Big video poker mistake

[lucky]

Everyone from bob dancer to the wizard says always hold 4 to a flush over a small pair. WRONG......I have been playing video poker for over 15 years now and I hit a lot of 4 of a kind by holding small pair over 4 to a flush . One pays u 250 while other pays 40 on 5 credits max. A 4 of a kind usually puts one ahead in a session while who says I hit a flush and I was ahead. Yes, u will miss a flush here and there but given all the crappy pay table these days in almost all casinos, it's better to go for the small pair over 4to a flush. U can get a full house, two pair, high care pair , three of a kind or 4of a kind. It's always better to hold the small pair.

[Dan Druff]

The math has been run, and 4-to-a-flush is definitely superior in the long run.

The style you are describing is "tournament style", which favors outside shots at big hits over optimal expected value strategy. But that's only wise in a tournament situation, where you need the highest score to win.

[redietz]

If you like going for four of a kinds, you might enjoy VP tournaments. They are, however, being replaced by slot tournaments more and more in the locals casinos.

My girlfriend uses a very aggressive style in tournaments-- she'll dump flush draws with a pair.

I worry about folks who put Dancer and Shackleford in the same sentence. They might be possessed.

[jbjb]

Everyone from bob dancer to the wizard says always hold 4 to a flush over a small pair. WRONG......I have been playing video poker for over 15 years now and I hit a lot of 4 of a kind by holding small pair over 4 to a flush . One pays u 250 while other pays 40 on 5 credits max. A 4 of a kind usually puts one ahead in a session while who says I hit a flush and I was ahead. Yes, u will miss a flush here and there but given all the crappy pay table these days in almost all casinos, it's better to go for the small pair over 4to a flush. U can get a full house, two pair, high care pair , three of a kind or 4of a kind. It's always better to hold the small pair.

How much are casinos paying you to post this hogwash?

[redietz]

LOL -- lucky has a certain undeniable confidence in what he/she is saying that seems both funny and hauntingly familiar.

Don't take it too seriously, JB.

[lucky]

I can understand the skepticism here, but I am talking based on my experience. Yes, in the long long run, holding 4 to a flush may be better than a low pair. Let's say u r playing $5 game, u hit a flush, then what???? But should u hit the 4 of a kind, that may end ur session with a profit, has happened to me MULTIPLE times (also the feel good effect on seeing a 4 of a kind) I swear on everything holy. That is my whole point. By holding 4 to a flush, u can hope for only one outcome, while holding the pair can give u a lot of different paying hands. I play video poker by the book, but on this hand, I always hold the low pair because of all the 4of a kind I got. And no this is not a case of selective memory, I have hit a TON of 4of a kind by holding small pair vs 4 to a flush. Maybe I got lucky, but 15 years in a row, I doubt lady lucks smile for so long. I am not seeking to convert anyone here, play as u wish, but in my long video poker history, I have seen that holding the low pair pays out better.

[jbjb]

If you feel like giving the casino more money than normal, by all means hold the pair. They'll glassy send limos for these types of players.

[lucky]

The ironic thing is, by holding the pair and getting 4 of a kind has made me leave the casino with more money than if I had gone for the flush which pays 40 on a single line trible double bonus. I want to ask u and others, while playing Trible double, if u get a dealt full house with 3 aces what do u do. Do u stay with the full house? I don't. And thank god for it coz I have hit 4 aces many times and few times with the kicker. Yes, many times I did end up losing the full house, but one hand of 4 aces with a kicker, MORE than makes up for all the full houses I lost. Same goes with 2 aces and another pair. I only hold the aces. Guess what I hit 4 aces with a kicker twice with that play and I guarantee you that by playing it that way has put more money in my pocket than staying with a two pair.

[lucky]

So please continue holding 4 to a flush and get that flush...woopie, while I will take the 4 of a kind, thank you

[jbjb]

And you'll always be welcome in a casino. I'm not.

It's guys like these that make me want VP machines in my house.

[Alan Mendelson]

So please continue holding 4 to a flush and get that flush...woopie, while I will take the 4 of a kind, thank you

This of course is one of Rob's special plays. However, Rob tells us he makes a "special play" only 5% of the time. Even Rob would not routinely wipe away a four to the flush draw to hold a small pair. Rob would only make this special play when he needed a big win which means he was deep in the hole. Otherwise, Rob would hold the four to the flush -- as I would.

[jbjb]

This of course is one of Rob's special plays. However, Rob tells us he makes a "special play" only 5% of the time. Even Rob would not routinely wipe away a four to the flush draw to hold a small pair. Rob would only make this special play when he needed a big win which means he was deep in the hole. Otherwise, Rob would hold the four to the flush -- as I would.

This is exactly what casinos want you to do...As Rob would say. Keep chasing those losses playing stupid you guys. Casino executives are smiling at you!

[lucky]

Please answer my question about the aces in trible double bonus

[james40]

Please answer my question about the aces in trible double bonus

I'll play along. You hold the aces (is that pair a kicker? Now there's a debate). But why not just toss anything that's not a RF every time and go for it. With you luck in hitting large paying hands, the exponential payout of a RF should wipe out all your losses. You could develop a new strategy and get a big write-up in the Video Poker sites. Alan might even interview you.

[a2a3dseddie]

Maybe I got lucky, but 15 years in a row, I doubt lady lucks smile for so long.

I know of one poster who would disagree with you...

[lucky]

Well thanks for playing but I wanted an honest answer about the aces.
If u don't go for the aces in the triple double bonus when u have 3 aces in a dealt full house, kicker or no kicker, then I guess u should stick to 9/6 job and leave the volatile games for rest of us. I said in my previous posts that i play video poker by the book except when it comes to a pair vs 4to a flush . What about 4 to a flush vs 3 to a royal... U guys want your flush don't u... Not me... I go for the royal unless it's 4to a straight flush. For all the flushes which I MAY have lost, I have made MORE than enough from 4Of a kind. These plays don't come often, so when it does, I go for the higher paying hand vs a NO GUARANTEE low paying flush.

[james40]

Well, you're just better than the rest of us lucky. Thanks for stopping by.

[james40]

Well thanks for playing but I wanted an honest answer about the aces.
If u don't go for the aces in the triple double bonus when u have 3 aces in a dealt full house, kicker or no kicker, then I guess u should stick to 9/6 job and leave the volatile games for rest of us. I said in my previous posts that i play video poker by the book except when it comes to a pair vs 4to a flush . What about 4 to a flush vs 3 to a royal... U guys want your flush don't u... Not me... I go for the royal unless it's 4to a straight flush. For all the flushes which I MAY have lost, I have made MORE than enough from 4Of a kind. These plays don't come often, so when it does, I go for the higher paying hand vs a NO GUARANTEE low paying flush.

Basic strategy in TDB is to hold the three aces. I can't make that any clearer. You are playing basic strategy and thinking you are some sort of master.

[lucky]

So throwing away the full house or the potential full house is basic strategy but holding 4to a flush vs a potential 4of a kind from 2 pair is not........hummm curious right, I mean the same math applies in both cases but it's ok in one scenario but not in the other.....

[alpax]

Interesting how you were playing video poker for the over 15 years but have been gambling for the last 12 years.

http://vegascasinotalk.com/forum/sho...3708#post33708

It is a 2 unit mistake to hold the smaller pair, and 0.3 units for each high card in the 4 to a flush.

You get a quad 1 in 360 times after holding a pair, an average loss of 720 units does not justify going for a quad.

In DDB and TDB, pair to two pairs or 3 of a kind does not improve overall payout as much.