Gamblers-Aid -- How to make a living gambling in the casinos

It is always important to choose the machine that you are going to play with care. Though there are some odd machines that give a reasonable expectation of success, for the sake of simplicity, I'm going to tell you to only play "Jacks or Better" machines. Also to avoid any of these that have a payout of 1 for 1 on two pair or 2 for 1 on three of a kind.

The reasoning for this is that the two pairs and three of a kinds are your staple opening hand. They are the hands that you will be playing most often, and, though they have a better chance of improving than four flushes or country straights, they will still not improve much more often than they will improve. You are about twice as likely to be dealt two pair as you are to be dealt three of a kind. Allowing the house to pay 1 for 1 on three of a kind is giving them too big of an edge. DON'T DO IT!

Location. This is a point that will be argued by everyone, from the super logical to the Nevada Gaming Commission. It's as likely that I'm just being superstitious as having anything real to say, and I certainly can't prove it but, I feel most comfortable playing video poker machines that are on the end of a row, on a main aisle and preferably on the right side of the main aisle (so that as you walk down the aisle, if you look to your right, you will se it). If you can find one near the line for the show or a restaurant, this is a highly-visible location also. This is probably a hangover from knowing that they put the more liberal slots in the high visibility positions and some knowledge of psychological store layout (most people will keep to the right of any aisle, will bear to the right if given a choice and will look to the right before the left. Video Poker machines are supposed to be programmed to give an honest shuffle and a random deal, but I can't help suspecting that the house shaves the odds slightly on some machines and makes them more liberal on others. The overall result would be undetectable unless you methodically went through the program in each (they're hard programed, not easily changed or checked) and the Gaming Commission doesn't have the manpower for that kind of exercise. So I play high visibility machines, it works for me.

Video Poker
	It is possible to win constantly at Video Poker assuming discipline and an adequate bankroll. The house, in most cases, relies on player weakness to make a real profit and, of course, the odds are shaved somewhat on the payouts.
	Picking The Right Machine
	It is always important to choose the machine that you are going to play with care. Though there are some odd machines that give a reasonable expectation of success, for the sake of simplicity, I'm going to tell you to only play "Jacks or Better" machines. Also to avoid any of these that have a payout of 1 for 1 on two pair or 2 for 1 on three of a kind. The reasoning for this is that the two pairs and three of a kinds are your staple opening hand. They are the hands that you will be playing most often, and, though they have a better chance of improving than four flushes or country straights, they will still not improve much more often than they will improve. You are about twice as likely to be dealt two pair as you are to be dealt three of a kind. Allowing the house to pay 1 for 1 on three of a kind is giving them too big of an edge. DON'T DO IT! Location. This is a point that will be argued by everyone, from the super logical to the Nevada Gaming Commission. It's as likely that I'm just being superstitious as having anything real to say, and I certainly can't prove it but, I feel most comfortable playing video poker machines that are on the end of a row, on a main aisle and preferably on the right side of the main aisle (so that as you walk down the aisle, if you look to your right, you will se it). If you can find one near the line for the show or a restaurant, this is a highly-visible location also. This is probably a hangover from knowing that they put the more liberal slots in the high visibility positions and some knowledge of psychological store layout (most people will keep to the right of any aisle, will bear to the right if given a choice and will look to the right before the left. Video Poker machines are supposed to be programmed to give an honest shuffle and a random deal, but I can't help suspecting that the house shaves the odds slightly on some machines and makes them more liberal on others. The overall result would be undetectable unless you methodically went through the program in each (they're hard programed, not easily changed or checked) and the Gaming Commission doesn't have the manpower for that kind of exercise. So I play high visibility machines, it works for me.
	Approaches
	There are two really good approaches to playing video poker — one which I have been playing for years with reasonable success, and one that Mike Caro swears is the most profitable method of play. Mine is more conservative and requires a smaller bankroll (though not so small as we would like) and Caro's gives you a better shot at the really big (and really rare) winners, but requires about double the bankroll. Take your pick. Mine Caro's