Hey, just thought I’d chime in here since I saw this thread pop up. I’ve been messing around with the shaving system in video poker for a little while now, and I figured I’d share how it’s been going for me. I’m not some big expert or anything, just a guy who likes playing around with strategies to see what sticks.
So, with shaving, I’ve been tweaking my bets based on how the session’s going. Like, I start with something small—say, a quarter per hand—and if I hit a decent payout, maybe a flush or a straight, I bump it up a bit. Nothing crazy, just enough to ride the wave without going overboard. Then, if things start cooling off—like if I’m just getting junk hands for a while—I dial it back down. It’s all about finding that rhythm, you know? I mostly play Jacks or Better since it’s pretty straightforward, but I’ve tried it on Deuces Wild too.
The other night, I was on a machine at this local spot, and I swear it felt like the cards were just teasing me. Started with my usual low bet, got a couple of pairs, nothing special. Then I hit a full house out of nowhere—three kings and a pair of sevens. Felt like a little win, so I upped the bet to 50 cents a hand. Next thing I know, I’m dealt a four of a kind, all tens. Not life-changing or anything, but it was enough to keep me grinning for the rest of the night. I shaved it back down after that, though—didn’t want to push my luck too far.
It’s not like I’ve cracked some secret code or anything. Some sessions I walk away with a little extra, others I’m just breaking even or down a bit. But I kind of like how it keeps me in the game longer without blowing through everything too fast. I’ve noticed it works best when I’m paying attention to the paytable and not just betting blind—those little differences in payouts really add up over time.
I guess I’m just curious if anyone else has been playing around with this? Like, how do you decide when to bump up or pull back? I feel like I’m still figuring it out, and sometimes I second-guess myself mid-session. Anyway, that’s my little story—nothing huge, just some small wins that keep me coming back. Would love to hear if this clicks for anyone else out there.
So, with shaving, I’ve been tweaking my bets based on how the session’s going. Like, I start with something small—say, a quarter per hand—and if I hit a decent payout, maybe a flush or a straight, I bump it up a bit. Nothing crazy, just enough to ride the wave without going overboard. Then, if things start cooling off—like if I’m just getting junk hands for a while—I dial it back down. It’s all about finding that rhythm, you know? I mostly play Jacks or Better since it’s pretty straightforward, but I’ve tried it on Deuces Wild too.
The other night, I was on a machine at this local spot, and I swear it felt like the cards were just teasing me. Started with my usual low bet, got a couple of pairs, nothing special. Then I hit a full house out of nowhere—three kings and a pair of sevens. Felt like a little win, so I upped the bet to 50 cents a hand. Next thing I know, I’m dealt a four of a kind, all tens. Not life-changing or anything, but it was enough to keep me grinning for the rest of the night. I shaved it back down after that, though—didn’t want to push my luck too far.
It’s not like I’ve cracked some secret code or anything. Some sessions I walk away with a little extra, others I’m just breaking even or down a bit. But I kind of like how it keeps me in the game longer without blowing through everything too fast. I’ve noticed it works best when I’m paying attention to the paytable and not just betting blind—those little differences in payouts really add up over time.
I guess I’m just curious if anyone else has been playing around with this? Like, how do you decide when to bump up or pull back? I feel like I’m still figuring it out, and sometimes I second-guess myself mid-session. Anyway, that’s my little story—nothing huge, just some small wins that keep me coming back. Would love to hear if this clicks for anyone else out there.