Drivers, Pilots, and Artists

Several years ago, I was attending a series of motivational lectures by Dr. William Kerley.  Near the end of the last lecture, he spoke of when he was hired by Continental Airlines to give classes to their non-pilots on how to deal with pilots. To properly understand what pilots go through, he spent many hours in flight simulators for a variety of airplanes. (This happened before 9/11).

Kerley said he developed a great appreciation of how good all airline pilots really have to be, but as in everything else, there were some of these pilots who barely got their license, some who were average, and some cream-of-the-crop pilots. Kerley said the pilots themselves categorize these groups as drivers, pilots, and artists.

The difference, said Kerley, is that an artist is committed to making a smooth landing every time; pilots try for them, but it’s not that big of a deal; drivers take them if they can get them.

It occurred to me that even video poker players who are actually looking for an edge (excluding those who play purely for recreation) can be classified into these driver, pilot, and artist categories as well. 

The top 10% or so of winning players will be the artists. My list of things that are required to be at the artist level won’t surprise you if you’ve read very much of my writing. It starts with selecting a game where you have the advantage and knowing the strategy for that game at a high level. If you are unsure of a small number of plays (certainly less than 1% of them if you’re an artist), you have the appropriate strategy with you and you consult it when necessary. You’re aware of slot clubs and promotions at all of the casinos in the area, you are physically fit enough to play as many hours as appropriate, and you are sober and alert enough to play at your best. My list also includes having sufficient bankroll (both financial and psychological) for the game you’re playing so that it is not an issue.

If you’re a winning player, but don’t meet the artist level, you’ll either be at the pilot level or the driver level. (If you’re not a winning player, you’re at the “flying without a license” level and not in today’s discussion.) It doesn’t take much relaxation of any of the criteria in the preceding paragraph to fall to the pilot category, nor much more of a relaxing to fall lower still. Playing winning video poker is tough enough that most of us need to be giving it our best in order to succeed. 

There’s a difference between being committed to playing at the artist level and being a perfectionist about it. Perfectionism (more of a disease than a quality to be admired) is the philosophy of “artist or bust”. Perfectionists tend to try to memorize every last penalty card situation. Although perfectionists perform at a higher “win-per-hand-played” rate than do the rest of us, they play many fewer hands simply because it takes a lot of time to memorize these hands in the first place and to review often enough to keep them memorized. Plus, the more complicated of a strategy you use, the slower you must go to make sure you don’t miss one of the exceptions to the exceptions.

I have a reputation for being a perfectionist. I’m not as much so as I was several years ago, but it’s the best way I know for me to be an artist. My memory at age 73 isn’t what it was when I was 53 or younger. (That will probably also happen to you eventually.) Another possibility would be to become a “fitness freak,” keeping myself at my peak physically so my body and mind work as well as possible. That’s probably as useful as memorizing an extra penalty card situation or two.

It is more difficult today to be an artist than it was a decade ago. Edges may still be found, but they are smaller. Drawings and other promotions are less lucrative than they used to be. Casinos are more likely to restrict players than they used to be. Casino managers are savvier today and make fewer mistakes than they used to. 

But artists find a way. If you are smart enough and driven enough, there is room for you to be an artist. If you’re looking for the easy way out, you’ll be a driver at best, and more likely driving without a license.