Recreational Video Poker by Linda Boyd
 
If you talk to some gamblers they’ll let you know they play table games exclusively because they like to be in control of their own fate. Pit games do in fact reward skilled players. (Luck plays a role in short term results for all casino games). Some people shy away from table games, though, because they are new to gambling and are intimidated by the fast action of craps or short-tempered players and dealers in live card games. Still, they’d like to play a game involving some skill, only something less stressful. Video poker fits the bill for this group. That’s one of many reasons that the game has continued to gain popularity over the last 30 years.

Getting Started: You can stretch your entertainment dollars while playing video poker by selecting the best version of your favorite game in the casino and using an accurate basic strategy. Begin by reading the paytables on the machine and choosing the one that pays the most for the same hand, say a full house or a flush. If this is the only thing you do, you will be better off than just plopping down at the first open seat. To improve your odds even more, learn and follow basic game strategy.

Selecting a Game: There are several versions of games named by the manufacturer. We’ll take a look at Jacks or Better (JOB), also called Draw Poker on some machines, to make this clear. Some versions of JOB return 45 coins for a full house when you bet five coins, while others only pay 30 for the same hand. Of course you will want to play the version that pays more for a given hand. If anybody tells you they are programmed to pay the same, they are mistaken. The probability of having a full house before the deal is identical on all machines with a random number generator, RNG. (There are a few jurisdictions with video lottery terminals, VLTs, that don’t have RNGs but not in the Midwest, Nevada or New Jersey. A detailed explanation can be found in my book, “The Video Poker Edge”). If the only thing you do is select a JOB game that returns nine coins for every coin bet on a full house, six for every coin bet on a flush instead of eight for a full house and five for a flush, then you will be ahead over time. Make sure you’re comparing the same game. For example, it will do you no good to compare the returns of a JOB game with a Bonus Poker (BP) game.

Understanding Paytables: When you first see a pay chart with the expected return for each version of the game it may appear confusing. Once you get used to reading the charts, however, it won’t be difficult at all. The paying hands will always be the same and so will the return for most of the winning combinations on the table. The few differences, however, can be very deceiving. If it’s for a moderately frequent hand, just one minor change can have a major impact on your final results. For example, using JOB, you’ll notice that the only changes in Table 1.1 are for the return on a full house and a flush. All the other information is the same for every version of this game. You will see the same is true for different versions of other video poker games. Most of the returns are the same, that’s why they have the same name, but there are differences in one or two hands. Usually the variations are on the middle of the pay chart. This means in hands that are not either frequent or rare, like the full house and flush in JOB.

Hand: This column lists all the final hands that return money. For all versions of the same game the winning combinations will be identical; that’s one reason why they share the same video poker game name.

5-Coin Return: Here you’ll find the number of coins returned when you wager five coins, usually the max bet. Make sure you look at the max bet carefully on the machine you’ve selected, since sometimes 20 coins or more is the highest wager. Once you select the max coin button it’s too late to change your mind.

Expected Return (ER): Assuming you play the game according to statistically accurate strategy this percentage represents the amount of your long-term return. The higher the percentage the better the version for the player. If the percentage is 100% then it pays “even money,” meaning over time you will break even. This is an excellent play for casual gamblers since you can keep the comps and any extra cash or promotional gifts that come your way.

Variance: This figure represents the likelihood that your results will vary from the expected return (ER). The higher the variance the more risky or volatile the game; if the variance is high then you are more likely to lose your bankroll than if the variance is low. For example, 9/6 Double Double Bonus (DDB), has a variance of 41.98498, or almost 42. On the other hand, 9/6 JOB (see Table 1.1 below) has a variance of 19.51468 or around 19.5. From a player’s perspective DDB is around twice as risky as JOB, so you would need a larger bankroll to play the game for approximately the same amount of time. Comparing Jacks or Better: Table 1.1 gives you the return and variance for five different versions of JOB that can be found in Midwest casinos. Notice that the only differences are for the full house and the flush, but even seemingly minor differences in payment for these two hands dramatically changes the likely outcome.

I’ve put in bold type the hands that will differ; a quick check and you’ll see that all else is the same on JOB games. These changes may seem unimportant, but notice the major differences in the payback percentages. That’s why you should carefully check the tables before you decide whether or not you want to play.

             

Comparing Deuces Wild Games: Table 1.2 (below) gives you the return percentages for four different deuces wild games. Notice that there is only one version of each of these four games. That’s because they were named by players and not by manufacturers. (Some deuces wild games are named by manufacturers and then you will see several versions of the same game. An example is Loose Deuces). The differences in returns are in bold type. Notice there are more differences in the returns for the same final hand than in JOB. This means there are more differences in game strategy as well.

 

Budget: Professional video poker players only play games with positive ERs and assume that they will eventually come out ahead as long as they have enough money to bankroll their play. They use risk of ruin figures to increase their odds of playing long enough to receive the hourly expected return. Still, it’s a risky business and a tough way to make a living. Not only that, but it’s getting harder to find “positive” plays with all the downgrading of video poker paytables. If you plan on earning a living as a video poker pro, then you should pre-pay your bills annually.

Most recreational players, however, are there to have a good time and have a pre-determined gambling budget. The bankroll for your trip should be determined before you ever leave home. Here are some tips.

Stay Within Your Budget: The ride home can be most unpleasant if you went way beyond your budget. Even if you aren’t ruined financially, gambling much more than you intended can make you miserable and want to never come back.

Reasonable Game Choices: If you want to play a long time but have limited yourself to $200 per day then you should select a less volatile game like Jacks or Better (JOB) rather than Double Double Bonus (DDB). Look for games that return double your bet for two pair rather than those that pay even money.

Consider Bet Size: Just because you chose to play nickels and you’re playing JOB doesn’t necessarily mean your budget will last. That’s because there are many multi-play devices on the casino floor. For example, if you’re playing a nickel five-play device then each bet will cost you $1.25, that’s the same as a single-line quarter machine.

Strategy: The only way your long-term results will resemble the theoretical return is if you play according to mathematically accurate strategy. The best way to do that is to practice on software (I recommend WinPoker by Dean Zamzow) and use strategy cards (free accurate and user-friendly cards come in the back of my book, “The Video Poker Edge”). However, casual players can get started by sticking with traditional games found in almost every casino that has video poker and using these tips.

Non-Deuces Games:
 
Best Version of Game: You can either use paytables, like Table 1.1 and 1.2, or just select the version of the same game that pays the most for the same hand.

Progressives: Another good reason for checking things out first is there may be two identical pay schedules, except one is progressive on the royal or other winning hands. Of course, you’ll play the progressive version. Not only that, but frequently there are several different progressive meters for a game within the same casino; naturally, select the highest progressive. I find this to be especially helpful for Midwest casinos that only have 8/5 JOB and less (in other words there are no 9/6 JOB games). Instead of just dismissing this casino, look for a bank of 8/5 progressive machines.

Traditional Games: You’ll find video poker choices that closely resemble traditional live poker games, like JOB, are more intuitive than quirky games, like One-Eyed Jacks. If you’re either a beginner or haven’t practiced on the software then you’ll be better off selecting this type of game.

Don’t Play Hunches: One of the most important rules for good long- term results at video poker is to stick to the statistically correct strategy. For every pie-in-the-sky story of how somebody threw away trips to go for a three card royal and made it, is a sadder untold story of how somebody lost their bankroll by going for too many long shots that were incorrect holds.

Deuces Wild Games:
 
Careful Game Selection: Often I hear people say they’re going to find some deuces wild video poker. Sounds pretty simple. The problem is that there are literally dozens of deuces games to choose from, all with different game strategies and expected returns. It’s best to choose a deuces game where you know both the basic strategy and the ER.

Progressives: The Midwest is loaded with Illinois Deuces and many can be found in progressive versions. Just like with non-deuces games, have a look around the casino first so you can select a progressive game over the same non-progressive version.

Frequent Hands: While it’s true that casual players may not care about correct play for rare hands, they will hold on to their bankroll longer if they keep some generalizations about frequent hands in mind. For example, two dealt pair are played differently spending on the game. In 20/20 games like Illinois Deuces (20 coins returned on a five-coin bet for both a full house and four of a kind) you hold both pair, whereas in games like full pay deuces wild, you hold just one pair. (That’s because in this game three of a kind returns 15 coins on a five-coin bet and four of a kind returns 25). It’s a good idea to know how to play frequently dealt hands for your game of choice.

Check Archives: Strategy for four common deuces wild games can be found in the Internet archives of Midwest Gaming & Travel. Look for the two part series called “Duelin’ Deuces.”

Future Play: If you are really enjoying your video poker play, then you’ll want to fine tune your ability by learning more about the game. That includes spending some time investigating the best plays in your area as well as improving your skills.

Teaching Tools:

Software: There’s lots of video poker software on the market. You should be careful to choose one that has a tutorial function, rather than one that’s just for fun. There’s a big difference between the two concepts. For example, I use Dean Zamzow’s WinPoker because it is computer perfect, the graphics resemble those on casino devices, it’s user-friendly, has several modes and it gives you your percent of accuracy for each session. There are other excellent software choices so check MWGT’s archives for all the details.

Strategy Cards: You will have to use them inside a chaotic casino, so make sure you try them out using your software at home. If there are too many lines or the language or graphics are difficult then they won’t work during casino play. Mine are free with my book and as a former curriculum director I made sure they were both accurate and easy to use.

Books/Publications: There are several good video poker books and publications on the market today. If you are purchasing one then make sure it has a big section on strategy. The more you study and learn about the game the better your odds over time.

Final Thoughts: You don’t have to play table games to make your bankroll last longer and be rewarded for your game skills. If you prefer a solitary game over one with lots of player interaction and kibitzing then video poker may be just the choice for you. Of course, when you select a game requiring more than luck you’ll have to spend some time preparing and in choosing the best play from a casino crowded with devices that have both good and bad pay schedules. Armed with paytables to select good games and the know-how to play frequently dealt hands, video poker players will get lots of bang for their entertainment buck.

— Linda Boyd turned to the more profitable game of video poker after years of playing blackjack and live poker. Boyd spent many years as a mathematics educator, a career that proved invaluable in helping her design the statistical tactics featured in her book, “The Video Poker Edge.” Free strategy cards are included with her book. Purchase at www.squareonepublishers.com.