Author’s note: Last week I began a “Part 1 of 2” series about Maria Konnikova’s book The Confidence Game. It is a reasonable expectation on your part that Part 2 would appear today.
It’s better for today’s article to appear one week before the classes begin rather than the day of. The review of the book is not so sensitive — so the review was pushed back.
Beginning Tuesday, July 3, at noon at the South Point, I’m starting another 10-week semester of free video poker classes (http://bobdancer.com/seminars). I’ve taught several dozens of these semesters. Many of you have attended one or more of them. Still, some people have never attended and want to know if it is worth their while.
The first thing you will learn is how to find a game where you have a reasonable chance of success. In modern casinos, there are several hundred varieties of video poker games available. Some are decent. Most are not.
In the first class, Jacks or Better, you’ll learn how to find the 99.54% version, and leave the 98.45% and 97.30% (and worse!) versions alone. To be sure, the house still has an advantage when the game pays “only” 99.54% — but with the slot club (0.30% at the South Point), mailers, promotions, etc., it’s very close to even. Even if the house has a slight advantage, it is MUCH better to play this version than one of the others.
Learning how to find a good Jacks or Better game gives you hints on how to find a good game of another type — such as Bonus Poker, Double Bonus, Double Double Bonus, etc., but each game has its own “magic numbers” with respect to how much you get paid for the full house and flush. And Deuces Wild games use an entirely different method of figuring out which one is best. Each week the classes start with “How do you find the best type?” of whatever game we are teaching that week.
The second thing you will learn is how to play these games once you’ve found them. Each game is played differently. If you attend several of the classes, you will learn how changes in the value of each of the pay schedule categories affect the strategy. For example, games with flushes returning 7-for-1 are played differently from those returning 6-for-1 which are played differently from those returning 5-for-1. You’ll have examples of all three this semester. The value of the straights, two pair, and even certain four of a kinds require systematic strategic changes as well.
You will learn things that are almost always true — such as, a suited QJ is more valuable than a suited KQ, and a KQ and KJ have exactly the same value. These things apparently are not common sense for many players. The explanation for “why” these things are true is very simple and most adults can understand once they hear.
Nobody expects you to master all the games after attending one of my classes. Many players attend a semester or two of classes to get a feel for what’s out there, and then they specialize in one or two of them. Different games appeal to different players and different games are available for different stakes. Figuring out which ones meet your preferences and bankroll requires gathering some information — but through these classes, that information is available.
You are introduced to two different “novelty” games — namely Ultimate X and Quick Quads. Many semesters we also teach Multi Strike — but the games are rotated, and that game didn’t make the cut this time. These games are popular — yet a bit more complicated than other games. I personally enjoy them and play them.
One week every semester covers one game at the advanced level — and this time that game is Bonus Poker. At the advanced level you learn why K♠ J♥ T♥ 8♣ 4♦ is played differently than K♠ J♥ T♥ 7♣ 4♦, and numerous other close plays. It’s not for beginners and some players believe life is too short to learn the game at this level. But I’m somebody who believes it’s important for my success that I attempt to master all games at this level.
In the last class, “Secrets of a Video Poker Winner” which will be taught on September 4, we will cover for the first time how the 2017 tax bill changes your liability for W2Gs. Nobody likes taxes — but at a minimum you need to be aware of how the changes in the law affect you.
The last thing to discuss is what the class will not do. You will not be able to sit in class for a few hours and suddenly become a video poker expert. It doesn’t work that way. To get good requires a lot of study and it takes time. You will be provided with a roadmap that you can follow, but how closely you adhere to that roadmap is totally up to you.
Still, even if it’s not your goal to become an expert, learning a little will allow you to get a lot more bang for your gambling dollar. Video poker is a game where players with average intelligence can become good enough to gamble fairly even with the house. That’s simply not true for most other gambling games. But it does require study to get good enough to be at this level and for many, these classes are a good place to start.
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I’m puzzled as to why Mr. Dancer bothers with Bonus Poker at all. I can’t believe that he plays it, because it’s EV is a low 99.17% and can virtually never be made a 100.0% proposition via added perks. His rule of thumb is that if the overall EV of playing a game isn’t at least 100.0%, he doesn’t play it. So if he doesn’t play Bonus Poker, why is he teaching it to others? For him to teach a game in his seminar connotes to attenders that such game is one that they should play. But in this case, the connotation would not be true. I’d be interested in hearing an explanation.
Bonus poker has a better theo.
I play an 8-5 Bonus poker progressive that regularly exceeds 100% even without comps. points. mailers etc.
Being a recreational video poker player, I very much enjoy Bonus Poker. In fact it is my preferred game. Somewhat low volatility, but when added to my comps ( hotel rooms, food, free play, spa, points, etc) it makes it a positive EV for me. Even if the EV was less than positive, I enjoy the game and would play. I very much appreciate Bob’s articles and have learned a lot. If I lived in LV I would enjoy taking his semester class.
I enjoyed the double bonus class I took from you. It helped me add a game to video poker experience. True, I did not master the game after one class but the class did give me the confidence to play the game. I would take more of your classes but I only get to Vegas three or four times a year and there may or may not be a class series going on when I am in Vegas. Keep up the video poker communication.
8/5 bonus is also far more likely to be seen on a game with a progressive than 9/6 JoB is.
8/5 bonus is often available at slightly higher return in specialty games like dream card, and super times pay, while still using the same strategy