Video Poker Forum

Question for the experts...

Was recently playing 3 line version of Ultimate X Poker ($.25, double double version).   Due to the previous hand, my current hand gave me 3 12x multipliers.

I was dealt 3 Aces, a deuce, and one other card. I kept the Ace/Deuce hoping for the 4th ace. Was hoping to hit at least one line of 4 Aces w/Kicker for 24,000 credits. Naturally, I didn't get the 4th ace. Ended up with 3 3 of a kinds.

Question: should I have tossed the deuce too for a better chance at 4 Aces, or did I let my greed cloud my judgment?

Thanks!

  Well everyone who plays DDB or TDB has their own opinions about keeping the kicker along with the trip aces. Because I most often play TDB I don't keep the kicker because I eliminate the opportunity of catching the 4th ace by 1 and there are 3 more 2's, 4-3's, and 4-4's that you can catch.   Dumping the kicker and just keeping the trip aces may not be THE move but it's MY move.   Better luck next time.

I understand Ted's strategy and it probably doesn't make much difference on TDB.

My strategy software indicates:
* DDB throw the deuce and increase your chances of another Ace by 1 more card.   
* TDB you hold the kicker.

Rationale as I understand it is that DDB AWAK = 2000 versus TDB AWAKS = 4,000 a significant difference in return.

That would be my play unless I was really desperate to come back from a terrible session. In that case, I would keep the 2 on the DDB game also.

Dumping the kicker and just keeping the trip aces may not be THE move but it's MY move.I'm with Ted on this. I play alot of TDB and never hold the kicker.

I can hardly believe what I'm reading here.

Keeping the kicker with the three aces in triple double bonus poker is a superior play by about 24% - yet folks are tossing the kicker!

I can hardly believe what I'm reading here.

Keeping the kicker with the three aces in triple double bonus poker is a superior play by about 24% - yet folks are tossing the kicker!
When you say 'superior play', I suspect that you are talking about the famous 'perfect strategy' that involves playing that hand over infinity.

I don't know about anyone else, but I would always want another card to draw. You just don't get that many opportunities. I will take two draws for that fourth Ace, and take my chances on another kicker. For the hand described, there is one ace remaining in the deck, and eleven other kickers.

I would just hold the three aces, because the one extra card may allow you to get four aces X12 for $2400 pay!

I understand Ted's strategy and it probably doesn't make much difference on TDB.

My strategy software indicates:
* DDB throw the deuce and increase your chances of another Ace by 1 more card.   
* TDB you hold the kicker.

Rationale as I understand it is that DDB AWAK = 2000 versus TDB AWAKS = 4,000 a significant difference in return.



It makes a pretty big difference in TDB, imo. Never holding the kicker on either trip Aces or 2-4s makes 9/7 TDB go from a respectable 99.58% to a just okay 98.84%, a 0.74% error.

The converse strategy, always holding a kicker on 9/6 DDB is a more mild mistake. It lowers 9/6 DDB from 98.98% to 98.77%, only a 0.21% error.

As for the original question, of course I wouldn't hold the kicker myself due to the math. If I was playing TDB, then yes I would hold the kicker.


When you say 'superior play', I suspect that you are talking about the famous 'perfect strategy' that involves playing that hand over infinity.

I don't know about anyone else, but I would always want another card to draw. You just don't get that many opportunities. I will take two draws for that fourth Ace, and take my chances on another kicker. For the hand described, there is one ace remaining in the deck, and eleven other kickers.

Anyone who really feels this way should NEVER play TDB then, imo. The game overcompensates you for hitting the quad with the kicker. But multiple members here apparently do feel this way on tossing the kicker, which just costs you money if the machines behave like they are supposed to (another big point of contention on this forum). Billyjoe always played TDB and never held kickers either despite me and others reminding him. I really hope is doing alright...

Not surprisingly, I hold the kicker when math tells me to (TDB), and don't when it tells me not to (DDB). As a result, I generally try to avoid TDB like the plague, except in VP.com contests.

so, you are playing TDB, get trip A w/kicker. you only have certain amount of money left to play, you have set yourself a loss limit. you do the 'perfect' play and do not draw the ace. you end up going home. or, you do the 'imperfect' play, draw 2 cards. you have 2 cards to get a single ace or get real lucky and draw the ace and kicker. even if you only get the single ace, you have 800 credits to play with. you could hit a premium hand with those additional credits. how does one calculate that kind of scenario, when determining the 'perfect' play?