I sat down today to write, as I have been promising, about losing at VP, and suddenly felt overwhelmed. It is such a huge subject. Where should I start?
Then I remembered I had written a couple of articles about this when I was contributing to the Strictly Slots magazine . I went to my files and found the articles. I was surprised they were written so long ago – in March of 2001 – time flies – but what surprised me more was that they were still so relevant. Many things have changed in the VP world since then, but the basics are much the same.
So I am going to give you those two articles over the next few weeks, a piece at a time so you can have time to think about how that particular information might help you personally to win more and/or lose less. I sometimes will give updates in [ ]
———————————-
Help! Why Am I Losing At Video Poker?
Part 1 — Doing Things Wrong and Losing
I try to use this column to help as many different kinds of gamblers as I can: serious or casual, slot players or video poker players. But this month I want to talk primarily to video poker enthusiasts — although many slot players may find the information very enlightening.
First, here’s a little background as to why I decided to write on this subject. For years, my e-mail Inbox has been flooded with cries for help from despairing video poker players who are in long losing streaks. [This has not changed!!] And for years, I’ve tried to write helpful, encouraging words in my answering posts. But I’m going to be perfectly candid here: Looking back on all those email responses, I don’t think I’ve done a very good job. I’m afraid I was condescending. I didn’t mean to be, but my attitude was colored by the fact that Brad and I had seen 10 winning years at video poker. Sure, we experienced losing streaks — for weeks and even several months on end. But when we added up our yearly log, the final figure was never red.
Then came the turn of the century, and Lady Luck must have decided not to escort us into the year 2000. We went several weeks without even a single winning session. And when we did come out ahead, it was only a small win. But when we lost, it was invariably a big loss. We might win three sessions straight — then lose it all in session four. Month after discouraging month, for 11 long months we struggled, but it seemed we could never climb out of this dark hole. [So much like the one we are in now!]
NOW I can write an article on losing at video poker! Hopefully, I can be both helpful and sympathetic.
This turned out to be a longer discourse than I’d originally thought, so I’m dividing it into two parts. Next month, I plan to be more positive, talking about doing all the right things that will help you fight VP losing streaks. However, this month I must talk about the negative side — what you’re doing wrong that can cause you to lose.
——
Just after I wrote the above, our present royal drought was broken in a spectacular manner – I was surprised by a royal on the top line of a $1 Multi-Strike machine. 32K doesn’t quite get us out of the hole for the year – but it comes close!
No matter how experienced you are or how long you have been playing, it is never fun to lose. Winning is always more fun. And we also find we don’t get as tired when we’re winning!
We file as professionals every year, even in a losing one. No, we were not audited that year. However, you can only count your losses up to amount of wins, even filing as a business. You can’t use them to offset other income or carry them over from one year to the next.
I was drawing to 3 cards on the 4th line. I have no idea what I did on the first 3 lines, other than I got $32, 070. I was too busy being amazed at the 4th line to study the others!! 🙂
Hey, we all make mistakes – no matter how experienced we get. It’s only because we are human!
A day late and $10 short. This is an add on to my comments yesterday. This morning I studied the free play for points rules and realized that I could have received an additional $10 free play just by structuring my free play reward differently. The little things certainly can add up.
I think someone once said or perhaps should have said- he who does not pay attention to detail has no chance of becoming a successful VP player. I guess I’m not quite there yet and my bankroll agrees.
George
Great article.Quite often it’s the little things that can add up. Today after playing 25 cent 10x JOB at Palms long enough to get $75 free play, I collected my free play at a $1 JOB. When the meter showed $100 I hit the cash out button and walked happily away with my winnings without looking at the printed slip.Imagine my surprise when I tried to cash the slip it said $95 and not $100.I went back to the same machine no more than 5 minutes later and it showed that the last win was $5. Did someone just win $5, was my win really only $95 and not $100? Another lesson learned for me is to check and double check everything.
Congratulations on the MS royal Jean. I can relate to people who are in the hole. I had a RF drought of epic proportions two years ago. Would have to check my records to be exact, but it was over 250k hands between RFs! Lucky that Chris was on track or we’d have been deeper in the red.
What were the 3 hands leading up to the Royal? How did you draw?
I have been on a two year losing streak. I get three to the royal and get another of the royal and not the full royal or I get four to the royal and then not even a flush or a pair LOL! I keep playing because I know sooner or later this will come to an end. I just hope it is soon.
I play VP exclusively at TEXAS STATION and FIESTA. I try to limit my self to $300-400 dollars weekly . I have hit about 4 Jackpots and I’m not GREEDY. If u can limit yourself u will come out ahead.
What were the 3 lower tiered hands before the Royal? Just curious as to what you were drawing to.
Games like Multi-Strike, Super Times Pay and Spin Poker can save players due to the multiplied effect on big wins. But before players “jump” on these games, please realize that it may take many hands to finally get to that one rare golden opportunity. Don’t set aside your basic strategy and bankroll skills in going for these longshots.
may have not gotten you out of the hole for the year, but………..it wouldve gotten me outta the hole for the last 10 years….lol. you’ll be back in the green soon. you have good karma on your side Queen of “C”. (notes)hopefully!!
Did you file as professional gamblers for the year that you lost? And did you get audited?
I’ve just finished a two-week trip. It has been the worst I have ever had: playing nothing but .25 single-line FPDW, FPJW, and FPDB, I went minus $2800. NO royals, NO 5OAK, ONE set of deuces, NO sets of Aces. It would have been over minus $3000 if I hadn’t won a small poker tournament.
Does this have any significance in and of itself? Probably not. I just went about three standard deviations to the left. But a trip like this knocks the whole concept of “full-pay” into a cocked hat. If you don’t get the royals, AND you don’t get the lesser jackpot hands to boot, you will bleed to death–PERIOD. It takes all the fun out of the game when you NEVER win.