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John Grochowski Gaming Guru  Video Poker Strategy in General4 June 2023
By John Grochowski Game-specific strategies for video poker have been a staple for as long as I've been writing about casino games, but every now and then I get a request to pull back a little. One such request came via email from Marie, who said she sticks to slots but that her sister Lynn had started taking an occasional video poker flutter. "Isn't there ANYTHING you can say about strategy for a beginner?' Marie asked. "Lynn doesn't know the difference between all these games. I tried looking up your strategy tips, and it's all this game and that game. What if you're playing for fun and the game doesn't matter?" That question is more difficult than it sounds. Best strategies for video poker are driven by game type and pay table. What basics are there for a player who wants to have fun playing but isn't much interested in wringing every last tenth of a percent out of a game? A few things pop into mind, and I'll keep them as number-free as I can for beginners looking for nothing more than get-started guidelines.
However, you'll draw more high-paying hands if you hold the low pair. The average return per hand is higher if you hold the low pair.
Logical, right? However, completing a full house when you hold both pairs happens A LOT more often than completing the quads when holding only one pair. The average return is higher when you hold both pairs.
The short answer is no, you shouldn't. The payoff on the wild royal is higher than the average return if you discard the 2. It's best to hold every deuce you get in Deuces Wild.
If you can't afford to bet the maximum then bet one coin, with the understanding your payback percentage is lower than when you bet five. But when you bet four coins, you still get the lower percentage and give the house its maximum profit. It's far better to risk that fifth coin. This article is provided by the Frank Scoblete Network. Melissa A. Kaplan is the network's managing editor. If you would like to use this article on your website, please contact Casino City Press, the exclusive web syndication outlet for the Frank Scoblete Network. To contact Frank, please e-mail him at fscobe@optonline.net. Video Poker Strategy in General4 June 2023
Game-specific strategies for video poker have been a staple for as long as I've been writing about casino games, but every now and then I get a request to pull back a little. One such request came via email from Marie, who said she sticks to slots but that her sister Lynn had started taking an occasional video poker flutter. ... (read more)
Video Poker Strategy in General4 June 2023
Game-specific strategies for video poker have been a staple for as long as I've been writing about casino games, but every now and then I get a request to pull back a little. One such request came via email from Marie, who said she sticks to slots but that her sister Lynn had started taking an occasional video poker flutter. ... (read more)
For or To?28 May 2023
QUESTION: Whenever I read about video poker, I see payoffs "for one," like a flush might pay 5-for-1. In other games, I'm used to 5-to-1, or 5-1, or 5:1. Why does video poker specify "for"? ANSWER: Odds-for-1 mean your original bet is included in the payoff. Odds-to-1 mean you're getting that payoff in addition to keeping your bet. ... (read more)
Craps SystemsCraps players love systems, trying to mix and match bets in hopes of finding the magical formula that will beat the casino. Just about any system will work sometimes, and when a player wins with a system, it encourages another try, and another, and another. In the long run, of course, the casino comes out on top. ... (read more)Multi Strike PokerIt was a Friday morning in Joliet, and I'd been playing a little video poker aboard Empress II, waiting for the 11 a.m. opening of Empress I and its video poker room. Soon, if it hasn't already happened by the time you read this, Empress' new barge will open, ending such little scheduling inconveniences, but on this day, I found myself passing time with a little quarter Triple Play Poker. ... (read more)Comps - The BasicsA colleague of mine likes to refer to casino comps as "free stuff." And for those who know their basic strategy in blackjack, optimal strategies for certain video poker games and who know how comping systems work, the "stuff" really is free--the value ... (read more)Basic Strategy for Spanish 21In the last couple of weeks, we've looked at basic strategy in blackjack. Sit down at most blackjack tables in any jurisdiction, play basic strategy and you'll narrow the house edge to a half-percent or so, perhaps a little more or a little less depending on house rules. ... (read more)Single-Deck Basic StrategyThose whose casino memories stretch back far enough may recall a time when the standard "Las Vegas Strip" blackjack game was dealt from a single deck of cards, with the dealer standing on all 17s. That started to change in the 1960s as operators grew ... (read more)John Grochowski |
John Grochowski |
