP players treat
> these free-play opportunities differently than cold hard cash. I
> don't get it.
>
> So why do players take pot-shots with free-play?>>

It takes more discipline than many player have to play it through

only once.

We make it a habit to play Free Play through more than once ONLY if

the rest

of our play after the first run-through is a "good" play. In some

cases, we

are going to play more anyway because we need the points to reach

some

weekly, monthly, or quarterly goal. But in many cases, after the

first

run-through, the play would have a very low EV, below our standards

of a

"good" play.

We get around $5000 a month in Free Play. We don't consider that

the

"casino's money." Once it is in our mailbox, it is our money and

we don't

consider it something we can waste on low EV plays. >
________________
Jean $¢ott
The new " FRUGAL VIDEO POKER
SCOUTING GUIDE" and other frugal
products are available at my Web site,
http://queenofcomps.com/.

I agree with both posters here. Similarly I don't consider free play
as cold hard cash because it is not. It is as stated free play. Now
its actual worth in dollars is theoretical and subjugated to the
winds of variance.

For example the EV of $1000 in free play if played in, lets say, a
FPDW game is exactly $1007.5 in the hands of an expert FPDW player.
So that being said it is worth more than $1000 in the hands of such a
person.(Setting aside all the benefits and costs that might be
accrued through the free plays execution)

However the Free Play option is not in most cases exchangeable for
$1000 worth of goods on the open market or cash. So this lack of
convertibility and increased volatility effects the premium for which
the $1000 free play option might be traded.

Free play options are and should be treated as a one time injection
of capital into your bankroll. However the options worth is slightly
less than face value because of the writers constraints placed upon
it. If one plays it through once or 50 times is somewhat irrelevant
to this discussion.

That being said if the over all situation in which the Free Play
option is executed is and will continue to be as good as or better
than the situation preceding or following it then it should be
played through again and again .( all other factors being equal)
  
That is unless the proceeds from Free Play options are earmarked as
some sort of windfall profits taking as a result of arbitrage then of
course those options should be executed and proceeds taken and
distributed as such
.

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--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "Jean Scott" <queenofcomps@...> wrote:

#7

Thank you for the many thoughtful and thought-provoking responses.
It's very interesting to learn that $1 9-5 JOB is a viable choice.

I

had expected most of you to steer me away from it. It's
counterintuitive to me, but I'm willing to put my faith in

the "Dunbar

Analyzer" and the wisdom and experience of this group. So, I'll go
with $1 9-5 or $5 9-6 (or a mixture of the two).

Again, thanks. Very helpful.

Pat Roach

All things being equal I am a bit more willing to accept higher
variance but not lower expectancy when engaging in the exicution of
freeplay Option.(freerolling) that being said depending on the
circumstances I would almost certainly go for the $5 9-6

That being said I often refuse to exicute small free play options as
the real cost is too high. Similarly I always refuse to persue large
freeplay options where the premiums are too high to be offset by the
arbitarage possible through the options exicution. (ie engage in
a "bad play" just to get a large freeplay option which can only be
exicuted in a "bad play" situation.) as often times the resulting
arbitrage doesnt cover the real cost of the overall play or doesnt
fit my Risk to Profit criteria

I'll leave it to you to dream up an example.

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--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "aprvp78748" <roaches@...> wrote: