Video Poker Downtown Video Poker

Howdy y'all, first post since joining.

Staying downtown (MSS, my favorite) next week, and recently became fond of video poker. I've (mostly) learned optimal strategy for JoB, and look to play lots of it at Boar's Head next week.

I usually stick to Boyd properties while I'm downtown. I've visited vpfree2, but I wanted to see what the boards have to say.

Any of yall have a favorite vp spot? Or other useless ramblings? Haven't been to Vegas for a month, just itching to get back!

Cheers.

 

I'd be curious as well as I've been moving from slots to video poker. I need to learn up but I've grazed over VPFree2 and if I can get some more info in my brain, I should have more fun. Very open to suggestions as we'll be back in a month!

 

Vue Bar upstairs at The D. 8/5 Bonus Poker with progressives. The differences between BP and JOB strategy are minimal and not worth worrying about unless you're a really serious player. Great bartenders who will make you quality cocktails with decent liquor. The beer selection is also above par.

 

I will have to check that out, love playing at the D.

 

Ike's Bar at El Cortez has 8/5 bonus poker too. Typically good bartenders. Several TVs for watching a game. Like marksind said, strategy difference between JoB and BP is negligible.

Tough to beat Boar's Head though. With 9/6 JoB, scratch cards on all 4OAK and Straight Flushes, decent house-brewed beer, and excellent bartender service, Boar's Head is a fine VP bar.

 

We do most of our VP at Boar's Head playing JoB. We play a little at Four Queens, they have plenty of 9/6 JoB machines on the floor near the cashier. Also enjoy Chicago Brewing Company upstairs at FQ.

Don't spread your play out too much. MSS does pretty good on the comps.

Welcome to the Board.

 

I love MSS! Great VP! I hit the machines as you come down the stairway from the CAL, they are to the left
at the front of the casino. They are actually marked FULL PAY! They do have Jacks or Better. I like Double Bonus but I play both. These are nice, newer slant top machines. Love it there!

Enjoy!

 

MSS comps have been very generous to me, almost always have free rooms.

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

 

I have to say that I love playing the 3-play nickel machines near the table games at the Fremont. Good drink service and at $0.75 a hand your $20 plays a long time. You won't walk away rich but I've doubled up or won $10 quite a few times. It is a nice break from the tables for me.

 

It is a good idea to concentrate your play at one casino or one family of casinos (i.e. Boyd Gaming). You will get better comps, free play, etc.

That being said, the best $1 VP downtown is at the 4Q. They have 10/7 DB and 10/6 DDB. With the cash back, both are over 100%. And the comp dollars earned are just icing on the cake.

If you are a quarter player, then it makes sense to give your business to the Boyd casinos.

 

I believe that the Boar Bar holds the distinction of having the only 9/6 JoB bartop machines. To mix it up you might try my favorite spot, King's Bar at Four Queens. They have an 8/5 JoB with a progressive on suited Royals. Almost always have at least one suit around two thousand dollars on quarters. I agree that 8/5 Bonus is also a good option, just check to make sure the machine you choose still pays two on two pair.

 

Don't suppose anyone knows the ranges of MSS scratchcards? All I've ever gotten are $2 and $3. Nothing major but it's something.

 

If you are playing quarters ($1.25 per hand) the range is $2 - $5,000
There's typically about 1-2 $5,000 scratch cards per year. The highest scratch card I ever got was worth $5. Mostly they're $2 and $3.
With 9/6 JoB at 99.54% already, the scratch cards, free drinks, and comps you earn while playing make it a +EV

 

If you like chasing progressives there are a couple good BP (99.17) progressives at MSS and the Cal. They are .50 plays though not .25.
There are 5 machines right behind the Boars Head Bar and a bank of 12 at the Cal down near the end of the BJ pit before the step down to the craps tables. The 1 at the Cal last week was close to 3K when I was there when a guy playing on the other side of the bank hit it. It was actually dealt to him. A few hours earlier I had the 9-10-J-Q-K straight flush for $125. I was like and then my wife said "dang if that 9 was the Ace that would have been $2896. :/
Bonus plays much like Job so you can pretty much play your learned strategy and be ok.

There is also a BP progressive at Sams Town back near the Subway that resets at $1500 and it's .25.
A guy hit that 1 when I walked up to play it for $1522. No big deal since it reset at $1500.
You can take the Boyd shuttle over there for free and a change of pace and still get your B Connected points there.

Good Luck.

 

Visited Sam's Town and East Side Cannery last trip. Didn't play at either, just enjoyed the Sam's Town buffet, walked around and returned to downtown.

Thanks for the locales of those machines, I know exactly where you mean. Never played BP before, will definitely be trying it next trip.

 

Plaza has 9/6 Jacks at the Omaha Bar as well as 9/6 Bonus Deluxe (99.64%). But with the scratchoffs at MSS, 9/6 JoB acts like it's a 99.93% game.

 

My bad - that $1500 progressive at Sams Town is DB not BP.
The BP progressive there is in front of Billy Joes Bar near the craps tables.
Either are good games at 99%+

 

I forgot that Plaza had made some improvements, but frankly I'm just not comfortable sitting at that bar. I know they've been doing a lot of renovation but the bar feels like it's locked in the 1960's.

 

If you are there Sunday or Monday night we may be sitting next to each other, I love me some Boars Head Bar!

 

Won't be there til the 17th, going to give the "trip reports" a shot then.