Video Poker Myths

[Thomas]

This is an excellent article by gambling author John Grochowski:

http://grochowski.casinocitytimes.co...les/33130.html



Here's a small sample:

MYTH: Games that offer big jackpots on four Aces deal fewer four-Ace hands.

FACT: Players actually get four Aces more often on games such as Double Bonus Poker and Super Aces than they do on games without four-Ace jackpots. The machine doesn't have to deal four Aces less often to make up for the jackpots. That's all taken care of elsewhere on the pay tables, with lower paybacks on other hands such as full houses, flushes and two pairs.

Smart players adjust their strategy to the pay table, and play for the Aces more often. In 8-5 Super Aces, for instance, we'll draw four Aces about once per 4,209 hands, while in 9-6 Jacks or Better, the average is more than 5,100 hands between four-Ace hands.

Why? Because in Super Aces, we'll hold just the Aces in two-pair hands, break up a full house to hold three Aces, and hold just an Ace instead of two or three unsuited high cards. We make the opposite plays in Jacks or Better.

The machine just deals us the cards randomly. If we used the same strategy for all pay tables, we'd get four Aces with the same frequency on different games. When our strategy favors Aces, we get the Ace quads more often.

[Deuces_Wild]

MYTH: After a big-paying hand, the machine stops paying.

FACT: Odds are the same after a big hand as they were before.


This seems to be one that lots of people really buy into.