Using a Video Poker Strategy Card

there are expert railbirds. but they will always be railbirds. and theres nothing wrong with being a railbird.

In thinking about this further, I now concede that the circumstances have a lot to do with whether or not overtly using a strategy card is acceptable.

If there was a player sitting on a vp game that was playing a nickle machine for one credit at a time or someone playing a 50 play penny game for one credit per line, I believe that having a strategy card out in plain site wouldn't matter. Even if these people hit a few RF's, they wouldn't be hand pay nor would they generate attention from the floor people.

Conversely, take somone who is playing 50 or 100 line NSUD for quarters or more with a .3% slot club on triple point day along with a concurrent promo and I'm guessing the circumstances will be different. These people tend to be sharps....they're well bankrolled, know the game very well and try to eek out maximum return They want to make sure they minimize/eliminate the error rate so as to maximize the game return. Let these people get a few hand pays with a color coded strategy card sitting out in plain site at the machine and it wouldn't surprise me if a visit from a suit doesn't soon follow.

In any event, the casino's know that for the most part, vp gives them less theo than slots and table games. People are constantly complaining when good games are shorted or eliminated. A strategy card validates the casinos inherent belief that vp isn't a good game for them to offer as their edge is already tight. They're relying on player ignorance, errors and poor strategy to squeeze out an acceptable return. Overtly taking some of this advantage away from them and you'll find that they will react unfavorably.

No one is arguing as to whether or not it's legal....the only point I'm making is whether rubbing their nose in it is prudent. FWIW, I'd vote no.

Dan

card counting in blackjack is not illegal, yet the casinos wont allow it. dice influencing is not illegal, yet some casinos won't allow it. wearing headphones at blackjack is not illegal yet some casinos wont let you. having a cell phone at a blackjack table is not illegal yet some casinos dont allow them and the Nevada Gaming Commission has warned casinos not to allow them. having strategy cards might not be illegal, but casinos could block them or do block them as I mentioned earlier.

I think these people are also not the typical user of a shiny new strategy card that they just picked up at the casino gift shop.

IMO most of the strategy is automatic. So what I would do is study the draws that you think are difficult, and you won't even need a card. I can't see there being a problem with having one out in the open...although I've never seen one out....because they allow you to have those black jack "cheat" cards right out in the open at the table.

True, good point. Nor are they the generic "one strategy fits all" model. I used to have ones for a specific RF progressive in $500 over reset increments.

Dan

The last bit of juice could be in the minute details. I don't like to make mistakes and I'll refer to a card for some obscure plays. There are also some games that have an inherently difficult strategy. Anecdotally, the people I know who play at a recreationally profitable level or beyond always have strategy cards with them and in my experience, it's rare that you see them sitting out in the open.

There is a distinct difference between a BJ strategy card and a VP one. With extremely few exceptions, BJ is never a positive expectation game even playing perfect strategy. The same cannot be said for VP.....there are hundreds of machines in Vegas where you are playing a 100%+ theo game with perfect strategy and cash back. That is why I believe they may frown upon overt use of a VP strategy card.

Once again, the caveat may be the game and denom but if someone is playing multiline quarters and up at a pretty good clip, I would be discrete.

Dan

I made an enhanced (larger) copy of the BJ basic strategy and keep it in a small notebook. My eyes aren't what they used to be and the dealers don't mind at all that I use it; in fact, if I'm not sure about my hand they'll usually say "what does your card say?"