Video Poker Tournament Discussion

I'll be in LV to participate in my first one next month. Given that I am awaiting details about it from the organizers (such as timed sessions vs set number of hands per session, and the actual game we will play and its pay table), I know that one's strategy is dependent upon those factors.

So, this is not a post to ask for specific strategy for me, but merely to solicit VP tourney stories from the distinguished members here (and that eliminates you, Rob. Please stay completely out of this thread. I have no use for anything you have to say.)

Any of you play in one and how did it go for you? Was YOUR strategy effective for that particular tournament's rules and set up?

Good to see you again. I played in one VP tourney which involved two timed sessions (ten minutes each) and the number of hands played depended on your ability. Faster players played more hands. It was a tournament where every machine started with zero credits, and you only added credits for winners -- there was no subtraction of credits for losing hands.

Slot machine tournaments have these same rules.

I've read various strategies for VP tournament play and the basic advice is "go for royals" and go for the big draws that give you the big winners. For example, if you have a five card straight with three royal cards -- go for the royal. If you are dealt a king high straight flush, drop the 9 and go for the royal. If you are playing Jacks or Better and are dealt a full house -- drop whatever the pair is and go for quads.

The basis of the strategy is that most players will be in a giant clump of similar results. Your only chance is to have a royal or royals and the big winners that will raise you above the average return.

This one tournament was at Harrah's Rincon and could have led to a shoot out in Vegas with a million dollar prize. I did not advance. No one in my sessions hit a royal and we all generally finished in a clump with similar results. If I recall, I didn't hit even one quad. The game was double double bonus.

Good luck with it!

We have played in a few VP tournaments in Vegas as well (Harrah's, Bally's and Planet Hollywood) We are going to do the one at Planet Hollywood in April. Must be the same one you are doing. I think the most I ever got from one was $800 in free play. I hit
4 Aces with a kicker and had a pretty high score one of my sessions.

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Originally Posted by Nash

We have played in a few VP tournaments in Vegas as well (Harrah's, Bally's and Planet Hollywood) We are going to do the one at Planet Hollywood in April. Must be the same one you are doing. I think the most I ever got from one was $800 in free play. I hit
4 Aces with a kicker and had a pretty high score one of my sessions.

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Same tournament. Good luck.

These are just like slot machine tournaments, where he who hits the top hands the most is the winner. In vp tournaments where the machines are not set to hit unusual amounts of winners like the slot machines are, if you get one royal you can be sure to be at or near the top. All in all, tournaments are a huge waste of time overall. Crowds of old fat people who can't stand long because of bad feet or can't sit still long because of hemorrhoids, they get into a frenzy when the free donuts come out, and everyone thinks anyone in line in front of them needs to get out of their way. The only good part is if you win, you get to watch the disgust, hate and envy on the faces of all the idiots who took part in such a touristy pile of nonsense, and lost.

Rob--look at your latest posts on these last few threads. For a guy who is living the life and should be on top of the world, you come across as a bitter old man. As one who for the most part has been a supporter of you, it has become difficult as you really seem to have lost it. Hope you are ok as the bitterness doesn't fit what should be a great period in your life.

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Originally Posted by regnis

Rob--look at your latest posts on these last few threads. For a guy who is living the life and should be on top of the world, you come across as a bitter old man. As one who for the most part has been a supporter of you, it has become difficult as you really seem to have lost it. Hope you are ok as the bitterness doesn't fit what should be a great period in your life.

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And a great period in my life, it is regnis, even though I somehow got this old. Try skiing when you're 64. It isn't the same. Reckless used to be fun. Now it's all about caution. I also enjoy posting my winners, telling my experiences about how they came about, then watching the childish reactions while I shame and scold them for it. As for "bitter"....if you haven't met me, heed what Alan says. I have fun on forums, they aren't the end all for me like they are for most regular posters, and getting banned is more of a hobby than anything else :)

Yes Rob, people should heed what I say:

IGNORE ROB.

Well this is special. You won't ban Rob for his behavior but you do ask your forum members to ignore him. Something doesn't add up :)

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Originally Posted by Vegas_lover

Well this is special. You won't ban Rob for his behavior but you do ask your forum members to ignore him. Something doesn't add up :)

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No one said you were good with numbers.....unless it's tallying how much free stuff the gov't's in Europe hand out after their 50%+ taxation.

Not too bright Rob, not too bright. How can anything we get from our government be free when we pay 50% + tax? Seems like you didn't really pay attention at school. Pretty dumb for a "genius"

Rob,

I clearly asked you to stay out of this thread. For someone who consistently boasts about his personal self-control and rigid discipline, you have just demonstrated that you really don't have any of either one.

As quick as you are to condemn others for falling to the temptations of the casinos, you fell just as hard to the temptation to intrude with more of your massive generalizations and insults.

Now, again, stay away.

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Originally Posted by Rob.Singer

I have fun on forums, they aren't the end all for me like they are for most regular posters, and getting banned is more of a hobby than anything else. Don't pay any attention to the fact that only Alan has more posts than me on this forum and that I hijack every single thread to make it all about me. Wait... what? I guess my whole pathetic life is just spent trolling forums. :(

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Finally more truth from Rob?