The mathematical analysis in this blog was done by Rick Percy. I do not have the tools to do that analysis myself. Thank you, Rick!
My personal goal is to learn the best strategy for every game I play. Not everybody shares that goal. Some people want to minimize their work, or don’t have the time, or have trouble keeping the differences between strategies straight.
Continue reading Using One Strategy for Two GamesI was playing a $1 9/6 Double Double Bonus game with multiple progressives. The royal was at $5,400 and aces with a kicker (AWAK) was slightly above $2,300. The other two active progressives, which reset at $800, had been hit in the previous half hour and had not yet risen much.
The numbers made the game about 100.1% which I would usually consider a waste of time, but it was by far the best game in the house. The slot club added 0.2%, the meter was rising at 1%, and I needed to play some to keep my mailers coming. Plus, sadly, at the moment I didn’t know of any better game around, so I played.
Continue reading Is It Worth the Risk?A friend, Jake Jacobs, posted in passing on a Facebook page recently that he’d been active in car rallyes in the Chicago area way back when. Some of them were time-speed-distance events where you were timed and crossing a checkpoint 30 seconds early was as bad as 30 seconds late — but both were better than 40 seconds either way.
The other type of rallye was called a gimmick rallye, where time was not a factor, although you had to finish by such-and-such a time because that’s when awards were passed out. You were scored on the basis of your answers to questions, such as, “What is the name of the first street you pass on the right?” or, “How many streetlights do you pass between xxx and yyy?” There was always some sort of trick in the rules leading many participants to get the wrong answer.
Continue reading It All Adds UpIn January of this year, I was preparing to teach a video poker class at the South Point. As is my custom, once I got set up, I went around to chat with the students before the class began.
One lady I had never seen before seemed to be a friend of a frequent student. She told me her name and proclaimed, “I hate Stations!”
Continue reading “I Hate Stations,” She Said.The following email was sent to [email protected]. The correct answer, although not that difficult, has too much math for a podcast. So, I’m addressing it here.
I play full pay Jacks or Better (99.54% return), exclusively. I play $1 denomination at max bet for $5 a hand. The casino that I usually play at gives me, at minimum, $90 worth of free play once a week. For cash back, $5 coin-in on video poker earns one point. One thousand points is equal to $1 in value.
Continue reading Am I the Favorite?For the past two weeks, I’ve been posting about using different software in order to learn to play. A comment on the first such post read (lightly edited):
“Just some of plays worth two cents or less if you make the wrong one are sometimes on the rare side and some are somewhat common. So, for me personally, I wouldn’t sweat making this mistake once an hour or so. I’d compare this article to a card counter learning every single playing index for blackjack. While there is an index for splitting 10’s vs 2 and then doubling if one of them receives an ace, is it really worth learning?”
Continue reading Response to a Blog CommentToday we’re continuing last week’s discussion of comparing video poker software.
If you’re planning on playing Quick Quads or Ultimate X, the Pro Training software is the way to go. It’s accurate and gives you correction. I’m someone who highly values getting correction when I’m trying to play a game for real money. Other games that are unique to this software, but I don’t happen to play them, are Build a Wheel Poker, Color Match Poker, Deal Draw Poker, Double Pay Poker (single hand), Extra Action Poker, and Wheel Poker.
Continue reading Comparing Software on Difficult Hands — Part II of IIThis week’s article explains how WinPoker and Video Poker for Winners help you in different ways to become a competent player. Next week covers a new piece of software called Pro Training that’s available on the website www.videopoker.com for a monthly or annual fee.
I’ve had a lot of discussions with “Kal.” Kal played successful blackjack for years, but is relatively new to video poker. We bring different “beating the house” skills to the table and enjoy learning from each other.
Continue reading Comparing Software on Difficult Hands — Part I of IIThis is a repeat of a column from more than 10 years ago. Today, the games are different. I play at different places. I’ve even changed my wife! (Not on purpose. Fortunately, I’ve ended up in a good place with Bonnie. Shirley has moved back to Las Vegas after a time in California. She started showing up at the same advanced square dance group that Bonnie and I attend. For a time, it was awkward for Bonnie, but not so much anymore. I have no interest in turning back the clock and hooking up with Shirley again, and I’m pretty sure she feels similarly.) The thought processes I went through at the time remain intact today and are worth discussing.
One Wednesday evening, I was at my desk, answering email, recording daily results, preparing an article for the next week, etc. Shirley came in and asked if there was anything she could do. I told her she could sort my bag if she wanted.
Continue reading “Don’t Be So Negative”This is a lightly re-done version of a 10-year-old article. The principles still hold and even if you saw it way back when, we all need refreshers from time to time.
At some denominations and in some casinos, 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe (99.64%) can be the best available game. The pay schedule is identical between this game and 9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54%) — save for two items. Two Pair pays 2-for-1 in JoB and 1-for-1 in BPD; 4-of-a-kinds return 25-for-1 in JoB and 80-for-1 in BPD.
Continue reading Learning Advanced Bonus Poker Deluxe