Payback on video poker machines is an open book

The differences between playing traditional video/reel slots and playing video poker always create confusion among casino-goers, as this reader's question shows:

"It seems that while playing video poker, more winning hands come up while I'm playing quarter games than dollar games, but everything I read says the randomness is the same for all denominations.

"Also, my mother thinks the casinos can 'tighten' the machines to pay less often, while I read that the way the casino takes in more cash is to reduce the payouts. Can you shed any light?"

Darlene B.

Darlene's observations are purely coincidental.

The randomness of playing video poker is consistent among all denominations. The player has no better chance of getting a winning combination on $1 or $5 video poker than on nickel or quarter games.

Of course, by betting more money, you can win more money on higher denomination games, but the return percentage is exactly the same, given the same pay table.

Video poker games are available in a variety of percentages. The individual casino operators select which percentage they want. Unlike video and reel slots, however, video poker games are an open book to educated players.

"The advantage with video poker is that because there is only a 52-card deck, you can calculate the percentages based on the pay tables," John Daley, director of video poker for International Game Technology, told me.

"If you look at a Jacks or Better pay table, something that pays back 9/6 (nine coins for one for a full house, six coins for one for a flush) for example, that game is going to have a return to the player of 99.54 percent. If it's 8/6, it's going to be roughly a percent(age point) less than that."

"World Poker Tour 3X Raise Hold'em sounds interesting. I assume the dealer's hand is dealt face down. Are the players' hands down also? What is the minimum ante?"

Joe A.

The game is being played in the Chicago area at Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Mich. Minimum bets range from $2 to $10, depending on the time of day.

A standard 52-card deck is used. A round starts with players making an ante bet. Two cards are dealt face down to each player and the dealer.

After you look at your cards, you have a choice to either fold (lose your ante) or raise (make an additional wager three-times your ante).

The dealer must have a qualifying hand in order to call any player who has made a raise. A qualifying hand is any pair, or cards with a blackjack point value of 11 or higher. If not, the dealer folds. Players win even money on their ante, and the raise is a push.

If the dealer qualifies, five community cards are dealt the same way as in a Texas Hold'em poker room game.

The players and the dealer then make their best five-card hand. Beat the dealer, and you win even money on both your ante and raise. Ties are a push.

Mike "the Wizard of Odds" Shackleford (www.wizardofodds.com) has calculated the house edge on the game to be a mere 0.738 percent.

News Added: 07 March, 2008

Number of views : 174