--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, Barry Glazer <b.glazer@...> wrote:While it is obvious that a higher payscale for a given game is better than a lower payscale, no matter which of the hands contributes to the higher payscale, there are a couple of problems -- in practice, not in theory. TRUNCATED...
FK REPLY
Dear Barry. You've made good points, but I think you missed the point of why I posted this mental experiment. It was a "what if game" to illustrate how getting paid more for a jackpot is better than getting paid less.
There are so few good progressives around anymore it's a moot point, and the scouting, and waiting for seats, etc.., are all good reasons why it is too much effort & insufficient gain. I wasn't trying to tell anyone they should go out and do this TODAY.
My goal was to explain, using simple math and people's own results, some of the concepts of probability which govern video poker.
You seem to have confused a hypothetical math and history lesson with marching orders.
There was a time 20 years ago when you could have gone out and done it, but that time has mostly passed. I've been saying as much for years. In the heyday there were 6 large teams ranging from 10-60 players. Now the TOTAL number of people doing it, you could count on two hands and they make less every year.
In my recent interview with Dr. McCown it came out that "understanding probability math and adhering to it" is considered one of the best insulating factors to avoid gambling problems. Not understanding probability math is considered a risk factor for developing gambling problems. To the psychological community the line is clear. Math = Good
The problem is most people don't really understand probability math, or worse, they misunderstand it but think they have it right. Of course it's easy enough to differentiate if one sits down and takes a math test. Not too many people do that after leaving school.
Anyway, the points you made about the negative aspects of trying to play progressives in 2012 are mostly correct. Where I disagree, it's not worth the time to type to say.
However, the state of the VP in 2012 should NOT EFFECT the validity of using progressives as an EXAMPLE to teach basic probability math.
Even though the dodo bird is extinct, I can still say, "How many dodos would you have if a group of 2 dodos were joined by another?"...and have the correct answer be "3".
~FK
P.S. I intentionally used the "dodo bird" metaphor as a straight line and set up for someone else to make a joke. If you choose to use it there will be a small fee involved.
