Thread about video poker

[tringlomane]

Originally Posted by jamest

I have few questions for those that play video poker jacks or better experts.



1. Is it a must to play in any machine that pays 9/6 as oppose to 8/5 or 7/5?

As long as you can afford the swings, you should play max credits on the best paying machine possible to maximize your return.


2. I read about about a website about a guy that got interviewed who played video poker for a living. Now this article was kind of old but he mentioned how he made a good amount of money playing it. Mentioned that he made 80k in most years and never had a losing month ever.

I would guess that his quoted results are BS. Virtually impossible with today's games. And as Tom said, quarters where the Royal pays less than $1200 will allow you to more freely lie about taxes on winnings.

3. I read about this as top mistakes people make when playing video poker. I play $1 a spin at video poker and do it at the $1 machine. So i always go to a 9/6 JoB machine and play 1 credit. I read online that is dumb because you are suppose to play the max credit at a video poker machine. Well they mention its best to play a 25 cent machine and play max 5 credits which is $1.25 and the reason for this is because the payout for the royal flush is 800 as oppose to 250. So if I'm not playing the max credit on a 9/6 JoB... that means i'm not playing on a 99.54%?

If you play one credit, then the Royal only pays 250 credits and return on a 9/6 JoB machine now is lowered to 98.37% with perfect play. So generally playing 1 credit is a mistake at any given casino, but there are exceptions. For example, a casino offers 9/6 JoB for dollars, but only 8/5 JoB for quarters, and you can't afford to play $5/hand. 8/5 JoB only pays 97.3% with max credits ($1.25), but "short playing" the dollar machine for $1 a hand will return 98.37% and is the superior play between the two choices. Also note sometimes strategy changes when you are short playing. Use this calculator to determine optimal strategies for any given game/paytable: http://wizardofodds.com/games/video-...gy/calculator/


5. Are there much people that still play video poker for a living? And if so... i assume none of them are in atlantic city and most are in las vegas? I read about that guy who mentioned its easier done in vegas because they have tons of promotions and cashback which makes it very worthwhile.

There arent too many people that do it anymore. And yes, Vegas is one of the better places left to do it.

6. I looked at the payout chart and I see Double Bonus machines offer a 100.1 percent payback when proper strategy is used and Deuces Wild Poker machines offer a 100.76 percent payback when proper strategy is used. I see JoB pays out 99.5% when proper strategy is used. If this is the case... then isn't those 2 other games profitable as it offers at least 100% payout? Why would one even bother playing JoB or the other games if they are less than 100% payout? Is it because the strategy is harder to memorize? I checked online and I see that they have strategy on what to do when playing deuces wild poker. I assume the casino won't say anything if you are playing the machine while having a printout of the strategy card with you correct?

Generally people still play full pay JoB because that may be the best returning game their casino offers, and with comps factored in, full pay JoB is very close to a breakeven game. If you would have a full pay deuces wild machine in your area (if you aren't in Vegas, forget it), you would much rather play that game since the expected return is over a full percent higher than full-pay JoB. Also note most players don't play the best playing games. To find the best paying games in your casino, use this site: http://www.vpfree2.com/ Most players don't even play JoB. I would say 80% or more video poker players play Double Double Bonus, even when it's not the best machine the casino offers. Sure you can have a printed strategy card with you, but as others have said, don't bother trying to profit from this game if you would need it.

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[Barbiaux]

VP just keeps getting worse and worse around here. I have 2 casinos nearby and last month I reported they removed a lot of machines and lowered the paytables. Now the second casino also removed VP machines in order to make room for a self serve drink station and they also have reduced all VP games to under 95%. The best game is now JOB 6/5 which is 95% all other games are under 95%. Unfortunately if I want to play something other than poker 95% VP is still a better option than the 88% slot machines.

[tringlomane]

With paytables that low, you're better off playing table games like craps or blackjack than quarter video poker from a pure EV perspective. Definitely sad to hear.

[Willing2Die]

This thread along with two other ones motivated me to study up on optimal VP strategy so I could grind up tier credits this past weekend at the RIO. I appreciate all the excellent input and research in this thread. I grinded most of the weekend and was rewarded with a 5-line royal flush 45 seconds before I was leaving in a taxi Sunday morning. Good times...

[IMG][/IMG]

[tringlomane]

Nice job getting a dealt royal at a 25x higher denomination than I did! Damn me for being cheap...haha, but I'll be staying at the place I hit it (Flamingo) starting Wednesday. Vegasssssssssssssssssssss!

[Barbiaux]

We are going to Cleveland tonight (yes on purpose) and was wondering if anyone in here knows the status of VP there or any Ohio locations for that matter.

[Barbiaux]

oh I just realized that Ohio is in the midwest on vpfree and not the east. It says nothing good so I am assuming that means 8/5 JOB or worse.

[tringlomane]

VPFree is picky on its reporting. Sometimes they won't bother reporting anything under 99% at casinos. In Vegas though, they point out that Imperial Palace's best machine is 7/5 Bonus (98.01%) for example.

I think VPFree should post the best paytable for any given casino if its reported.

From what I have heard 8/6 JoB (98.39%) exists for quarters or higher:

http://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-t...d-opens-today/

Good luck today!

[bstillmatic]

What 5cent vp game is more profitable? 10 7 DB max 5 coin with cash back from comps or 5cent db with 99.8% payback max 10 coin with cash back from comps. The over 100% payback db machine has a 4000 coin royal and the 99.8% machine has a 8000 coin royal. thanks.

[tringlomane]

Originally Posted by bstillmatic

What 5cent vp game is more profitable? 10 7 DB max 5 coin with cash back from comps or 5cent db with 99.8% payback max 10 coin with cash back from comps. The over 100% payback db machine has a 4000 coin royal and the 99.8% machine has a 8000 coin royal. thanks.

Considering the 2nd machine requires 10 coins for a max bet, the royal being 8000 coins is nothing special.

5 coins = 4000 coin royal
10 coins = 8000 coin royal

both machines pay 800 for 1 on a royal with a max bet.

If your comp rate is higher than 0.7% of coin-in on the machines (very, very unlikely unless you have a huge point multiplier), then the machines would be equivalent because you could get double the coin-in on the lower paying machine and the extra comps would make up the paytable difference of 0.35%.

[Barbiaux]

I was playing DDB today and I was dealt 22224. 800 credits on my 5th or 6th game. 2 games later I was dealt AA22X. I held the AA and was dealt 223, FML!!!!!! I was still up $300 for 90 min session so all was good.

[Barbiaux]

ohh and btw, I am closing in on my 3rd royal cycle without a royal. It will be a true moment of happiness when I finally get one. Maybe I should play a super times or $1's since I am obviously due.

[tringlomane]

Originally Posted by Barbiaux

Maybe I should play a super times or $1's since I am obviously due.

You probably know my answer to the "I'm obviously due" part. lol

Does STP have the same paytable for DDB at your casino for quarters?

If so, you should consider playing STP, the bonus bet is +EV, if you can handle the extra swing. Even though most players don't play only a single hand for max credits, you can set the machine up to do that. And hell, STP is way more fun anyway.

STP has made me become a video poker addict all over again...lol

[Barbiaux]

Originally Posted by tringlomane

You probably know my answer to the "I'm obviously due" part. lol

btw this was a joke. I am sure you know that but I just want to get that out there.

Originally Posted by tringlomane

Does STP have the same paytable for DDB at your casino for quarters?

If so, you should consider playing STP, the bonus bet is +EV, if you can handle the extra swing. Even though most players don't play only a single hand for max credits, you can set the machine up to do that. And hell, STP is way more fun anyway.

STP has made me become a video poker addict all over again...lol

I am not real sure. I will look this weekend. I played it 1 time and lost $40 in under 10 min so I never went back. I thought it looked neat and would give it a shot. The shot was no good.

[tringlomane]

Yeah, the bonus bet makes the machine significantly more swingy. DDB will behave more like a Triple Double Bonus machine with the bonus bet.