Video Poker What I do

[Dan Paymar]

I'm here to answer anyone's questions about video poker strategy and tactics. I've been playing video poker since 1989, and I've been in the business of analyzing and writing about the games since 1992. My book, "Video Poker Optimum Play," is now in its 3rd edition, and my analyzer/trainer program, "Optimum Video Poker" is up to version 3.4. To the best of my knowledge, it is the only VP program developed and supported by the author, and the only true trainer that relates the card patterns to the hand types by displaying the strategy chart on screen next to the game window. Both products are available on Amazon, and I have a web site at OptimumPlay.com.

Please feel free to ask any questions about the games.

 

[777]

Hi Dan I am definitely interested. How is video poker different from a normal slot machine?

 

[Dan Paymar]

Most games are variations of 5-card draw poker. The hand types are the same as for poker, but that's the end of the similarity. Payoffs are just for whatever hand you end up with. The difference between video poker and "normal" (reel) slot machines is that Nevada regulations require each unseen card to be equally probable to appear. This makes it possible to calculate strategies and expected values. No such regulations apply to other slot games.

Please tell me how you think you might contribute.

 

[Dan Paymar]

777, I think I misunderstood your post. To be more clear, the main difference between video poker and other slot machines is the legal requirement in Nevada, Louisiana, and some other jurisdictions requires that the cards to be dealt randomly so that every unseen card has the same probability of appearing at any time. This makes it possible to accurately calculate a game's "payback" (Expected Return or ER) and to develop a strategy that an average player can follow to achieve very close to that calculated ER. Many other calculations are possible. For more information, please visit my website at www.optimumplay.com.

Some video poker games, found mainly in Las Vegas outlying "locals" casinos, offer over 100% ER. There are online forums that list surveys of good games. Player's club points, comps, free play and other promotions add to that, often making sub-100% games such as the original Jacks or Better (a 99.6% game) attractive. As an overall generality, video poker is almost always better payback than reel slots in the same casino, which is why many casinos offer higher point multipliers on reel slots than on video poker.

Video poker is unique as the only casino game where it is possible for the average player to have an advantage on every play.

Such calculations are not possible on other slot machines because it's perfectly legal for each symbol to have a different probability, and there is no requirement for the casino to reveal those probabilities. Therefore, it is impossible to know a game's payback unless you are on very good terms with the slot director. It's even common for two apparently identical machines to have different payback.

 

[Toplivecasinos]

Very interested leaning more about video poker. Unlike slot machine video poker is kinda different but has similarities. Video poker is just the right game for a beginner like me.

 

[Dan Paymar]

The only similarity between slot machines and video poker is the physical machine itself. Slots are games of chance with an unknown casino advantage and no skill involved. Video poker is also a game of chance, but it has a knowable expected return (payback), and skill is involved to achieve that return. You must be cautious, however, because in many venues what appears to be a video poker machine is just a slot machine in disguise. New York is one such venue. Play VP with confidence in Nevada, Louisiana, New Jersey and a few other places where the games are regulated to be honest, and practice on a true trainer program such as Optimum Video Poker to hone your skill.

 

[Raptor]

At best I dont expect you can do better than minimizing the house edge with video poker. If the card draw is random then you have no legs.

What part is not random, that would overcome negative expectation?

Any casino game is only beatable if each component has an element of predictability. For example if any link in the chain in random, then the outcome is random. With cards its only different if any of the cards are predictable. Be ause each card is a diffetent event. But then to get an edge you need to have an advantage over the dealer too.

Conclusion? You need to determine what elements are random, predictable, and if the combination can mathematically give an edge.

 

[Dan Paymar]

It is the fact that the cards are dealt at random with each unseen card having equal probability that makes it possible to analyze the game for maximum payback and to create an easy-to-use playing strategy to achieve very close to that payback, often within 0.01% of the calculated maximum, and within 0.001% on some games.

I'm not saying that all video poker games are beatable, but at the very least you can make a logical choice, which is impossible on a slot machine. The payoff table gives all the information needed to make the calculations, and Optimum Video Poker will make those calculations in just a few seconds.

Even on a sub-100% game you can minimize your loss rate and maximize your playing time, thus getting the most out of promotions which sometimes can make such a game attractive.

Video Poker is the intelligent player's game.

 

[Got A Buck?]

This may sound like a stupid question, but is video poker played on a computer? I know what slot poker is, but I am very unfamiliar with the video variation.