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Bob Dancer writes a video poker column for beginners to experts. He also writes a column with Jeffrey Compton, "Player's Edge", featuring information on promotions at various Las Vegas casinos. Player's Edge is published each Friday in the Neon section of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Click here to send Bob Dancer an e-mail.

For more details and a schedule of Bob's free classes, visit www.bobdancer.com.

Jan. 06, 2009

Feedback for Video Poker Players

Even though I do not play live player, I frequently read CardPlayer magazine. I suppose the fact that it's free to pick up in casino card rooms is a factor, but mostly what interests me is that several smart, successful players address the issue of "how to obtain an advantage."

Much of the advice provided is irrelevant to a video poker player. After all, the games are considerably different. But every now and then I read something in that magazine that is relevant me as a player, or expresses a thought well that helps me be a better writer. A few months ago, a couple of articles by Alan Schoonmaker on feedback loops inspired me on both levels.

A feedback loop, in the context I'm using it here, is obtaining and utilizing information from other people to evaluate how well you are playing. To be sure this is more relevant in live poker than in video poker, but there are numerous ways it helps video poker players as well.

I'll give several examples of how I participate in these feedback loops. Perhaps some of these examples with trigger something useful for you.

A friend told me she recently had been doing quite well and hit two $20,000 aces-and-a-kicker and a $40,000 royal flush on $10 9/6 Double Double Bonus. She was proud of herself and believed she was becoming a better player. I told her that she was playing a game where she had no chance to win. Yes she would have lucky streaks and unlucky streaks but at the end of the day she was playing a losing game. She called me a "bubble burster" and left somewhat miffed. A few days later she thanked me for giving her a dose of reality.

Often when a promotion is announced, I go over various points of it with some player friends. Sometimes it isn't obvious which game to play. For example, since the Orleans has stripped its video poker inventory of games returning over 99% (except for some quarter NSU Deuces Wild and 9/7 Double Bonus progressive machines which are not interesting stakes-wise to me, and sometimes I can't get a seat on the $2 9/7 Double Bonus Five Play machines), is it worth playing 9/6 Double Double Bonus (98.98%) on 9x point days (where the combination "only" returns 99.88%) in order to get the mailers and discretionary comps? There are plusses and minuses here and having someone to bounce this stuff off of is useful.

I've been teaching classes for years. Every so often someone comes up with a suggestion to say something in a different way. Sometimes I take the advice and sometimes I don't, but I'm certain I'm a better teacher for all of this input from others.

Because of my chosen profession as a video poker teacher, I'm in a "tutoring" mode more frequently than many others. I frequently get asked for feedback on things. At the same time, almost every competent player knows more about this game than many others. You don't need to be hugely successful to be more advanced than others. It's been my experience that offering advice to others frequently improves my game --- sometimes just by reminding me of something that I've momentarily forgotten.

I'm a participant in a "study group" of smart gamblers --- each one going about things in a different way. I share what I know and in turn I've learned a lot from this group. I know of other groups of players who regularly share information among themselves. Players who participate in the give and take of such groups often obtain advantages over those who choose to go it alone.

One friend of mine continues to play 9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54%) when NSU Deuces Wild (99.73%) is available for the same stakes. I've mentioned several times to him that the 0.19% difference is large and adds up. He's been "unlucky" at NSU and is gun shy. Over time, though, likely my "nagging" will bear fruit. He'll make the switch to his benefit. Without having someone he respected video-poker-wise give him this feedback, he'd likely go much longer with the lesser game.

Choosing who to listen to in your feedback loop is important. Everybody has an opinion, and just because someone thinks you are doing something incorrectly doesn't mean their way is any better. Learning the right time to ignore advice is as important to learning to accept good advice.