This
week we have covered Video Poker in some great detail,
yesterday’s article covered choosing the right
strategies and more. In that article we touched on
expected return and more. Today, we will continue with
total return and volatility in Video
Poker.
Video
Poker is fun to play online. Many online poker rooms
offer Video Poker. Players like it because they are
playing against the machine (computer) and not other
players. Online poker rooms also provide the chance for
poker players to not only play other players, but
sometimes they have regular games available to their
players that allow them to play the same people time
after time. Basically poker online has evolved into a
virtual casino experience online. Video poker players
like the fact that they don’t have to play according to
other player’s abilities at a table – they only have to
play the machine. Because of this, playing Video Poker
takes a totally different strategy than a table game
with other players does.
Assuming you already understand the basics of Video
Poker (if you don’t, read our other great articles
covering this topic first – you can find them on main
article page) this article will be of assistance when
playing Video Poker.
Since
you already understand expected return, you have
the ability to understand what a certain Video Poker
game will return to you if you use the perfect play. The
total return is the number that is basically the payback
percentage. It is the expected return for the whole game
when it is played perfectly over the long run. The total
return allows players to compare different games with
different pay tables. It is similar to expected return,
but it is applies to an entire game instead of a
specific hand of poker. For example, understanding the
total return is very empowering to a player – say a
machine that pays back 100% - this allows you to play
even with the house (a 0% house edge). If a machine pays
off lower than 100% (as most all do) – eventually, you
will lose money on it. So, if you are playing a machine
that pays back 100% - you stand to win money over a
period of time if you play it perfectly. It is important
that you understand that the total return percentage
will be achieved over a very large amount of hands, too.
This means a player would have to hang in there for a
long time – long enough to be guaranteed the success of
a positive return machine.
Remember, we are talking about the long term here – and
averages. In any given poker playing session, its is
very unlikely that your return will be line with the
machine’s total return. NO not be totally discouraged
folks – if you do play the best possible machines with
expert play, you will give yourself the best chance to
win in the long term.
Once
you have understood the strategies and have practiced
how implement them into your game play, you can start to
think about the money. Let’s say you have found a
machine with a positive expectation (over 100% payback).
Assume that you play the game with the right strategy.
You are only in the money if you play expertly all the
time – every hand. So, if you sit down to a game and
start playing, but you lose the first five sessions, you
are out of a lot of money. Why? This is because; you
have been the victim of the game’s volatility.
Volatility is a measure of the inconsistency (roller
coaster effect) that a game will have. It is a math
related concept that makes it hard for players to walk
away with the casino’s money – even if you have the
advantage. Some casino games will have higher
fluctuations than other will. Some are considered to be
very volatile. What make a casino game volatile? Hit
frequency – the percentage of hands with winning
outcomes. This is the fist detriment. The more
frequently that a machine gives some sort of high paying
payback, the better the chance you have of keeping your
playing stake going. Also, the more that your return is
concentrated in the rare hands, the more volatile the
game will be. Not surprisingly, the games with the
highest returns are to most volatile ones. This means
that you and your bankroll might not be able to stick
around long enough to come out ahead. Try a less
volatile Video Poker game like Jacks or Better.
If you
truly love to play Video poker and desperately want to
improve your person game play, you will eat these
considerations up. You will love the game once you
understand all the facets that it comes with.
As
long as you understand that the strategy for any Video
Poker game can get very complex with many rules,
rankings, and exceptions to those rules, you will have a
better expectation of this fun to play casino game. Try
using a hand ranking table to master the game.
Eventually, we intend to add articles covering the
actual strategy tables for many of the different Video
Poker games out there for you to play. Be sure to check
back at our Poker Article section on a regular basis as
we are now adding many new helpful poker related
articles each and every week.
As
long as you discard all the things you understand about
table poker games, you will have a better time learning
Video Poker – remember – Video Poker ids not regular
poker. It plays differently. It’s you against the
machine – not other players. Be sure to understand pay
tables for each game before you play and have a
reasonable grasp on expected return, total return and
you will quickly find yourself on the road to better
Video Poker game play. Try practicing on free games
first, this way you will not be making monetary mistakes
that will hit you where it hurts in the beginning.
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