October 2009

All Winners, All The Time, It's All-Star Video Poker By Linda Boyd

I’m definitely not a sports fanatic, but when I hear the term All- Star Games, I think of fans voting for their favorite players in  hockey, basketball, or football. The much awaited roster announcement  will be followed a few weeks later by the main event; that’s a  raucous free-wheeling party, often including a wagering board. All  this is part of a great American tradition, but since the regular  season has me less than mesmerized, I’m usually not that into the  game between the star athletes either. So, you ask, what could all of  this possibly have to do with electronic poker devices scattered  around a casino?

Well, video poker fans have also cast their votes for the games they  like best with a ballot that’s been open to voters since the late  70s. I’m talking about the classic games that have been video poker  favorites for around 30 years. Just like with most things in life,  the more choices, the better your odds of finding a winner. Of course  any time skill is a factor, like with video poker, you’ll want to be  an informed player before you start depositing money into any of the  machines you find on the gaming floor.

All-Star Poker (ASP): Next time you’re in a casino look for a  patriotic red, white and blue device with All-Star Poker emblazoned  on the top-glass. Really it’s easy to find throughout the Midwest, in  Nevada and other Southwest locations. Some people mistakenly assume  it’s some difficult-to-learn new game and walk on by. Instead, you  may want to take a seat and check out the game offerings. I think  you’ll be surprised to see a list of your all time favorites with  extra bonus opportunities for additional coins. The toughest part  could be making all the choices you must consider before the game  begins. You’ll definitely be able to navigate through all the  necessary decisions after reading the specifics here. Game Families and Game Names

A big part of why most players, including myself, just bypassed ASP  is they thought it was a new game and correct strategy would be a  mystery. Truthfully, learning the basics for the old standbys, like  Jacks or Better (also called Draw Poker), Bonus Poker, Double Bonus  Poker, and others is much more difficult than learning the basic  strategy for table games like blackjack. After all we’re talking  about 2,598,960 possible combos on the deal. You have to know which  cards to hold, if any, making 32 possible choices after each deal, in  order for your long-term results to resemble the theoretical expected  return (ER).

The good news is that with All-Star Poker you don’t have to learn  any new games and therefore complicated strategies. Just keep playing  your favorite game the same way you’ve been practicing on your  tutorial software or refer to my strategy card for the correct holds.  (Free with my book, “The Video Poker Edge”) You will have to be  familiar with the so-called “game families, which are explained in  detail in this feature.

Although ASP allows casinos to choose from 163 “game families” as  well as between 669 game names/pay schedules, which sounds daunting,  it’s not really too complicated. That’s because slot directors tend  to select the most popular, since they want them played, and each  time there’s a pay schedule change it “qualifies” as a separate choice. You’ll find that once you sort out the terminology and co-mingling of  non-parallel vocabulary, ASP is definitely a viable option for video  poker players. Of course you should take your time considering and  selecting your choices from the home screen’s menu.

Game Families: Here’s a brand new term that just entered the lexicon  for video poker players. Just as you’d expect, it’s a large category  and equivalent to what I have called formats, rather than a specific  game. For example, Quick Quads, Spin Poker, Multi-Strike, Chase the  Aces and many others. For extra coins you’ll be eligible for bonuses.  Of course each feature increases the size of your bet per game so  make sure you understand the rules since it can be a real budget-buster.

Game Names: Think of this as a subset of game families and, in  layman’s terms, they’re the video poker classics you’ve been playing  for years. In fact, after you’ve pushed the appropriate buttons to  indicate your choices, you’ll find the game strategy will be the  same. Examples are Jacks or Better (JOB), Bonus Poker, Double Bonus  Poker and Deuces Wild. Be sure you are familiar with the Deuces game,  though, since there are many, and the strategy will be different for  each. (My book makes it easy to understand the basics of Deuces games  by separating games into 20/20 games—same returns for the full-house  and four-of-a-kinds — and non-20/20 games, like Full Pay Deuces Wild.  There are many other games as well with a variety of game strategies.) Playing the Games

Initially I was perplexed by the way some choices were both listed  as a game family as well as a choice within an individual game.  (Triple, Five-Play and Ten-Play, for example.) You don’t really need  to worry about non-parallel categories as a practical matter,  however, since you’re just selecting your preferences before you  actually play. All you have to be concerned with is choosing a good  game, the number of hands you want to play, the format or family type  and the denomination. Plenty of decisions to make before you begin,  but not too difficult.

Family/Number of Hands: You’ll notice Three Play, Five Play, and Ten  Play right on the top glass, along with “All your favorite multi-hand  games in one.” That’s because a key difference between All-Star Poker  (ASP) and Game King machines is that you will be playing more than  one hand with every available choice. You can either select it as a  “family” from the buttons on the left of the display screen or one of  the families you choose will already have a multi-hand component,  like Spin Poker. Fortunately all these pre-game decisions are easy to  comprehend once you view the menu page. Keep in mind that “Action  Gaming,” the king of multi-play video poker, partnered with IGT, the  game manufacturers and distributors, for ASP.

Triple Play/Five Play/Ten Play: Each of these is considered a  separate family with a long list of individual game choices within.  The best thing about these three families is that there is a long  list of possible game choices. For example, Joker Poker, USA Poker  (same as All-American, just make sure there’s a decent pay schedule),  Super Aces Bonus Poker and a host of others. You will have to play  max hands for the family you’ve selected to receive the top ER. (Be  aware that failure to play max credits will short change the royal so  that it pays 250 for 1 coin instead of 800 for each coin bet.) So, if  you want to play three hands per game then select the Triple Play,  not the Five-Play or Ten-Play option. (Although this point seems  obvious I have witnessed people selecting the Five or Ten Play family  and then switch the number of hands from time-to-time.) If you change  your mind during your playing session then simply go back to the main  menu and make the adjustments.

Spin Poker: You don’t have to select 3/5/10-play because you’re  already required to play 9-lines to get max ER. The downside for  players is that some of the nine payline configurations are  confusing. If you want to see the configurations that pay for each of  the nine lines you would push the “Select Lines” button. Above that  button you will see a small box that moves from 1 to 9 representing  the number of lines you want to play. Each time you press you will  see a colored line showing the five cards used to determine your  final hand. Most players are too impatient to keep referring to the  colored paylines and opt to wait until the credits start rolling to  know whether to be happy or not.

Just like the other formats you can apply the spin poker feature to  any base game listed on the menu. There are 15 blocks where virtual  cards will appear, configured with a top, middle and bottom hand. It  will cost you 45 coins for a max coin bet, that’s 5 coins times 9  games. The first hand is dealt on the center payline with two other  decks used for the lines above and below the main hand. It’s easy to  determine the main hand since it’s the only hand where the cards are  dealt face up. The cards held on the main hand (center line) will be  held for the other two hands as well. As I mentioned earlier, some  people find the nine paylines difficult to follow visually. Again, I  recommend that you practice using either tutorial software or by  going to the website of a video poker manufacturer, like IGT, before  trying it in the casino. The game is fun but you have to make sure  you don’t get carried away and spend more than you budgeted for the  session.

Quick Quads 3/5/10-Play: For more details on this option check  Midwest Gaming & Travel’s video poker archives for February 2009. You  must wager an extra coin, that’s six coins for a max bet rather than  the standard 5-coin max. After the draw, if you have three of a kind,  the two non-matching cards are added together, Ace through Nine. If  they add up to the same rank as the three-of-a-kind, then you have  quads. Of course, only three-of-a-kinds Two’s through Ten’s can make  quads for the bonus feature. For example, let’s say you hold three  dealt Fives and draw a Four and an Ace. You will be paid for four of  a kind because the Ace counts as a One and 4+ 1 = 5. Traditional  quads are valid as well. You will have to make some adjustments to  basic game strategy to increase your odds of achieving quads with the  bonus feature. If played accurately the quick quads feature increases  the expected return of the base game, so it’s well-worth the extra  coin bet.

Super Times Pay (STP) 3/5/10-Play: Here’s an excellent choice to rev  up the fun-factor of any base game. Just like with quick quads you  must bet six coins rather than just five for a max wager. In return  for the extra coin you will randomly win a multiplier bonus. When  this happens you will see a number from two to 10 in a box located on  the left of the display screen. Your winnings for the hand will be  multiplied by the amount indicated. For example, if you win 40 coins  on a full house with a multiplier of five in the box, then you would  receive 200 coins rather than just 40 for the hand (40 x 5 = 200).  Like quick quads the super times bonus feature increases the  theoretical return of the base game. If you select this game family/ format, then always bet the extra coin. (Even if you’re playing on a  traditional device always play the extra coin for STP, since it  increases your theoretical return.)

Game: Here’s where you must know the actual strategy and carefully  check the game’s pay schedule. Since you’re not the one ordering the  games from the manufacturer it shouldn’t matter that each pay  schedule counts as a game choice. You just need to make sure the  expected return (ER) is something you can live with. (My book “The  Video Poker Edge” includes casino-ready and removable pay schedules  for all the games you’re likely to find on ASP.)

Draw Poker (Also called Jacks or Better, JOB): IGT founder Si Redd  is also considered the father of video poker. There’s an iconic  picture of him standing next to a Draw Poker machine, snapped in the  late 70s. This same classic game remains popular today due to its  excellent return (9/6 JOB), low risk to bankroll and easy game  strategy. The major player complaint in the past was that it was too  boring. That problem is immediately solved when format options  provide a jolt. Make sure you find a decent version, though, since  ASP choices all involve multi-hands. (ER’s are: 9/6, 99.54%; 9/5,  98.45%; 8/5, 97.30%; 7/5, 96.15 %.)

Bonus Poker (BP): You’re paid double your wager for two pair, a  frequent hand, just like JOB. As an added bonus you’re also paid  extra for specific four-of-a-kind hands. You will receive one coin  less for both a full-house and a flush to compensate. Players find it  more exciting than JOB without the high risk to bankroll like Double- Double Bonus. (ERs are: 8/5, 99.17%; 7/5, 98.01%)

Bonus Poker Deluxe (BPDX): This game returns 400 coins for a 5-coin  bet every time you get four-of-a-kind. The downside is that you get  even money for two pair, a frequent hand. Although more exciting than  JOB even without the format bonus options, it’s also more volatile.  Make sure you find a version no lower than 8/5, with a 97.4% ER. Of  course 9/6 (99.64% ER) or 8/6 (98.49% ER) are even better.

Double Bonus (DB): DB pays more for specified four-of-a-kinds than  BP, but unlike BP, it just pays even money for two pair. If you can  find a good version, like 10/7 BP then you will be paid considerably  more for both the full-house and the flush, compensating for the  short coins on two pair. Any time you are paid even money for two  pair, the risk to your bankroll or volatility increases. (ER’s are:  10/7, 100.17%; 9/7, 99.11%; 9/6, 97.18 %)

Double-Double Bonus (DDB): DDB is one of the riskiest and most  popular games. As the name implies you are paid twice as much for  certain four-of-a-kinds than DB, even more for four aces with a  kicker. Often you will find progressive versions of this game that  include all four-of-a-kind hands as well as the royal on progressive  meters. Beware, though, it’s much more volatile than the others plus  some find it tough to stick to their pre-determined session budget.  (ER’s are: 10/7, 100.17%; 10/6, 100.07%) 8/5 DDB has an ER of 96.79%  and I wouldn’t choose this version or anything lower since it’s so  volatile and you’re betting extra coins.

Denomination: It’s very important that you consider your available  session bankroll along with the actual cost of each game before  selecting the denomination. In addition you must make sure the pay  schedule offered is something you can live with. For example, do you  really want to play 8/5 JOB with an ER of 97.2984%? If so, don’t  blame the casino if your bankroll disappears quickly. Also, be aware  that the ER, although not so hot at around 97.3%, assumes computer- perfect play. If you’re not so skilled, your long term return will  theoretically be less. I suggest that you compute the per bet amount  figuring in max return requirements before selecting a denomination.  Sometimes, for example, you may want to go down to a lower  denomination, say from dollars to quarters, to stay within your budget.

Strategy: I can’t emphasize enough the importance of playing  mathematically correct video poker, regardless of the game you’ve  selected. Not sure of the basic strategy? Brush up by practicing on  the software, bring my strategy cards with you or don’t play. The  best part of ASP, though, is that you don’t have to learn a new game  strategy since some of your favorites will be an option.

Final Thoughts: You’ll most likely have no trouble at all locating  All-Star Poker machines — if you do, just ask a slot attendant. ASP  may even have better options than other video poker devices in the  house; for sure they’ll have more choices. One thing’s certain,  unlike my role as an AFC-NFC Pro Bowl spectator, you’ll be both the  coach and MVP while playing your favorite All-Star video poker game.

  — Linda Boyd, a long-time table game player before turning to video  poker, writes for many gaming publications. Look for Linda’s story in  the 2009 edition of American Casino Guide. Her book, The Video Poker  Edge, includes free removable pay schedules and her free strategy  cards for the most popular games. Available at amazon.com, bookstores  or www.squareonepublishers.com.