The game you described is called "Bonus Poker". According to vpgenius.com, the expected return is 96.16% with perfect play. You can find the proper strategy on their website, however, my advice to you is to not waste your time and find a better game to play.
Video Poker - Jacks or Better
- Thread starter Covered_in_Bees!
- Start date
The game you described is called "Bonus Poker". According to vpgenius.com, the expected return is 96.16% with perfect play. You can find the proper strategy on their website, however, my advice to you is to not waste your time and find a better game to play.
Covered_in_Bees!
Active Member
actuary said:
Unfortunately, my options for VP are obviously quite limited. I wasn't able to check the pay scale on the machines in the "high limit" area, but if those have a bad payout, that's it. Those are my options. :/
Seems they might have to get relegated to "entertainment" status as opposed to having a semblence of being able to return my money.
moo321
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately, my options for VP are obviously quite limited. I wasn't able to check the pay scale on the machines in the "high limit" area, but if those have a bad payout, that's it. Those are my options. :/
Seems they might have to get relegated to "entertainment" status as opposed to having a semblence of being able to return my money.
Well, if you want to gamble for entertainment, that's fine. But this is a site dedicated to gaining an advantage, so expect people to be mean when you tell them you're playing a bad game.
Isn't there any blackjack around?
Covered_in_Bees!
Active Member
I have not wronged anyone in any way and thus I expect people to treat me with a modicum of decency. Period.
Unfortunately not. The only blackjack I have within a decent distance is one of those games with a digital dealer, which are basically CSMs I've read. Plus, if I wanted to play that, it's in the smoking section of the casino and I hate the smell of smoke. So that's out also.
So yeah, my area doesn't have a damn thing in the way of decent casino gaming.
Covered_in_Bees!
Active Member
Not that I even have access to any decent machines, I've become curious as to how, on a specific level, people play JoB for a living.
For example, do they stick in a hundred bucks and just play until there is nothing left. Rinse and repeat? If so, when do they stop? Where does their money for living come from?
Or do they keep track of every little credit won and stop playing when their credit in the machine has fallen so far it's just the credits won? Example, I hit a flush and it pays six credits. Now for the sake of the example, I never win another credit during this session. Does someone who does this for a living stop when they're down to those six credits won? Or do those get played too? What if it was a higher amount that they'd won? Hitting multiple high hands, but not the Royal?
Does any of this make sense?
So just how does someone play JoB for a living? Especially since the payback isn't usually ever 100%. This means they'll get back less than what they put in, right?
For example, do they stick in a hundred bucks and just play until there is nothing left. Rinse and repeat? If so, when do they stop? Where does their money for living come from?
Or do they keep track of every little credit won and stop playing when their credit in the machine has fallen so far it's just the credits won? Example, I hit a flush and it pays six credits. Now for the sake of the example, I never win another credit during this session. Does someone who does this for a living stop when they're down to those six credits won? Or do those get played too? What if it was a higher amount that they'd won? Hitting multiple high hands, but not the Royal?
Does any of this make sense?
So just how does someone play JoB for a living? Especially since the payback isn't usually ever 100%. This means they'll get back less than what they put in, right?
Just like in blackjack the secret to making money at video poker is to only play good games. This means either playing games that intrinsically have over 100% payback or playing during a promotion so that the payback when including cashback is over 100%. Jacks or Better can only be beaten under a promotion.
The hands in video poker are independent so no betting strategy will make a difference, either on every hand you have an advantage or on no hand do you have an advantage. A pro probably wouldn't even really pay attention to his credits until the end of the session, he's trying to get in as many hands as he can to maximize his return per hour. The only reason I can think of to pay attention to your credits is for tax reasons. If you're playing the typical 5 coin machine for quarters you always want to have less than 200 dollars in the machine. This way if you hit the royal ($1000) you'll still be under the $1200 limit and not have to file a W2.
The hands in video poker are independent so no betting strategy will make a difference, either on every hand you have an advantage or on no hand do you have an advantage. A pro probably wouldn't even really pay attention to his credits until the end of the session, he's trying to get in as many hands as he can to maximize his return per hour. The only reason I can think of to pay attention to your credits is for tax reasons. If you're playing the typical 5 coin machine for quarters you always want to have less than 200 dollars in the machine. This way if you hit the royal ($1000) you'll still be under the $1200 limit and not have to file a W2.
Covered_in_Bees!
Active Member
Ohhhh. That's the part I was missing. I know it was suggested to use comps to help get to winning percentages, but I wasn't aware it was required. I gotcha now.
Nevermind that the machines I have near me are very bad, the maximum quarters you can play is 18-25, depending on the machine. This pushes the RF into taxable income anyways.
If anyone could help me with this, I'd appreciate it.
When playing Jacks or Better, What is the proper thing to do in this situation. If you are dealt J,Q,K,10, 3. Do you hold the J,Q,k,10 or do you only hold the J,Q,K or what assuming you don't have 4 to a flush.
Thanks.
When playing Jacks or Better, What is the proper thing to do in this situation. If you are dealt J,Q,K,10, 3. Do you hold the J,Q,k,10 or do you only hold the J,Q,K or what assuming you don't have 4 to a flush.
Thanks.
According to Video Poker for Winners you should hold the 10,J,Q,K unless you have 3 to a royal flush. If you have 4 to a flush keep the 3 to a royal.
Covered_in_Bees!
Active Member
I'm glad someone else bumped this, I was getting tired of being the only one. 
My newest endeavor has been to get my local machines upgraded to full pay.
When I first posted here the payscale was: 250-6-5. Now they're up to 7-5. That's still no good. I want 9-6.
I have contacted my state's gaming control board with two inquiries, if the video poker machines were VLTs and who I would contact to get the payscale increased.
My answers were "There are no VLTs in the state." and the general manager.
I can't find any contact info specifically for the general manager of the casino, but I have a public e-mail address of the casino. So far I've sent them one e-mail requesting the JoB machines get upgraded to 9-6 and to have the e-mail forwarded to the GM.
The reply was that it had been forwarded.
So now what? Pull an "Andy Dufresne" and send them a weekly e-mail or what?
My newest endeavor has been to get my local machines upgraded to full pay.
When I first posted here the payscale was: 250-6-5. Now they're up to 7-5. That's still no good. I want 9-6.
I have contacted my state's gaming control board with two inquiries, if the video poker machines were VLTs and who I would contact to get the payscale increased.
My answers were "There are no VLTs in the state." and the general manager.
I can't find any contact info specifically for the general manager of the casino, but I have a public e-mail address of the casino. So far I've sent them one e-mail requesting the JoB machines get upgraded to 9-6 and to have the e-mail forwarded to the GM.
The reply was that it had been forwarded.
So now what? Pull an "Andy Dufresne" and send them a weekly e-mail or what?
Even if they do put in 9-6 machines you're not going to be able to make a profit without a promotion. If you really want to play video poker that bad you could just buy some software. It's remarkably similar to the real thing and you'll probably have to buy it anyway if you ever want to get good enough to make a profit on better machines.
Covered_in_Bees!
Active Member
Link?
I am so ignorant of the various tools available to educate people for the purpose of intelligent gambling, so forgive me for not knowing even a general direction of where to look.
Free Java Applet http://wizardofodds.com/play/jacksorbetter/
Good Software: http://www.bobdancer.com/showbook.cfm?itemnumber=1519BD
Where to find good games: (Dead link: http://members.cox.net/vpfree/)
I've enjoyed the software "Video Poker for Winners" very much. The game is very realistic, the the screen and sounds are identical to a casino machine except you're using a mouse instead of buttons. There is a large number of games at different pay tables you can train at and it has a built in simulator so you can calculate your expected value and risk of ruin for your bankroll.
Good Software: http://www.bobdancer.com/showbook.cfm?itemnumber=1519BD
Where to find good games: (Dead link: http://members.cox.net/vpfree/)
I've enjoyed the software "Video Poker for Winners" very much. The game is very realistic, the the screen and sounds are identical to a casino machine except you're using a mouse instead of buttons. There is a large number of games at different pay tables you can train at and it has a built in simulator so you can calculate your expected value and risk of ruin for your bankroll.
Covered_in_Bees!
Active Member
Excellent! Thanks a bunch. 
EDIT: And for the record, I have put dozens of hours of practice into the WoO Java JoB. I've even hit a royal flush on it, though my name hasn't been added to the list yet.
My inquiry in the post previous this one was to "expand my horizons" so to speak, with regards to which program I'm being taught by.
EDIT: And for the record, I have put dozens of hours of practice into the WoO Java JoB. I've even hit a royal flush on it, though my name hasn't been added to the list yet.
My inquiry in the post previous this one was to "expand my horizons" so to speak, with regards to which program I'm being taught by.
BlackJackJack
New Member
Locations in Canada?
Anyone know any of this action in Ontario?
Anyone know any of this action in Ontario?
Covered_in_Bees!
Active Member
(Dead link: http://members.cox.net/vpfree/C.htm) _This_ has a few places listed for Ontario.