Am I crazy for playing Super Times Pay?

[roveer]

When at the casinos I play almost exclusively video poker.  I also like 3 card poker and blackjack.
 
When Playing VP I will sit at the bar and play DDB but then I eventually wonder over to Super Times Pay and play quarters or half dollars.
 
I've had a couple of good sessions and have seen my share of RF's on this game.  I recently had 4 aces dealt on half dollars for a 2,300.00 hand pay.
 
I love the excitement of the multiplier and the possibilities that it could bring.
 
Is there any reason to say that this game is a waste of time or money?  I just want to make sure I'm optimizing my casino play.
 
Whenever I play regular DDB 10 play I find it so extremely boring.
 
The thing that has me wondering is that all of my good hits on STP (4 deuces and probably 4-6 RF's) all have come without multipliers.
 
As I manage my bank I don't feel like the multiplier vig is killing me, but I have to consider it.
 
Interested in everyone's feeling about this.
 
Roveer
 

[Lucky Larry]

roveer,

I generally don't play STP with the multiplier because the extra coin combined with lower pay tables usually found at the casinos isn't worth the play. If I play STP, I generally only play without the extra coin so I can get a multi-hand option. (The only option for 10 hand 25¢ play at our favorite casino.)

However; I do know a lot who play it. I consider STP one of the gimmick games designed to increase casino returns. Much like the
"new gimmicks" Dream Card, Ultimate X, Quick Quads, Random Rewards, STP is probably a big winner for casinos.

You might want to check out the link to the Wizard of Odds table showing the STP differential. The increase % isn't worth it to me.

http://wizardofodds.com/videopoker/tabl ... s-pay.html

I have seen several hit RF with multiplier and it sure looks nice.

LL

[roveer]

Good analysis LL.  I posted because I sometimes feel the same way.  Gimmick machine.  I do love playing it though and think about the multiplier win.  During the 2.5 hour drive down to AC I will run though the posssible payouts on a multiplier.  Wishfull thinking.  Of course my hours of play are adding up and statiscally I'm working towards some great fun. 
 
When i play in AC I have such a hard time finding optimum pay tables.  NSU is usually best I can find in a location that I feel comformable playing.
 
Should I retrain my thinking to PT, Pt, pt (pay tables).  I often conceed at NSU when I know that full pay is out there someplace.  It's all part of the learning process.  For me, learning and improving are all part of the fun.  Some people say that us overthinkers ruin all the fun, but for me, the learning and improving "is the fun".  Then I let the cards fall where they will.  I always have fun at the casino and enjoy myself whether I'm winning or not doing so great. 
 
I'm working on my perfect play, up in the 90-95% on the computer.  Have eliminated a few of my old favorites (games) that just don't make sense.
 
Real want fully optimize my play to be the best that I can be.
 
I've been having a bit of a DDB renissance lately.  Used to play a lot of Deuces Wild but my friend stole my mojo and I haven't had 4 deuces since then (vegas in April).  Since then my DDB has been showing me a whole new world of VP.  I was a bit infatuated by Ultimate X but havent' had a dream hit and it just doesn't make sense playing dimes, so I'm moving away from that game as well.  I still pay, but limit the amount I will commit.  Any other suggestions based on my past favorites?  I'm always trying to learn and see new things.  When I get in the casino's I tend to run towards the old favorites.  Posting and reading hear is a good way to expand ones knowledge base.
 
Always interested in what everyone has to say.
 
Roveer
 
 
 

[marie meijer]

I also consider STP to be a gimmick game and avoid playing it in casinos. Once I played an incredible number of hands without a multiplier at Borgata. However, the first time I played it at MGM Detroit, I was playing through a royal. I was beyond estatic when another royal  hit with the FIVE multiplier for $5K. YES! How I wish I had that $5K here in AC to play with tomorrow and the next day!

[damule]

STP is one of my favorite games and one of the best gimmick or as I call them "carnival" video poker games. The "one" extra coin is a small additional wager when compared to the "5 coin" add-on that Ultimate X and Double Pay Poker require for instance. If you can find DDB at 9/6 or deuces wild at 15/9 this game is a very strong play, over 99.5%. There is absolutely no change in strategy either as compared to Ultimate X or Multi-strike where there is significant strategy adjustments based on multipliers or levels making STP a very easy game to play as well. I have had some incredible hits over the years on this game. Just ask rascal, I think he won $80 grand in Laughlin on one hand. I would play this game any day over quick quads or wheel poker. Actually I'll play DDB 9/5 and will take my chances at 98.5% with comps. The one additional coin keeps this game at a manageable volatility level. I'll post a few nice hits I've had to get the adrenaline flowing. 

[damule]

Here are some that I could find:
 

 

 

 

 

 
I still wonder where the 10X multiplier was on that last hand. Would have been $20,000 on a $6 wager. That's why I play this game.

[rascal]

STP is very volatile. As long as you have the means to ride it out you'll hit something nice eventually. I have total jackpots ($1200+) of more than $100,000 on STP since 2004. It is one of the few VP games where I am still positive, thanks to a few very nice jackpots. As Damule wrote, if you find the right paytables it is a playable game, not gimmicky at all. Some casinos have downgraded the STP playtables to where it is not worth playing --- check those tables carefully. And...only play STP and other multiplier games in regulated casinos --- there is a rumor (unproven but still worrisome) that certain non-regulated casinos have the ability to screw around with the programming in multiplier casino games.

[roveer]

Thanks for the feedback and the pics.  Those sure are nice pays.  The type I've been looking to get.  I agree that when things go soft if you keep playing eventually you can get back up.  I've done this many times.
 
For whatever reason I still find this game very enjoyable unlike many other games where I get bored and start thinking "why am I putting more money into this machine"  With STP  I can get a little burned out on dry streaks but I still come back. 
 
I'm going to be looking a lot more at the pay tables.  To the best of my ability I'll use this website's "find a machine" to determine how many machines are in a casino (currently says Harrah's AC has 18), and then set off to find as many of them as I can to check pay tables.  At this point I've only found 4 of them which is where is play over by the "video poker bar"
 
I see that damule plays DDB.  That's the game I'm currently best trained on.  With pay tables, do they run full pay & NSU or is there another set of criteria.  What should I look for during my next AC visit?  I'm also considering branching out and visiting the other "total rewards" resorts, Caesars, Bally's and one other to maximize my STP exposure and hopefully find good pay tables.  Time to get back to basics. 

[royal flush]

nice

[faygo]

Edited