By Bob Dancer
232 pp. Huntington Press, 2008
$24.95
The last time I looked, there were dozens and dozens of books on video poker available out there from Amazon or AbeBooks or virtually any other book retailer. Some of them have great subtitles, like Steven Daniels’ The Game Plan: how to stay in the game long enough to actually Hit A Jackpot. Or perhaps a too-descriptive title, like Shepard King’s Video Poker: The Face of Pain. Out of all of them, though, there’s a clear favorite that I continually go back to: Bob Dancer’s Video Poker for the Intelligent Beginner. While it’s publication date 10 years ago means you won’t find specifics for new variants like “Barnyard Poker” or “Ultimate X Wheel Poker,” it’s still the best book you’ll find covering the basics, with tips that apply to every game.
The back cover credits Dancer with being “the world’s number-one video poker expert,” and I can substantiate that claim. There may be an autistic savant somewhere who could match or exceed his playing skills, but Dancer deserves the #1 ranking for his willingness to share his insights. It is something he extends to both players and operators.
I first met Bob in Reno over 25 years ago. He stood out in our Reno Fitzgeralds’ database, since he had terrific coin-in totals but relatively low actual win. About the time we were considering the future of video poker, he and his partner, a fellow named Jeff Compton, approached us and offered to help us improve both our poker product strategy and our loyalty and marketing programs. Their new firm was called CDC, reflecting Compton and Dancer. It was the start of a long and fruitful relationship that greatly improved my operational skills for years to come. Bob left Jeff’s CDC Gaming Reports group several years ago, but he still frequently contributes to various CDC projects.
I utilized his skills again some time later, when I was working at the Atlantis in Reno. The Atlantis was the preferred place to play for many poker pros, and I needed to understand them as much as I could. However, Bob’s main role at the Atlantis was educating customers on how to play better, not teaching operators how to increase win. He even did a few seminars for our guests on the subject. So why would we pay someone to do that?
To me the answer seems obvious. Better players do tend to lower your hold percentages a bit, but our research showed that they tended to stay longer and return more often. More importantly, we still usually managed to collect their entire gaming budget. It just took a little longer.
Not every operator shares that philosophy, of course, and Dancer’s dedication in this book probably will cement those operator misgivings even more: “This book is dedicated to those who really want to kick the casino in the butt but need a little help to get started. Start kicking!”
So, then, another question arises: Why would any operator want to read a book aimed at making video poker players better? Consider that video poker is the No. 1 most popular game ever. (Wait, what? Doesn’t “Wheel of Fortune” or “Dragon Link” hold that title? Not if you look at the number of games installed and handle pulls per game.) That alone means you need to know as much about it as you can. But you’ll also find less obvious, but just as important, information in each chapter. Part III, which covers slot clubs and promotions, is solid gold. I’ve seen operators eliminate or tighten their poker games far too much when the problem is not the games, but rather their lack of understanding of how they need to consider the relationships that exist between the games on the floor and their own marketing strategies. Far too often these disciplines are relegated to non-communicating silos. That can cost you dearly. Read this of the book part closely.
Perhaps the best reason to read Dancer’s book is that it will bring you closer to your players. A good percentage of your best guests are very serious about gambling and pay close attention to how they spend their money. When you’re on the floor talking with them (as you should be on a regular basis) you need to understand the games they’re playing and the rudimentary concepts of good poker strategy. They’ll consider you an idiot if you don’t know basic and intermediate strategy. One quick read of this book, and you’ll have enough skills to survive any player cocktail party with your reputation intact.
If you want to go deeper in your video poker learning curve, Dancer’s software package, “Video Poker for Winners” ($49.95) is also excellent. As an operator, it was invaluable for me, saving me countless hours of doing the math to evaluate new pay table variants.
The book is also available on Kindle for just $9.99. However, some Amazon reviewers have said that the Kindle version is “too cumbersome for a book of this type” and that “it is hard to get the tables off of my tablet.” I’d recommend forsaking the e-text in this case and picking up a copy of the paperback.
While I consider Dancer a close professional friend, we’re not always on the same page. I’ve had countless debates with him over the years. But I’ve learned something from him each time, and I can only hope that I was, in some way, able to reciprocate a little. In other words, I’m definitely not a commissioned salesman for him or his products; my recommendation that you read this book is only because I believe it, and Bob’s software package, will make you a better operator. Period.
Postscript: If you have not already added www.videopoker.com to your bookmarks, do so immediately. It is from IGT, and it’s free (except for some of their upgrades). That’s where you can see, and play, all the new video poker variants, including the aforementioned “Barnyard” and “Ultimate X Wheel Poker.”
