Station Casinos Guaranteed Play Video Poker

[MikeA]

I've had trouble visualizing how this game works but think I have it now.  You buy into the game with $20 which gives you exactly 75 hands...no more and no less.You have a credit counter that starts out at ZERO.  As you play, your running credit count can go up when you win a hand and can do down (negative if necessary) when you lose a hand.  At the end of the 75 hands, you cash out (TITO I presume) with whatever your credit balance is if it is positive.I played this a few minutes ago on my game simulator.  I bought in for 375 credits and played exactly 75 5-coin hands and ended up with 390 credits.But, that's not the way the game will tally.  I ended up with 15 more credits than I started with.  FIFTEEN is what would show on my credit display at the end of the 75 hands that cost me $20.  So, I cashed out the 15 credits and received a whopping $3.75.  But it wasn't profit.  That $3.75 represented a loss of $16.25 (20.00 - 3.75).Now, I may have played less than 75 hands with that $20 on a normal machine or I might have played more than 75 hands.  I may have lost the 80 credits before I ever got positive.  But, what seems to me that should have been a win of $3.75 actually cost me $16.25 just to insure that I got to play 75 hands of video poker.I don't think this is a game for me unless someone sees an advantage spin to put on it.

[oej719]

So I am hearing you have to play it all at the machine where you started?

[chuck arl]

Yes, you must finish your session at the machine where you bought into. This is one of the many disadvantages of this game. Once you end your session, whether there many games left in credit, that is it for your buy-in!---CWA---

[bicyclecardplayer]

I found a cheat!!
If you hit the "Service" Button 3 times you can rig the machine to deal you quads!!
 
Of course this only happens when I use the machine in the breakroom....

[oej719]

How did you figure that out????

[knagl]

...and does it work on the games on the floor? 
 
MikeA- You've just about got it, but you CAN cash out before the end of the 75 hands -- you just forefit any remaining hands.
 
For example, if you pop in a $20 and hit a Royal Flush on the first hand, you can cash out immediately ($1000 minus your $20 buy-in for $980 total), or continue playing for up to 74 more hands.
 
Something being discussed elsewhere is that there have to be some major strategy changes as the number of hands remaining decreases, depending on how many credits (or negative credits) you have.
 
As an extreme example, let's say you're playing Jacks or Better and you're down to your last hand.  Your credit meter is at negative 255 credits.
 
...and you're dealt a 9 high straight flush.  What's the proper play?
 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
 
 
If you said "dump all five cards," you're right.  As screwy as that seems, if you're on your last hand and 250 or more in the hole, the ONLY thing that will get you any money is a Royal Flush, and only a Royal Flush (in this JoB example).  The 250 credit win for the pat SF won't do you a bit of good, as you'd be out of hands to play.
 
There has to be some kind of sliding scale for going for the Royal (or bonus hands on a bonus game) where you take greater strategy "risks" the fewer hands you have if you're in or close to the red.  I'm not sure a human would ever be able to calculate all of the possibilities while sitting at one of these games.

[MikeA]

I checked a couple of casinos out with the GP machines.  Odd.  Sunday night and I didn't see ANYONE playing them ANYWHERE!Fiesta Henderson (I think) had a large message saying "millions of hands given away" or something like that!  Big Blue Balloons marking all the GP machines.I don't think this is going to fly.

[shadowman]

I think you are right, Mike. As currently defined GVP is a rip-off. However, that doesn't mean they won't change it in the future. Of course, anything they do to lower the house edge will open the door to possibilities that smart players can take advantage of with proper play. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[bigboy]

I checked a couple of casinos out with the GP machines.  Odd.  Sunday night and I didn't see ANYONE playing them ANYWHERE!
Fiesta Henderson (I think) had a large message saying "millions of hands given away" or something like that!  Big Blue Balloons marking all the GP machines.I don't think this is going to fly.

 
 
We expect a complete trip report upon your return. Hopefully, a positive one.

[MikeA]

GP at Texas Station has DB at 9/6/4 and I think DDB at 9/5.  JOB was 8/5.  It's "guaranteed" but, guaranteed WHAT?
 
The "Dancer" machines are gone from Silverton that had nickel full pay.  Quaters are still Full Pay back by the acquarium though.
 
I played all week mostly nickel short pay with a couple of exceptions (both nickel DDB at MSS and dime DB full pay Texas Station and some full pay quarter DB at Silverton)  Played a lot of Blackjack too but no advantage play.  We're getting ready to board the plane in a couple of hours so I won't be hitting the machines again this trip.  I am down a whopping $55 for the entire trip.  All rooms were comped.  Free upgrade from a sub-compact rental car to a Grand Prix.  I do admit that we actually paid for two meals!  This has been 5 days of practically Free Entertainment. 
 
Talk to y'all when I get back to Wichita...maybe after 18-holes of golf tomorrow morning early!