Ask The Slot Expert

Dear John,

We were invited to play in a Joker Poker tournament. we normally don't play this game at Atlantic City because of the difficult strategy and big house edge. Should we concentrate on 5 of a kinds, royals and straight flushes only or should we play each hand using Bob Dancer's strategy on his new software which covers Atlantic City Joker Poker?

also, are you familiar with multi-pay poker on gamemekers? Caesars has several of them. It's the game where if you end up with 4 kings, you are paid for 4 of a kind, 3 of a kind, 2 pair and kings or better. If you are familiar with it, what is the payback schedule? My wife and I like to play it when we are getting our butts kicked in 9/6 Jacks.

Thanks,
Frank

Dear Frank:

Joker Poker Tournament: You're right. The strategy is very difficult. Given this hand, 7d Jc 5s Ah Ks, who would think to hold only the 7?

Here's my suggestion. Since you're not planning to play these machines in the future, it's not worth your time learning the proper strategy. Play with your usual Jacks or Better strategy, but don't hold a single high card or two unsuited high cards because there is no payoff for a high pair. Of course, always hold the Joker. And be on the lookout for straight flushes. Hold even two cards to a straight flush.

You'll play many hands correctly and you'll play some hands incorrectly, and you'll make major errors on some of the hands. For a run as short as a video poker tournament, though, randomness has a much greater effect on your results than skill.

I have seen and played the multi-pay machines. I don't recall the paytables on the machines and I don't know the paybacks. You can make a rough guess at the payback by pretending it's a plain Jacks or Better machine and checking/estimating the payback. And you know that the payback will be higher because of the multi-pay feature.

Best of luck in the tournament. Let me know how you did.
John

Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert, at slotexpert@home.com.

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