vpFREE2 Forums

An Expensive Lesson

#1

Yes, its a poor play and on average gives up about 19 coins but you may not
have given up a thing!
All newer IGT machines continuously shuffle the 47 remaining cards while
you make your draw decision. The reasons are 1. Some states now require it
and 2. To make it almost impossible for somebody to analyze the hand
patterns with a computer. Since you would have needed slightly more time to
hold the deuce, the timing of the draw would almost certainly be different.

···

[Original Message]
From: staninnv <arnot@cox.net>
To: <vpFREE@yahoogroups.com>
Date: 5/13/2004 10:37:56 AM
Subject: [vpFREE] An Expensive Lesson

Sometimes you make decisions that you'll regret. Yesterday's
decision was not good. Once in a while, I enjoy playing Triple
Double at Fiesta because they have a good paytable. I have studied
this game and play it pretty well. With my first twenty in yesterday
I was dealt 6A2AA. I KNOW that I am supposed to hold the kicker with
the three aces. Wanting to increase my chances on getting the quad
aces I tossed the 2 and of course the cards that came up were A7. I
just gave up $800 for not playing right. This will not happen again.
Too bad that it was an $800 lesson though. It doesn't feel nearly as
bad to play right and lose as it does to play wrong and lose. I feel
stupid! Hopefully, some of you that don't play right will take
something from this example.

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#2

Howard Stern wrote:

Yes, its a poor play and on average gives up about 19 coins but you
may not have given up a thing!
All newer IGT machines continuously shuffle the 47 remaining cards
while you make your draw decision. The reasons are 1. Some states
now require it and 2. To make it almost impossible for somebody to
analyze the hand patterns with a computer. Since you would have
needed slightly more time to hold the deuce, the timing of the draw
would almost certainly be different.

I've seen conflicting comments on whether IGT machines are "constant
shufflers" (vs. "serial dealers" of 10 cards at the time of initial
play). Do you have an authoritative source for your statement?

The explanations you cite sound a little fishy. There's nothing in
serial dealing that would make it possible to analyze hand patterns
since the RNG runs constantly between plays. (I'm using the word
"possible" here in a practical sense ... if you assume a precise
measurement of clock cycles, the computer analysis could be extended
to constant shuffling). And in what I've seen, there's been no
suggestion that any statute requires constant shuffling. However, I'm
willing to be corrected on both of these.

- Harry

#3

I have spoken to Larry Demar, who wrote Multi-Strike Poker as well as other
people at IGT who ought to know. Every GameKing machine selects only 5
cards on the deal, not 10. (All IGT single-line, Action Gaming multi-play
and Leading Edge Multi-Strike games are on the Game King platform.) I also
understand (although I have not researched this) that at least one
regulatory authority requires the draw cards to be selected at the time of
the draw. Since no one I've spoken to is aware of any jurisdiction that
requires 10 cards to be dealt (most, like Nevada, do not care which method
is used) it makes economic sense to manufacture all machines to select only
5 cards.

I do not know how other manufacturers program their machines, however the
economics described above would suggest that they all work like IGT's do.
There is no question about IGT's process.

I've seen conflicting comments on whether IGT machines are "constant
shufflers" (vs. "serial dealers" of 10 cards at the time of initial
play). Do you have an authoritative source for your statement?

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