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.

[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...

[james40]

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.

Lucky, I'm confused. You talk about this 15 year lucky streak, then I read your story and see this:

My story

"Well here it goes.....I am 32 years old and I have been gambling for the last 12 years or so....I started on video poker and got hooked on it. I believe video poker is like crack cocaine to a compulsive gambler. I have lost a lot of money over the years and never had much to show for it. But things have turned for the better this year. I would say 2015 has been very kind to me...."

You have been gambling for 12 years, lost a lot of money and never had much to show for it? But lady luck has been smiling for 15 years?

Maybe you should re-think playing the more volatile (crack cocaine) games.

[redietz]

Lucky's life story undeniably needs editing. But he is undeniably confident in his results.

[james40]

Lucky's life story undeniably needs editing. But he is undeniably confident in his results.

I'm just trying to figure out what prompted lucky to suddenly start giving VP advice after 12 years of losing money with nothing to show for it. Not much of a resume to start writing a book on strategy.

[lucky]

I am not trying to rewrite how to play perfect video poker..... Only in the case of 4to a flush vs a pair, I recommend holding the pair BASED on a 15 year long video poker experience. Once again, if the math says hold a dealt full house vs playing for the Aces doesn't hold up , why should the math become relevant when it comes to 4to a flush vs a pair...,,anyone care to explain this anomaly

[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

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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.