Page 24 - June 2009 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Bob Dancer: Video Poker
JIuan Way or the Other
was playing at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas during a promotion. (Since then the casino has decimated their video poker selection and it’s hardly worth a visit.) I was playing $25 single line NSU Deuces Wild while a friend of mine, Juan, was playing the $5
Five Play version of the same game. If I had a choice, I would have preferred the Five Play version, but there was only one such machine there with the correct pay schedule—and Juan was on it.
I’ve known Juan for several years. Although he doesn’t live in Vegas, he flies in regularly from his El Paso home for casino events. He’s a strong video poker player—among other things.
Seeing a friend so miserable made me question out loud whether I should have spoken up at all.
“No. You’re fine. I’m mad at myself, not you,” he graciously responded.
Even so, what about next time? Although it isn’t a case where I think I’m a smarter or better player than Juan, there are players I do think this about.
And others who think that I think they fit this category.
And however strong a player is, many people do not take criticism very well. Having a mistake pointed out can cause some to become quite angry at whomever pointed out the mistake. I suspect you have to figure this out on a case-by-case basis, and even then it’s a guess as to which is the better course. Although Juan thanked me several times for pointing the error out, I’m still not sure I did the right thing.
In my classes I call this a “Chicken versus Gambler” choice. The chickens keep all five cards. The gamblers throw the nine away, say a prayer, and go for the royal. Insofar as the correct play, if you’re playing any version of Deuces Wild you should be a gambler. If you’re playing any other video poker game, you should be a chicken.
Now, I guess, I can call this the “Juan way or the other” choice.
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 his new book, Video Poker for Intelligent Beginners, 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 or at 1-800-244-2224 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Paci c Time.
But on this day, Juan was losing and moaning about it. He had been dealt three deuces five times and had yet to pick up a $5,000 set of deuces. So he was stuck. He complained that I was a favorite to hit deuces before he did. Twenty minutes after that, I actually did hit a $25,000
set. Juan responded, “Hah! I told you so!”
“You said nothing of the kind,”Itoldhim.“YousaidI was the favorite to hit deuces first, which is a ridiculous argument. You’re playing Five Play. I’m playing single line. Although I’m playing each hand faster than you’re playing your set of five hands, you’re still likely playing three times as many hands as I am.
Assuming we’re using the same strategy, which must be very close to being true, you’re three times as likely as me to connect on the next set of deuces.”
singing jackpot music. “Finally,” he exclaimed, “something! A dealt straight flush—and all natural to boot! $1,250 isn’t much, but it’s the best thing
that’s shown up over here for two hours.”
I looked over and saw the KQJT9 of spades held on all five lines. Oh dear. Had Juan been a stranger I would have kept quiet. But Juan was a friend and a video poker expert. One who had just made a huge mistake. Apparently his delight at finally getting a reasonable hand caused him to play without thinking. So I
Juan mumbled that
technically I was correct,
but mainly was irritated that he hadn’t had a hand pay for a while and was losing badly. We played quietly for some time until I heard his machine
expletives of self loathing. He was, no surprise, very mad at himself for blowing this one. “&%$%$#%! I know better! I just played too fast.”
“In my classes I call this
a ‘Chicken versus Gambler’
choice. The chickens keep all five cards. The gamblers throw the nine away, say a prayer, and go for the royal. Insofar as the correct play, if you’re playing any version of Deuces
Wild you should be a gambler. If you’re playing any other video poker game, you should
be a chicken. ”
spoke up. Gently. “Juan. I hate to be the
one to break the bad news, but you’re playing deuces. You should have thrown away the nine. That’s more than a $1,200 mistake.”
Juan looked at the machine, and the next minute was filled with
Page 24
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
June 2009
Video Poker with Bob Dancer