vpFREE2 Forums

FPDW inside straights

#1

I would mention that while holding the inside straight in
FPDW is the correct play, it is a relatively marginal play,
and people who choose to not hold it are probably only giving
up about 1/10 of a percent EV in the long run. Now that is
not a significant amount but for the discerning player
probably not insignificant.
To me, for a while I perceived the correct hold as an
annoyance, something that slowed down the rhythm of my play.
So I played for some time without holding it. Other factors
that might offset the 1/10 of a percent sacrifice (besides
speed and rhythm of play) include the possibility of a typo
when you go to hold your cards (finger slips, etc.). If you
have no hold, you will have no typo. On the other hand, you
might miss an outside S4 (9,10,J,Q e.g.) if you look at it
too quickly and throw it all out by mistake.
In the end, I decided to go back to the EV-correct hold
because my feeling was that in my case the offsetting factors
did not overcome the theoretical 1/10 of a percent difference
in EV.

~Ed from PA~

#2

eddy1015 wrote:

I would mention that while holding the inside straight in
FPDW is the correct play, it is a relatively marginal play,
and people who choose to not hold it are probably only giving
up about 1/10 of a percent EV in the long run.

Not a bad estimate at all, Ed ...

.07% (determined in less than 30 sec. with a quick paytable change
and a click to calculate using Frugal VP -- not showing off here; it's
just a chance to take my favorite FVP feature out for a spin :wink:

We're talking about giving up about 1 cent an hour on a $.25 machine.
     I could see a speed demon suggesting that if by skipping the hold
they could squeeze out another 10 hands per hour on a "positive" play
it would be a even-Steven exchange.

- H.

#3

i imagine you get a variance bump-up?
that's why some players hold the inside straight over a double inside
straight flush with a straight penalty?

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "Harry Porter" <harry.porter@v...>
wrote:

eddy1015 wrote:
> I would mention that while holding the inside straight in
> FPDW is the correct play, it is a relatively marginal play,
> and people who choose to not hold it are probably only giving
> up about 1/10 of a percent EV in the long run.

Not a bad estimate at all, Ed ...

.07% (determined in less than 30 sec. with a quick paytable change
and a click to calculate using Frugal VP -- not showing off here;

it's

just a chance to take my favorite FVP feature out for a spin :wink:

We're talking about giving up about 1 cent an hour on a $.25

machine.

     I could see a speed demon suggesting that if by skipping the

hold

they could squeeze out another 10 hands per hour on a "positive"

play

···

it would be a even-Steven exchange.

- H.

#4

nightoftheiguana2000 wrote:

i imagine you get a variance bump-up?

Yes, from 25.84 to 25.95.

In Re: the basic discussion:
While I am known as an advocate of "non-perfect" strategies, I consider the drop from 100.76 to 100.68 (rounded) to be way too much to give up for one simplifying play. Consider that removing all penalty card situations from DW still leaves it at 100.76% (rounded).

And unless one is a slow player or on a fairly fast machine, the time lost in holding the four cards is made up for by the machine having to deal five more cards rather than one. If you are playing NSU** on most multiplay machine it's much faster to hold the four cards.
**I cite NSU because there are no multiplay fpdw - the play drops NSU to 99.65%
Thanks,
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