Our 4th day of video poker week looks at Mistakes and Myths. Let’s first do the tacky thing of “defining the gambler.”
WHAT IS A VIDEO POKER PLAYing Gambler?
Many views of a gambler paints a bleak, hopeless picture of reckless behavior leading to someone who risks loss or injury in the hope of gain or excitement. Addiction is a major concern, but I prefer to think a true gambler is someone who wagers money on the outcome of games or sporting events with strategy, knowledge, and experience to get the best chance to win by diminishing the house edge.
However, there are those who cling to gut feelings, myths, and false knowledge while whining about losing and casino edge. If you are superstitious, or even a “Little”-stitious, read on…… Remember, for every rule, there might be an exception.
Mistakes
Not Joining the Slot Club – Get over the fact that you think big brother is watching you and can get an extraordinary amount of information from your rewards card – it’s not as much as you think. Also, having your card inserted does not give someone (upstairs in the secret button room) the ability to change whatever it is your playing. So, get credit for your play. Comps playing video poker are hard enough to earn. Use the card, and no, using the slot club card won’t tighten your machine. The exception? – small play or short play sessions. For example, I play without the card when my play might diminish my Average Daily Theoretical. For more info on that, check out ‘“Casino Comps & Your “Average Daily Theoretical”
Playing the Wrong Games – this means a couple of things. First and foremost, it means playing games that you don’t practice. I don’t play “deuces wilds” because i wouldn’t play it close to perfect strategy – but that’s just me because I prefer to lower the house edge by playing only games I know well. Wrong games also includes playing highly volatile games with high variance like Triple Double Bonus or Multi-line Multi-Strike Poker which have slightly different hold cards. It should be said that the vast majority of multi-line games (Triple Play, 5-Play, 100-Play, etc) should be played exactly as the single line version.
A Low Bankroll – Different games with different denominations need different amounts of moolah to play with perfect strategy to give the player a good chance at winning. For more specific information on bankroll, go to the 888Casino and read DETERMINING BANKROLL REQUIREMENTS
Drinking too much / playing distracted – find the balance between enjoying casino amenities and playing the game.
Not Checking the Pay Table – the pay tables vary depending upon the game, denomination, and casino. Even machines side by side may be different. Look for better paying machines. But remember, just because one game has a better paying pay table doesn’t alone increase your chance of winning, correct strategy is a bigger factor.
Playing on a problem machine / Playing a Machine with “Sticky” Buttons – some machines are just not fun because of malfunctions with buttons or rewards card entry. Bar top machines especially fall into this category.
Not Betting Max Bet – You cant win if you don’t play – and that includes Royal Flushes & Progressive Jackpots. However, maybe you prefer a smaller denomination, or a slower pace. As long as you realize the pay table payback % has been diminished without max play, play what makes you comfy. After all, recreational gambling is for fun, isn’t it? No judgement here.
Myths
Following Hunches & Superstitions – here are some of the ones I hear the most:
MYTH – the cards are programmed to win or lose when you press deal. TRUTH – The infamous Random Number Generator (RNG) takes care of the randomness of VP play making the game of video poker a skill game based on the math and probabilities. Check out Video Poker Math at CasinoNewsDaily.com .
The 4 is the kicker.
MYTH – “Kicker” cards, cards that increase a four-of-a-kind, should be kept. TRUTH – yes, but only when the strategy dictates it. For example, when dealt three aces with a kicker like 2,3,4 in Double Double Bonus, only keep three aces. But when playing Triple Double Bonus, you’d keep the kicker. Some think you always go for the high pay combination, but correct strategy is more about keeping you in the game longer.
MYTH – Games that offer big jackpots on four Aces deal fewer four-Ace hands. TRUTH – No. Refer Slot Machines – Myths & The Random Number Generator concerning the “RNG.”
MYTH – When you discard just one card, it’s usually replaced with a card of the same denomination. TRUTH – No. Refer Slot Machines – Myths & The Random Number Generator concerning the “RNG.”
Does a dealt Straight Flush mean the game is “hot?”
MYTH – “Hot” and “Cold” machines / “Streaks” – TRUTH – These are human perceptions over a short period of time. For more info, refer to “RNG” above.
MYTH – I’ll change games and change my luck” and “The machine is “due” – TRUTH – it doesn’t matter. If the games are the same, including paytable, switch if you want. But, it really doesn’t matter. What matters is that the game, seat, casino area, etc is more desirable to you.
MYTH – Faster is Better – According to this theory, if you can increase your speed to complete one hand every three seconds, forcing the machine to cycle through 20 hands per minute rather than just 10, you’ll work twice as quickly toward the threshold required to trigger big winners. TRUTH – It may get you closer to the “expected” number of hands needed to approach a certain big pay, the “RNG” could bring the wanted pay out with fewer or many more hands than the expected amount.
MYTH– Higher Denomination Machines Pay More. TRUTH – While this may be true with slot machines (typically, higher the denomination, the higher the pay out %), Video Poker machines with the same pay table, whether $,5, $.25 or $5, will have the same expected RTP (Return To Player), also called EV (expected value).
CONCLUSION
Can You Make a Living Through Video Poker? Yes, but it is increasingly harder with every year as casinos lower paytables and eliminate “full pay” video poker. Now, it has to include promotions, multipliers, comps and anything else that can increase the value of grinding play on the very few full pay machines left. It’s tough to do.
So, let’s keep recreational gambling in the area of enjoyment and reality. Embrace the math, not the myth, and have fun.
Binbin
If you ask Video Poker players “what is the best video poker to play?” don’t expect an answer before they ask you some questions. It’s not a black & white answer – there’s a lot of grey area in consideration. Some questions might include:
So, practice, practice, practice. The staple to any VP beginner’s book library would be John Grochowski’s “The Video Poker Answer Book.” It’s a great place to start.
The Wizard off Odds
