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Video Poker Video Poker-Optimal Play?

Discussion in 'Video Poker' started by Blacklegs22, Mar 5, 2014.

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  1. Blacklegs22

    Blacklegs22 Low-Roller

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    In anticipation of our Las Vegas trip I have been fooling around with Video Poker simulations (specifically for Double Bonus and Double-Double Bonus-9/6 or 9/5 since I'm assuming that's mostly what I'll see on the strip...not good, I know, but not sure I can always hunt out optimal conditions...)

    I have the "optimal strategy" rules from wizard of odds printed, and I'm noticing some serious differences from the way I play "normally" and what they suggest is "optimal". For instance, for Double Bonus, I always dropped the lower pair if I made two pair with two Aces, hoping for the big pay on the 4OAK. I'm now seeing this is incorrect?

    Bottom line question for all serious VP players (which I certainly wish I was:confused:) is: Do you religiously follow the chart/VP Trainer suggestions, or do you deviate slightly hoping for a bigger score???
     
  2. TIMSPEED

    TIMSPEED Money’s on the way, with CashNetUSA

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    I do...but my wife doesn't "always" (She will Hold Ace/10 just because she's hit a royal twice holding it, lol)
     
  3. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    This is because the wizard of odds strategy page is for "10/7/5 Double Bonus" (100.17% max return). If you would ever find that on the Strip, that would be a casino error.

    When the full house pays 10 for 1, a full house becomes barely valuable enough to hold two pair over Aces in Double Bonus.

    Now on the strip, the best you can find for double bonus is 9/7/5 (99.11%), followed by 9/6/5 (97.81%), and 9/6/4 (96.38%). Note, I wouldn't never play the last one. 8/5 DDB (96.79%) is pretty plentiful on the strip and is better than 9/6/4 DB.

    When the full house in Double Bonus is only 9 for 1, now it's a better play to break two pair when you have a pair of Aces.

    But this isn't probably the biggest issue with using the Wizard's 10/7/5 DB strategy. Unless you play 9/7/5 on the Strip (only available for dollars or more), you'll have other issues with the strategy because the flush is usually only 6 for 1. When the flush is only 6 for 1, 3 to a Royal is "usually" better than 4 to a flush, but not when the flush is 7 for 1. Also, the 7 for 1 strategy says you should be holding 3 to flush hands at times. When it's 6 for 1, only 3 to a straight flush hands are viable holds.

    You can use
    http://wizardofodds.com/games/video-poker/strategy/calculator/

    to create strategies for various games and paytables. It's good, but there is one bug in it. It's technically correct, but it likes to list all the valid 4 to a flush draws on games like DDB and DB where the flush pays 6 for 1 ahead of 3 to a Royal. In reality, 3 to a Royal which does NOT include an Ace AND a Ten is better than 4 to a flush on a 6 for 1 flush game for DB/DDB. If that's too confusing, just always go for 3 to a Royal if the flush pays 6 for 1 or less. For a 5 for 1 flush DDB game, 3 to a Royal is always better vs. 4 to a flush.

    9/7/5 DB strategy (99.11%):
    http://wizardofodds.com/games/video-poker/strategy/a-1-b-51-c-1-d-0-d-1-d-1-d-3-d-5-d-7-d-9-d-50-d-80-d-160-d-50-d-800/

    9/6/5 DB strategy (97.81%):
    http://wizardofodds.com/games/video-poker/strategy/a-1-b-51-c-1-d-0-d-1-d-1-d-3-d-5-d-6-d-9-d-50-d-80-d-160-d-50-d-800/

    9/6 DDB strategy (98.98%):
    http://wizardofodds.com/games/video-poker/strategy/a-1-b-57-c-1-d-0-d-1-d-1-d-3-d-4-d-6-d-9-d-50-d-80-d-160-d-160-d-400-d-50-d-800/

    9/5 DDB strategy (97.87%):
    http://wizardofodds.com/games/video-poker/strategy/a-1-b-57-c-1-d-0-d-1-d-1-d-3-d-4-d-5-d-9-d-50-d-80-d-160-d-160-d-400-d-50-d-800/

    8/5 DDB strategy (96.79%)
    http://wizardofodds.com/games/video-poker/strategy/a-1-b-57-c-1-d-0-d-1-d-1-d-3-d-4-d-5-d-8-d-50-d-80-d-160-d-160-d-400-d-50-d-800/
     
    Last edited: Mar 5, 2014
  4. Blacklegs22

    Blacklegs22 Low-Roller

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    I see, very helpful, thanks!
     
  5. Auggie

    Auggie Dovahkiin

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    As tringlomane said the strategy can change depending on the pay table... however to add: usually when the strategy changes like that, based on the pay table, it is usually only a very minute change in the payback, like a fraction of a percentage and realistically isn't going to have much of any impact on your overall play and winning.
     
  6. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    Yes, it doesn't matter too much usually. But a DB strategy with the 7 for 1 flush makes a bigger wrench than normal because 3 suited cards do come up somewhat frequently. According to this site, using 10/7 DB strategy on 9/6 DDB costs 0.70% for example, a lot of that is because of the flush issue I would think.

    http://www.videopokerhelp.net/wrong_strat.html
     
  7. bardolator

    bardolator Lifelong Low Roller

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    Very solid advice. However, it makes little sense to learn to play perfect strategy on a sucker game. Do yourself a favor and take a shuttle to where the better paying games can be found.
     
  8. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    Yeah, finding the better paytable outweighs all the errors you save by knowing the strategy "down cold". You can walk to Ellis Island, or shuttle to Gold Coast/Palms from Bally's for example.

    But damn the strip for being so "convenient".
     
  9. Danny12

    Danny12 Tourist

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    Does the Rio have 40/10/5 DDB still? I know it's not on the strip but it's pretty close for a 99.96 return machine.
     
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