Pot Shot Strategy Explained

[FloridaPhil]

[quote=misterlister]If I could report you to the video poker police I'd do it.[/quote]It may be a surprise to you to learn that I am very informed about traditional video poker strategies.  I used these strategies religiously for years and while I did play much closer to the game's posted odds, I still lost a lot of money.Not everyone wants to dump tons of money into playing video poker as entertainment.  No one here said using my strategy can guarantee you will be a long term winner.  What I do say is that you can enjoy video poker without the constant mental and financial depression of losing.  The fact that I have been ahead of the game for over two years now is not relevant.  What's important to me is that I took a $10-$20,000 a year loss and turned it into a small but positive gain, I'm playing more video poker than ever and I'm enjoying myself.  If that's offensive to you, I'm sorry. [quote]Explain how you magically conjure up these big winners in very limited
play at high levels while you happily feed the machines at the lower
levels.[/quote]If you really want to know, click the link below and read for yourself.  Unlike others, I post my wins so everyone can see them.  We started posting our bigger wins to this website last year.  So far there are $18,125 worth posted.  All of these wins were made using the Cheap Strategy with a daily bankroll of about 1000 quarters.So here's the choice.  You can continue to pump thousands of dollars into a video poker machine so you can experience the thrill of a jackpot or you can play as cheaply as possible and use the Cheap Strategy to have the same experience for a lot less money.  Your choice... 

[olds442jetaway]

I think is is really unfair to trash Fla Phil's comments on his recent wins when he freely admits he is on a lucky streak that just happens to be working in his favor with the method he likes to use. His method for the most part conserves capital and it definitely does do that compared to the way I play which is mostly Martingale clone of my own design. Most of us here that post are well read, intelligent, and play for fun and recreation knowing in advance that someone has built these casinos and we have had a big part in doing just that over the long haul.

[Vman96]

I think is is really unfair to trash Fla Phil's comments on his recent wins when he freely admits he is on a lucky streak that just happens to be working in his favor with the method he likes to use. His method for the most part conserves capital and it definitely does do that compared to the way I play which is mostly Martingale clone of my own design. Most of us here that post are well read, intelligent, and play for fun and recreation knowing in advance that someone has built these casinos and we have had a big part in doing just that over the long haul.

Does Phil admit he is on a lucky streak? I haven't heard it from him in quite awhile, tbh. Since he is playing a negative game at either one or five coins, to be ahead over a year is lucky.   But I don't read every post on here either. Only a few people tend to focus on wins here consistently with Phil, Larry, and Ted leading that group. More people here are the exact opposite. And even fewer are in the middle like me (maybe because that's boring?).

Although I didn't write that I lost ~$20 in Tunica last week, but the g/f won $120 on slots/VP with 3X quad 3's on nickels for $60, so it was pretty good. Similar Tunica stuff otherwise. I did try a beer that tasted like black coffee though this trip. I don't recommend it unless you want to drink black coffee for your beer. I called it quits after 4 to 5 oz.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/32679/107596/

I do promise a Vegas TR report though early in September.   

[alpax]

I think the whole potshot attempt concept was inspired from one of Mr. Dancer's books. Phil has his own method of going about it.

Excerpt on Potshots from Bob Dancer's Million Dollar Video Poker on Google Books

On the grand scale of things, betting a bigger amount than normal will have a radical affect on the variance of the game. Obviously if those potshots do not hit, the player will find themselves in a much bigger hole. The wide variance also can enable the player to be ahead for the year.

To be fair, Phil is not marketing or selling a secret for money. His play style does allow people to play longer while losing less and hitting a max bet royal flush no deuces is entirely possible. I see nothing wrong with minimizing losses as a priority over trying to be a long term winner.

Since he is playing a negative expectation game, he needs a little source of income to increase his bankroll to continue playing.

[misterlister]

It's all nonsense. Phil seems to be claiming that somehow the machines cooperate when playing a few "pot shot" hands at higher levels, and playing one credit might be the reason why. That's very dangerous rhetoric to be putting forth to other players. He's not selling anything, but he's influencing others to risk/waste their money on something silly. Notice the part where he says he posts his wins, as if that's any kind of indicator. That's classic talk for someone who gets excited about certain wins to the point of spinning them into him having come up with a kooky system that just can't fail. It's a head scratcher for sure.

I read MDVP. That follows the same path as all these vp writer's (Dancer, Scott, Fa La La La La.... La la la la etc...they all WIN!) claims. Fact is, Dancer took a pot shot at the $100 machine and won. Did he also write a book about how many times he's done that and failed? Didn't think so.

[notes1]

i/m/o, there is a huge difference between advocating a method of play to beat the casino and advocating a method, that helps one lose less. the current winning streak he is on is just an anomoly, it is not likely to continue and he has a enough experience to know it. i think he is well aware that the odds are against you, it takes luck to win and all he is really trying to accomplish is extend his playing time, while staying within a budget. if the 'pot shots' happen to pay off, even if only temporarliy, take the winnings, save it for when the luck goes away. and, the luck will go away.

[alpax]

It's all nonsense. Phil seems to be claiming that somehow the machines cooperate when playing a few "pot shot" hands at higher levels, and playing one credit might be the reason why.

We have suggested in the past that instead of doing single coin $5 as a starting point, to do max coin $1 and then switching off. It does not take much effort on a Game King machine to do that. But whatever works, I personally would not give a 1.8% edge to the casino at high denomination play. It is his money and he can do what he wants with it. Phil is still a very knowledgeable player and knows the game as much as anyone.

Very serious players are not looking to incorporate his strategy so if you are really concerned about that you should not be. You won the lottery so bankroll/money preservation is the least of your worries.

[FloridaPhil]

This is an excellent discussion. The core of my belief in the Cheap Strategy is that there is a point in the odds where they are so negative that limiting losses becomes more important than maximizing wins. There are only three ways to do this.  Never play negative games (Mr. Dancer's solution), play less money (my solution) or play really really slow (yuck!).Pot shots are all luck and I'm kind of sorry I talked about them on this forum.  Mr. Dancer won $500K in one night with pot shots and as long as I limit mine to a few twenties, I'm OK with it.All I'm trying to do is show recreational players a way to enjoy the game without losing a lot of money.  If that's an offense, arrest me! 

[olds442jetaway]

I don't remember reading anywhere that Phil said his method would work long term. By work, I mean to beat the casino. I have also posted that try as I might, it doesn't work for me most all of the time. Such is the nature of vp where anything " can and will happen ". I also blame Vman for making me thirsty and it is only 11 AM. I am having my coffee while waiting to go out with the wife for a late Sunday breakfast and now find myself wanting a beer. ...I wonder how poached eggs, oatmeal, and beer will go together. My diner does have a liquor license.

[misterlister]

Then I wish everyone good luck, as always, whether it's vp, eating breakfast, or drinking beer in the morning.