Page 24 - October 2010 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Bob Dancer: Video Poker
MHow Good Do You Want to Be?
argo lives in Los Angeles and has been a platonic friend of mine for 25 years. When Shirley came into my life 13 years ago, Shirley decided Margo was a good person and not a threat, so the two women became friends as well.
Recently Shirley and I visited with Margo for a few hours, catching up on what’s been happening since we saw each other a few years previously. Margo, it turns out, has recently started solving crossword puzzles with her boyfriend Mel.
When they began this, they were both at approximately the same beginner level. For whatever reason, however, Mel’s
skills have improved faster
the plays. As with Margo and Mel, this is a situation where they are being together as they enjoy their hobby.
Win or lose, they are in it together.
Often the plays are wrong, such as just holding the kings from KK774 in Double Double Bonus. But at least there is no dispute between them. is is a case where both of them think that holding the kings by themselves is correct.
If one of them practiced on the computer or studied a Winner’s Guide and hence improved the situation, do you think the other would resent it because they were no longer at the same level? It’s possible, of course, but I don’t think this will usually be the case. Playing video poker is signi cantly di erent than solving crossword puzzles.
Working crossword puzzles is a pleasant, time-killing, mental activity. Except in rare cases of competition, nobody cares how fast you are or whether you cheat by looking at the answers. e mind stimulation. If you aren’t
than Margo’s so they are no longer on equal footing. is irritates Margo.
“ e object as I see it,” Margo explains, “is to be doing something together. If he goes and gets better than I am, we’re not really doing it together anymore. He’s become the instructor, and that’s not what I want.”
Margo didn’t tell us just how Mel was getting better. He might be solving puzzles without her (is this a way of cheating on her?). He might have a better memory than Margo. He might simply be better at puzzles than she is.
is is a new “issue” between them and I’m not sure how it will work out. I found it somewhat amusing that Mel is being criticized for improving his skills.
“Videopokerisalsoa pleasant, time-killing, mental activity. But here you keep score in dollars and cents. Getting better means playing longer on the same money or perhaps turning losses into wins.
Video poker is also a pleasant, time-killing, mental activity. But here you keep score in dollars and cents. Getting better means playing longer on the same money or perhaps turning losses into wins. e rewards from playing well are real. Almost everybody prefers winning to losing, so if their partner helped them succeed at this, the partner’s e ort is typically appreciated, not condemned.
If you’re not sure whether improving your skills at video poker will be appreciated by others in your life, I suggest it’s a chance worth taking. And if video poker doesn’t work out for you after all that practice, you can always go back and solve crossword puzzles!
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 the software “Video Poker for Winners,” his new book, Video Poker for the Intelligent Beginner, 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 or at 1-800-244-2224 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
In video poker I’ve seen
couples play a machine
together numerous times. One will press the deal and draw buttons while the other selects the cards to hold.
entire point is enjoyable
enjoying yourself lling out crosswords, then why do it? For most people, there is no reward from solving puzzles correctly other than self-satisfaction.
Although sometimes one will correct the other, usually they seem to be on the same wavelength and agree on
The rewards from playing well are real. Almost everybody prefers winning to losing, so if their partner helped them succeed at this, the partner’s effort is typically appreciated, not condemned.”
Page 24
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
October 2010
Video Poker with Bob Dancer