Pot Shot Strategy Explained

[FloridaPhil]

[quote=FAA]He's living for the sweet thrill of PSP.[/quote]I didn't mean to leave the impression that I'm treading water with Cheap Strategy play between Pot Shots.  I have hit many a max coin jackpot while playing with the Cheap Strategy.  Most of the better paying jackpots have come after switching to dollar play at $25.  All but two of them were max coin quad deuces for $1,000 which is much more common than a quarter royal flush.  I'm currently very excited about my pot shot play because it's been like a big ATM for me all year.  This could change tomorrow, but I'll still be losing less money between jackpots than most players.

[alpax]

I have hit many a max coin jackpot while playing with the Cheap Strategy.  Most of the better paying jackpots have come after switching to dollar play at $25.  All but two of them were max coin quad deuces for $1,000 which is much more common than a quarter royal flush. 

When you transition from max coins quarters to dollar play, is the dollar play directly at max coin or does it start from single coin $1? I would play max coin quarters as opposed to single coin $1.

If all but 2 quad deuces were hit at max coins, that is some serious luck on your side. Normally you play 83% single coin and 16% max coin with the strategy, so it should distribute more towards 5 single coin quad deuces to 1 max coin quad deuces ratio.

[FloridaPhil]

[quote=alpax]When you transition from max coins quarters to dollar play, is the
dollar play directly at max coin or does it start from single coin $1?[/quote]When you switch to $1 play at $25, start with one coin. You need a few coins to let things settle down a bit.  If you go to max coins you will only get one shot and you'll be back to $20 and have to switch back to quarters.  I worked this out using Video Poker for Winners.  It's the only VP software that I have found that allows you to play with money instead of just coins.[quote=alpax]If all but 2 quad deuces were hit at max coins, that is some serious luck on your side.[/quote]I think you misunderstood what I said.  Not all my quad deuces are at max coins or for $1,000.  I was talking about my bigger jackpots. I consider any jackpot over $500 to be noteworthy. I do hit  short coin quad deuces and an occasional short coin royal flush. I consider all wins as such and immediately cash out any hits over $50 and put the tickets in my wallet.  Playing only $20 at a time and cashing out anything over $50 is the only way I have found to keep track of where you are.  One problem players have managing their money is putting too much money in the machine at a time.  When you do this you don't have any idea what's happening until your $100 is gone and you have to reach for anyone one. If I have $300 for the day, I consider that to be 15 separate sessions.  You must stay aware of what's going on in the game before you can make informed decisions.  Playing blindly all day waiting for jackpots to happen (or not) is not using all the information that is available to you.I totally understand why someone wouldn't want to play the way I do.  After all, the reason most folks play video poker is for the thrill of the jackpot.  I'm different in that I think it's more important to lose less overall than pay a lot so you can experience a short term thrill.

[FAA]

The website is just another reminder to us. Would you rather lose $25 an hour over 500 hands or $5 an hour? Once it goes to the dark side, cold as a meat locker, you MUST lean on the min coin strategy to ride it out. Unless you simply bail and start w a new machine. And w full pay JOB these numbers are much less. If only casino play corresponded to pay table math. But still, min play will save you from a beat down once one commits!

[FloridaPhil]

These days I don't pay Cheap all the time.  There are times, like when we are on vacation and the quarter odds are particularly good when I prefer max coins.  I use the Cheap Strategy at the Tampa Hard Rock for two reasons.  First, the odds difference between quarter "Fooler" deuces and .50 Airport Deuces is more than the Royal Flush Penalty and second I play there at least 50 days a year and I need to conserve my bankroll.  My pot shot luck at those three high limit $5 machines in Tampa has been phenominal.  What I should do is walk around the casino all day and just take a $25 max coin pot shot about once an hour. 

[wildman49]

I totally understand why someone wouldn't want to play the way I do.  After all, the reason most folks play video poker is for the thrill of the jackpot.  I'm different in that I think it's more important to lose less overall than pay a lot so you can experience a short term thrill.

I agree with lose less. For me looking at 2014 I hit 11 royals totaling $11,500 with 3 tax forms. About 9 months of that play was at max bet.  Yet my loss for the year was more then 4%. This year playing systems (Phil's and some of my own) I am at the same pace coin in as last year, 7 royals so far, no tax forms but am down for the year  less then 1%.Them BIG royal hits are a lot of fun, but I would much rather have more cash in my pocket.The only reason I am not in the black for 2015 is I have not been able to knock down a pot on max bet. Have had tons of shots the last 6 months, below is just one of them from yesterdays play. Am just going to call it a string of bad luck so far. I still keep hammering away and still feel the systems will get me in the black yet this year!

[onemoretry]

I was wondering how the Deuces Wild paytables were at the casinos you've played it in the mid 90s before all of these downgrades after the recession hit. Did you even bother learning the penalty situations for each paytable?
I started playing video poker in 1991, when my wife surprised me with a "We're going to Vegas" wedding anniversary gift.

I started with basic 25c single line 9/6 JOB. As I became a little more knowledgeable about the game, I quickly switched to 25c single line deuces wild. This was my staple for many years, playing mostly at the Barbary Coast, with some play at other coast casinos, and at Main Street Station. I knew, and still know, the strategy for full pay deuces wild cold, including all penalty card situations.

With the demise of full pay deuces, NSU deuces became my game of choice. Nowadays, I play it at Main Street Station and South Point. I do not have the strategy for it down completely pat, but I am aware of the tricky hands and consult a strategy card when I encounter them.

Similarly, when playing "Airport Deuces" at the M, and my local casino, I consult a strategy card when dealt one of the harder hands to figure out.

[FloridaPhil]

[quote=wildman49]The only reason I am not in the black for 2015 is I have not been able to knock down a pot on max bet.[/quote]Losing less money overall is a good thing.  One day you will hit a big max coin jackpot and you'll smile because you have beat an elaborate professionally created system designed to rob you.   I've watched the machine when max coin royals happen and it's great. You have to admit it makes the game exciting when you win 4 and go to max?   Interestingly enough, I switched to Gold on this website recently and I love being able to track my coins day to day.   You can actually see the Cheap Strategy working and how it protects your bankroll.  Good stuff... 

[notes1]

i have been critical of casinos, but i think it is a little harsh to use 'rob you', when describing playing casino games. if one believes everything is on the up and up, it is hardly 'robbing someone', when the odds are clearly posted.  if so, one would have to describe starbucks as robbing you for an overpriced cup of coffee or ruth chris, for paying a lot for a steak. if all the information is right in front of someone and they choose to purchase/play anyhow, that is not robbery. 

[FloridaPhil]

[quote=notes1]i have been critical of casinos, but i think it is a little harsh to use 'rob you', when describing playing casino games.[/quote]You're right.  The word "rob" was not a good choice of words.  However, casinos invest million of dollars into the science of getting patrons to spend more than they need to.  A good example of this is the 4,000 coin royal bonus.  Color choices, flashing lights, bells, music, free drinks, Etc. all are designed to make you want more more more....   I have nothing against casinos making money, as long as they make it from someone else.