Video Poker help

**Bubbles** · 12-03-2016, 06:02 PM

I am the most lost noob ever when it comes to video poker and I have some questions.

1.) Does the bet amount matter? Like is there a difference between betting minimum/max or different units?

2.) Is there some sort of database that lists stores with good video poker? Finding a place to play is currently my biggest hangup.

3.) Do certain VP games have noticeably less variance than others?

4.) What sort of Bankroll do I need if I'm mostly just wanting to play VP for comps? More specifically, how much should I bring if I just intend to camp a machine for a day or two.

**Three** · 12-03-2016, 06:22 PM

No expert here but I will try to answer the ones I know.

Originally Posted by Fenix

1.) Does the bet amount matter? Like is there a difference between betting minimum/max or different units?

At max coin you get a big bonus only for the top paying hand in most cases. You may never get that hand but it does make a difference on expectation.

Originally Posted by Fenix

2.) Is there some sort of database that lists stores with good video poker? Finding a place to play is currently my biggest hangup.

There is one that lists the conditions for most casinos. That is the types of VP the pay tables and where in the casino to find them.
http://www.vpfree2.com/video-poker/search

Originally Posted by Fenix

3.) Do certain VP games have noticeably less variance than others?

I assume yes but I can't answer intelligently about it.

Originally Posted by Fenix

4.) What sort of Bankroll do I need if I'm mostly just wanting to play VP for comps? More specifically, how much should I bring if I just intend to camp a machine for a day or two.

Not one that is up my alley. Better left to others to answer.

**Exoter175** · 12-03-2016, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by Fenix

I am the most lost noob ever when it comes to video poker and I have some questions.

1.) Does the bet amount matter? Like is there a difference between betting minimum/max or different units?

2.) Is there some sort of database that lists stores with good video poker? Finding a place to play is currently my biggest hangup.

3.) Do certain VP games have noticeably less variance than others?

4.) What sort of Bankroll do I need if I'm mostly just wanting to play VP for comps? More specifically, how much should I bring if I just intend to camp a machine for a day or two.

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Depends on denomination.

RS · 12-03-2016, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by Fenix

I am the most lost noob ever when it comes to video poker and I have some questions.

1.) Does the bet amount matter? Like is there a difference between betting minimum/max or different units?

2.) Is there some sort of database that lists stores with good video poker? Finding a place to play is currently my biggest hangup.

3.) Do certain VP games have noticeably less variance than others?

4.) What sort of Bankroll do I need if I'm mostly just wanting to play VP for comps? More specifically, how much should I bring if I just intend to camp a machine for a day or two.

1. Yes, at least on many machines, the RF will pay 250-for-1 when betting fewer than 5 credits. At 5 credits, it pays 800-for-1 (or 4000-for-5).

2. Yes, but tend to be inaccurate (for good measure). Best to do your own scouting.

3. Yes.

4. On games with variance ~ 20, I'd say a BR of 1000 bets should be sufficient for 20 hours of play.

**Ryemo** · 12-03-2016, 07:05 PM

Fenix,

If you don't have Bob Dancer's software and books, I would recommend making the purchase if you want to get serious about Video Poker. I myself am not much of a VP player, but I used Bob's software and read one of his books to help myself learn 9/6 JoB.

**bigplayer** · 12-03-2016, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by Fenix

I am the most lost noob ever when it comes to video poker and I have some questions.

1.) Does the bet amount matter? Like is there a difference between betting minimum/max or different units?

2.) Is there some sort of database that lists stores with good video poker? Finding a place to play is currently my biggest hangup.

3.) Do certain VP games have noticeably less variance than others?

4.) What sort of Bankroll do I need if I'm mostly just wanting to play VP for comps? More specifically, how much should I bring if I just intend to camp a machine for a day or two.

1. Max bet to get full credit for the Royal Flush. You will lose around 1.25% of your overall expected return by short coining. Play a lower denomination and always play max coins unless you have good reason not to.
2. mentioned above vpfree2.com
3. Wizard Of Odds website has a good evaluation of most all VP games including the variance. Video poker by it's nature carries pretty ridiculous variance, but it can run from simply moderately high (Jacks or Better) to positively insane (Triple Double Bonus). You should expect to lose 2/3 of the time when you play Video Poker.
4. Since VP is a losing game you need an infinite bankroll as you have a 100% risk of ruin. For a typical afternoon of play you will need 2000 to 6000 times your denomination to be able to play without worrying about going bust (2000 on a game like Jacks or Better, 6000 on a game like Super Aces).

Know the comp rate before you start playing. Many casinos no longer give much comps to Video Poker players, you might just be sitting there wasting your time for nothing. The benefits of being a VP player usually comes in the form of mail coupons so you are trying to create a profile that the casino's marketing department will look favorably on. I'd suggest you pick up Jean Scott's "Frugal Gambler" books and read them. Also learn the importance of the term "theoretical".

**seriousplayer** · 12-03-2016, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by bigplayer

4. Since VP is a losing game you need an infinite bankroll as you have a 100% risk of ruin. For a typical afternoon of play you will need 2000 to 6000 times your denomination to be able to play without worrying about going bust (2000 on a game like Jacks or Better, 6000 on a game like Super Aces).

Know the comp rate before you start playing. Many casinos no longer give much comps to Video Poker players, you might just be sitting there wasting your time for nothing. The benefits of being a VP player usually comes in the form of mail coupons so you are trying to create a profile that the casino's marketing department will look favorably on. I'd suggest you pick up Jean Scott's "Frugal Gambler" books and read them. Also learn the importance of the term "theoretical".

Not with "Full Pay Deuces Wild" which there are still available in Las Vegas. The Full Pay Deuces Wild has a payback of 100.76% with optimal strategy. But is hard to make a living of .76% advantage without take advantage the player's club benefits.

**bejammin075** · 12-03-2016, 08:03 PM

Bob Dancer is one of the top authorities. Variance ranges from high to vary high. The only way it's positive is combining with mailers, bonus point days, promotions, etc, typically. Have to have players card. Winning around $1200 or more on a good hand triggers W2G form, you have to use SS number.

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**Three** · 12-04-2016, 06:12 AM

Originally Posted by bejammin075

Winning around $1200 or more on a good hand triggers W2G form, you have to use SS number.

It is just having $1200 in credits on your machine. You could put 11 bennies and 4 twenties in the machine and trigger a hand pay on the first spin if you win $20 over your spin cost.

**Bigdaddy** · 12-04-2016, 06:19 AM

If you have a subscription to the BJ21 site, there is a wealth of information and insightful posts on VP there. Pay special attention to the posts by "Captain Jack". They are outstanding!

RS · 12-04-2016, 07:49 AM

Originally Posted by Tthree

It is just having $1200 in credits on your machine. You could put 11 bennies and 4 twenties in the machine and trigger a hand pay on the first spin if you win $20 over your spin cost.

Are you being sarcastic? I certainly hope so.

**Three** · 12-04-2016, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by RollingStoned

Are you being sarcastic? I certainly hope so.

As I understand it all that matters is the number of credits on the machine. It has nothing to do with amount won.

**Joe Mama** · 12-04-2016, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by Fenix

I am the most lost noob ever when it comes to video poker and I have some questions.

1.) Does the bet amount matter? Like is there a difference between betting minimum/max or different units?

In general you must play max coins per hand to get full benefit of the royal flush payoff; otherwise the EV will be reduced substantially.
2.) Is there some sort of database that lists stores with good video poker? Finding a place to play is currently my biggest hangup.

Yes, the VPfree someone else mentioned is a good start, but like anything AP you need to do some footwork (scouting) to find the best opportunities. I've found excellent opportunities that never appeared on the website.
3.) Do certain VP games have noticeably less variance than others?
Jacks or better (JOB) has the lowest variance (~20), some bonus games have about double this. Compare this to 1.26 variance for BJ. Bob Dancer software will compute variance and EV for any game.

4.) What sort of Bankroll do I need if I'm mostly just wanting to play VP for comps? More specifically, how much should I bring if I just intend to camp a machine for a day or two.

The value of one to two royal flushes should work; for $1 game this would be $4000-8000. This is a high variance game, to achieve EV you need to hit your share of royals (~one in 40-45000 hands). Comment on infinite BR is not true if you can find the good opportunities, I've played essentially even money games that earned 1% mailers and another 1% in drawing entry opportunities.