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Video Poker The effect of free alcohol on VP play.

Discussion in 'Video Poker' started by bman77, Jul 1, 2020.

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  1. bman77

    bman77 Low-Roller

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    I just started my third rum and coke here at home as I practice video poker. I observe my play is perhaps slightly worse when doing this and ponder, will I not drink while at the bar in Vegas. What about you all? I go out toVegas once or twice a year. I'm not going out there to be Bobby Dancer and beat the system. I want to relax and have fun and hopefully have better chances than the average bear by practicing and playing VP games with good pay tables. When I go to Vegas I'd like to come back a winner and I'm not going to play when I'm completely smashed, but that said, I accept that having a few may cost me some cash in the long run. What about you all? play sober and drink the diet cokes ,coffee, and water? or have a few, and it is, what it is?
     
    Spring 2024
  2. Astribling

    Astribling Alice In Casinoland

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    No alcohol? Oh hell no! If I'm sitting at Chandelier playing vp, I'm drinking raspberry lemon drops! Although I never get stupid drunk, and AFAIK I've never made a horrible vp mistake.
     
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  3. bman77

    bman77 Low-Roller

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    I've never had a rasberry lemon drop,I'm going to try one while I play this trip.
     
    Spring 2024
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  4. JaDubya

    JaDubya High Roller? Nah...just a Roller

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    I used to slam a double shot of Jack Daniels with a coke chaser and gamble. I’d do it in front of the cocktail waitress just to make them wince (worked 100% of the time). I was playing slots not VP but still made VERY poor decisions like “maybe I should leave...nah...one more pull...”

    I only drink coffee & water now. One vice per night for me.

    Good luck!
     
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  5. rcbeamer

    rcbeamer Low-Roller

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    I've had some of my my best sessions at VP whilst under the influence of alcohol, and I've had some of my worst as well. H*ll, 99 and 44/100% of them were as such.
     
  6. bman77

    bman77 Low-Roller

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    @rcbeamer, aint' that the truth. Same here. That being said, I know it's best to play sober in the long term, but what the hell, I'm a working stiff, 5 to 10 days of freedom a year, I aint' going out there to drink bottled water.
     
    Spring 2024
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  7. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    If i didn't drink while playing VP, I don't think I would be going to Vegas.

    Does getting more drunk make me screw up more? Yes. Is it a lot? Not really. I tend to mess up the most drinking AND bullshitting with someone. But at that point, I don't care as long as I'm playing enough to keep getting drinks because when I get distracted, I'll barely play.

    Hell last trip, I was told to play more by a Bellagio sportsbook bartender because I was bullshitting too much with @MacAttack and his friend C. But around that time I hit this. :evillaugh:

    20190909_023431.jpg
     
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  8. 44inarow

    44inarow VIP Whale

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    With practice (sober or otherwise) it becomes pretty automatic. JoB and blackjack were my go-to games back when I was drinking, because I knew all the plays cold, and they're flat-bet games; I could have been totally blacked-out but still on top of basic strategy (with the exception of super borderline plays like a 15/16 against a face card, where you're talking hundredths of a percent depending on what you do). Something like craps or roulette, by contrast, has the opportunity for you to throw out random stupid bets with a high house edge.
     
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  9. smbrake

    smbrake Low-Roller

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    If they are offering "free" cocktails I've got one in my hand while playing. If I have to actually pay for one then I'll pass. But going to the casino is a form of entertainment and relaxation for me...and a cocktail just makes that better. Only get stupid drunk while riding the High Roller, lol.
     
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  10. woodsie

    woodsie VIP Whale

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    The "point" of Vegas not to mention casino gambling in general is to have fun. There is no statistically reasonable expectation of making money. Good play and good rules only have value insofar as they contribute to improving your "bang for the buck" in terms of entertainment.

    With that in mind, you have to decide if drinking and playing poorly is more fun per dollar spent than being sober and playing perfectly. The range of possible answers to that question lies on a continuum, not a binary range.
     
  11. Jejas

    Jejas VIP Whale

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    water only while playing
     
  12. carolineno

    carolineno VIP Whale

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    I find that I still make correct plays if I'm drinking, but I will feed the machine more money and play for longer than I should. If I could find some fun nickle vp on the strip I'd be good to go! Could play forever on that lol. That's where our friend Caveman Keno comes in...
     
    Ladies getaway, somewhere on the strip with a pool :)
  13. AlPal

    AlPal Vegas Addict

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    I always tell myself that I shouldn’t drink and play, but then I always do it. It leads to silly things like this. Worked out here, but WTF was I thinking? B761F43C-27BE-44E9-A5B8-355EB43A742B.jpeg
     
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  14. oghuman

    oghuman VIP Whale

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    If you have a drink or 2 you loosen up and may be a bit more daring. You just might go for that Royal instead of hold that pair of Jacks when you have three suited cards to a Royal. 4000 credits is better than 5 and you can make up any of those 5 credit hands you gave up.
     
  15. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    Regardless of the paytables offered, Vegas without booze is a -EV game!

    I only play a few different variants of VP, so I have the strategy for those down. I’m 100% confident that booze doesn’t cause me to make incorrect plays. In fact, I’m probably more likely to make mistakes when I’m not drinking because I usually play more quickly when I’m sober - particularly if I’ve had a bunch of coffee.

    Of course, the fact that booze doesn’t screw up my play doesn’t mean it doesn’t cost me money. I know that I’m more likely to chase losses or not walk away when I should when I’ve had a lot to drink. (It’s worth the extra cost, though! :drunk:)
     
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  16. flyguyfl

    flyguyfl MIA

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    I don't drink hard stuff often and never while gambling. So I tend to space out the wine and beers definitely at table games and most of the time at VP.
     
  17. AyDee

    AyDee is getting too old for this

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    Hey, when the $s are vanishing hard and fast, sometimes you need to slow down and see if you can drink more value than you lost.
    It can be a challenge in more ways than one.
     
  18. kkinwi

    kkinwi VIP Whale

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    I usually don't sit at the bar and play for this very reason.....if the drink is there I am constantly sipping and find myself moving to the inebriated state. I like to drink while I play, but it seems more measured out on the floor waiting for the CW to come and go.
     
  19. bobby jones

    bobby jones VIP Whale

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    I tend to play and drink different things depending on game or time of day.

    I don’t really drink alcohol pre noon although that rule has been broken on occasion.
    Mornings are usually blackjack or craps with tea.

    Afternoons could be a mix of vp or slots, usually a beer. Pre dinner, high end liquor/cocktail. Dinner is Normally wine. Post dinner usually blackjack/craps with rye and ginger or vodka with a beer.

    like others said, it’s a vacation, if I make a wrong decision or two so be it!
     
  20. CaptCampion

    CaptCampion VIP Whale

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    I drink the alphabet. Alabama Slammer, B-52, Cuba Libre, Duck Fart, etc.

    My most creative decisions are around J/K

    Optimal game play is around E because I'm drunk enough to really pick up my pace of play but I'm not making horrific mistakes yet.

    Around O I really need to head to the Steak and Shake for some fries......
     
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