Video Poker Blog

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2. Video Poker Strategy

Jean Scott has achieved a modest amount of fame as 'The Frugal Gambler'. That's the title of her best-known book about gambling. Her approach focuses mostly on getting the most out of the casinos' comps programs and video poker games with a low house edge.

If you love poker, then you will love PokerTube. The world's largest Poker Media website has everything you need to follow the games that matter to you. With over 20,000 videos available covering a wide variety of live and online games, Pokertube is a priceless resource for enthusiasts and professionals alike. Video poker isn't like blackjack, where it offers a fairly even payout distribution. Instead, it features a wide range of payouts. Therefore, video poker can be volatile over the short term. You may not earn a straight flush or royal flush until after playing tens of thousands of hands. Video poker made its entry to the casino in the seventies; and is today one of the most popular forms of gambling. For the player who likes a game of skill, a low house edge, the possibility of large wins, and the anonymity of playing alone there is nothing else that can compare to video poker.

One of the refreshing aspects of Jean Scott's writing about gambling is that it's aimed mostly at low rollers. Many of the books about poker or blackjack on the market assume you have a large bankroll. By focusing on video poker, Jean Scott empowers gamblers on a budget to get the most for their money.

That's the definition of frugal.

Change Your Attitude

Most people who gamble at a casino are satisfied with their tiny chance of getting lucky. They don't think much about the games they play or what they offer. One video poker machine looks about the same as any other video poker game to them.

These are the players the casinos love the most. They lose the most money, and they lose it faster than anyone else.

Jean Scott encourages players to think about the games and the math behind them so that they can get the maximum amount of fun from the games in exchange for their money. Dedicated gamblers with the right attitude can combine their knowledge of video poker strategy and pay tables with slots club rebates to get an edge over the casino.

But the Frugal Gambler's focus isn't on learning how to make a living as a gambler. Her focus is on getting free stuff while enjoying vacations that cost pennies on the dollar.

If your goal is to become a professional gambler, Jean Scott probably isn't the gambling expert for you.

If your goal is to get the most for your money at the casino, Jean Scott has a lot to offer.

The first step to playing video poker like Jean Scott is to change your attitude. Don't be lazy and play any game that catches your eye. Educate yourself about how the math behind the games works and which games offer better odds than others.

You should understand terms like 'house edge' and 'payback percentage'. You should also understand what those terms imply.

In brief, the house edge is the percentage of each bet that the casino expects to win over the long-term. It's a mathematical prediction based on probability. In the short run, it's almost impossible for your results to mirror the mathematical prediction. In the long run, it's almost impossible for your results NOT to mirror the mathematical prediction.

Here's an example:

You're playing a game with a 1% house edge, and you're betting $125 on each hand. Mathematically, the casino expects to win $1.25 every time you place a bet. In reality, the casino will win $125 or you'll win some multiple of $125.

Only after you average the net loss over the number of bets you've made do you start to see an average.

And only after thousands of bets do the long-term results start to mirror the expected results.

The payback percentage is the amount of each bet that the casino expects to pay you. It's the opposite of the house edge. If a game has a house edge of 1%, the payback percentage is 99%.

When you add the house edge of a game to its payback percentage, the result is always 100%.

Casinos and gamblers usually use 'house edge' when discussing table games, and they use 'payback percentage' when discussing gambling machines.

Since Jean Scott focuses more on gambling machines—specifically, video poker—she's usually looking at games' payback percentages.

Recognize the Difference Between Slots and Video Poker

Many unsophisticated gamblers don't realize the major difference between slot machines and video poker machines. After all, the two games are almost identical.

The superficial difference is that a slot machine has spinning reels (or at least the animation of spinning reels), while video poker has cards that are dealt. Play pokies for fun.

In both games, you're looking at symbols on a payline. And in both games, combinations of those symbols result in payouts based on the probability of getting that combination.

Both games have pay tables. These are a list of the possible combinations that result in prizes for the players along with the size of those prizes.

But the slot machines are missing a crucial piece of information—the probability of getting an individual symbol.

The odds of getting a cherry on a specific stop might be 1/5, 1/10, 1/20, or 1/40—or any other number, really.

This is true of all the symbols on the game. Different symbols often have different probabilities, too.

Video poker, on the other hand, uses playing card symbols. Their combinations are based on poker hands, like a pair of jacks, or a straight or a flush.

The random number generator—the computer that generates the results on the screen in front of you—is programmed to duplicate the probabilities of a normal deck of cards.

This provides you with the information you need about how probable or improbable it is to get a specific hand. Each specific card has a 1/52 chance of showing up. A card of a specific rank has a 1/13 chance of showing up. A card of a specific suit has a ¼ chance of showing up.

Since the probability of getting certain combinations can be calculated, mathematicians and computer programs can compare the payoffs with the probability to get the overall payback percentage for the machine.

I don't know about you, but I'd rather play a game where I can calculate the odds than a game where I can't.

There's one other major difference between video poker and slots:

Skill level.

Slot machines require no skill to play. Depending on your attitude, this is either a benefit or a drawback.

If you don't want to think about what you're doing when you're gambling, and you don't want to make any decisions, you might prefer a slot machine game.

On the other hand, video poker offers you the chance to make decisions which affect the outcome. Make the right decisions in video poker, and the payback percentage improves.

You see, video poker is based on 5-card draw. You get 5 cards, then you get to decide which cards to keep and discard. Make the right decisions during the drawing phase, and the machine pays out the maximum. Make the wrong decisions, and the casino profits even more.

This is not to say that you can get an edge at every video poker game if you play smart. The pay tables determine the potential payback percentage. Rare games offer you a chance to get a tiny edge against the casino.

But overwhelmingly, most video poker games have odds that favor the house regardless of how well you play.

Even so, the worst video poker games usually offer a better payback percentage than the best slot machines. Many video poker games, when played with the right strategy, offer payback percentages in the 98% – 99% range. Most slot machine games offer a payback percentage of 96% or less.

What this does to your bankroll is important.

Over time, the house edge determines how fast you lose your money at the casino.

Assume you're playing an average slot machine on the Las Vegas Strip for $5 per spin. The house edge is probably about 7%, although you have no way of knowing what that number really is.

An average slots player makes 600 spins per hour. That's $3000 in action per hour.

7% of $3000 is $210. That's a lot of money to lose on an hourly basis, even if it is only an expected average over time.

On the other hand, you might find a Jacks or Better video poker game with a 99.54% payback percentage. The house edge is only 0.46% on this game.

Video poker plays just as fast as slots, so you're still looking at $3000 per hour in action.

But now your expected loss per hour is $13.80.

Even if you're not able to play with anything close to perfect strategy, you're still probably going to lose less than $100 per hour on that Jacks or Better game.

The frugal choice is clear.

Learn How to Read Pay Tables

The determining factor in being a frugal gambler in the vein of Jean Scott is finding the right video poker games with the right pay tables.

Here's an example of a 9/6 Jacks or Better video poker pay table:

In the column on the far left is the list of possible combinations (hands). Then you see the payouts for 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 coins.

One important thing to notice is that the royal flush pays off much better if you make the 5 coin bet. This is true regardless of which video poker game you play. It's an 800 for 1 payoff instead of a 250 for 1 payoff.

That's another difference between table games and machine games, by the way. When you're playing blackjack, you make a wager, and if you win, you get your original wager back plus your winnings. Those payoffs are considered 3 to 2 in the case a natural, for example, or 1.5 to 1.

But on gambling machines, include video poker and slot machines, the original bet is gone regardless of the winning.

In other words, you lose the original bet as soon as you hit the 'deal' button. The winnings come back, but not the original bet. The prizes are therefore considered 2 for 1 or 3 for 1, etc.

Hard Rock Hollywood Poker Blog

Finally, with a Jacks or Better game, the key hands are the full house and the flush. The payoffs for those 2 hands are 9 for 1 and 6 for 1, respectively. A game that pays off those amounts has a payback percentage of 99.54% when played with perfect strategy.

Almost all Jacks or Better games have the same payoffs for all the other hands, but usually the casino and the designer will modify the payoffs on those 2 hands to get a higher edge for the casino. Casino computer games.

The other most common pay table for Jacks or Better is the 8/5 game. The payback percentage for a game that pays 8 for 1 for a full house and 5 for 1 for a flush is 97.3%.

That doesn't sound like such a great difference, does it?

But that's the difference between a house edge of 0.46% and 2.7%.

I already established that your expected losses per hour on 9/6 Jacks or Better are $13.80/hour.

Change pay tables and the expected hourly loss jumps to $81/hour.

Jean Scott would tell you that being able to distinguish between the better pay tables and the worse pay tables is the first skill you should learn if you want to get the most for your money in the casino.

Of course, video poker comes in multiple variations. Some of the more popular variations include:

• Bonus Poker
• Deuces Wild
• Joker Poker

The pay tables for these come in multiple variations. The easiest way to distinguish between the pay tables is to invest in a product like Jean's own Frugal Video Poker. She has branded cards and software that can analyze pay tables to give you a predicted return.

You should stick with video poker games with a minimum payback percentage of 99%. If you play a game with a lower payback percentage than that, you're not treating yourself or your money with the respect it deserves.

And you sure can't call yourself a 'frugal' gambler like Jean Scott.

Learn How to Play with Optimal Strategy

Being able to recognize the right pay tables is only half the battle, though. If you're not playing the hands correctly, the payback percentage for the game goes down, and the house edge goes up.

If you're playing video poker for $5 per hand, every 1% you give up to the casino equates to $30/hour.

It's crucial to learn the correct strategies for these games.

I suggest starting with Jacks or Better. It's the basis for all other video poker games, so it's a naturally good place to begin. When you've mastered finding 9/6 Jacks or Better games and playing them with close to perfect strategy, you'll be ready to start planning for getting at least a slight edge over the casino—or maybe just breaking even, depending on your goals.

Here's how these video poker strategy charts work:

This provides you with the information you need about how probable or improbable it is to get a specific hand. Each specific card has a 1/52 chance of showing up. A card of a specific rank has a 1/13 chance of showing up. A card of a specific suit has a ¼ chance of showing up.

Since the probability of getting certain combinations can be calculated, mathematicians and computer programs can compare the payoffs with the probability to get the overall payback percentage for the machine.

I don't know about you, but I'd rather play a game where I can calculate the odds than a game where I can't.

There's one other major difference between video poker and slots:

Skill level.

Slot machines require no skill to play. Depending on your attitude, this is either a benefit or a drawback.

If you don't want to think about what you're doing when you're gambling, and you don't want to make any decisions, you might prefer a slot machine game.

On the other hand, video poker offers you the chance to make decisions which affect the outcome. Make the right decisions in video poker, and the payback percentage improves.

You see, video poker is based on 5-card draw. You get 5 cards, then you get to decide which cards to keep and discard. Make the right decisions during the drawing phase, and the machine pays out the maximum. Make the wrong decisions, and the casino profits even more.

This is not to say that you can get an edge at every video poker game if you play smart. The pay tables determine the potential payback percentage. Rare games offer you a chance to get a tiny edge against the casino.

But overwhelmingly, most video poker games have odds that favor the house regardless of how well you play.

Even so, the worst video poker games usually offer a better payback percentage than the best slot machines. Many video poker games, when played with the right strategy, offer payback percentages in the 98% – 99% range. Most slot machine games offer a payback percentage of 96% or less.

What this does to your bankroll is important.

Over time, the house edge determines how fast you lose your money at the casino.

Assume you're playing an average slot machine on the Las Vegas Strip for $5 per spin. The house edge is probably about 7%, although you have no way of knowing what that number really is.

An average slots player makes 600 spins per hour. That's $3000 in action per hour.

7% of $3000 is $210. That's a lot of money to lose on an hourly basis, even if it is only an expected average over time.

On the other hand, you might find a Jacks or Better video poker game with a 99.54% payback percentage. The house edge is only 0.46% on this game.

Video poker plays just as fast as slots, so you're still looking at $3000 per hour in action.

But now your expected loss per hour is $13.80.

Even if you're not able to play with anything close to perfect strategy, you're still probably going to lose less than $100 per hour on that Jacks or Better game.

The frugal choice is clear.

Learn How to Read Pay Tables

The determining factor in being a frugal gambler in the vein of Jean Scott is finding the right video poker games with the right pay tables.

Here's an example of a 9/6 Jacks or Better video poker pay table:

In the column on the far left is the list of possible combinations (hands). Then you see the payouts for 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 coins.

One important thing to notice is that the royal flush pays off much better if you make the 5 coin bet. This is true regardless of which video poker game you play. It's an 800 for 1 payoff instead of a 250 for 1 payoff.

That's another difference between table games and machine games, by the way. When you're playing blackjack, you make a wager, and if you win, you get your original wager back plus your winnings. Those payoffs are considered 3 to 2 in the case a natural, for example, or 1.5 to 1.

But on gambling machines, include video poker and slot machines, the original bet is gone regardless of the winning.

In other words, you lose the original bet as soon as you hit the 'deal' button. The winnings come back, but not the original bet. The prizes are therefore considered 2 for 1 or 3 for 1, etc.

Hard Rock Hollywood Poker Blog

Finally, with a Jacks or Better game, the key hands are the full house and the flush. The payoffs for those 2 hands are 9 for 1 and 6 for 1, respectively. A game that pays off those amounts has a payback percentage of 99.54% when played with perfect strategy.

Almost all Jacks or Better games have the same payoffs for all the other hands, but usually the casino and the designer will modify the payoffs on those 2 hands to get a higher edge for the casino. Casino computer games.

The other most common pay table for Jacks or Better is the 8/5 game. The payback percentage for a game that pays 8 for 1 for a full house and 5 for 1 for a flush is 97.3%.

That doesn't sound like such a great difference, does it?

But that's the difference between a house edge of 0.46% and 2.7%.

I already established that your expected losses per hour on 9/6 Jacks or Better are $13.80/hour.

Change pay tables and the expected hourly loss jumps to $81/hour.

Jean Scott would tell you that being able to distinguish between the better pay tables and the worse pay tables is the first skill you should learn if you want to get the most for your money in the casino.

Of course, video poker comes in multiple variations. Some of the more popular variations include:

• Bonus Poker
• Deuces Wild
• Joker Poker

The pay tables for these come in multiple variations. The easiest way to distinguish between the pay tables is to invest in a product like Jean's own Frugal Video Poker. She has branded cards and software that can analyze pay tables to give you a predicted return.

You should stick with video poker games with a minimum payback percentage of 99%. If you play a game with a lower payback percentage than that, you're not treating yourself or your money with the respect it deserves.

And you sure can't call yourself a 'frugal' gambler like Jean Scott.

Learn How to Play with Optimal Strategy

Being able to recognize the right pay tables is only half the battle, though. If you're not playing the hands correctly, the payback percentage for the game goes down, and the house edge goes up.

If you're playing video poker for $5 per hand, every 1% you give up to the casino equates to $30/hour.

It's crucial to learn the correct strategies for these games.

I suggest starting with Jacks or Better. It's the basis for all other video poker games, so it's a naturally good place to begin. When you've mastered finding 9/6 Jacks or Better games and playing them with close to perfect strategy, you'll be ready to start planning for getting at least a slight edge over the casino—or maybe just breaking even, depending on your goals.

Here's how these video poker strategy charts work:

You'll be presented with a list of possible hands. You'll go down that list until you find a hand that matches the hand you've been dealt.

Those are the cards you hold. The other cards, you discard.

A lot of pat hands—combinations which pay off without improving—will be hands you'll keep. One of the truisms of video poker strategy is that most of the time, you're going to hope for the casino to deal you a winning hand.

But sometimes the correct play is to discard a winning hand to try to improve to a better hand.

Here's an example:

Video Poker Strategy

You might have a hand with a pair of jacks or better, which pays off at even money. But that hand also consists of 4 cards to a royal flush, which pays off at 800 for 1.

It's correct in that situation to break the pair so you can draw to the royal flush. Your odds of hitting that flush are only 1/47, which is slightly better than 2%.

But you'll win so much on that one hand out of 50 that it will make up for not keeping the pair.

Don't forget, too, that even if you miss your royal flush, you have draws to high pairs, a flush, and a straight, all of which also pay off.

You can find branded strategy charts that are specific to individual games all over the Web, but I'm a fan of the products available at Jean Scott's website.

Baccarat casino games. And you can bet Jean Scott knows how to play every hand correctly.

Learn How to Compare Slots Clubs

The slots clubs are the secret ingredients to Jean Scott's approach to video poker.

Here's how a slots club work:

It's basically a loyalty program to encourage gamblers to return to a specific casino. The incentives offered include free travel, meals, room and board, and cash.

The casinos decide how much to give you in rewards based on how much money you put into action. They usually calculate this as a percentage of the action that you bring.

I should point out that playing with your slots club card inserted into the machine does nothing to interfere with your chances of winning. It just tracks how much money you're running through the machine.

In fact, the slots club card doesn't look at how much you're winning or losing, either. The casino management is counting on the house edge and the long run to take care of that.

The card just tracks the amount of money you've wagered during a period.

Take the example player we've been talking about. She puts $3000 into action per hour, and she plays for 6 hours on her most recent trip to the casino. She's running hot, too. She's put $18,000 through the machine, but she's up by $500.

The casino calculates her rewards level as a percentage of her total action. Let's say this example casino rebates 0.2% of her total action in the form of comps. She's earned back $36 of her losses in comps.

Different casinos, though, offer different comp point awards. Some might only rebate 0.2%, but others might offer 0.3% rebates. That's the difference between getting $36 in comps on your trip and getting $54 in comps on your trip.

Some casinos offer periods where you can get double and/or triple rebates. Now you're looking at the potential of getting back 0.4% or 0.6%.

If you've perceptive, you might notice that if you're getting 0.6% in rebates on your action, you're showing a profit. The game's edge is only 0.46%, so you're 0.14% ahead of the casino.

Even if you make an occasional mistake, you're at least playing a close to break-even game with the casino.

You won't make enough money with this strategy to ever make a living, but that's not what learning how to play video poker like Jean Scott is all about.

Her goal is to enjoy free vacations and get perks based on playing games she enjoys.

Those are worthwhile goals for most gamblers, I think.

Conclusion

Not everyone has the temperament to learn how to play video poker like Jean Scott.

But if you do, you can enjoy lots of vacations and meals practically for free just by learning some simple truths about video poker games.

It starts with being able to recognize the best pay tables. You must then learn to play well enough to minimize the house edge. Being able to maximize the benefits you get from the slots club is the final piece of the puzzle.

Master those 3 things, and you can say that you, too, can play video poker like Jean Scott.