Cheap Video Poker Update

[olds442jetaway]

I guess that is why I like the nickel Multi-Strike game so much at Mohegan Sun. Every winning hand on the bottom line gives me a " pot shot " at something big. And it can be done. I think I posted recently that the Mrs. hit the Royal on the top line on this machine just a couple of months ago. I haven't hit it on the top line, but did hit all of the other premium hands on the 3rd or 4th line before. What helps some is the paytable ranges 98-99 percent on this machine which is very good for nickel play. I think I can hear the crews coming now to remove it, so I better post this in closing...Am I ahead overall on the machine?....NO...Good, the removal crew just headed in the other direction to put in a new penny machine.

[alpax]

I get how the Multi-Strike game can be a game where the Cheap strategy can be applied, Maybe play 1 line 5 credit bet on the multi strike, and if you get a 3 credit win or better then switch over to full 4-line multi-strike wager and switch back to single line on a non-profitable outcome?

It could be also potshot opportunity that olds has described, but usually hitting a good hand at significantly higher denominations (full bet multi-strike to nickle players feel like a max quarter bet) is where you can get the chance to replenish bankroll.

As far as the max nickel bet versus single coin quarter denomination goes, generally the nickel denomination will have the worse paytable as
Phil stated. If it is the same paytable, of course max nickel bet will be more worthwhile. Not sure what nickel plays will get in bounceback and comps if they are offered any.

[FloridaPhil]

As a matter of personal preference, I normally don't take my pot shots on high volatility games.  If you're counting on pot shots to make up for negative game loses and I do, it's advantageous to be able to play as many high denomination hands as possible.  I like deuces for my pot shots because of the relatively low volatility and the good possibility of hitting a straight flush or a royal w. deuces.  There's also a chance you could get a quad deuce or a royal and really put some money away. 

[olds442jetaway]

I only play Multi-Strike on the Double Bonus Deuces Wild game. They don't offer regular deuces or even Bonus Deuces for some reason on the Multi-Strike game. I don't like giving up 2 for 1 on the straight, but the premium hands pay great and even 1 hit on those on the 2nd,3rd, or 4th line can bail you out for the session and then some. Sometimes I do try just playing the bottom line and on a hit of 4 or more, play all 4 levels on the next bet. I can also last all day playing just the bottome line and then lines 1 and 2 on the next bet.

[WVRadar]

Gave your strategy a test while at the Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson, Indiana. The pay tables there are much better than my home casino (The Meadows in Washington, PA). Jacks or Better was 8/6 for quarters and 9/5 for dollars. At the Meadows I don't think any 8/5 machines are left, all are now 7/5 or worse.

Happy to report that a few machines at The Meadows have a 9/6 Jacks or Better pay table with a single coin payout of 500 instead of 250 for a Royal Flush. 98.88% return with 8.90% variance. Not bad if you like to play single coin. The catch is that the full coin payout is only 2500 instead of 4000.

[FAA]

The Meadows have a 9/6 JOB pay table with a single coin
payout of 500 instead of 250 for a Royal Flush. 98.88% return with 8.90%
variance. Not bad if you like to play single coin. The catch is that
the full coin payout is only 2500 instead of 4000.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Interesting. So they actually incentivize single coin play. Low rollers rejoice! I'd kind of be okay with a $125 one coin Royal Flush. The 2500 max bet payout suppresses the overall return, but it's acceptable. Enjoy! What I don't get is how the variance is so low.

[FloridaPhil]

We ran into a similar pay table at Gulfsteam Park in Miami.  They have video poker games without a royal flush penalty.   Those machines are made for the Cheap Strategy.  Wish that would catch on in the rest of the country! 

[FAA]

This will never take hold in AC. They are quite used to getting the five units out of us. I never did do the max coin insanity throughout a session. On intermediate bets, the only time you get whacked is the fifth column of that elusive first row 40,390 to 1 shot. I'd rather play my tail off and not stumble away dazed and busted within the hour. My next trip will tilt even further into Cheap waters, with 65% of my hands bare minimum. Take that, AC. Plus you can drink a little, as so little is at stake. 

[Vman96]

Interesting. So they actually incentivize single coin play. Low rollers rejoice! I'd kind of be okay with a $125 one coin Royal Flush. The 2500 max bet payout suppresses the overall return, but it's acceptable. Enjoy! What I don't get is how the variance is so low.




Yeah, this isn't a bad game at all, although some others slam it. I played it at Fitzgerald's Tunica for a single coin dollar last year while trying to rack up points for a promo. They had traditional 9/6 for quarters, but it was a coin-dropper that asked if I wanted to double up every hand. The 500/9/6 JoB was a TITO unit with no double up, so that went a LOT faster...

I've also seen it at Lumiere Place in St. Louis for dollars. Better choice than max quarters at 9/5. The biggest change between this and regular 9/6 JoB is 4 to a Flush always beats 3 to a Royal, so Royals will come a lot less often unfortunately (1 in 48,028). I wish Lumiere wasn't so far from me and stuck in the middle of downtown. They have some good games for cheap.

[DougJ]

I only play Multi-Strike on the Double Bonus Deuces Wild game. They don't offer regular deuces or even Bonus Deuces for some reason on the Multi-Strike game. I don't like giving up 2 for 1 on the straight, but the premium hands pay great and even 1 hit on those on the 2nd,3rd, or 4th line can bail you out for the session and then some. Sometimes I do try just playing the bottom line and on a hit of 4 or more, play all 4 levels on the next bet. I can also last all day playing just the bottome line and then lines 1 and 2 on the next bet.

I also play Multi Strike, but just like you, I only seem to find Double Bonus Deuces Wild on them.
I had the craziest experience with this machine last year, while playing at the Venetian. NO exaggeration, that Multi-Strike machine HAD to be defective. I played all four levels and got to the top line nearly every single spin. Needless to say, played for hours.
Went back the next day, and the machine was occupied, and stayed that way the entire day. Finally, on day three, I managed to get the machine early in the morning. Same result, reached the top level nearly every single spin, and eventually got five aces on the top line for a hand pay.
Fast forward several months later. Returned to the Venetian. The game was gone. Hmm, no surprise.