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Video Poker VP Strategy Question

Discussion in 'Video Poker' started by Suekel, Jan 17, 2013.

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  1. Suekel

    Suekel VIP Whale

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    I've been practicing my VP on an iPad app which has best hold advice, and I've noticed on Double Bonus that when I have an Ace and another non-suited face card, sometimes it advises to hold both and sometimes just the Ace. I can't seem to figure out the reason behind when to hold both and when to hold just the Ace. Can anyone explain the logic of this?

    If it would help I can give a specific hand example.
     
  2. Suekel

    Suekel VIP Whale

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    Here is an example: dealt a 8H, AH, 3C, 7D, JS. I held the Ace and Jack and it told me that was the right play. On another hand I got 8S, AS, 6C, JC, 7D, I tried to hold the Ace and Jack again and it said only hold the Ace. What's different in these hands that accounts for the different strategy?

    Game is 10/7 Double Bonus.
     
  3. Suekel

    Suekel VIP Whale

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    Here is an example: dealt a 8H, AH, 3C, 7D, JS. I held the Ace and Jack and it told me that was the right play. On another hand I got 8S, AS, 6C, JC, 7D, I tried to hold the Ace and Jack again and it said only hold the Ace. What's different in these hands that accounts for the different strategy?

    Game is 10/7 Double Bonus.
     
  4. The Equalizer

    The Equalizer Low-Roller

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    only a guess here but in the first hand you had both the A and J with a side card matching only the A in suit in the second the A and J had a matching suit in a side card which might be enough in a close situation to cut flush possibilities to make the optimal play to only hold the A.
     
  5. HOUtoLAS

    HOUtoLAS High-Roller

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    "Here is an example: dealt a 8H, AH, 3C, 7D, JS. I held the Ace and Jack and it told me that was the right play. On another hand I got 8S, AS, 6C, JC, 7D,"

    I just checked in WinPokerHD on my iPad, and the first hand has the A J at 2.2467 (44.9%) and just the A at 2.2427 (44.9%).

    2nd hand. A only is 2.2525 (45.1%) and A J at 2.2467 (44.9%)

    The 2nd hand you have the extra chance for a straight draw (wheel A-5), where as the 1st one you throw away the 3C (so you can't draw it).
     
  6. BeeeJay

    BeeeJay President of The Red Lobster Hostess Satisfaction

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    very interesting question and great analysis. is this 3C what Bob Dancer calls a "penalty card"?
     
  7. DOUBLE B

    DOUBLE B Tourist

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    Hold AH when there is a flush penalty +low straight penalty except when Ten unsuited with A...if no fp + lsp hold only A. Somewhat indepth and probably not worth the worry.

    In your first example you have a lsp (3c) and a fp (8h) and no unsuited 10.....so hold AH.
    In your second example you have no lsp so you hold A only
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2013
  8. CenterfieldNine

    CenterfieldNine High-Roller

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    Yes, that would be what he refers to as a penalty card. In the second example you get hit trying to make the wheel a tiny bit (that one card) whereas in the second example there is no impact.
     
  9. WrongWayWade

    WrongWayWade VIP Whale

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    Also realize that you are talking about pennies difference in the plays, not some huge error either way. The simple basic strategy is to just hold the Ace, and you would be giving up VERY little by making that play every time, (without trying to deduce the impact of the penalty cards). I don't see anything on my strategy printout that would tell me to hold unsuited A+J.
     
  10. Kickin

    Kickin Flea

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    The strategy cards I've seen aren't as precise as the hand analyzers. Makes sense because it would get too complicated for a strategy card if they broke out every marginal condition like this one posted by the OP.

    By the way Suekel, two things:
    1) Unless you think you're going to find 10/7 DB in the casinos you should practice on the paytable you're likely to play in real life. Right now you're playing a positive expectation game with perfect play since the computer warns you of mistakes. Real life playing won't be so ideal.

    2) Since you have it on your iPad you should also install a hand analyzer on your iPhone or whatever you use. I'm also new to this game and use it while I'm playing in the casino on questionable hands. Its possible the casino can stop you, someone posted a regulation from the NGC that the casinos can use to defend it, but I've never had an issue yet and used it a lot in the high-limit rooms where there was a lot of casino staff floating around but hardly any other players.
     
  11. Suekel

    Suekel VIP Whale

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    Wow, thanks so much everybody for the replies, it's much appreciated. When I asked the question, I had no idea how complicated the answer would be, I thought maybe it would be something like "If your other cards are all 6 or lower, keep the Ace and the High card", or something along those lines.

    My husband and I have been playing VP in Vegas for a number of years now, and are starting to find ourselves playing more of at as we've had pretty decent luck. To that end, we are trying to take our knowledge of strategy from basic to more advanced. That being said, we are not playing a huge bankroll or many, many hours a day, and we don't always seek out the best paytables, as we like playing bartops and enjoying drinks. So while acknowledging that we are playing less optimal machines, we still want to do everything we can to optimize our play on those machines.

    ,

    I think this sums it up perfectly - for the type of players we are, it is not going to make a huge difference, and holding the Ace is probably a good enough rule to live by.

    .

    Excellent suggestion, and we'll probably do this, so that any hands that come up which are more complicated, we can check.

    Thanks again!
     
  12. mike_m235

    mike_m235 Tourist

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    You want to practice on 9/6 DDB if you can, not 10/6, since that mostly doesn't exist.

    Agree 100% with the earlier poster...just keep the ace in all situations unless the ace and jack are the same suit. If you're playing $1 a hand ($5 a spin) you're talking 2 to 3 cents. If you're playing quarters it's less than a penny.

    The same will come when you have an A, Q, and J of 3 different suits. Sometimes it's keep the A, sometimes it's keep the QJ. In all cases it's a five cent or less difference at $1 DDB. So just pick your personal style and don't worry about the penalty cards unless you're playing for a living.
     
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