The Secret to Video Poker
Dear Mark,
If dealt A, K, Q, J, of hearts and a 10 of diamonds on a video poker machine,
should I try for the royal flush or stick with the straight? This happened
to me recently and I kept the straight, kicking myself ever since. How bad
a move was it? Patricia M. Amherst, NY
Stop kicking yourself, Patricia, but you did mess up.
When playing video poker, all experts will discard certain cards to optimize
the "Expected Value" (win potential) of their hands. Herein lies
the secret to winning at video poker-or another way of saying it, playing
perfect basic strategy.
So what do I mean by "Expected Value?" Expected Value is the average
value of all the wins attainable (after the discards are replaced), assuming
that the optimum cards are retained and each unique possible draw occurs.
In your case, the Expected Value of a 4-Card Royal was 19 and straight is
just a 4.
By now, Patricia, I suspect you think this expected value stuff isn't worth
learning since I've mentioned previously that there are 2,459,076 possible
hands you can be dealt in video poker. Not necessarily. In reality, there
is only 35 workable combination of hands, from the naturally dealt royal
flush to that crummy hand where you would discard all five cards. learn
them and you'll lower the house edge to under one half of one percent.
My only solution at this time, Patricia, is to tell you that every hand
you are dealt has some value and potential of winning money, with the expected
value predetermined accurately by past computer studies. Hopefully by summers
end I'll be bringing those computer studies to a four color, laminated chart
form, which will identify each of those 35 combinations. I'll make sure
you, and all the readers of this column, know when it's available.
Dear Mark,
I want to make some decent sized wagers (10-20K) on a few games this upcoming
football season. Ideally, I would like to make them in Vegas, but that is
not really practical for me. I know there are various internet off-shore
books, who will take bets via bank wire and telephone. I am willing to risk
the legal implications of this, 18 USC 1084 notwithstanding, but I am worried
about wiring $20,000 out of the country to some guy I've never met except
for 3 minutes on the telephone.
Do you know which of these telebet books are reputable? Or not reputable?
And how much do they generally take in wagers? Is $20,000 a great deal to
them?
Any information that you care to share would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Arnold Internet
Arnold, didn't you answer you own question when you stated "I am worried
about wiring $20,000 out of the country to some guy I've never met except
for 3 minutes on the telephone?" I think you summed up your potential
risk quite well. Besides, as a syndicated columnist, it wouldn't be appropriate
for me to dole out illegal advice on how to best beat the Interstate Wire
Act.
Finally, I've mentioned this once before in a previous column, but I can't
advise anyone to wire money thousands of miles away to an unregulated, uncontrolled,
and probably illegal enterprise, give them a credit card and social security
number, and hope everything is square. Sorry, Arnold, no vote of confidence
here.
Note: For those interested in reading the column I mentioned above (Potential
for Abuse Great), it can be found at; http://winner.com/potential.html.
Before I Shuffle: Quiz question! What is the number one thing I preach
in this column? That's right, always make casino bets that have a house
advantage of less than 2%. Leave the other wagers to players interested
in paying casino salaries, light bills and stock-holder dividend checks.
Interested in a free laminated card listing those two percent or less bets?
Send a self addressed stamped envelope to the address below requesting a
"Best Bets" card. I'll send you one without delay.
Got a question about gambling? Write to: Deal Me In, 774 Mays Blvd.
Suite 10, Incline Village, NV 89451 or e-mail:winners@winner.com
· To order Mark Pilarski's "Hooked on Winning" audio cassettes--laminated
win cards package ($12.95 plus $2. S&H) call (800) WINNERS.
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