I have a friend at work named Larry. Larry had never shown an
interest in gambling and had always said that, "Only a fool would go
to a casino and gamble for real hard-earned money!" About a six
months ago, after hearing about my hitting a $6,000 royal flush
playing dollar Pick'Em, he began to ask me some questions about video
poker.
Larry still let me know that he was only curious how I won
the money and had no real interest in playing video poker himself. I
explained to him the various games in the casinos here in Detroit,
and
how to read the pay scales to determine the best percentage and other
aspects of the game. I told him about the software that was available
to practice on and how it was possible to come close to even in the
long run with cash back and comps. I thought that was all there was
too it. Wrong!
One Monday Larry came up to me all excited and related how he won
$40 playing Double Double Bonus at Motor City Casino Sunday. I said,
great, but did you know that game only pays 98.98%, and
eventually you will lose more than you win? I told him if he was
determined to play, at least play Deuces Wild on the progressive bank
because it pays 99.72%. I don't think he was listening.
From that point on, Larry has been going to the casinos at least
once per week, and strangely, claims that he usually wins most of the
time. I'm really not sure I believed him.
He still doesn't play the games perfectly, even after buying
software and practicing every night, he says he likes to play the
occasional hunch.
Unfortunately for me, I'm currently in a slump and have dropped
down from dollars to quarters and can't seem to hit anything and he
keeps telling me about his wins. Ok, I can handle that, but
today was the topper.
I've always told him, and he knows from the software, that you
never hold an Ace and Ten when playing DDB
because it will cost you money in the long run. But Larry does
it anyway. It's one of his hunches. Yesterday while playing quarter
DDB progressive at Motor City, he was dealt an Ace and a Ten of
clubs. He was going to hold them but remembering what I said, decided
to do it the "right way" and hold only the Ace. Can you guess what
happened? The draw gave him the Jack, Queen, and King of clubs right
in the spots where he would have gotten a royal if he played it his
way.
For some reason he seemed to blame me for his supposed loss. For a
minute I
thought he was going to ask me to give him the progressive amount
since I caused him to miss it. I
think he would have except for the fact that he won over $2,000 that
session.
It seems that he hit the four Aces twice, three other quads, and
to top it off he ended hitting the royal anyway. But check out how he
got it.
He was dealt a flush with three royals and discarded the two non-
royal cards. He then drew the two other royals for the win. I called
it luck, he called playing a hunch. I had nothing to say after that.
I wish Larry the best of luck, but I think we all know what the
long-term outcome will be playing his hunches. But for now He's
convinced that this video poker thing is "easy money" and I don't
know what the hell I'm talking about. Maybe he's right?
Terry and VP
"When a poor player sits down at a table and lucks into a big win,
the pros say, "That money is really not his; it's just visiting."
--Lou Krieger & Arthur Reber
"Luck is an equal opportunity event. It visits the good, bad, and
the ugly showing no favoritism."
--VP Pappy