vpFREE2 Forums

The wisdom of the VP Gods

#1

I sense a defensive attitude on the part of those who are trying to
make their living as video poker gurus. When it is suggested on any
public or private forum that things are changing for the worse, that
the conventional advice may not work any more, it provokes reactions
from the "powers that be" that are excessive and only explained by
the possibility that such subversive thoughts constitute a danger to
said guru's meal ticket. I was flamed by Skippy himself (he called
my posts "rants" and "ravings", among other characterizations) and
subsequent postings on this board have shown that this sort of
behavior by him is characteristic rather than isolated. Why the
paranoia? It's a simple fact that it is MUCH, MUCH harder to play
advantage VP now than it was even a year ago. Attempting to squelch
everyone who points this our may protect the sellers of VP software,
books, etc. for a short time, but the reality of things will
surface, as it always does.
Imagine the bright-eyed neophyte, clutching in one hand his copy
of "The Frugal Gambler" and in the other his laptop loaded with the
latest version of "WinPoker 112.5", bounding off the plane at
McCarran ready to do battle! Except he can't find all those Deuces
Wild machines he kept hearing about. He tracks one down, and plays
for six hours, carefully applying the strategy tables. After the six
hours have passed, he's down $300 and feeling a little peckish. He
summons the slot host with a peremptory air and asks for the
steakhouse comp, and by the way, the free room for the weekend, that
he had been told would be lavished on him for the $5000 action he
has bestowed on the casino, and.....! "I'm sorry, sir, but your play
today doesn't justify a comp at this time. And we MAY be able to
offer you casino rate on your room if you play another few hours.
I'm sorry, that's all I can do." Exit host stage left, leaving Mr.
Newbie with his mouth hanging open. But Jean Scott SAID....!

The people making money from offering VP advice need to inform
everybody that the gravy train is long gone. The only surprise is
that it took so long to leave. Don't expect the casino to slather
you with goodies when their computers tell them that they stand to
LOSE $7 an hour every time you play! Why SHOULD they?

#2

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "mkl54321 <mkl54321@y...>"
<mkl54321@y...> wrote:

Bravo! EXCELLENT! You spoke the truth, spoke it well, and did so with
humor. Well done!

Brad Humelsine

#3

It's a matter of supply and demand. In AC, where the gravy train hasn't even left the station yet, I still get slathered with all sorts of goodies. Of course, the VP selection isn't that good, but it's good enough for the gambling to be a break-even proposition for me.
   I got some decent stuff in Vegas (comped meals, free or reduced room rates and a couple of gifts) on my trip in November, playing only good VP and a little blackjack. I didn't get as much as I would for the same play in AC, but it was something. If I was pounding the Deuces Wild in the same joint four nights a week for months on end, and the computers showed me to be an overall winner, I'm sure it would be a different story.
   The reason that advantage play will survive in some form is that many gamblers know what the good machines are, but don't know how to play them. C'mon how many once-a-year visitors to Vegas buy Win Poker and practice on their laptops for the entire 4-hour plane ride? They may know that 9/6 JB is the best paytable or Deuces Wild the best game, but don't learn to play it. (People happily play AC Joker poker and 6/5 JB in Atlantic City, so many people here aren't even aware of that yet.) I see plenty of players make stupid VP decisions, both in AC and Vegas. The casinos make enough money off these people, that the few of us who know what we're doing can still come out OK. The casinos capitalize on this by having "beat the house" seminars and inviting Bob Dancer to teach classes. They know the facts, the lessons will whet the appetite of many people to come in and play, thinking they can beat the house, without doing the work it takes to get good.
   Yes, I know the days of Jean Scott et al. being comped to suites at the Venetian and endless gourmet meals are ending. True, Bob Dancer and colleagues will have to search harder for plays they can make a living off of. But regular old recreational VP players will probably be able to do OK for several years to come.

Elaine
"mkl54321 <mkl54321@yahoo.com>" <mkl54321@yahoo.com> wrote: snipThe people making money from offering VP advice need to inform
everybody that the gravy train is long gone. The only surprise is
that it took so long to leave. Don't expect the casino to slather
you with goodies when their computers tell them that they stand to
LOSE $7 an hour every time you play! Why SHOULD they?

···

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#4

Don't expect the casino to slather
you with goodies when their computers tell them that they stand to
LOSE $7 an hour every time you play! Why SHOULD they?

I understand the sense of what you're saying, but you seriously
underestimate the amount the casinos expect to collect from players. They
generally assume 5% profit, which of course can be much higher in some
instances. At 500 hands/hr on a quarter machine, you've churned through
$625 in an hour. The casino profit on your play would be about $31. Factor
that out to 20 hours of play and they expect to take an average profit of
$620 from you.

Surely that's worth at least a buffet? ; )

lb