Since 1997 I’ve been playing my Single-Play sessions as I’ve found time to go to Nevada - many times on a weekly basis. The first 3 years found me playing part-time, as I was assigned overseas and was able to be home only several times a month. The years 2000 through 2002 allowed me to play nearly full-time, and during that period I developed a Multi-Play strategy when I found 5-Play was the only true mutli capable of being beaten on a consistent basis. Recently I’ve developed a winning Play Strategy for the new Multi-Strike Poker game, and I’m expecting more and more machines hopefully at the dollar level to be available throughout the 2nd half of 2003. I’m also adopting changes to how I’m approaching for-profit play beginning in May 2003.

Change defines people. I’ve been involved in it my entire professional career -- whether in the business environment or with my video poker play. Partly because of what’s going on in the world today, partly because of my “video poker romp through town” successes, and partly because of exciting new casino opportunities that every professional player should notice and take advantage of – I’ve decided to change not my Play Strategies, but how and when I apply them.

I don’t consider myself a full-time player any longer at this point. Since 9-11, and since the subsequent job working on special projects I’ve become interested in during 2002, although I’ve found it possible to make weekly trips to Nevada if I want to, I don’t need to in order to make my living. I’ve already proven that can be done as a full-time endeavor more so than any other player. Now it’s time to redefine and re-apply my strategies, approaches and efforts towards more enjoyable, less intense play while exploiting previously unseen casino opportunities I’ve uncovered in the last 6 months or so.

For starters, I’ll now count every visit to Nevada - whether alone or not – as for-profit play, and I’ll record it in my won-loss record. Because of the more relaxed method of play, I expect both my winning percentage to go down some and my average win/session to go down quite a bit – but only because I won’t be playing for a goal of at least $2500 nearly as often any more. Previously, vacations and other visits were never counted because they included typical ‘tourist-type play’ where I’d sit for a few hours like everyone else trying to hit the big one while awaiting on a schedule. There will still be times when I choose to play a normal session just to keep on top of that part of my game - or if I’d like a good shot of cash - but the majority of my play will be chasing much smaller goals.

One major change is that I will use a slot club card for all play. I don’t believe the way I’ll be playing will attract any undue attention, and I won’t expect to be restricted by any casino or from any high-limit area as I was in 2001 - which caused me to immediately stop using my cards from that point forward. One thing I will not be doing is sitting for hours at any one machine, because I’ve been there before and found that’s not only boring, it’s not financially wise no matter how knowledgeable you are. What I will be doing is many mini “romps through town” (see Article Archives for past experiences I’ve written about on a larger-scale basis). These romps will be undertaken at mostly dollars and above, with small win goals that vary by visit. I will prove over and over, as I already have in my “Romp” articles, that locals can actually win cash every single day if they simply have the discipline and desire to do it.

A change in the industry is taking place right now, and probably for quite a while into the future. Casinos are becoming desperate to get players in. I also hate to say this, but unless they seriously tighten security, casinos seems all too easy a target for some nut to attack. Las Vegas is a shining symbol of America, and such success is despised by the extremist groups we’re at war with. One terrorist-caused death in any casino will hurt bottom line even further. Although cash back won’t be as plentiful as it once was, comps are becoming ever easier to get. I’ll mainly be targeting the mega-resorts once again, because why take a trip and stay in second or third class surroundings when the world of luxury awaits? I’ve had few comps the past several years since I rarely used a slot card. Now my initial strategy is to give them ALL a taste of my play and make them want me back! And it isn’t that tough. A few weeks ago I stopped into Bellagio and asked that they release the restriction placed on me for offers. But before I did so, I put $3000 thru the $100 BP machine, won 5 credits, and expected to Be and Was noticed. I left with a 2-night comp invite with limited RFB. I’ll be doing similar things all over town in the coming 6-12 months. I’ll be playing ‘hit-and-run’ video poker. And I’ll get them all to want me back. The timing is right, the casinos are ripe, and I’m ready to exploit their present weaknesses. That’s how you play advantage video poker.

One final note: Once the dollar Multi-Strike Video Poker games become available & plentiful, I’ll be using my MSVP Play Strategy on them probably fairly often. It’s a new and exciting game, and played with the proper short-term strategy and bankroll, it is a lot of fun. My strategy can of course be used on quarter machines, but I expect dollars to offer better pay tables. I’m looking forward to my new method of play beginning this month. As they say: “You’ll never get anywhere until you go through that first door”. I’ve done that. Now I’m going through the next one.