Tag: Video Poker

What is a Video Poker Penalty Card? – The Monday Link

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I have heard friends and colleagues speak about a renewed interest in video poker, with some gamblers delving into the skill of video poker strategy. Some podcast colleagues such as Tim Lawson in His “The Bettor Life” and Christopher DiMauro at “Art in the Game” have mentioned their new interest in VP and the paytables involved.  check out their podcasts.

Whether you play for your personal enjoyment, or play as the best way to play that free slot play the casino gives you, knowing the strategy of the game you play will give you a better chance to cash out a winner. Playing full-pay Jacks or Better is a great find to play you can find it, but if you don’t practice perfect strategy, you can decrease your payout probability to that of 6/5 JOB.

Strategy cards are available and legal.

In advanced VP strategy, penalty cards are important considerations.  Knowing the difference when to draw to a flush in 8/5 & 9/6 is a significant step in your Video Poker play.

“What is a penalty card in video poker?”

John Robison is an expert on slot machines and how to play them. John is a slot and video poker columnist and has written for many of gaming’s leading publications. He holds a master’s degree in computer science from the prestigious Stevens Institute of Technology.

You may hear John give his slot and video poker tips live on The Good Times Show, hosted by Rudi Schiffer and Mike Schiffer, which is broadcast from Memphis on KXIQ 1180AM Friday afternoon from from 2PM to 5PM Central Time. John is on the show from 4:30 to 5.

John is a prolific expert concerning slots and video poker.  Enjoy many of his excellent posts at John Robinson Casino City Archives.

Remember, “Embrace the Math, not the Myth.”

Binbin

Foxwoods Trip Report – 3X Multiplier, Play Bar & David Burke Prime

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Foxwoods Resort Casino

As reported this week, there are many multiplier point offers monthly at New England’s Casinos. So, NETG visited Foxwoods Friday. with Triple Points in mind. Here is our Trip Report, but first,  check out our recent post about the other multiplier days this month:

New England Casinos Offer Multiplier Days

The Strategy 

When planning a trip to a casino to take advantage of multiplier point days, it’s good to have a strategy. Bert and I had a plan with a limited bankroll – start with slots, and if it goes south, Video Poker at the bar is the way to lengthen our time played. Remember, the casino is still looking for your ADT – Average Daily Theoretical – which means bet and time must still equal a usual play or more to show your worth to the casino staff. A quick play on a multiplier day may add points faster, but it will still show as a quick gambling day.

Before Bert arrived, my slot play was played out quickly – no bonuses, no big payouts, and definitely no fun. So, when Bert arrived, I was busy at my favorite poker bar at Foxwoods in the Great Cedar Casino – Play Bar, with my favorite bartenders Catherine, Tammy & Steve.

Besides having great service, the quality of drinks is better.  For example, Grey Goose Vodka & Club soda is comped, but in the Fox Casino at Centrale Bar, you pay an extra dollar.  Sure it’s a little thing, but the music is also geared toward boomers and includes TV monitors.  Besides, with a limited bankroll, that dollar can be used toward the tip for appreciation.

Super Times Pays is a favorite Video Poker game with a random multiplier assigned to all hands.

The video poker is decent but not great VP plays. By comparison, it’s the 2nd best video poker in New England behind Mohegan Sun.  There are  two types a bartops around the bar – Superstar II , with many VP games, keno, single line poker, slots, etc & Gamemaker – single line VP.  I suggest the best VP play for low rollers with the fun factor is Spin Poker & Double Spin Poker with  9/5 DDB and 8/5 JOB at the nickel denomination. Both machines also offer 8/5 JOB & 9/5 DDB Single line VP.  Factor in the Grey Goose and you have a decent play – especially on Triple Point Day. We both played about 3 1/2 hours with ups and downs, with a quad here and a quad there. Once I hit four Aces with a 5X Super Spin Multiplier, which kept treading water easier and a lot more fun.

DINNER TIME

The Wine Tower at David Burke’s Prime

By 6:00PM, it was time to eat, so we mosied to David Burke Prime on the lower level of the Grand Pequot Tower. It’s famous for some of the world’s finest steaks, aged in an on-premises patented salt-brick aging room, as well as the 3,000-bottle wine tower, the THE PRIME TOWERS of seafood appetizers, and it’s Clothesline Bacon 19 – extra thick-cut candied bacon, with black pepper & maple glaze. When visiting, ask about their different “at-the-table” experiences as well.

Mmmmmm….Popovers!

The staff and service is extraordinary, and the opening Popovers are incredible light and delicious. We decided on two entree’s – Stonington Scallops, with chorizo, risotto sweet potato hash,& togarashi citrus sauce.

Stonington Scallops

Bert absolutely loved the different tastes which came together effortlessly. I had the Double-Cut Berkshire Pork Chop with firecracker apple sauce and a side of roasted asparagus large enough for both of us to enjoy and still bring some home. The bill was under $$90 for fabulous cuisine, extremely attentive staff and a feeling of a high level restaurant completely away from the bells and whistles of any casino.

The Porkchop was huge! I dove in before taking a picture!

It was an enjoyable way to take advantage of the one Multiplier Day at Foxwoods. I believe they will offer another in January. Watch all of our 8 casinos the their promotions right here at NETimeGambling – Your  COMPLETE RESOURCE FOR THE RECREATIONAL GAMBLER featuring the Casinos of New England.

Binbin

Know Your Game – Video Poker Pay Tables

Introduction & A Little History

There are many variations of video poker out there beyond the original Draw Poker machines, like Multi Strike, Quick Quads, Ultimate X, Dream Card Poker, Super Times Pay, and more.  But the machine as we know it began in 1970 when Dale Electronics introduced the world’s first video poker machine, the  “Poker-Matic.” and paved the way for the VP machine we know and love today.

Dale Electronics’ Poker-Matic video poker slot machine – the first-ever automated video poker machine, 1970.

According to Jerry “Stickman” Stich for 888Casino.com, 

  • The early versions of the game required at least two pairs in order to make a winning hand.
  • Once the lowest winning hand was improved to a pair of jacks or better, the popularity of the game took off.
  • Original versions of the game were quite primitive, resembling televisions of the period.
  • Patent owner Si Redd’s own company SIRCOMA went public and was renamed International Gaming Technology (IGT) and the rest, as they say, is history.

A 1980 IGT Video Poker machine.

Jacks or Better (JOB) is the oldest video poker game version, and really is the game that started it all. It started out with 9 credits for a full house and 6 credits for a flush. A 9/6 JOB is considered Full Pay at 99.54%. Most casinos don’t offer JOB at full pay until you get higher in denomination, such as $1, $2, or $5.

Why is it so popular?  I go back to the “Stickman” and 888Casino.com  with my own comments:

  • It is simple to play (at least JOB is for a start)
  • Unlike a slot machine, the player has a say in what happens. You can choose how many and which cards to save before drawing to your final hand. (Basic Strategy means the best play for each possible hand.  Yes, there is a correct way to play the hand to keep true to the 99.54% payout over time.)
  • You play video poker alone – no reason to interact with other players.
  • Of all electronic casino games, video poker has the lowest overall house edge. (depending on the provided pay table and your ability to play perfect basic strategy)
  • You can determine the casino edge by just looking for key information on the face of the video poker game. (if you know in what your VP game pay table configuration should be for full pay)

So what are the highest pay tables for today’s most popular Video Poker games? Below you’ll find the % to expect for different pay tables offered on the same game by using the full house / flush stats.

Jacks or Better & Bonus Games when 2 two pair pays 2 credits

Jacks or Better

Pay Table Payout Percentage
Full Pay (9/6) Jacks or Better 99.54%
9/5 Jacks or Better 98.45%
8/6 Jacks or Better 98.39%
8/5 Jacks or Better 97.30%
7/5 Jacks or Better 96.15%
6/5 Jacks or Better 95.00%

Bonus Poker is a very common video poker game that has low volatility. It’s played just like Jacks or Better but the pay tables are different and provide bonuses for four of a kinds. Note that 8/5 is tops. 6/5 is often in casinos, so stay away.

Pay Table Payout Percentage*
8/5 Bonus Poker 99.17%
7/5 Bonus Poker 98.01%
6/5 Bonus Poker 96.87%

More Pay Tables

The following games, with pay table and payback %, are also available in casinos. Usually, if any number is diminished, it equals one % less for each single number lowered.

Deuces Wild Poker and it’s Variations

Deuces Wild, as the name suggest’s, the value of deuces (2’s) are wild for all cards. This adds a pay for five of a kind, a wild royal flush and the all important four of a kind deuces. The full pay version is almost impossible to find.

Colorado Deuces can be recognized by the 13-for-1 payback on straight flushes the five of a kind return of 16-for-1. This is also rare.

Not So Lucky Deuces, like most Deuces games, pays only 4-for-1 on four of a kind, but has higher returns than the full-pay game on four hands: five of a kind (16-for-1), straight flush (10-for-1), full house (4-for-1) and flush (3-for-1).

(the first number is 4-of-a-kind, followed by FH, FL)

Pay Table Pay-back
25/15/10/4/3/2
94.82%
20/10/8/4/4/3
95.96%
25/16/13/4/3/2
96.77%
20/12/9/4/4/3
97.06%
20/12/10/4/4/3
97.58%
25/15/9/4/4/3
98.91%
25/16/10/4/4/3
99.73%
25/15/11/4/4/3
99.96%
25/15/9/5/3/2
100.76%

Double Bonus Poker is variation of Jacks or Better Video Poker, with extra payouts for selected Four of a kind hands. Four Aces will win you an 800 credit payout (when playing 5 credits).

Pay Table Pay-back
7/5
93.11%
8/5
94.19%
9/6/4
96.38%
9/6/5
97.81%
9/7/5
99.11%
10/7
100.17%

 

Double Double Bonus Poker (DDB)has become an increasingly popular video poker game. Its popularity stems from the extra bonus payoff that you get with four aces, 2s, 3s, or 4s accompanied with a “kicker” (a specific fifth card that is in the same hand as the four-of-a-kind). What follows are some facts about the game (good and bad), and some tips to improve your chances of winning.

Pay Table Pay-back
6/5
95.12%
7/5
96.17%
8/5
97.25%
9/5
98.33%
9/6
99.44%

Triple Double Bonus Pokeris well liked by many video poker players. The most player-friendly pay table returns 99.58% (9/7) and the most common pay table 98.15%. (9/6)

Pay Table Pay-back
7/5
94.92%
8/5
95.97%
9/5
97.02%
9/6
98.15%
9/7
99.58%

If you count the number of basic game and their pay table differences above (there is also Super Triple Play & Triple triple Bonus) and multiply them times the number of formats (Triple Play, 5-play, 10-play, 25-play, 50-play, & 100-play) and then the many games that offers them (Multi Strike, Quick Quads, Ultimate X, Dream Card Poker, Super Times Pay – VideoPoker.com offers over 60!) and you have hundreds to choose from (as well as a run-on sentence).  So the above is just the tip of the iceberg.  But it’ll get you started at being aware of the best games available in your casino of choice.

Binbin

Remember when gambling, follow the math, not the myth.