Meet some wallet gobblers
4 August 2006
By Mark Pilarski
Dear Mark,
I'm hoping you can clear up a question that's
been bothering me for long time. I've noticed so
many times on 50 and 100-play video poker
machines that when dealt two pair, I get few
full houses. They seem rigged! It seems like the
50 and 100-play have different programming. One
VP expert has said they are programmed similar
to a slot machine. Is that true? Sandy P.
Dear Mark,
Why is it that every time I play 50 and 100 play
video poker machines, I make less money than
when I play your standard video poker machine?
Pete D.
Hi, Sally, meet Pete. Pete -- Sally. It seems
Pete's noticed the same thing you have.
That expert was correct, Sandy. Like today's
cybernetic slots, all video poker machines use a
random number generator (RNG) software algorithm
to determine the game's outcome. The number of
coins played cannot influence the end result. It
doesn't make any difference if one coin is being
wagered or 50 or 100.
Also, they should have the same expected return
- that is, if the pay tables are identical.
Herein lies the secret -- why both of you are
coming out cash-poor when playing the multi-play
boxes. It's not because there is some sort of
monkey business happening, but that multi-play
video poker games usually have stingier pay
tables than do their single-play kissing
cousins. Typically, the more the hands offered,
the worse the pay table.
For those who do prefer multi-play games, I
suggest that you look for pay tables equal to
that of a single-play game. Although a bit tough
to ferret out, they do exist. Once found,
perfect basic strategy (see below) always
remains the same, be it for 1-play, 3-play, or
100-play.
Quick tip: Assuming that both Sandy and Pete
were to find identical pay tables, they will
then need to ask themselves what they normally
would play on a single play machine, and will
then need to divide that number by 50 or 100.
For instance, if they play $1 single-line
machines, they should then play a one-cent
100-line game, or two-cent 50-liners.
Dear Mark,
Please explain what you mean by playing perfect
basic strategy? Dan H.
What I mean by perfect basic strategy, Dan, is
making perfect use of the information available
to maximize the expected outcome of the bet. In
blackjack, perfect basic strategy is nothing
more than how you play each blackjack hand
against the dealers "up-card." In video poker
it's which discards you choose, since
eliminating the wrong cards reduces your overall
payback.
I'm sending you two strategy cards that put
these priceless details at your fingertips.
Dear Mark,
The casino near my home now offers Crapless
Craps. Is it a good bet? Kallan D.
Never Ever or Crapless Craps is ground I've
plowed before, Kallan, so I'll synopsize. You do
not lose on the 2, 3, or 12 on the come out
roll. Instead, if the shooter tosses the 2, 3,
11 or 12, that becomes the point, just as the 4,
5, 6, and 8, 9, 10 would in normal craps. The 7
on the come out is your only instant winner.
Two thumbs down is my recommendation for
Crapless Craps. The house edge on the pass line
with these modified rules is a whopping 5.4%,
about four times the typical crap game's 1.4%
pass line edge.
Gambling Wisdom of the Week: "Blackjack--what a
game! How simple it looks, yet how complex it
truly is." --Victor H. Royer
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