Video poker players can spend hundreds of hours playing video poker. This is especially true for serious players who play the proper strategy.
This post highlights many of the thoughts that go through player’s minds during these long sessions. Enjoy!
Focus Crucial To Video Poker Success
As stated in the introduction, video poker players can spend scores, hundreds, and even thousands of hours playing video poker in a year.
For casual players this time may be comprised of playing a couple of hundred hands or less per hour. Skilled players however are capable of playing over 1,000 hands per hour – and play them with uncanny adherence to the proper playing strategy.
There are other differences between the play of casual and more serious players.
Casual players tend to:
- Spend part of their playing time focusing on things other than the video poker game at hand. They may talk to others, watch other players, television, or simply stop to sip a drink.
- Enjoy the surroundings as much as the game. They want to enjoy the entire experience, not just playing the video poker game.
- Play video poker during times when the casino is busy in order to experience all the fun of gambling.
- Drink more alcoholic drinks and they are part of the overall experience.
- Not keep very close track of the status of things such as how much has been played through the game.
- Have shorter playing sessions. Again, they are focused on the overall experience, not just the video poker game. They are quicker to leave the game and get some food or try a different game.
Serious video poker players, on the other hand, tend to:
- Have intense focus on the video poker game itself. They are not very talkative with others. They do not enjoy being interrupted by others.
- The more noise and other activity there is around them, the less they enjoy it.
- Play video poker at times when the casino is less busy. They prefer very late night and early morning hours where they can concentrate on playing the game without interruption.
- Abstain from drinking alcohol while playing video poker. In fact, they may not drink alcohol at all – or at minimum wait until after they are done playing for the day. They want to remain sharp in order to make sure they make no mistakes in playing strategy.
- Be aware of all aspects of the game they are playing – the status of their bankroll, how long it has been since their last full house, four of a kind, and so on.
- Play longer sessions – both in time and number of hands. The length of a session is determined more by the players state of mind and ability to concentrate and remain in control, than by whether or not it is dinner time.
The serious player’s focus, speed and length of playing sessions causes a routine that can become boring at times.
This makes their minds wander a bit and can cause some of the following thoughts to pass through their minds.
Random Thoughts That Can Impact Video Poker Players
Random thoughts and musings occur because playing hundreds and sometimes even more than a thousand hands per hour becomes monotonous.
It is true the player is constantly scanning each hand as it is dealt to determine which cards to hold and which to discard. This does occupy the mind to a degree.
But the monotony of doing this over and over takes its toll. The mind needs to “spice it up” a bit. The following – in no particular order – are some thoughts that typically occur.
- Wow – it seems like it has been a long time since any hand better than two pairs has happened.
- How many credits do I have now? Should I consider stopping because it is reaching a sizeable amount? Should I consider leaving because the credits are dwindling?
- How many times in a row have I been dealt a hand with nothing – not even a pair or high card?
- How many hands in a row containing a low pair have led to nothing?
- Isn’t it strange how often it is when I hold four cards of a straight (or flush) that the discard is replaced with a card of the same rank.
- Uh-oh. I missed that low pair and held a single high card. (This comment tends to happen more often the longer play continues and is a signal that it might be time to take a break).
- There sure have been a lot of hands with low pairs dealt recently.
- Look at that, another hand of four cards of a royal flush.
- Another hand with four cards of a flush. This hand should be completed, on average, once every 47 hands since there are 47 cards left in the deck that will complete it. How many of these hands have I had since my last completed hand?
- I am getting a little tired. Maybe it is time for a break.
- Wow. Look at the time. I have been playing for almost two hours straight on the same 100-dollar bill.
- This run of high pairs is nice, but all I end up with is another enough to play another hand.
- I am getting a little hungry. I will play until I reach 200 credits or until I get down to 150 credits.
- Oh no, a smoker just sat down next to me. Why does the smoke always head straight for me?
Those are some of the most common thoughts. You get the idea.
Always Remember - Mentality Is Key
Playing hundreds of hands of video poker each hour can lead to a type of boredom. The mind likes to keep active.
Fortunately, that is good for serious players. They are constantly looking at the current situation. Are things going well? Not so well? Are mistakes being made?
These random thoughts are good. They help to determine if it is time to take a break.
