Cheap Strategy with Loose Deuces

[Azure Dragon]

I looked through this forum seeing if this had already been brought up but I didn't see anything, so I'll ask. With 500 credits per coin bet for quad deuces, and a hit to full houses (3 credits per coin bet instead of 4 for most DW games that this strategy is built for) is the CS strategy recommended for this variant?

[FloridaPhil]

This is a a good question and I'm happy you took the time to look into CS instead of dismissing it outright.  I have and others on this forum have tried CS strategy with most all the traditional video poker games.  Personally, I have not tried it with the Loose Deuces pay schedule you are asking about. I have used it with traditional single line deuces and a few versions of Bonus DW with a 3 coin full house.    CS says to move to max coins after every 4 coin win.  If a full house pays 3 coins instead of 4 you have two choices, reduce the number of max coin hands or sacrifice 2 coins after every full house. My decision was to sacrifice 2 coins and retain the same number of max coin hands which costs more money per hour to play.  For this to be a benefit, there has to be something on the big end to make it worth the extra cost.  In some games there is a 25 coin increase in the wild royal, but I found the benefit did not offset the loss of 2 coins after every full house so I don't play those games.  If you choose not to move to max coins after a 3 coin full house, it would make a max coin jackpot less likely increasing the variance of the game significantly.CS definitely works better with wild card games.  I can't see why it wouldn't work with your Loose Deuces game with the right adjustments.   You may have to experiment a little to get the strategy in balance with your style of play.   If you are an occasional recreational player, I would stick with max coins.  If playing a lot of hands cheap is a benefit to you,  CS will get you there.

[Azure Dragon]

Thanks for the reply Phil.

I have used your system fairly often, mainly with traditional DW. I managed to hit quad deuces at max bet once on a dollar machine which was really nice. I've also tried the loose deuces and it seemed I did lose money a bit faster due to the max bet after 3 coin full house hits. It still seemed to me that CS would work really well though, so I thought I'd get your input on it. Thanks again!

[FloridaPhil]

I am especially intrigued by the use of CS with Deuces Bonus Poker.  This is a rare game for me and not available at my local casino.   I would like to try it with CS as it has so many mini jackpots other than the quad deuce.  Any video poker game should work well with CS that does not depend heavily on the royal flush.   I would love to find a way to adapt CS to DDB, but the game is so unpredictable I haven't been able to so far.  

[alpax]

I am especially intrigued by the use of CS with Deuces Bonus Poker.  This is a rare game for me and not available at my local casino.   I would like to try it with CS as it has so many mini jackpots other than the quad deuce.  Any video poker game should work well with CS that does not depend heavily on the royal flush.   I would love to find a way to adapt CS to DDB, but the game is so unpredictable I haven't been able to so far.  

Since you are one of the few members here who are willing to travel to different parts of the country to play video poker. I would recommend Pechanga Casino & Resort to you and the Mrs. It is located in the southern part of California, and the nearest airport is in the San Diego region (that part is more of an ocean city). The biggest obstacle will probably be the cost to fly out there and taking a method of transportation to cover 40 more miles, but once you are there, it is a haven for cheap and affordable VP at good odds.

The weather is great, more often than not, it is 70-something degree weather with sunshine. This year will be an exception because of the El Nino season. On any other year, it only rains about 3 times a year at most. Not sure if you guys are into golf, there is a decent golf course attached to the casino. There are winery and brewery tours, and the old fashioned town tours. If you are not scared of heights, the hot air balloon excursions are good too.

At the non-smoking section of the casino, there are a bank of Game King machines that is absolutely PERFECTLY designed for your Cheap Strategy style of play. The capital letters were needed as I cannot stress how ideal it is for you, I cannot find any other places that is tailored to your liking. It seems you guys are early risers to grab a seat at the banks before the keno players get there. Only drawback is that it is right next to the food court and the smell of oil fried food is present.

The machine has both Airport Deuces and Bonus Deuces Wild (the ones I've posted pictures of) for nickels, dimes, quarters, and dollars. You will not have to leave your seat as all the denominations for your CS are right there. There is even 9/6 DDB and 9/6 Jacks or Better on the very same machine in case you want to play something other than Deuces Wild.

I recommend going midweek, the weekends get very crowded with the heavy high rollers. If you can wait one more year, the renovation of the resort will be completed.

[alpax]

Thanks for the reply Phil.

I have used your system fairly often, mainly with traditional DW. I managed to hit quad deuces at max bet once on a dollar machine which was really nice. I've also tried the loose deuces and it seemed I did lose money a bit faster due to the max bet after 3 coin full house hits. It still seemed to me that CS would work really well though, so I thought I'd get your input on it. Thanks again!

Do listen to Phil, the Loose DW is very top heavy so you will need to play out longer to experience a payout.

As for DDB, the part I changed with the CS strategy is that for every 5 consecutive hands you are not dealt at least 1 Ace to start, I switch the max coins until I lose. The Ace is so valuable in the game and DDB is more unpredictable, so that is what I go with instead of a 3 coin win. There is about 18% chance you do not get an Ace 5 hands in a row so it creates the 80/20 balance like DW Cheap Strategy.

Then again, I am not a diehard DDB fan.

[FloridaPhil]

[quote=alpax] I would recommend Pechanga Casino & Resort to you and the Mrs.[/quote]Thanks for the great report,  we'll have to put it on our list of casinos to try.  This is what this forum should be about, sharing useful information.   I learned about Black Hawk CO  from another player and probably would never have played there without someone telling me about it.   We need more of this kind of discussion and less about how some .03% hand is going to make us rich.

[alpax]

You are very welcome, its only been a few months since they've put in those machines. I cannot stress how ideal it is for your style of play. If having access to a good swimming pool is very important, I'd recommend waiting for the renovation to finish.

I grossly underestimated the distance between the three closest airports and the casino. It is more like 60 miles rather than the 40 miles I stated before. I would say San Diego is an ocean city that resembles Miami, but a little more on the peaceful side than the party side.

Their football team is probably leaving but next season's baseball all star game will be there. They do have Sea World, a world famous Zoo, and a historic Balboa Park as the main attractions if you are not into the stuff I listed.

The casinos are spaced farther apart which make it harder for casino hopping. The region is more known to have good higher denomination play, but this one place caters to all budgets.

[FloridaPhil]

Sounds great.  I had no idea California had any casinos.  I assumed all the action went to Vegas.  I went to a few conventions in San Diego during my working years.  Always loved the weather and the zoo was fantastic. 

[Tedlark]

Rocky Balboa Park?