Make the Most of Your VP Play

10 September 2022

By Jerry Stickman

Video poker players enjoy the game for many reasons. They enjoy the fact that they have control over the outcome. They enjoy the higher returns usually afforded to them.

Serious video poker players generally look for the best games they can find. They do this based on the game and the pay table.

They also know that just because there are several of the same games next to each other, doesn’t mean that the games are all the same.

Very often the pay tables of the games that are next to each other do not have the same pay table. Sure, most serious players know the pay tables can vary when switching denominations, some are not aware that even games with the same denomination may have different pay tables.

While it is not very common, two of the same game with the same denomination and the same pay table might return differently.

On more than one occasion, I have found two of the same game, denomination, and pay table generate slot club points at a different rate – and the difference was substantial. The differences were between 33 and 100 percent.

This is something that will not be posted anywhere on the game. The only way to know for sure is to note the starting slot club points, play a set number of hands and check the slot club points again.
Usually, playing 20 to 50 hands will give a good reading.

This may seem like a lot of work, but consider the number of hands that can be played at one sitting. I know I want to get the most out of that play.

Serious players spend a significant amount of time and effort to make sure they play properly. Spending a bit of time and effort to verify they are getting all they can is also prudent.

Summary

Players must be observant and diligent.

• Even though the game is the same, the denomination is the same, and they are next to each other does not mean the games will return the same.

• Pay tables can be different, even for game of the same denomination.

• Even the same games with the same denomination and the same pay table could have a different return. They may generate slot club points at a different rate.

Make sure to check all aspects of a game to verify the games are in reality the same.

As always, may all your wins be swift and large, and your losses be slow and small.

Jerry “Stickman”

Jerry “Stickman” is an expert in craps, blackjack and video poker and advantage slot machine play. He is a regular contributor to top gaming magazines. He authored the video poker section of "Everything Casino Poker: Get the Edge at Video Poker, Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, and Pai Gow Poker!" You can contact Jerry “Stickman” at stickmanjerryg@gmail.com