Dream Card machines also have "errors" in the Dream Card function. Most of the time it's correct, but in the case of draws to straights or even to flushes, you have to double check that the Dream Card function gave you the correct card. There is an option to change the Dream Card, however, to choose a better card for the particular draw.
A few years ago I was playing a $1 dreamcard machine. Playing deuces wild bonus. It dealt me three deuces and a king and the dream card popped up with a queen. So it was a royal with deuce for $125. I couldn't believe that it didn't pop up with another deuce for $1000. I sat there for a few minutes really mad. At the time I didn't know that you could change the dream card so I took the $125. Later on my friend told me that you could change it. I still think about that. Ugh!
I hope this wasnt the same machine at Caesars that I wrote about in another thread. I could not find the "button" to change the dream card. It was a multi game machine. The game info said the dream card could be changed, and Ive played dream card before where the button to change the card was visible. I wondered if it was a defect with the machine?
My incident was at the Flamingo.
Chimp did you see any kind of "button" for changing the Dream Card? I have to look again at the Dream Card machines at Rincon (if I ever go again) to see how the "change card" is displayed. I rarely play it at Rincon. I think the last time I played DC at Rincon was when the machines were located in what is now the live poker room.
Yes, there was a "button". I just didn't even know to look for one back then. I think it was on the screen in the upper right corner. Just looked like the words "dreamcard active" on the screen so the thought of pressing it never entered my mind.
I think its the same way at rincon but lower right position on the screen. If you are not familiar with the machine it is not at all intuitive to realize that you can change the card.
Although, it just occurred to me that maybe it does say something in fine print. I can't see much anymore without my reading glasses on!
I dont recall anything on the play screen that indicates you can change the dream card, but when you read the info about the game it clearly states that the dream card can be changed. I just couldn't find the button at Caesars. I remember seeing it at Rincon.
Dancer's article was lame.
The only correct thing he said was that a 90% VP game is a tax on the ignorant.
But then he went on to say that fixing the auto hold flaw (which ends up making it a 87% machine) would cost the government millions in revenue, which would have to be made up elsewhere, so it's better to leave alone.
What?!
That's a ludicrous statement.
Bottom line is that the auto hold is highly misleading to the players and tricks them into believing it's acting correctly, thus robbing them of as much as 5% return that they are expecting. That's a scam, Bob.
People are generally aware some machines are tighter than others, and everyone is aware that the house always has an edge. But the vast majority would expect the auto hold to be correct or close to correct, but it isn't. Really dirty, and I can't believe Dancer thinks that's acceptable.
Of course, this is the same guy who steals $10 buffets.
Check out my poker forum, and weekly internet radio show at http://pokerfraudalert.com
I grew up in the 60's. The idea that the government often, maybe usually, lies and is in the business of manipulating people in ways not helpful to those people is no news to me. Dancer's a couple of years older, and he probably sees things through that prism, also.
It's despicable, yes. Surprising? No.
Question: does it say anywhere on the game or in the casino or in the game instructions that the "auto hold" is the best hold?Originally Posted by Dan Druff
Wizard of Odds and Bob Dancer have both reported misleading cards in Dream Card. Wizard of Odds quotes Dancer:
The game usually does give correct advice, however. Bob Dancer's article A Look at DreamCard — Part I of II says that when two more or cards are tied, the game will sometimes tease the player with a card that might lead the player to play incorrectly.
You can read the full article here:
http://wizardofodds.com/games/video-...es/dream-card/
Getting back to Oregon, unless it states that the auto hold is correct or perfect strategy, I think it's up to the player to judge the auto hold.
Imagine, if you will, a medication that prints a "recommended" usage on the label that is just plain wrong. Or an item of food that has "recommended" preparation instructions that lead to significantly worse results. Or a Mapquest "recommended" route that isn't quite right.
The Oregon lottery gets away with recommendations that aren't quite right and have significantly worse results than the optimal. These results line the pockets of the parent company, in this case Oregon itself.
Imagine a medication that recommends more frequent dosages of a product than optimal because it will lead to more income for the parent company. That seems analogous to this situation.
redietz before I can disagree with your medicine analogy I need to know if the auto hold is supposed to be "the best play" or is it simply an "auto hold" with no recommendation as being the best play.
If the auto hold is simply another random step in the game then the system is not at fault and the players need to use their own best judgment.
If on the the other hand the auto hold was supposed to be the optimal hold -- and I think that's the phrase we use in video poker circles -- then there is a problem.
I need to know what the machines or instructions say about the auto hold.
Seems to me that a reasonable person would believe (assume?) that the machine is providing the correct hold. This can be construed as an intentional deceptive practice.
But what if the official rules or "game info" says the auto hold "is not necessarily the optimum hold"?Originally Posted by regnis
Again, I am asking if anyone has checked out the game info or any posted info about the auto holds?
I am just thinking that since it is a lottery operation and not a bonafide casino operation, that the auto holds might be added just to give the game even more randomization? That's not to say I approve of it.
If that "game info" is in clear view on the face plate of the machine, then okay, the responsibility is on the consumer to read it. If the "game info" is tucked away somewhere online or is simply not evident on the machine itself, then the issue lies with the state of Oregon.
If, as Alan suggested, the auto-hold was a randomizer, then it would have to be a random randomizer to avoid being construed as instructional. Clearly, the auto-hold is suggesting holds that are not truly random, so I do not think it can be interpreted as anything but instructional.
I tend to agree with Alan, here. One shouldn't assume auto hold is the optimal play without first checking. And even if it was the correct play I don't think that I would want to use it. Part of the appeal of video poker for me is being able to figure out which play is the optimal one. As well, there are also some rare times where deliberately deviating from optimal strategy (a la Singer style) has paid off for me. And I would like to be the one to decide that and not have the machine do it for me.Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson
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