Offbeat strategy question.

[Alan Mendelson]

This is a one time event, and because it is a one time event it may or may not have an impact on your reasoning or answer.

You sign up for a new slot club at a casino. As part of the sign up bonus you get a free play at video poker. It's a $1 machine and the game is 9/6 Jacks or Better.

On the deal you have this hand:

3c 3s Jh Ad Qc

Your wife say to you, "honey, do what you can to at least get $5. Let's make this visit to the casino worth at least $5. I thought we were going to get a coffee mug and a tee-shirt but they ran out. So, honey, at least get five dollars."

So, with your wife watching, and counting on you getting a $5 payoff, how do you play the dealt hand?

[arcimede$]

If the goal is to maximize your chance of having a winning hand then I believe holding the QJ would be best. It would be easy to check with a tutor program.

This actually comes into play on multi-strike as the goal on lower levels is to advance to a higher level. I don't play multi-strike but I think QJ would be the proper hold at level 1 for most games.

[Alan Mendelson]

AQJ is higher than QJ on the multi strike strategy chart for the first level. Any pair would move you up to the second level, plus you have fewer cards to draw for a straight.

But that's not the problem here....

[quahaug]

Two high cards have the highest percent chance of a winning hand.

[Alan Mendelson]

Two high cards have the highest percent chance of a winning hand.

You are correct. I misread the strategy chart: http://wizardofodds.com/games/video-...ke/appendix/2/

But is that also your answer for the original question, or was it your answer for the multi strike question?

[Rob.Singer]

The best chance at winning at least five bucks is to hold the J.

In multistrike, it depends which line you're playing. My MS strategy doesn't include JoB, but if the hand came up on line one in BP or any of the advanced BP games, you hold the 3's. But if the were 9's then you'd hold the QJ. If it were line two & above then it's still the 3's, but also the 9's.

[Alan Mendelson]

The best chance at winning at least five bucks is to hold the J.

In multistrike, it depends which line you're playing. My MS strategy doesn't include JoB, but if the hand came up on line one in BP or any of the advanced BP games, you hold the 3's. But if the were 9's then you'd hold the QJ. If it were line two & above then it's still the 3's, but also the 9's.

Rob please specify your answers for:
the original question
the multi strike game

we seem to have two different questions to consider.

[redietz]

I ignore the wife and hold 33. But that's just me.

[Alan Mendelson]

I ignore the wife and hold 33. But that's just me.

I was waiting for that! LOL

[Vegas Vic]

On 9/6 JOB, it's the 3's by a wide margin regardless of the $5 goal.

[Alan Mendelson]

On 9/6 JOB, it's the 3's by a wide margin regardless of the $5 goal.

Thanks Vegas Vic, now pretend you're the husband explaining it to your wife.

The wife says "if we hold the AQJ we have three aces, three queens, three jacks, and the chance to draw a king and a ten for a straight. But there are only two more threes to catch, and look how hard it is to get another pair -- that's why they pay more for two pairs! I want my five dollars."

[redietz]

I have no patience with a wife who is greedy or stupid or both.

[Alan Mendelson]

Well, let's see how stupid she is. Chance of drawing a second pair when you hold one pair is 1/6. Chance of drawing a card to make three of a kind is 1/9.

Now, holding AQJ you have 9 cards that would give you a winning pair. That's 9/47 remaining cards which beats a 1/6 draw and a 1/9 draw. And not included here are the chances of drawing a K-Ten to complete the straight, which is a long shot.

Comments?

[Rob.Singer]

I ignore the wife and hold 33. But that's just me.

Are you arci?

[slingshot]

If it's in a cold cycle, it won't matter what you choose!

[Rob.Singer]

Rob please specify your answers for:
the original question
the multi strike game

we seem to have two different questions to consider.

Hold the lone J because it offers you the most opportunity to win at least five bucks, but it is no better than holding the Q or Ace in that regard. But it also allows many possible quads, a SF, a RF, and a host of other winners, including more straights than by just holding the Q.

In MS you always hold the special quad pair over a high card on the first level. If it were a pair of 7's then you'd only hold a high card (in this case the A) because you're only goal on line one is to get to line two. MS has a list of complicated holds if you want to do it right. As usual, my strategy differs some from someone like Dancer's strategy, but I have never lost playing it.

[Rob.Singer]

If it's in a cold cycle, it won't matter what you choose!

Or if you're playing it in an Indian casino! Or maybe if you use the 'ol "pull-your-card" hocus pocus in order to confuse/outsmart every casino employee

[slingshot]

Or if you're playing it in an Indian casino! Or maybe if you use the 'ol "pull-your-card" hocus pocus in order to confuse/outsmart every casino employee

Ha! Ha! I watch them do that all the time. They usually sit there for a minute or two waiting for the "right time" and then re-insert the card.

[Alan Mendelson]

my strategy differs some from someone like Dancer's strategy, but I have never lost playing it.

This statement is begging for the question: how do you define "never lost" playing it??

[Rob.Singer]

This statement is begging for the question: how do you define "never lost" playing it??

Not a big deal really. I am 5-0. I played at the $ & $2 levels in my strategy and there were very few $2 games around. Then I couldn't locate any $2 games so I tried 25c & dollars. That didn't do the job as far as my win goal was concerned. It took too long.