It is an annual custom. People make resolutions on New Year’s Eve to improve their lives in some (usually) meaningful way. While most resolutions deal with fixing things in a person’s daily life, other areas should not be disregarded.
For many people reading this, resolutions concerning gambling style could very well top the list. Presented below are several suggestions for New Year’s resolutions that are appropriate and meaningful for video poker players.
Many of these resolutions will also apply to other types of casino gambling in general. Let's take a look.
Contents
- Have a Plan
- Preparing for the Trip
- Steps to Take While at the Casino
- Actions to Take After Play
- Summary
Have a Plan
Most video poker players I know are woefully lacking in this area. The only plan they have is to arrive at the casino, play all that they can while hoping to hit a royal flush or other jackpot, and then go home. They are usually disappointed. Resolve to make a plan – not just some vague ideas, but a comprehensive plan.
A proper plan for video poker play involves making a list of steps that, when followed, will improve the chances for success. This list includes preparing for the trip, steps to take while at the casino, and actions to take after play.
Preparing for the Trip
For any plan to succeed, there must be thought given to how the plan should proceed. That is what a plan is. Video poker players need knowledge to be successful in the casino.
This includes knowledge of several different aspects of video poker play.
- Game or games to play. Different video poker games have different characteristics. The two most important characteristics are return and variance. Games with low variance have few “jackpot-sized” winners – usually only the royal flush. High variance games have several jackpot-sized winning hands. The cost for these extra winning hands is the reduced pays for lower-paying hands. Lower variance means the player’s bankroll does not vary as much as it does in higher variance games. Resolve to pick the type of game that suits your style of play.
- Pay tables affect return so it is important to know which pay tables have the highest return – and if that return is adequate. If it is too low, the player’s bankroll can be quickly eliminated.
- Which games and pay tables are available at the desired casino. Knowing information about games and pay tables means nothing if they are not available at the casino.
- Know the strategy for maximum return. Once a player settles on a game and pay table that is available, the proper video poker strategy must be played to get the maximum return. This takes work. The proper strategy must be found online or from an app and the strategy must be learned. This takes time and practice – but it reaps rewards. Resolve to take the time and effort to learn the proper strategy.
- No plan for casino play would be complete without a financial plan. The funds for casino play must be truly discretionary. They must not be needed for any other purpose. Resolve to make plans for trip, daily, and session bankrolls before heading for the casino.
Steps to Take While At the Casino
Preparing for a trip to the casino is important. Executing the plan while in the casino is crucial. Those who follow their resolutions and develop a good plan, very often fail resolutions for keeping to the plan once they arrive at the casino. Major points of casino play resolutions include the following.
Many video poker players arrive at the casino and immediately plop down at a machine and begin to play. They do not that they may not be at their best. Resolve to take time to get acclimated to the casino atmosphere before diving into action.
Stick to your normal schedule while at home. As much as possible, resolve that meal times, bedtime, and wake up times mimic those at home. Keeping a normal rhythm helps keep the mind clear. There are enough distractions in the casino without adding to them with an unfamiliar schedule.
Resolve to practice good money management. Bring only the amount determined in the plans made at home to each playing session. When it is gone, the session is over. Do something else, whether it is an activity or resting. Make sure you get away from the casino environment between sessions.
An occasional alcoholic beverage can be relaxing, but can also quickly lead to more. Alcohol consumption dulls the senses causing strategy mistakes and loss of discipline. Resolve to keep drinking while playing at a minimum.
Resolve to cash out when winnings reach a certain point and set aside those winnings as trip profit. Do not use them further play. For example, $20 is originally fed into the game. After a period of play, the meter is at $65. Consider cashing out when the meter hits $80 or $60. This is to be taken home as profit. Continue playing the rest of the session bankroll, but do not touch the amount cashed out.
Resolve to stop playing immediately if mistakes are being made, if you become tired, or unable to concentrate. Even if there is plenty of session bankroll remaining, continuing play will put that at risk. Take a break from the casino. Walk around outside or take a rest somewhere. Return and continue the session when alert and in control once again.
Actions to Take After Play
Here are some good resolutions for after a session is completed.
- Put any session money left after play in a special spot to be taken home. This money should not be used to finance further play at the casino this trip.
- Resolve to make notes about each session when it is completed. Write down things that went well and, more importantly, things that did not. Make the notes while the session is fresh in mind. These notes can be very helpful in determining ways to improve in future play.
Summary
It is a sad fact that most New Year’s resolutions last a very short time. They are easily forgotten and people slip into their former bad habits.
Make a detailed written plan covering preparation for a casino trip, what to do while on the trip (both in and out of the casino), and finally, follow-up actions to be taken after play.
Resolve to faithfully follow your video poker resolutions. The above suggestions, if faithfully kept will allow video poker players to have fun while also protecting them from ruin.
Remember, it may not be true for all video poker players, but for me, winning is the most fun.
