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Dancer's Answers We publish a brand-new video poker article from Bob Dancer every Thursday in this section. These columns are called "Dancer's Answers". Click on any of the links below for more Dancer's Answers: Bob Dancer Articles - Main Page Vicksburg Video Poker - May 8, 2008 Vicksburg, MS Video Poker - Part 2 - May 15, 2008 Vicksburg Casino Video Poker - Part 3 - May 22, 2008 Common Deuces Wild Mistakes – Juan or the Other – May 29, 2008 Figuring Out Quick Quads - June 5, 2008 Breaking Full Houses in Quick Quads - June 12, 2008 A Quick Quads Puzzler - June 19, 2008 Let’s Go Scouting - June 26, 2008 When You're Not Sure of the Game - July 3, 2008 Can it be Right to Play Hunches - July 10, 2008 Good Hearted Woman in Love With a Good Timin’ Man - July 17, 2008 One-Way Versus Two-Way Straight Penalties - July 24, 2008 Effectual versus Ineffectual Straight Penalties - July 31, 2008 Unusual Dealt Royals - August 7, 2008 Learning from a Horse Handicapper - August 14, 2008 When Bad Is Good - August 21, 2008 I Live For These Moments - August 28, 2008 Next Dancer's Answers column coming on September 4, 2008! |
Juan Way or the Other?I was playing at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas during a promotion. 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. 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," I told him. "You said I 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." 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 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 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 $1,200 mistake." Juan looked at the machine, and the next minute was filled with expletives of self loathing. He was, no surprise, very mad at himself for blowing this one. "&%$%$#%! I know better! I just played too fast." 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 the software "Video Poker for Winners," 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 by telephone at 1-800-244-2224 M-F 9-5 Pacific Time.
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Classic Dancer We republish a classic Bob Dancer article every Sunday - often these articles are updated with new insights from Bob Dancer, the master of video poker writing. Video Poker Questions and Answers - May 4, 2008 More Answers to Questions About Video Poker Machines - May 11, 2008 Losing is a Major Part of Winning at Video Poker - May 18, 2008 Video Poker VS Blackjack - May 25, 2008 The Art of Tipping Slot Personnel - Part 1 - June 1, 2008 The Art of Tipping Slot Personnel - Part 2 - June 8, 2008 Putting Your Ducks In a Row - June 15, 2008 Luck and Skill in Video Poker - June 22, 2008 Strategy Adjustments in Video Poker - June 29, 2008 One Coin vs Five Coin - July 6, 2008 Video Poker Progressives - July 13, 2008 High Pairs versus Three Cards to a Rolal in Kings or Better Joker Wild - July 20, 2008 The Double Up Feature -- Does It Ever Make Sense? - Part 1 - July 27, 2008 Doubling Up -- Does it Ever Make Sense? - Part 2 - August 3, 2008 Did I Quit at the Right Time? - August 10, 2008 Money Management: What Does and Doesn't Work - August 17, 2008 "I'm Playing The Wrong Game" and Other Video Poker Fallacies - August 24, 2008 More Classic Dancer coming Sunday August 31, 2008. |
