vpFREE2 Forums

VP Button Pounding

#1

One subject I have not seen addressed (though as a fairly new member
I may have missed it) is why some players literally beat up on their
machines. I am not referring to a firm hold, so that a key card is
not whiffed away, but an actual very hard slap or pound on the
buttons. Sometimes I think that the player is furious at the
machine (or him/herself for playing). This is not a gender
issue...both male & female players indulge in this behavior. I find
this habit to be both mildly annoying and distracting when it occurs
in the seat next to mine, and generally move to a different machine
if ir it really gets on my nerves. I have never asked a player who
was doing the pounding, why they did this (mostly to avoid a
possible confrontation) but I am curious about it. Does anyone on
this forum do this, or know why others do? Again, I am NOT
referring to firmly holding cards before discarding.

Thanks, Babe

#2

This past Saturday I witnessed a guy that would pound the "deal"
button as rapidly and forcefully as he could BETWEEN hands. As soon
as the cards started to deal, he'd start pounding the button all
throughout the deal, and payout. These were very slow-dealing
machines, so he was making a LOT of noise. Several people cashed out
after he sat down; it was extremely distracting. No idea why he was
doing it, although my guess would be that he felt the machine would
pay him more if he was pounding on it.

There is a lot more to this story -- I posted it in the New England
forum if anyone is interested.

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

One subject I have not seen addressed (though as a fairly new

member

I may have missed it) is why some players literally beat up on

their

machines. I am not referring to a firm hold, so that a key card is
not whiffed away, but an actual very hard slap or pound on the
buttons. Sometimes I think that the player is furious at the
machine (or him/herself for playing). This is not a gender
issue...both male & female players indulge in this behavior. I

find

this habit to be both mildly annoying and distracting when it

occurs

···

in the seat next to mine, and generally move to a different machine
if ir it really gets on my nerves. I have never asked a player who
was doing the pounding, why they did this (mostly to avoid a
possible confrontation) but I am curious about it. Does anyone on
this forum do this, or know why others do? Again, I am NOT
referring to firmly holding cards before discarding.

Thanks, Babe

#3

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

One subject I have not seen addressed (though as a fairly new

member

I may have missed it) is why some players literally beat up on

their

machines. Does anyone on
this forum do this, or know why others do? Again, I am NOT
referring to firmly holding cards before discarding.

Well, if in this person's experience, this is the best way to get
results out of PEOPLE......

I may have mentioned in the past, the machine has defensive programs
installed, such as the "screen saver" program. This comes up when
you just miss a big hand, such as holding the AKQ10 of spades and
drawing the Jack...of clubs. I've noticed that very often, the next
hand is a moderate win, like a full house at DB or a straight flush
at DW. The conclusion I draw is that this is meant to cool the
player's anger at missing the previous big hand, and thus dissuading
him from possibly bashing in the screen in anger. Thus arose the
term, "screen saver" hand....

#4

One subject I have not seen addressed (though as a fairly new

member

I may have missed it) is why some players literally beat up on

their

machines. I am not referring to a firm hold, so that a key card is
not whiffed away, but an actual very hard slap or pound on the
buttons. Sometimes I think that the player is furious at the
machine (or him/herself for playing).

I know that Blackjack and other table games players will often slap
the table and/or shout louder than is really necessary. I suppose it
adds some excitement and makes the game interesting. Because video
poker involves some skill, I prefer to think of it more like a "table
game" rather than a slot machine. Perhaps, for these players,
pounding the buttons brings back some table game excitement.
On another matter: I understand if players don't want, or are unable
to play full-pay VP machines. However, for your own sake if you're
playing a lower paying VP, then:
1. Use a strategy chart (don't make the house edge bigger...BTW, you
do NOT have video poker strategy memorized)
2. Don't play as fast as possible (wait a few seconds between hands!)
3. Don't act like a jerk (Blackjack players aren't the only ones who
criticize "wrong" players and blow smoke in others' faces...also,
don't tell others that they're playing the "wrong" machine because
not everyone loves Double Double Bonus)
Replies appreciated.

#5

the "screen saver" program. This comes up when
you just miss a big hand, such as holding the AKQ10 of spades and
drawing the Jack...of clubs. I've noticed that very often, the next
hand is a moderate win, like a full house at DB or a straight flush
at DW. The conclusion I draw is that this is meant to cool the
player's anger at missing the previous big hand

Sorry, but your assumption is incorrect. VP machines are random. What
happened on the previous hand has NO BEARING WHATSOEVER on what will
happen on the current hand.

#6

I think this is learned behavior from playing in SLOT tournaments,
where pounding the buttons fast & repeatedly (mindlessly) gets you
one or two more spins.

Two good things about the "pounders": (well, relatively good)

1- they are probably not playing proper strategy, as they play VP
like they play slots (mindlessly). therefore, they're feeding the
casino's coffers for us 'better' players

2- they can't keep pounding for very long, their wrist/hand/arm will
get tired. so, maybe they scare off the players on nearby machines,
so when you come back in half an hour, pounder is gone and you have
your choice of machines.

The folks I have noticed are the type of people that do everything
dramatically. They act like they are actors on a stage, they expect
to be Noticed by everyone around them, so they give us a show. I give
them zero attention, sometimes they wither without "applause".

~MARK

--- babe wrote:

···

<snipped:>
why some players literally beat up on their machines.
an actual very hard slap or pound on the buttons

#7

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "rockofjello333"
<rockofjello333@y...> wrote:

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "jackessiebabe"

<jackessiebabe@y...>

···

wrote:
>
> One subject I have not seen addressed (though as a fairly new
member
> I may have missed it) is why some players literally beat up on
their
> machines. Does anyone on
> this forum do this, or know why others do? Again, I am NOT
> referring to firmly holding cards before discarding.

Well, if in this person's experience, this is the best way to get
results out of PEOPLE......

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If that is the case, I thank goodness that he/she

has a colorful computer, with interesting graphics, to pound lumps
on.....although, as my husband has often mentioned, people heal,
computers require EXPENSIVE repairs!

I may have mentioned in the past, the machine has defensive

programs

installed, such as the "screen saver" program. This comes up when
you just miss a big hand, such as holding the AKQ10 of spades and
drawing the Jack...of clubs.

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>That's better then
  the…4 of clubs. I think???

I've noticed that very often, the next

hand is a moderate win, like a full house at DB or a straight

flush

at DW. The conclusion I draw is that this is meant to cool the
player's anger at missing the previous big hand, and thus

dissuading

him from possibly bashing in the screen in anger. Thus arose the
term, "screen saver" hand....

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I said it before, and I'll say it again, Rock, you have

a great sense of humor. Have you thought of a career in comedy,
either literary or on the stage? ........Or maybe I just have the
kind of sense of humor that appreciates yours.

May you not have the urge to smash the screen, due to near misses!

                      Babe

#8

> the "screen saver" program. This comes up when
> you just miss a big hand, such as holding the AKQ10 of spades

and

> drawing the Jack...of clubs. I've noticed that very often, the

next

> hand is a moderate win, like a full house at DB or a straight

flush

> at DW. The conclusion I draw is that this is meant to cool the
> player's anger at missing the previous big hand

Sorry, but your assumption is incorrect. VP machines are random.

What

happened on the previous hand has NO BEARING WHATSOEVER on what

will

···

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

happen on the current hand.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Uh, Oh Rock, I guess NOT EVERYBODY understands

your humor! Be thankful there are other sick puppies like me.
                   Babe

#9

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

I think this is learned behavior from playing in SLOT tournaments,
where pounding the buttons fast & repeatedly (mindlessly) gets you
one or two more spins.

Two good things about the "pounders": (well, relatively good)

1- they are probably not playing proper strategy, as they play VP
like they play slots (mindlessly). therefore, they're feeding the
casino's coffers for us 'better' players

2- they can't keep pounding for very long, their wrist/hand/arm

will

get tired. so, maybe they scare off the players on nearby

machines,

so when you come back in half an hour, pounder is gone and you

have

your choice of machines.

The folks I have noticed are the type of people that do everything
dramatically. They act like they are actors on a stage, they

expect

to be Noticed by everyone around them, so they give us a show. I

give

···

them zero attention, sometimes they wither without "applause".

~MARK

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I am truly relieved to note, in all the posts

I've read so far, that other forum players are as annoyed with this
behavior as I am. I was beginning to think I was turning into a
cranky person.

I think you're right, Mark, that pounding is VERY hard on the hand,
wrist and digits. I have played in a couple of "free" slot
tournaments (when I was doing REALLY badly at vp) and I thought it
was downright painful to keep pounding away.

The wierdest player I've ever seen took about 3 minutes to play each
hand, IF he had cards to save. For each saved card, he put the card
on hold and took it off hold, at least 10 times. If he was saving 4
to a flush or a staight, it might have taken him even longer. He was
not a "pounder" however, merely a curious distraction as I
surrepetiously watched his strange behavior.

May you be spared pounders, as you draw your Royal!
  
                  Babe

#10

Babe -

     I've seen your worst nightmare at MGM Detroit. There's a
regular player there on the quarter 9/7 DB progressives, very much an
old lady that thinks she can "fool" the machine by repeatedly holding
and un-holding cards. Over, and over, and over, and.... she smacks
the crap out of the buttons each time she hits 'em. She's the only
one that can get me to get up and change machines.

- Brian in MI

The wierdest player I've ever seen took about 3 minutes to play each
hand, IF he had cards to save. For each saved card, he put the card
on hold and took it off hold, at least 10 times. If he was saving

4

to a flush or a staight, it might have taken him even longer. He

was

···

not a "pounder" however, merely a curious distraction as I
surrepetiously watched his strange behavior.

May you be spared pounders, as you draw your Royal!
  
                  Babe

#11

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "marksalot300" <Marksalot300@a...>
wrote:

Babe -

     I've seen your worst nightmare at MGM Detroit. There's a
regular player there on the quarter 9/7 DB progressives, very much

an

old lady that thinks she can "fool" the machine by repeatedly

holding

and un-holding cards. Over, and over, and over, and.... she

smacks

the crap out of the buttons each time she hits 'em. She's the

only

one that can get me to get up and change machines.

- Brian in MI

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hi Brian,

   She's worse that my weird guy, all right, since he refrained from
smacking buttons. What I forgot to mention though, was that when he
was doing the repeated holding/unholding, he was mumbling something
under his breath. Some incantation to the VP God, perhaps. He
eventually caused me to leave also, when I became so involved in
watching his machinations, that I was playing my own hands poorly.
I then smacked myself in the head, thereby sparing the vp buttons,
and moved to a different area.

                Babe in Chicago

···

>
> Babe

#12

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

One subject I have not seen addressed (though as a fairly new

member

I may have missed it) is why some players literally beat up on

their

machines.

one thing I almost forgot to mention:

The sort of player who pounds on the machines is rarely a .05
denomination player, since even an extended losing streak at nickels
is unlikely to get anyone upset enough to risk damaging himself or
the machine. Likewise, dollar players are either big-bankrolled,
and/or experienced enough with the swings and arrows of VP not to
get unduly upset at a run of ill fortune.

Since therefore, almost all of these angry players are .25
denomination players, I propose we call them "Quarter Pounders".

#13

I have developed the habit of rapidly hitting the deal/draw button
after the redraw because on the new machines most will speed up the
payout or just dump the whole payout into your credit meter as opposed
to waiting for the credits to slowly roll into the meter, I am aware
that I could just hit it once at the correct time to accomplish the
same thing, it just seems easier to keep hitting it until I get to the
next hand. I do not do this violently or loudly, just quick taps,
usually with one finger, I would most likely lable it as a nervous
habit, more than anything else.

I also have learned that at least at Harrahs, Diamond players can
request the speed of a machine to be increased, so I do this to all my
favorite games, it really helps your hands per hour.

Jim

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "billkennedy3" <billkennedy3@y...> wrote:

This past Saturday I witnessed a guy that would pound the "deal"
button as rapidly and forcefully as he could BETWEEN hands. As soon
as the cards started to deal, he'd start pounding the button all
throughout the deal, and payout. These were very slow-dealing
machines, so he was making a LOT of noise. Several people cashed out
after he sat down; it was extremely distracting. No idea why he was
doing it, although my guess would be that he felt the machine would
pay him more if he was pounding on it.

#14

I may have mentioned in the past, the machine has defensive programs
installed, such as the "screen saver" program. This comes up when
you just miss a big hand, such as holding the AKQ10 of spades and
drawing the Jack...of clubs. I've noticed that very often, the next
hand is a moderate win, like a full house at DB or a straight flush
at DW. The conclusion I draw is that this is meant to cool the
player's anger at missing the previous big hand, and thus dissuading
him from possibly bashing in the screen in anger. Thus arose the
term, "screen saver" hand....

No one really thinks this is true (I hope). A long time ago someone
said something to me about being dealt trips, say Nines, and then the
2 cards you draw add up to nine. The seed was planted and from then
on I remember the times I get trips and the 2 draw cards add up to the
value I needed, of course I dont remember the many many times they
dont add up to that value and I imagine that over the long term they
add up just about the correct amount of times that they should. Any
other belief is the same as all the other superstitions like making
the machine pay more/less with card in/out and on and on. We almost
always put too much meaning into the short term fluctuations that are
just part of the game.

Jim

#15

Interesting thoughts, Mark. That reminds me of a guy we used to have
around that people called 'showboat', he played qrtr VP and (before
TITO) he would load up the machine with at least 390 credits, so that
almost any winning hand would cause the coins to drop in the hopper,
this would cause lots of turned heads until people caught on that it
was just a show. I almost forgot about him since TITO, I wonder what
he is doing now?

Jim

···

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

I think this is learned behavior from playing in SLOT tournaments,
where pounding the buttons fast & repeatedly (mindlessly) gets you
one or two more spins.

Two good things about the "pounders": (well, relatively good)

1- they are probably not playing proper strategy, as they play VP
like they play slots (mindlessly). therefore, they're feeding the
casino's coffers for us 'better' players

2- they can't keep pounding for very long, their wrist/hand/arm will
get tired. so, maybe they scare off the players on nearby machines,
so when you come back in half an hour, pounder is gone and you have
your choice of machines.

The folks I have noticed are the type of people that do everything
dramatically. They act like they are actors on a stage, they expect
to be Noticed by everyone around them, so they give us a show. I give
them zero attention, sometimes they wither without "applause".

~MARK

#16

I was also a coin dropper. Before I knew better, coin dropping was a
good way to slow down play by being forced to wait for all coins to
pay out and it wasn't for show. This method is bad when the machine
can't count coins(Unless it is in your favor). It is also bad because
most quarter machines I know drop at 1000 coins and people will come
up and say, "O YOU SURE ARE DOING GOOD!" How do they know. Were they
watching all my play??? Do they know how much I WON/LOST?
I have since learned to like TITO because there are fewer ways for the
machine to screw up.

Dipy911

···

Interesting thoughts, Mark. That reminds me of a guy we used to have
around that people called 'showboat', he played qrtr VP and (before
TITO) he would load up the machine with at least 390 credits, so that
almost any winning hand would cause the coins to drop in the hopper,
this would cause lots of turned heads until people caught on that it
was just a show. I almost forgot about him since TITO, I wonder what
he is doing now?

Jim

#17

The weirdest player I've ever seen took about 3 minutes to play each
hand, IF he had cards to save. For each saved card, he put the card
on hold and took it off hold, at least 10 times. If he was saving 4
to a flush or a staight, it might have taken him even longer. He was
not a "pounder" however, merely a curious distraction as I
surrepetiously watched his strange behavior.
Babe

I've seen this too and I questioned one person about it. She said she

was "faking-out" the machine on which cards she was going to hold.

Scot

···

-----Original Message-----
From: jackessiebabe [mailto:jackessieb…@…com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 3:47 PM
To: vpFREE@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [vpFREE] Re: VP Button Pounding

#18

However, for your own sake if you're

playing a lower paying VP, then:
1. Use a strategy chart (don't make the house edge bigger...BTW,

you

do NOT have video poker strategy memorized)
2. Don't play as fast as possible (wait a few seconds between

hands!)

You're describing me. I play infrequently so use a chart, go a
little slower than most and sometimes feel a little foolish. On a
different note, I've seen a variation of the pounder she was a
tapper. On every draw she would tap the side of the machine,
apparently to coax good cards. I suspect this is reflexive after
awhile reflecting some superstition. I'm just glad I don't see lots
of troll dolls staring down from the tops of machines.

#19

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "worldbefree22001"
<krajewski.sa@p...> wrote:

···

You're describing me. I play infrequently so use a chart, go a
little slower than most and sometimes feel a little foolish.

  ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

There is absolutely NO reason to feel foolish!

Au contraire. Playing slowly and carefully and referring to a
strategy card when you are unsure of proper strategy, is what all
smart players do. Extreme speed is for pros, most of whom are
willing to relinquish a point off of perfect play, in order to play
as many hands/hour as possible, on a very advantageous game. Take
your time, do your thing at your own pace, and watch your bankroll
last a lot longer.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++=

On a

different note, I've seen a variation of the pounder she was a
tapper. On every draw she would tap the side of the machine,
apparently to coax good cards. I suspect this is reflexive after
awhile reflecting some superstition. I'm just glad I don't see

lots

of troll dolls staring down from the tops of machines.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Now you might be describing me.

However, I don't "tap", but rather noiselessly "pat" the side of the
machine, very infrequently, when it is doing either very good or
very bad things for my bankroll. I'm sure this a carryover from when
I had 3 small children, and treated them the same way, for the same
reasons. As for trolls, dolls, icons etc., I have only seen this in
association with blue-haired ladies and Bingo games, I hope you
haven't given some superstitious vp players a new idea.

                       Babe

#20

I was also a coin dropper. Before I knew better, coin dropping

was a

good way to slow down play by being forced to wait for all coins to
pay out and it wasn't for show. This method is bad when the

machine

can't count coins(Unless it is in your favor). It is also bad

because

most quarter machines I know drop at 1000 coins and people will

come

up and say, "O YOU SURE ARE DOING GOOD!" How do they know. Were

they

watching all my play??? Do they know how much I WON/LOST?
I have since learned to like TITO because there are fewer ways for

the

machine to screw up.

Dipy911

> Interesting thoughts, Mark. That reminds me of a guy we used to

have

> around that people called 'showboat', he played qrtr VP and

(before

> TITO) he would load up the machine with at least 390 credits, so

that

> almost any winning hand would cause the coins to drop in the

hopper,

> this would cause lots of turned heads until people caught on

that it

> was just a show. I almost forgot about him since TITO, I wonder

what

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "dipy911" <dipy911@y...> wrote:

> he is doing now?
>
> Jim

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

And I also do it on occasion, (but for other

reasons than above) INCLUDING cashing out the ticket on TITO. For
some stupid reason, this sometimes causes a bad streak to turn much
better. I KNOW there is absolutely no good logical or mathmatical
reason for these occurences so, PLEASE don't bother to tell me how
wrong I am. If it works for me, or even just makes me feel better
when I'm losing, that's a good enough reason not to stop.

Hoping you all have to cash out for the BEST of reasons only!

                  Babe