For this answer, we turn, naturally enough, to Jean Scott, who plays plenty of $5 video poker and always has good advice for players at all levels.
Actually, $5-and-up players will find more opportunities for good VP plays on the Strip than quarter and dollar player. That said, however, I can give some general advice to all VP players, advice that can be used by $5 players as well as by those on different levels.
First and most importantly, the more flexible you are -- about your gambling goals, your room requirements and standards, the amenities you're looking for, your playing locations, the games you're willing to play and the ones you are able to play accurately, etc. -– the more choices you have. If you refuse to play 9/6 JoB because it's boring, that you must stay at a Harrah’s property, and that you must get a comped suite, your choices will be very limited. On the other hand, if you'll stay at any Strip hotel, can play several different VP games accurately, and it isn’t important to you what amenities you get or what type of room you wind up with, you'll have more choices.
The second thing that will help you is using the information on VP Internet sites. The databases at vpFREE (join for free at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vpFree) and Vpinsider.com both cover the VP good-game Las Vegas video poker inventory quite thoroughly. Do a thorough hunt in these resources and I bet you can come up with several play possibilities. And then you can use the friendly discussion forums on these sites to ask for additional information to help you in making good choices.
The third thing I always emphasize is to chase slot club benefits and promotions like your life depends on them. Actually, we feel our financial life does depend on them. We play $5 (or higher) VP at Strip casinos quite frequently, but never on 100%+ machines, which are basically non-existent at any level on the Strip. So if you see us playing (mostly 9/6 JoB) on the Strip, you can bet your bottom dollar we're getting something (or several somethings) extra: cashback, bounce-back cash or free play, tournament or drawing benefits, and/or extra holiday-shopping credits.
I'd like to recommend specific casinos to you, but as always, what's a good place to play for me might not be a good one for you. If you're from out of town, you'll be looking for comped rooms. If you're a local, you're looking for regular bounce-back mailings. And so it goes, different answers for different goals. But as I say, be sure to sign up for the video poker databases and message forums and you'll have a good chance of finding people willing to give specific advice for your personal situation.
