The Cost of Playing Similar – But Wrong – Video Poker Strategy

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

1. The games and strategies that are examined
2. Not exactly the same strategy in some cases
3. Returns from Jacks or Better based games
4. Returns from Deuces Wild based games
5. Pay table (only) differences
6. 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.

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.