October 2010

Just Another Brick In The Wall by Linda Boyd
 
Line 1: We don’t need no education,
Line 2: We don’t need no thought control,
Line 3: No dark sarcasm in the classroom,
Line 4: Teacher leave them kids alone!
Line 5: Hey! Teacher! Leave them kids alone!
Line 6: All in all it’s just another brick in the wall
Line 7: All in all you’re just another brick in the wall
Pink Floyd, Lyrics by bassist Roger Waters
 
Some still debate the meaning of this iconic song, but it’s definitely not an ode to traditional education. Ironically they did need an education because beyond the grammatical errors (deliberate) is the fact that if you listen carefully you’ll notice the chorus, sung by a group of kids, makes mistakes in lines 4, 5, and 6 from the songwriter’s words. (Chorus deviations, line 4 “those,” line 5 “those” line 6 “you’re” instead of Waters’s written words.) The errors aren’t a big deal except to point out that a little education wouldn’t have hurt since I saw no recognition of this mistake when checking Roger Water’s lyrics against what was sung.

In truth, I’m a Pink Floyd fan and like their brick in the wall analogy; it applies to lots of things in life. However, and contrary to this song, if you’re placing bets involving odds, you really do need an education. I’m referring to any game with a skill component. I don’t think many would argue that a lack of understanding of all the nuances in poker, blackjack and most table games gives the player a big disadvantage against both the house and other players.

This is also true of video poker games. Sure some people will win with the odds stacked against them, but if you play long enough you won’t outrun the numbers. Gamblers don’t need more bricks in the wall unless their goal is to construct glitzier pleasure domes for the house.
 
Bricks In The Wall
If you base your video poker plays on oddball anecdotal stories then you’re more likely to go for long shot plays too often. The reason I describe these moves as “too often” is sometimes it is correct to draw for an unlikely result because the stakes are high enough to offset the risks. In other words, if your game is 9/6 Jacks or Better and you’re dealt a straight, but four of the five straight cards are to a royal, then your best bet is to hold four to the royal. This, however, is a simple hold and very intuitive. How about correct video poker plays that are closer calls?

In other words, should you hold three cards to the royal flush or a paying pair? The answer to that question depends on the game you are playing and the payout for the royal flush. Nowadays many video poker games have progressive royals. In my book, The Video Poker Edge, I have broken down the correct play to the number of coins paid for the royal flush in a specific game.

The biggest bricks in the wall, however, are to assume all games are played the same or that you can guess the correct hold based on your intuition.
 

Table 1.1: 9/6 JOB
Hand Frequency
(Assuming Correct Play)
Hand Frequency: 1 in
Royal Flush 40,390.55
Straight Flush 9,148.370
4 of a Kind 423.2722
Full House 86.86431
Flush 90.78932
Straight 89.05221
3 of a Kind 13.43207
2 Pair 7.735214
Jacks or Better (Pair) 4.660157
Nothing 1.833400
Expected Return (ER) 99.5439%
 
Note: If you deviate from correct play, then the frequency for the listed hands will differ; however, you will never improve your theoretical results from the ER listed in Table 1.1.
 
Hand Frequency: There are 2,598,960 possible dealt hands; far too many to know the statistically correct holds off the top of your head. Also, keep in mind that every single time changes are made in the pay schedule (found by pushing the ‘see pays’ button on a video poker machine), it can alter the way hands should be played. That’s why, for the purpose of having an accurate hand frequency table, I had to select a specific game and assume computer-correct play. If you choose to play 8/5 JOB (Jacks or Better), for example, some of the holds would be slightly different, especially on a progressive game. In this case you would only have a few minor differences so you could use the 9/6 JOB strategy with little change to the ER (expected return) for your chosen game. If, however, you chose an entirely different game, say 9/6 DDB (Double Double Bonus) you would have more strategy deviations. Of course the frequency of dealt hands remains the same for every poker game using a deck of 52 cards.
 
Understanding the Data: You may think there is so much data that practicing a game is futile. After all, over two and a half million possibilities on the deal seems staggering at first glance. If you’ve tried to use video poker strategy masters there will be around 120 lines to check out after each dealt hand. That’s why you’ll rarely see them used inside a casino. Pros are slowed down too much on a positive game (ER over 100% with correct play) and the average Joe can’t use them. Why? There’s so much data that small print with many abbreviations and color coding was needed. Using small font, color-coded information inside a noisy poorly lit casino just doesn’t work. These are not strategy cards but hand hierarchies. I have actual strategy cards, free in the back of my book, which can easily be used inside a casino.

The most important thing to understand by looking at the data in Table 1.1 is that the odds of achieving a given hand in conjunction with the payout when the hand is achieved are the sole factors in determining the correct holds. There are no psychological factors, like in table poker (play the players, not the cards) so there is no debating over correct computer-perfect play. In fact, the absolute certainty of the statistically right holds in video poker are the main reason that table poker snobs claim it’s not as difficult a game. Not at all true, by the way. It’s just that the felt game requires a different set of skills than the video poker version.
 
Downgraded Games: I’m sure you’ve seen people just plop down at the first open seat at a bank of video poker devices. That’s due to a lack of education fostering the belief that the pay schedule doesn’t matter. In fact when I’ve pointed to a 9/6 JOB game at the same bank as an 8/5 JOB game players have said it doesn’t matter, they’re set to pay the same.

Completely false information if the device has an RNG (random number generator). All devices in Nevada, Arizona and most other jurisdictions are required by law to have an RNG making the probabilities of being dealt any of the 52 virtual cards equal. With that in mind you have to ask yourself whether you’d rather be paid 45 coins for a five-coin wager or 40 coins. The odds of achieving the full house are the same whether you’re playing 9/6 JOB, 8/5 JOB or any other JOB game. (There are some 7/5 and even 6/5 JOB games out there.)

The fact that so many perpetuate the incorrect information that all machines are programmed to pay the same allows casinos to get away with downgrading pay schedules. They figure why offer a better ER if players don’t know the difference?
 
Talking to Wrong People: Many gamblers believe that the best video poker players can be found in Nevada’s locals’ casinos and I concur. After all, if nothing else, they know they’re going to do better with video poker games that have a higher ER.

Beyond looking for the best pay schedules, there are still many misconceptions about the credentials of the chatty stranger beside you knowing the best cards to hold. Often I’ve heard people say, “that guy is from Nevada, so he knows the right way to play,” or claim a mechanic gave them the best game plan. If an individual hasn’t practiced on the software or with mathematically correct strategy cards then they will not know the correct holds with any degree of certainty. The bottom line is that it’s your money and therefore you should take the time to learn accurate holds for yourself instead of depending on a player seated next to you in your favorite casino.

Gullibility: If a statement sounds like it’s off the wall and far-fetched, then it probably is. For example, I’ve heard people make comments like “I play in this casino all the time and the machine you’re on deals lots of sevens.” No need to argue, but that sort of comment makes no sense at all if you truly believe there’s a RNG inside the device. In fact, if you believe these kinds of statements then you are accusing the casino of having a non-random device, or cheating, and therefore are foolish to be playing there. (There is an exception for states that are in jurisdictions that allow video lottery terminals, VLTs, which may not have RNGs. Be aware that some VLTs have RNGs while others do not, depending on legislative requirements.) Use your common sense to make decisions involving your bankroll and don’t rely on quirky statements that fly in the face of logical thinking.
 
Removing The Bricks
It’s good to know that games involving skill give a big advantage to those with the best education on the topic. Now it remains to figure out how to learn the basics for your game of choice. In fact, you’re just as well off playing slots if you ignore correct plays and just guess at what cards to hold based on hunches. Nowadays there are plenty of materials out there to teach you the mathematically correct holds and remove the bricks in the wall that prevent you from getting the best odds at video poker.

Books: There are many good books for video poker players. Make sure the book you purchase has a recent publishing date. (My 2006 Edition of The Video Poker Edge sold out so the book you’ll get from Amazon or Square One Publishers is the 2010 Second Edition.)
Software: I consider the best tutorial software on the market by far to be Dean Zamzow’s WinPoker. The graphics mirror those you’ll find in the casino, he uses 100% computer-perfect play and there are several different learning modes. You can adjust the pay schedules for your favorite game, say Jacks or Better, to exactly match the ones on the games you play in your favorite casino. Zamzow’s software is easy to use and it’s also lots of fun due to all the whistles and bells. www.videopokerpractice.com.

Checking Paytables: If you only play a few times per year and just don’t want to spend much time practicing you can simply check the pay schedules for each version of your game and choose the one with the biggest payouts for the same hand. This is very easy to do. For example, if you’re playing DDB (Double Double Bonus Poker) you may find a 9/6 DDB and an 8/5 DDB in the same casino. The numbers refer to the per coin payout for the full-house and flush respectively; the rest of the pay schedule will be the same. Of course choose the 9/6 version. If people shun the games with poor pay schedules, then management will remove the device or upgrade the paytable.

Communicating with Management: Most management teams want to keep their player base happy. If you find a bank of 8/5 JOB machines the ER is a paltry 97.2984% with perfect play. Most people make mistakes so the actual ER is several percentage points less than the theoretical return. In the case of 8/5 JOB that would be around 95% or less. The casino knows the exact ER for each device since the results are regularly checked. This translates to wiggle room for the casino to keep their frequent players from going elsewhere and still make a big profit. You may, therefore, suggest having a progressive bank of 8/5 JOBs and have a chance of getting a bank of them.
 
Correct Information
Regardless of whether you’re relying on word-of-mouth tips, facts from a book, or tutorial software, you’re better off with no information than incorrect statements. There are several ways you can make sure you have reliable data.

Locals: Mostly the skinny from locals on current promotions, location of good video poker progressives (paying the same for all hands but a bonus for the royal and sometimes four of a kind winners), and best food deals is absolutely accurate. If you’re traveling through the Midwest it’s always a good idea to ask questions of local players. Otherwise go to the slot club counter get a free player’s card and pick up flyers on the desk. Once you have a card make sure you slide it through a kiosk located on the casino floor.
Software: There’s a lot to choose from but you should make sure there is a teaching function to the software you use for practice. Often you get fancy graphics, but the software doesn’t tell you the correct holds when you make a mistake. What good is practice if you to repeat the same errors over and over again?

Strategy Cards: Be aware that there is a huge difference between hierarchy charts and strategy cards. For all the reasons discussed earlier in this article you’ll find hierarchy charts useless in a casino setting. That’s why casinos “generously” allow you to bring them with you. In fact I’ve watched many people trying to use them and invariably, after much study, they choose incorrect holds.

On the other hand, good video poker strategy cards have a short list of possible dealt hands, say 12 to 14 vertical lines, and are extremely easy to use as well as accurate. Good ones take many years to write and test several prototypes before selecting the best format for players. You will know whether they work for you by practicing with them on tutorial software before heading for a casino. If you can’t use them during practice they won’t do you any good during casino play either.
 
Final Thoughts: Pink Floyd’s classic rock song, “Another Brick in the Wall” has lyrics that are meaningful for both poker and video poker players, especially the first two lines.
“We don’t need no education, We don’t need no thought control” is the antithesis of what you actually do need if you’re playing table poker.

Just check Amazon.com under poker books and you’ll find hundreds of brilliant works worth their weight in gold if you’re an online or casino player. Those who want to be long-term winners absolutely need an education. How about “thought control?” The world’s top and most successful competitors know that thought control or at least thought reading is an attribute for them. Just watch a genius like Phil Ivey stare down others during play as he seems to be reading their mind while they unconsciously reveal their hidden cards. Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreneanu, Tom Dwan, Gus Hansen, Mike Matusow and many others are no slouches at this either. Why do you think Phil Laak (aka the Unabomber) wears a hood during play?

How about video poker? It’s very different from table poker. For one thing “tells” (mannerisms that give away your hand) are worthless. The cards speak for themselves so you can blabber away during play with immunity from it costing you money. Thought control isn’t even a factor and would be totally worthless to a player. However, you do in fact need an education so you can learn the computer-perfect holds for any dealt hand. Pink Floyd should salute this honest form of poker giving the best odds to the best educated players with incontrovertible rights and wrongs; purely objective all the way.
Video poker players will want to tear down all the bricks in the wall that block them from using the most statistically accurate and objective strategy for a maximum theoretical return. If players fail to make use of all the educational resources designed to help them, they are simply giving the casino a bigger edge. I can’t imagine any player wanting the house to have more bricks in their walls.
 
— Linda Boyd, a long-time table game player before turning to video poker, writes for many gaming publications. 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.