Page 12 - May 2007 • Southern California Gaming Guide
P. 12

Bob Dancer: Video Poker
IA Simple NSU Distinction
frequently write about NSU (Not So Ugly) Deuces Wild, the game with the 16/10/4/4/3 pay schedule that returns 99.728% when played well. When coupled with a good slot club and/or promotion, this can be a very good game. Although the game isn’t found everywhere,
I’ve seen it at several casinos in Southern California.
In all Deuces Wild variations, you need to pay attention to how close a particular combination is to the deuce. Good strategy cards include [456] in the group of 3-card straight  ushes with one-inside, because [456] and [457] have exactly the same values.
In my classes, I teach the shorthand that if a straight or straight  ush is close enough to the deuce that a [2] can be included in a 5-card straight with the existing cards, that you must add an inside to account for this. Since [456] quali es under this rule, then [456] is a
3-card straight  ush with one inside.  e combination [567] does not qualify under this rule, so [567] is a 3-card straight  ush with no insides.
 e only combination where this rule of thumb fails is on the speci c combination [345], where this combination is actually intermediate in value between a 3-card straight  ush with one inside and a 3-card straight  ush with two insides. In most Deuces Wild variations, however, including the one we’re discussing
 e distinction I wish to write about today compares two separate hands: 4[567]K and [456]7K, where the brackets refer to suited cards. In both cases, the choice is between an open-ended
 e 3-card straight  ushes, however, are not worth the same. From [567] there are three possible straight  ushes, namely [98765], [87654], and [76543], where
4-card straight and an open- ended 3-card straight  ush. Although the hands look
very similar, the correct play is to go for the straight  ush in the  rst hand and the straight in the second.
“Even if the Deuces Wild variation you normally play isn’t as good as NSU, there is a difference in value between [456] and [567], with and without a deuce. You might well
the cards we draw may either be natural cards or wild cards (i.e. deuces).  e value of this 3-card straight  ush is $2.85, so naturally that’s the preferred play over the $2.55 4-card straight.
What’s the di erence?
At the outset, let me break out your computer software
In the second hand,
[456] isn’t worth so here, including [345] with the 3-card straight  ushes much. [456] may turn with one inside does not cause any hands to be into an [87654] or misplayed.
add that today’s hands are and check out a few hands, such easierthanaverageforthis
column. It isn’t that I’ve as placing a suited [JT] or [QJ] with
[76543] straight  ush. Holding [456] in this hand is worth $2.44, so this time you prefer the $2.55 4-card straight. As is always the case, we compare the values of each of the competing combination and choose the one that’s worth the most.
 e reason we don’t include [65432] on the list of hands that may be attained by drawing to [456] is that deuce (that is, the 2) is wild. Letting a “W” stand for a wild card, we already included the W[6543] hand when
Even if the Deuces Wild variation you normally play isn’t as good as NSU, there is a di erence in value between [456] and [567], with and without a deuce.
You might well break out your computer software and check out a few hands, such as placing a suited [JT] or [QJ] with the two combinations and to see whether they’re played the same or not. Or with a wild card, make both hands a straight (i.e. W[456]8 and W[567]8) and see if they’re played the same. Or see how both combinations stack up with 3-of-a-kind (i.e. W[456]6 and W[567]6).  e more you check out these types of hands, the better your results will be.  ree- card straight  ushes tend to be the most misplayed combinations in all of video poker. Reducing your errors in this category can easily mean hundreds or thousands of dollars more in your pocket at the end of the year.
Bob Dancer is America’s best-known video poker writer and teacher. He has a variety of “how to play better video poker” products, including Winner’s Guides, strategy cards, his autobiography Million Dollar Video Poker, and his two novels, including Sex, Lies, and Video Poker. Dancer’s products may be ordered at www.bobdancer.com.
run out of tougher hands. It’s just that di erent readers are at di erent places on the video-poker- learning-curve, so pitching
the two combinations and to see whether they’re played the same or not. Or with a wild card, make
columns at various levels both hands a straight (i.e. W[456]8 seems appropriate to me.
And even if readers are experienced at games like Jacks or Better or Double Double Bonus, wild card games have their own idiosyncrasies that must be mastered.
In both hands the 4-card straight 4567 is worth exactly the same amount.
and W[567]8) and see if they’re played the same. Or see how both combinations stack up with 3-of-
a-kind (i.e. W[456]6 and W[567]6). The more you check out these
types of hands, the better your results will be.”
Assuming you’re playing
for dollars, 5-coins at a
time, you end up with a $10 straight if you draw any 3, any 8, or any deuce.  is is worth $2.55.
we said [76543], because we said either the 7 or the 3, or both, may be replaced by wild cards.
Sue Forbes
CA DRE #01308927
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Page 12
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
May 2007
Video Poker with Bob Dancer


































































































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