This is in response to a post by Dan on another thread which was closed. I think the other thread was closed in error (these things happen) but I also think it's worth another thread to isolate the subject.
In the other thread Dan wrote: "I know that you look for the best paytables wherever you are, but you also can't dismiss the importance of 8/5 versus 7/5."
Dan: I do not dismiss the importance of 8/5 versus 7/5. And even Rob Singer does not dismiss the importance of 8/5 versus 7/5. I hope I am presenting Rob's thinking correctly here:
I know for a fact that Rob would rather play 8/5 than 7/5 Bonus. We've talked about it. And I would rather play 8/5 than 7/5 Bonus.
The controversy over 8/5 vs 7/5 is really nothing more than a misunderstanding.
My point is Rob's point. And Rob's point is my point. Here it is:
EVERYONE AGREES that it's better to play similar games with the better pay table. This applies to 8/5 Bonus vs 7/5 Bonus, and 9/6 Double Double Bonus vs 9/5 DDB, and 9/6 Jacks vs 9/5 Jacks. I believe this. Dan, you believe this. RS__ you believe this and so does Rob Singer.
No one -- including Rob -- will argue that a full house in 8/5 Bonus will pay you more coins than a full house in 7/5 Bonus.
But here's the misunderstanding, and you can argue this:
Rob's point is that he can still meet his win goals and be a net winner despite a lower payout on a full house or flush or both.
Now... everyone, including ME can argue that. In theory, we should win more and lose less if we are playing the game with the better pay table. But Rob doesn't care about the extra coin or coins with the better paying full house or flush. That doesn't mean he disagrees that the 8/5 Pay Table is better; he's just saying that in the scheme of things the extra pay from the 8/5 Pay Table doesn't make a significant difference.
Now, why might Rob think that way? Well, I think it's because he has a bigger bankroll to play with than the rest of us. Didn't he say he had something like $17,000+ to play with? For him, the extra coins on the 8/5 game may indeed be insignificant. But for the rest of us (ME included) the extra coins with the 8/5 game CAN BE significant.
One other point: Rob is more likely to break up a full house to go for quads. And a player who is willing to sacrifice a pat full house to try for quads certainly isn't going to care about the payout for a full house, is he?
This, I think is the entire misunderstanding about why Rob disputes the importance of the better pay table. He's not saying the better paytable isn't going to pay you more coins, he's just saying that to him it doesn't matter.
And the rest of us? Well, for the most part we don't break up full houses on most games. And we don't have a $17,000+ bankroll so the extra coins from a better pay table do mean something significant to us.