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Video Poker Video Poker Question....

Discussion in 'Video Poker' started by Dexter538, Mar 29, 2013.

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  1. Dexter538

    Dexter538 Tourist

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    I just got back from Vegas. While playing JOB at the boars head bar at MSS, I was dealt 9,10,J,Q of Hearts. I thought do I go for the straight/straight flush and hold those 4 cards, or do I ditch the 9h too and go for the Royal.

    I held all 4 hearts 9,10,J,Q

    Result was a straight flush.


    What would you have done?

    Would you do what I did or go for the royal?
     

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  2. mike_m235

    mike_m235 Tourist

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    You made the right play by a wide margin. It's not even close.
     
  3. raisingoo

    raisingoo Medium-Roller

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    http://wizardofodds.com/games/video-poker/strategy/jacks-or-better/9-6/optimal/ has optimal strategy for JOB 9/6.

    Ranked from the absolute best hand (dealt royal flush, #1, expected value (EV) 800 x 5 coins) to the worst (garbage hand i.e. trash everything, #36, EV 0.3597 coins)...

    ...you could treat this as:

    #9 4 to a straight flush (EV 3.5319 coins)

    --OR--

    #12 3 to a royal flush (EV 1.2868 coins)

    --OR--

    even something lower like #13 4 to a flush or #16 4 to an outside straight.

    But the thing is, you went with the best choice with the highest EV.

    Yes, you are dismissing the possibility of a royal with this choice by holding the 9... but your choice gave you a higher EV overall and therefore was really the best choice in the longview.

    Congratulations on your straight fluish.
     
  4. KBT2012

    KBT2012 High-Roller

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    That is the correct play.

    Wizard of Odds chart for simple JOB strategy. www.wizardofodds.com

    Four of a kind, straight flush, royal flush
    4 to a royal flush
    Three of a kind, straight, flush, full house
    4 to a straight flush
    Two pair
    High pair
    3 to a royal flush
    4 to a flush
    Low pair
    4 to an outside straight
    2 suited high cards
    3 to a straight flush
    2 unsuited high cards (if more than 2 then pick the lowest 2)
    Suited 10/J, 10/Q, or 10/K
    One high card
    Discard everything
     
  5. mike_m235

    mike_m235 Tourist

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    And in this case, his EV on the four to a straight flush is even higher because he also has the chance to pair the Q or J.

    The EV is really 3.66 to 1.38 for this particular hand.
     
  6. Reston

    Reston VIP Whale

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    My question is what would you do if you were dealt 9,10,J,Q,K of hearts? Happened to me once on a $1 machine.
     
  7. Wanger1969

    Wanger1969 Iowa Nice

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    I would never throw away an already winning hand.
     
  8. robert m.

    robert m. High-Roller

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    I would keep the dealt SF over 4 to a royal.

    You have only a 1/47 chance of completing that royal.

    The SF is a certain 250 credits.
     
  9. Fish Tacos

    Fish Tacos Low-Roller

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    I'd be really tempted to go for that royal. Especially on a progressive machine.
     
  10. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    Deleted, read the OP wrong.
     
  11. mike_m235

    mike_m235 Tourist

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    If you're winning 250 for the SF, the progressive would need to pay 11750 for it to be a good decision to throw away the SF.
     
  12. Reston

    Reston VIP Whale

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    So you'd keep 4H, 5H, 6H, 7H, and KH?
     
  13. Reston

    Reston VIP Whale

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    Me too, so I did. I was on a roll that year. It was at Barona BTW.
     
  14. mike_m235

    mike_m235 Tourist

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    Only if you wanted to make the correct play. By a wide margin. The flush is worth 6 coins. The four to a SF is worth 3.4.
     
  15. Chuck2009x

    Chuck2009x VIP Whale

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    I don't even really play VP, but even I know you did the right thing.

    You didn't say what your 5th card on the deal was, but you potentially had 6 cards left in the deck to make a straight and 2 to make a straight flush. Plus 6 cards left to at least pair up the J or Q.

    Whereas the probability of filling the A-K to make the royal would be 0.000925 or 0.0925% I know that doesn't consider EV, but it's a faster and easier way to make a decision.
     
  16. KKB

    KKB VIP Whale

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    Most who play VP

    Are playing because the odds are better than many other games. You made the correct play, as it had the best odds.

    If you are going to choose to go for the royal, it is more of a gamble to win bigger. If you want to gamble to win bigger, go for slots. The theory behind playing VP ideally is that I will win smaller pots more often to keep me playing to eventually get the bigger pot.

    Personally I don't know the theory behind slots...:rolleyes2: (at least over VP)
     
  17. Jersey_Bill

    Jersey_Bill High-Roller

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    Agree KKB !

    But I still play slots occasionally because they often result in lightning striking with no rhyme nor reason. I once put a $20 into a Monopoly machine and soon saw a $400 jackpot and had no idea why - but I took it.

    Today I play VP because it does take skill to get the strategy right - and it does seem like a war played out in front of you to get the little wins to get to the big jackpot. That happened spectacularly for me last summer when I was having a down VP Vegas trip but in my last hour of play I got an AAAA2 on DDB dollar VP - which leveled the trip and made it a memorable visit.

    But for sudden WTF fun I do occasionally like the slots....

    JZB
     
  18. Kickin

    Kickin Flea

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    There are plenty of books on it you could read. They're in the same section as Roulette Super System and Keno for Winners.
     
  19. S'AllGoodMan

    S'AllGoodMan High-Roller

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    I would have gone for the royal.

    B
     
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