Page 14 - August 2007 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Bob Dancer: Video Poker
WAhat Do You Do When There’s No Game to Play?
s I write this, Shirley and I are on the Norwegian Star on an eight-day cruise from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera. e ship has a casino, of course, but the best game is either 7-5 Jacks or Better or 6-5 Bonus Poker. I haven’t bothered to determine which is
actually worse because neither is close to being playable, from my point of view.
I was walking through the casino checking out the games when someone recognized me.
“George” and “Hilda” had taken some classes from me years ago and were surprised to run into me on a cruise.
ey were both hammering away at a 25¢ progressive, with a $1,500 royal on a 96% base game. I considered scolding them for playing such a poor game but I decided to hold my tongue.
“ What game are you playing here,” Hilda asked politely.
“I’m not,” I replied. “ ere’s no game here where I have the advantage so I’m taking the week
o .”
“We can’t do that,”
George told me. “ We don’t get to casino very often, so we feel that when we do get to one, we have to play. If the game isn’t particularly good, that’s too bad, but we like casinos so much we play anyway.”
I guess I just don’t understand players who have to play just because they are near a casino. To me this is analogous to people who must watch television tonight even though “nothing good is on.” ere are a zillion other things to do other than throw away your money on bad games in a casino or waste time watching television shows you don’t care about.
On this particular trip, I’ve brought my computer along and am writing a new book. I’ve brought along three books to read—just in case the book I’m writing doesn’t ow. I hope to create a backlog of eight to ten articles for the various publications I contribute to, but so far this is the rst one and this is day six of the cruise. My life works better if Shirley and I spend an hour or so
dancing each night. I’m at the gym every day, although not as much as I should be, given the amount of food I’m consuming.
To me that’s very short-
sighted. George and Hilda
might well lose a few
thousand dollars on this
cruise. For quarter players,
that’s a lot. ese kinds of
unnecessary losses can very well keep their bankroll small. Tomorrow’s bankroll is de nitely a ected by today’s decisions.
“There’s a good chance that my chosen activities aren’t the ones that you would choose. That’s okay. There are lots of organized things to do on a cruise ship and a variety of not-so-organized activities to do as well. We only have a few days to spend on
the ship and in Mexican ports, whereas we’ll have hundreds of hours to spend in casinos in the relatively near future. Making the most of the opportunities as they present themselves seems to me a far better way to spend your time than to play bad casino games just
ere’s a good chance that my chosen activities aren’t the ones that you would choose. at’s okay.
ere are lots of organized things to do on a cruise ship and a variety of not-so-organized activities to do as well. We only have a few days to spend on the ship and in Mexican ports, whereas we’ll have hundreds of hours to spend in casinos in the relatively near future. Making the most of the opportunities as they present themselves seems to me a far better way to spend your time than to play bad casino games just because they are there.
at said, if George and Hilda play for recreation only, and losing a few thousand dollars is no big deal for them, then I have no problem if they play to their hearts’ content. Making money is my priority, but not everyone has the same priorities, and that’s one of the things that makes the world interesting.
Bob Dancer is America’s best-known video poker writer and teacher. He has a variety of “how to play better video poker” products, including Winner’s Guides, strategy cards, his autobiography Million Dollar Video Poker, and his two novels, including Sex, Lies, and Video Poker. Dancer’s products may be ordered at www.bobdancer.com.
because they are there.”
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Page 14
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
August 2007
Video Poker with Bob Dancer