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
May 1, 2008

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!

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One-Way Versus Two-Way Straight Penalties

Straight penalties are probably the easiest penalty cards to understand. While there are numerous kinds of straight penalties, today’s column will differentiate between one-way and two-way straight penalties.

The definition of a straight penalty, also called straight interference, is a card in the original five cards that reduces the chances for one of the combinations in the hand becoming a straight.

Although the main part of the discussion will be about Bonus Poker, once we see how it works, after we see how it works I’ll provide an example from Double Bonus.

Let’s take a simple example of one-way straight interference from 8-5 Bonus. All dollars and cents figures assume you are playing a $1 game, five coins at a time.

Let’s compare (a) Ah Ks 5d 4d 2d with (b) Ah Ks 6d 5d 3d. In both cases the plays to consider are the two high cards (worth $2.403 in both cases) with the diamonds, which are 3-card inside straights with zero high cards and one inside. In case (a) the diamonds are worth $2.396, which make them less valuable than holding the two high cards. In case (b) the diamonds are worth $2.470, which make them quite a bit better than holding the high cards.

The reason for the difference in the value of the diamonds was that the ace in example (a) is a straight penalty. It is harder to get the A2345 straight when you only have three aces still in the deck rather than four. In this case the straight penalty is worth 7.4¢.

This straight interference doesn’t affect the ‘653’ straight flush draw in (b). The only straights we can get from that starting position are 65432 and 76543. Neither of these straights utilize an ace or king so those cards provide no straight interference.

The only straight containing an ace and king is AKQJT, and neither the ‘653’ nor the ‘542’ straight flush draws have any cards in this range. This makes it “one-way” straight interference.

Now let’s look at the hands (c) Ah Qs Td 8d 7d versus (d) Ah Js Td 8d 7d.
Not surprising, given the above examples, is the ‘T87’ in (c) is worth $2.470 and in (d) it is worth $2.396. We already understand that this is the value of a SF3 0h1i combination in this game without straight interference and with straight interference.

AQ in example (c) and AJ in example (d) are each worth $2.383. The reason for the lower value in these hands than in (a) and (b) is that the ‘T87’ combination includes a straight penalty to both AQ and AJ. It is harder to get the AKQJT straight when one of the tens is out of the deck and hence not available. The value of the straight penalty in this case is 2.0¢.

Example (d) is a case of two-way straight interference. The ten hurts the value of AJ and the J hurts the value of ‘T97’.

Now we see how the concept works, let’s look at examples from 10-7 Double Bonus:

Our choices in all three cases are the hearts or the clubs. In the absence of interference, ‘KQ’ and ‘KJ’ are worth the same. Similarly, in the absence of interference, ‘568’ and ‘78T’ are both SF3 0h1i and are worth the same.

In (e) there is no interference at all. ‘KQ’ is worth $2.922 and ‘568’ is worth $2.882. In both (f) and (g) ‘KQ’ and ‘KJ’ have straight interference (the ten) and are worth $2.873. In (f) ‘78T’ has no interference so must be worth $2.882 --- which is more than ‘KQ’ in the same hand. In (g) the jack provides interference to ‘78T’, reducing the value of the clubs to $2.789, which is worth less than ‘KJ’.

So (e) provides no straight penalties at all, (f) shows one-way straight interference, and (g) demonstrates two-way interference. You should now be able to clearly see how the different types of straight penalties affect the play.

Today’s discussion isn’t meant to be comprehensive, but it does demonstrate one-way and two-way straight interference in two common games. That way if you see a situation on “Video Poker for Winners” or other software that looks unusual, now you have one more “explanation” in your arsenal that might explain it.

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.

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