Video poker players who play the game regularly – or even not so regularly – tend to have a favorite game or few games. They tend to play these games exclusively. They play the same pay tables for these select games.
The reason for this is these players have learned and practiced the proper playing strategy for the specific game (or games) and pay tables that they play. They do this to maximize the return from their video poker play.
But what happens if they cannot find one of their games and pay tables, but there is a similar – but different – game/pay table available.
Many of the more seasoned players with easy access to several live casinos will simply not play if they cannot find their game/pay table.
Some video poker players who also have favorite games and have practiced the proper strategy for those games. However, they have limited access to casinos and are willing to sacrifice some return to enjoy playing the game.
While this article is focused on these latter players, it may also be of interest to the former. Is playing a close, but wrong, video poker strategy that big a deal? How much does it actually cost a player? Read on to find out more.
Contents
- The games and strategies that are examined
- Not exactly the same strategy in some cases
- Returns from Jacks or Better based games
- Returns from Deuces Wild based games
- Pay table (only) differences
- Summary
1 – The games and strategies that are examined
This article will only examine only a few of the most popular video poker games and their strategies. They are:
- Full-pay (9/6) Jacks or Better
- Full-pay (8/5) Bonus Poker
- Full-pay (10/7) Double Bonus Poker
- 9/6 Double-Double Bonus Poker
- Full-pay (15/9/5/3/2/2/1) Deuces Wild
- Not So Ugly Ducks (NSUD) (16,10,4,4,3,2,1) Deuces Wild
2 – Not exactly the same strategy in some cases
While, theoretically, this article is about playing a different strategy, there is at least one situation where some basic common sense should override the strict strategy. That common sense change involves playing a Double-Double Bonus game using any of the other Jacks or Better based strategies mentioned in the article – specifically: Jacks or Better, Bonus Poker, and Double Bonus Poker.
When dealt four aces through 4s, the player would keep an ace through 4 kicker. Normally in the game the strategy is developed for, there is no reason to keep a kicker, but it is worth a bundle when playing Double-Double Bonus.
3 – Returns from Jacks or Better based games
The table below shows the game played in the left column with the returns from the different game tips in the columns to the right.
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In some cases, the difference is surprisingly small. The differences range from zero to a 1.03% reduction in the return.
Let us put these numbers into perspective. Assume the game denomination is a quarter. Each bet would then be $1.25. Also assume a play speed of 500 hands per hour. Your speed could be less or it could be more, but 500 is a nice moderate pace for examples.
At this rate, $625 would be played through the game every hour. The smallest reduction in return is 0.06%. That works out to 37.5 cents per hour. Certainly, that will not matter very much. But let’s look at some other reductions to see how they impact the bankroll.
- 0.31% amounts to $1.94 per hour.
- 0.34% amounts to $2.13 per hour.
- 0.37% is $2.31 per hour.
- 0.53% is $3.31 per hour.
- 0.56% is $3.50.
- 0.65% is $4.06.
- 0.80% is $5.00.
- And, finally, 1.03% is $6.43 per hour.
Some of the reductions in return have a big impact. If the thought of using a strategy familiar to you seems tempting, please remember these numbers before taking the plunge.
4 – Returns from Deuces Wild based games
The following table shows the game played in the left column with the returns from the different strategies in the columns to the right.
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There is no good news in the Deuces Wild variety. Playing the wrong strategy costs, and costs big. This is something you should really think about before trying. It is much better to take the time to learn the proper strategy than to commit to more than five dollar per hour reduction in return.
5 – Pay table (only) differences
What happens if the strategy being played is for the correct game, but the pay table is different? How does that affect the return?
Following are a few examples of the cost of playing the strategy for the same game but a different pay table.
Jacks or Better
- Strategy used: Full-pay (9/6) Jacks or Better – 99.54 percent return
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- Strategy used: 8/5 Bonus Poker – 99.17 percent return
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- Strategy used: 10/7 Double Bonus Poker – 100.17 percent return
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- Strategy used: 9/6 Double-Double Bonus – 98.98 percent return
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- Strategy used: Full-pay (15/9/5/3/2/2/1) Deuces Wild – 99.54 percent return
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In most cases, there is not much difference in returns between playing the proper pay table strategy and playing the strategy for most common pay table. The glaring differences are for Double-Double Bonus and Deuces Wild.
6 – Summary
- It is very difficult to master strategies for all video poker games and pay tables.
- Using a known strategy for a similar game can be an option for some players.
- Some strategies are not a good match for certain other games.
- The impact on return for strategies for different pay tables of the same game is not as great as different game strategies.
- Care should be taken to understand the impact of using a different strategy before committing to using it.
- Players should decide for themselves what strategy to play – or whether to play an inferior game at all.
