{"id":59902,"date":"2018-06-26T09:19:47","date_gmt":"2018-06-26T16:19:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/gambling-with-an-edge\/?p=59902"},"modified":"2018-06-26T10:26:12","modified_gmt":"2018-06-26T17:26:12","slug":"reasonable-expectations-attending-video-poker-classes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/gambling-with-an-edge\/reasonable-expectations-attending-video-poker-classes\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are Reasonable Expectations from Attending Video Poker Classes?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Author\u2019s note: \u00a0Last week I began a \u201cPart 1 of 2\u201d series about Maria Konnikova\u2019s book <\/span><\/i>The Confidence Game. <\/span>It is a reasonable expectation on your part that Part 2 would appear today. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

It\u2019s better for today\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Beginning Tuesday, July 3, at noon at the South Point, I\u2019m starting another 10-week semester of free video poker classes (http:\/\/bobdancer.com\/seminars<\/a>). I\u2019ve 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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. <\/span><\/p>\n

In the first class, Jacks or Better, you\u2019ll 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 \u201conly\u201d 99.54% — but with the slot club (0.30% at the South Point), mailers, promotions, etc., it\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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 \u201cmagic numbers\u201d 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 \u201cHow do you find the best type?\u201d of whatever game we are teaching that week. <\/span><\/p>\n

The second thing you will learn is how to play these games once you\u2019ve 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\u2019ll 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

You will learn things that are almost always true — such as, a suited <\/span>QJ<\/i><\/b> is more valuable than a suited <\/span>KQ<\/i><\/b>, and a <\/span>KQ <\/i><\/b>and <\/span>KJ <\/i><\/b>have exactly the same value. These things apparently are <\/span>not<\/span><\/i> common sense for many players. The explanation for \u201cwhy\u201d these things are true is very simple and most adults can understand once they hear.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

You are introduced to two different \u201cnovelty\u201d games — namely Ultimate X and Quick Quads. Many semesters we also teach Multi Strike — but the games are rotated, and that game didn\u2019t make the cut this time. These games are popular — yet a bit more complicated than other games. I personally enjoy them and play them.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2660 <\/span>J\u2665 T\u2665 <\/span>8\u2663 <\/span>4\u2666<\/span> is played differently than K\u2660 <\/span>J\u2665 T\u2665 <\/span>7\u2663 <\/span>4\u2666<\/span>, and numerous other close plays. It\u2019s not for beginners and some players believe life is too short to learn the game at this level. But I\u2019m somebody who believes it\u2019s important for my success that I attempt to master all games at this level.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In the last class, \u201cSecrets of a Video Poker Winner\u201d 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019t 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. <\/span><\/p>\n

Still, even if it\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>\n\"Facebook\"<\/a>\"twitter\"<\/a>\"youtube\"<\/a>\"instagram\"<\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Author\u2019s note: \u00a0Last week I began a \u201cPart 1 of 2\u201d series about Maria Konnikova\u2019s book The Confidence Game. It is a reasonable expectation on your part that Part 2 would appear today. It\u2019s better for today\u2019s article to appear one week before the classes begin rather than the day of. The review of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6498,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[2,3],"tags":[428,196],"yoast_head":"\nWhat Are Reasonable Expectations from Attending Video Poker Classes? - Gambling With An Edge<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/gambling-with-an-edge\/reasonable-expectations-attending-video-poker-classes\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Are Reasonable Expectations from Attending Video Poker Classes? - Gambling With An Edge\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Author\u2019s note: \u00a0Last week I began a \u201cPart 1 of 2\u201d series about Maria Konnikova\u2019s book The Confidence Game. 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