In order to get the most play from a particular session bankroll, one needs to make an appropriate choice of a casino and of video poker games and also implement clever strategies in every game.
Selecting games one is familiar with
Although this seems quite logical, there are players who tend to pay little attention to such a basic but important rule. One should always select the game they are most familiar with and has had some practice on. The expected return we earlier discussed is valid only in case a particular game is played with accuracy. A player cannot be expected to be accurate, they do not know the game.
At some casinos there may be side-by-side machines, which appear to offer one and the same game, say Deuces Wild. In many cases these games have different pay tables, or one of them may be a player advantage game, while others may favor the casino. A clever player will not stop searching until they come across the machine providing the best expected return for the game they are familiar with.
Someone may ask how casinos can afford to offer games with expected returns of 100% or even more. The answer is simple. Since a lot of players make bad decisions and tend not to follow any strategy at all, but rather use hunches or guesses, their returns are often reduced by 3-4%. This makes it possible for casinos and other establishments to profit, despite the significantly fewer number of really good players.
A player should practice a lot the strategies for a particular game before they decide to bet money on it. In addition, they should pay closer attention to the pay table for the game, in order to determine whether the strategy they intend to use is applicable to the variation of the game.
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In case the casino one intends to visit does not offer the game or games they are familiar with, then they should simply avoid it and search for another establishment. At times, a casino may remove or downgrade one or several games in order to cut the advantage of the player. If initially the casino offered 9/6 Jacks or Better, the latter may be downgraded to 9/5 Jacks or Better. The appropriate decision, in this case as well, will be to leave the casino (and explain one’s reasons to the casino management).
Changing the game denomination
During the years after the genesis of video poker casinos were to raise the stakes in order to catch the attention of a larger number of players. This tendency continued until video poker games with returns over 100% appeared. No establishment seemed to have lost money, because many people failed to play the games in a proper manner. In time, some players began to win on a relatively consistent basis, as they came up with effective strategical decisions. However, casinos did not remain passive.
The games offering the highest returns were no longer available in high denominations. To players who attempted to implement proper money management, this meant that if they were on a losing streak, but they were still willing to play, they could change the denomination of the game, from dollars to quarters, or from quarters to nickels. This way they were able to get more play out from each dollar bet and to take advantage of better returns as well.
We already discussed the reason why betting the maximum number of coins is better than placing a lesser bet. In addition, we should only note that it is a more reasonable decision to bet the maximum number of coins on a machine with a lower denomination, than placing a lesser bet on a machine with a larger denomination. However, in case a player intends to bet a lesser-than-maximum number of coins, then it would be better if they bet 1 coin instead of 4 coins on a 5-coin maximum video poker machine.
In case a player intends to use a lower denomination, they will need to check the pay table, in order to ensure that the new machine provides an expected return as attractive as that of the previous machine.
Last but not least, a curious fact is that some casinos tend to pressure their customers to play higher denominations. If that happens to be one’s case, experts in the field propose that they may make a request for a full-pay game on higher-denomination machines. Such a request will hardly be granted, but at least it may ease the pressure.
9/6 Double Double Bonus Poker
Pick ‘Em Poker
Common Mistakes in Video Poker
Bankroll Management
Selecting Video Poker Game and Casino
Being alert for tricky games
When one attempts to play a low-denomination game, it is quite easy to find themself in a situation that can run through their bankroll in no time.
If a player is to obtain the maximum return for a Royal Flush (800 to 1, instead of 250 to 1), they need to ensure that either a 50-hand or a 100-hand option has been selected. Then, they will be able to make a maximum bet for any number of hands and still take advantage of the highest potential return. In case the player chooses a 10-hand option, they will need to play the full 10 hands in order to be given the chance to achieve maximum return.
In a ”penny game”, in case a player bets the maximum number of coins, they will need to pay a nickel for each hand. In case they play 100 hands, the bet will be $5 for a game and not a penny! Thus, a player needs to be realistic about the amount of money they are betting when making a choice of multi-hand video poker machines. In addition, the player needs to examine closely the pay table before playing a multi-hand game, as it is not that common to encounter a full-pay version of the games we already discussed.
Players need to be wary when selecting games such as Multi-Strike Poker. This game offers four levels of hands, with each following hand being worth twice as much as the preceding one. To be able to move from one level to the next, a player needs to win the prior hand, or to obtain a ”Free Ride”. Thus, the strategy on the bottom levels needs to be adjusted, so that the player accomplishes their objective, to move on to the next level.
On lower levels the player should be more conservative, as they strive to obtain any winning hand. Since the game features four levels of hands, the potential bet will be 20 coins (not 5), while betting a lower-than-maximum number of coins will not allow the player to advance to the next level.
Practice has shown that many players fail to stay within the limits of their budget, when playing Multi-Strike Poker. This does not necessarily mean that one should walk away from that game. It means that, if one has a sufficient budget and comes across a full-pay version of the game they know how to play, it may be an appropriate choice. All in all, it is better for a player to keep in mind what this video poker game may cost.
Disposing of slot cards and casino promotions
As soon as one visits a new casino, they need to apply for a slot club card. By using this card, they will be able to take advantage of comps and cash. Every casino has a predetermined number of points one needs to earn, in order to get a particular amount of cash back. It is the slot club brochure, that will usually state how the use of the slot card can grant a player access to complimentary services and cash returns.
In order to preserve the loyalty of players toward a particular casino, during the 1980s establishments in Atlantic City came up with the idea to form slot clubs. By offering comps such as free meals, hotel rooms, vacations, shows and even cash, casinos were able to convince players to return and play again.
At present, slot clubs are widespread across the globe. In addition to the services listed above, the majority of casinos provide their loyal customers with information regarding special promotions. It is a practice among a number of slot clubs to provide their members with discount coupons or free gifts only for filling out the club application form.
Last but not least, we should note that only the possession of a slot card will ensure a player access to a win/loss statement for tax records.
