Do you hold some numbers more than others for fun?

[babybubba]

Yes it is one of the "special plays that deviate from optimal play" and in any given session a player will not only usually fare better--they may see a big winner from doing so. It's a sad day when people think a 4-in-47 shot at getting back 20 or 25 credits is worth playing such a hand, when there's a whole world of possibilities awaiting in the shuffling deck.

[Eduardo]

But what are odds of getting back more than an inside straight if you throw all cards back?  It seems like I never get anything except maybe 5 if i throw all cards. Odds must be very low of winning more than inside straight?

[MikeA]

Well, Eduardo, the implication of the calculations is that overall, you'll come out ahead if you hold for the inside-straight.  The odds on hitting those other higher paying hands (flush, full-house, quads, straight flush and royal flush) are certainly possible, but they would be rare indeed.  Your most likely draw to a "fresh" 5-card hand with the cards you started with being eliminated, favoring Jacks or Better or Two Pair with a long shot being trips. 
 
Do keep in mind that you only draw to that inside straight if you have no high card and none of the low cards you are holding are paired.  Hold the Jack, King, Queen or Ace if you have one and throw the low inside straight away.  If you have a pair in those low cards, throw the straight away and go for the pair.

[babybubba]

But what are odds of getting back more than an inside straight if you throw all cards back?  It seems like I never get anything except maybe 5 if i throw all cards. Odds must be very low of winning more than inside straight?
 
Of all people, you should be interested in opportunities for large winners vs. going with looong odds just to get 20 credits back. If you were playing that hand 100,000 times then it makes sense to go for the inside straight every time. But that's not what a trip (or session) is comprised of and everyone knows that. On any individual visit there's no guarantee either way, so the calculated risk says to go for the sweep and take your chances over a very long shot at just 20 credits.

[Eduardo]

But see here is how I see it.Large winners I think are Royal and Quad (that means 4 of a kind).If I go for inside straight I have close to 10% chance of doubling my bet or close, so that will get me two fresh hands.But if I throw all five cards... yes I can hit a royal (very unlikely) or a quad. But I have also lost 5 cards that can not be quads any more.  So odds of getting a quad are even smaller than on a fresh deal which is very very very low.So yes there is an itty bitty chance of hitting a royal or quad but I am more likely to win big if I can win myself another play by hitting that inside straight because not only do I get 5 new fresh cards (which could hit big right away) but I can draw on them.It seems like odds of winning something with a fresh hand are more than 10 times (opposite 10%) as much as winning big after tossing out 5 cards, like I am playing stud for a hand with even less chance at quads because 5 cards have been removed.

[babybubba]

Think of how long you're in there playing Eduardo. You gonna see an inside straight draw a dozen times, and you don't think if you do that by sweeping them all you won't get more credits along with an opportunity to hit a big winner? How will you ever know unless you try. That's why everyone loses at vp--they don't understand that the casinos want every player to make the math plays because the math edge is ALWAYS on the side of the casinos.

[Eduardo]

I do see your point bubba since i will play with so little bank roll.  That is why I started that other topic though about going big or going home. Do I just abandon math and only go for big cards or play the math so my small bankroll lasts a little longer and wait for a hit.That was the main question and you said your special plays will not help either with so small a bank. So that is why it is confusing.But you really should be learning from ME.   I am one of the few people on this forum who can say he has NEVER walked away from a video poker machine with a losing session. 

[oej719]

Eduardo,
There are no special plays. They are idiot plays that will lose your bankroll much faster than otherwise.
But he is right that a big hit might just come up.
Listen to me. This man risk so he says $57200. Puts at risk for a total lose.
For a profit goal of $2500.
Does that sound like a smart business move to you?
If yes then go for it.
But he will never meet with you to show you cause of your bankroll and you 5 cent games.
 

[babybubba]

Eduardo,
There are no special plays. They are idiot plays that will lose your bankroll much faster than otherwise.
But he is right that a big hit might just come up.
Listen to me. This man risk so he says $57200. Puts at risk for a total lose.
For a profit goal of $2500.
Does that sound like a smart business move to you?
If yes then go for it.
But he will never meet with you to show you cause of your bankroll and you 5 cent games.
 
 
Eduardo: Don't listen to this chalupa. You can get rational input when someone's insanely jealous. I meet with anyone who asks and I've shown many players who've wanted to play starting at pennies.

[Eduardo]

Is what I said above accurate about throwing all 5 cards out and odds of hitting big after that?