
A friend came into town and we played several days of video poker.
For those who do not play, video poker is basically five-card draw. You bet 5 coins per hand and can discard up to all 5 cards to try to improve your hand. You do not have to beat anyone but are paid according to a schedule on each machine. There are many variations, inlcuding the popular 3,4,10,50 & even 100 lines at a time.
Although I am not a "whale," I am considered a high roller. All hotels, meals, air fare, and Jay Leno show were comped. In spite of several good-sized jackpots, I broke even the first week after my bankroll started dropping as quickly as the temperature.
The first photo is what happened the next week when I took my friend back to Reno for her flight home. The dollar machine dealt me a Royal Flush. I was playing five hands, $5 each for a total bet of $25.
IGT manufactures these fun machines (I own their stock) and you can play on their web site, but it doesn't teach you the correct strategy. For that, you need to buy WinPoker or Frugal Video Poker, both available at Video Poker Home Page