Yes, I can prove that the "math plays" result in a lesser overall loss with the same sorts of mathematical equations that are used in everyday life.

Mathematical calculations are the basis of the technology that is running this forum.

Mathematical calculations are what separate our lives in 2014 from the way people lived in the year 1014.

Asking me to prove that the "math" plays are optimal is like asking me to prove that 1+1 equals 2. These have been worked out and simulated by many people, all coming up with the identical optimal plays and expected returns.

Video poker differs from regular poker, which is more of an abstract game because some of the strategy involves exploiting human mistakes -- something difficult to calculate by computer. Video poker is a solitary game, as there is no opponent. It can easily be solved by mathematics, though the payouts are kept just low enough to where it cannot be beaten in the long term or even the short-long term.

Las Vegas has built its glittering city based upon people believing they have invented betting systems, win goals, session limits, etc to where they believe they have an edge. The casinos all laugh at this, because they have it all down to a simple mathematical formula.

That formula is: Money in * (Over 100% expected return) = More money out

Period.

There is no way to beat that with creative start-stop strategies.

100 hands today and 100 tomorrow is the same as 200 hands today.

The variance in your results is just luck, and the longer you play, the longer you will end up just like the expected return.

You do go home with wins sometimes when you get lucky, but you also go home with losses WAY past expectation, which more than cancel out those wins.

Even if you have been lucky (I think you said you won despite 1,000,000 tier credits in last year), it will catch up the luck will disappear. It does for everyone.

Now, if you have fun playing VP and don't mind the fact that you will lose over time, then that's fine. I just hope Rob hasn't influenced you into believing you can beat the game just by stopping after hitting a bit hand, or whatever nonsense he's peddling for the moment.

Think of it this way: If you play 400,000 hands, you will hit an average of 10 royals. If you stopped and went home after each of those royals, would it make a difference? No. You would still have hit an average number of royals, and you would still likely end up very close to the expected loss.