Four Queens VP Tournament

Historically, there are two sessions...one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Each session is 10 minutes. Combined score of both sessions determine the winner and the 'in the money' finishers. Usually takes a royal to win.

Must be a lot of players if it usually takes a royal.

So, how do you modify your strategy?

That you'll have to figure out for yourself

4 Queens also allows for unlimited hands in the time frame so speed is a real advantage.

Correct

This may be wrong but three variations that I wouldn't do using cash are:

1) Hold Ace-Ten suited

2) If I have off-suited high cards, I only keep one of them to increase the chance of a royal or a quad. I try to keep the lower one to increase the chance of a straight.

3) I don't keep three cards to a flush unless they can form a straight flush. If there is a high card then I will keep it but otherwise it's a redraw.

Of course, playing that quickly probably causes accidental deviations from these strategies. I do my best to play proper strategy with cash and I have no basis to claim my above variations are valid at all. I don't mind if Don the Dentist laughs at me.

I would never laugh at you for strategy changes...something else? Maybe!

IMHO, there are no "definite strategy changes" where one size fits all. Each individual must assess the risk/reward associated with each change. If it takes a royal to win, does one go for the royal each and every hand? Does you toss a paying pair to go for a two card royal? What about a three card royal?

Do you play not necessarily to win, but to get in the money?

Its good to have a strategy mapped out beforehand, since the 10 minute time constraint doesn't allow changes on the fly, as you would be taking too much time to make the decision.

Don, makes some good points. My goal is to get into the money, or maximize my EV on the tournament. To me that means playing basic strategy as FAST as I can. The quads and royals will come when they come. Having said that....

If I am in the second session and time is running out and I am currently out of the money then I will go for just about everything. Break two pair, throw away flushes, straights etc... The key is knowing what a typical money score is. Once you have played in 1 or 2 you pretty much know the drill.

Good luck!

Thanks for the discussion, obviously the strategy is complex, and depends on the parameters for the tournament and your standing at any given moment, perhaps other things as well. Still, I imagine that there must be a mathematically optimal (or range of optimal) answers. How aggressively does one go for that royal? And when?

Don, maybe I asked my question wrong. The better question is, what's the best way to learn VP tournament strategy? Any resources you'd recommend?

If you met me then I am certain you could find something to laugh about . You folks have made some good points and may rethink my strategy. I've had no luck the last time including zero quads in both events. Perhaps I may play a normal strategy on the first day and see how I do. If I start poorly again then I will switch to my revised strategy on day two. Kiwi is 100% correct about not having the time to think about strategy while playing.