vpFREE2 Forums

Multi-Play Strategy Question

#1

After delays due to the holidays, I'm trying to finish "Powerful
Profits from Video Poker", a new VP book by Victor Royer.

On page 222, discussing Multi-Play games, he states ... "the
strategies for these multi-hand games are considerably different from
the standard means of playing regular one-hand-at-a-time video
poker ... the principle differs slightly in what you keep and what
you draw to".

His example, to illustrate his point, is being dealt a flush that is
also a one-card open-ended straight flush draw. Normally, he
says, "the recommended play is to drop the flush and go for the
straight flush". But on 50 or 100 play, he says, perhaps you
shouldn't do this, and keep the dealt flush.

Since I've never studied multi-play games I'm not in a good position
to evaluate this advice, but it stuck me as questionable. I've
always assumed the playing strategy should be the same for single and
multi games (provided the pay schedules are identical). Is his
advice correct?

#2

He is completely wrong. In fact, making the superior ER play(which will often result in a temporary loss on one hand) is much more palatable as well as profitable on multi-play.

···

----- Original Message -----
  From: brumar_lv
  To: vpFREE@yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Friday, January 02, 2004 6:52 PM
  Subject: [vpFREE] Multi-Play Strategy Question

  After delays due to the holidays, I'm trying to finish "Powerful
  Profits from Video Poker", a new VP book by Victor Royer.

  On page 222, discussing Multi-Play games, he states ... "the
  strategies for these multi-hand games are considerably different from
  the standard means of playing regular one-hand-at-a-time video
  poker ... the principle differs slightly in what you keep and what
  you draw to".

  His example, to illustrate his point, is being dealt a flush that is
  also a one-card open-ended straight flush draw. Normally, he
  says, "the recommended play is to drop the flush and go for the
  straight flush". But on 50 or 100 play, he says, perhaps you
  shouldn't do this, and keep the dealt flush.

  Since I've never studied multi-play games I'm not in a good position
  to evaluate this advice, but it stuck me as questionable. I've
  always assumed the playing strategy should be the same for single and
  multi games (provided the pay schedules are identical). Is his
  advice correct?

  vpFREE Links: http://www.west-point.org/users/usma1955/20228/VP/Links.htm

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#3

brumar_lv wrote:

His example, to illustrate his point, is being dealt a flush that is
also a one-card open-ended straight flush draw. Normally, he
says, "the recommended play is to drop the flush and go for the
straight flush". But on 50 or 100 play, he says, perhaps you
shouldn't do this, and keep the dealt flush.

Since I've never studied multi-play games I'm not in a good position
to evaluate this advice, but it stuck me as questionable. I've
always assumed the playing strategy should be the same for single and
multi games (provided the pay schedules are identical). Is his
advice correct?

You assume correctly. His advice is whacked on a couple of levels. First of
all, and assuming a JB based game, it is not the "recommended play" to bust
up a pat flush to draw for an open SF in most games. It might be the
recommended play from that book, but if it is, it's one of the the worst
plays I have seen recommended. Having said all of that, if he's talking
about KB Joker Poker and the hand includes a joker, or FPDW with one deuce,
then the open SF is the best play. I assumed a JB based game since wild cards
weren't mentioned. Also not a lot of multiplay for these games.

The strategy for multiplay is the same as single play. However, on VERY
close plays such as trip aces vs aces full in 10/7, one might prefer either
the "sure thing" or the "go for it" strategy. Actually that's true in single
play also. So - no difference.<g>

Thanks,
Skip

Skip hughes
http://www.vphomepage.com

#4

His example, to illustrate his point, is being dealt a flush that

is

also a one-card open-ended straight flush draw. Normally, he
says, "the recommended play is to drop the flush and go for the
straight flush". But on 50 or 100 play, he says, perhaps you
shouldn't do this, and keep the dealt flush.

Whether its single-line or multiple lines, the perfect strategy play
is always the same. Remember, each line is a seperate deck of
cards, so how you would play the hand on line 1 is the same as how
you would play the hand on line 21.

Having say this - the example that you gave seems to be wrong from
the start! At first glance, I thought that a flush was always
favorable to an open 4SF. When I ran VPSM and looked at each game
under the advanced strategy, I confirmed that, except for Deuces
Deluxe, every game had a Flush having a higher EV than an open 4SF
(except if its a 4RF, of course).

Jeff

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "brumar_lv" <brumar_lv@y...> wrote:

#5

Having read Skip's reply, I realized that I made an error with my
advice listed above. The advice above is only correct for non-Wild
Card games or for those Wild Card games (like Deuces Wild) where the
hand does not contain any Wild Cards, except again for Deuces Deluxe.

When you take Wild Cards into consideration and a hand that has one
wild card (whether its a Deuce or Joker), it is favorable to go for
the Open SF than the Pat Flush for every game except for Joker Wild -
2 Pair or Better.

In addition, in Double Jokers Wild, the Open SF does beat the Pat
Flush with one Joker in the hand - however, the difference in the EV
is small; .3061

Sorry for the confusion

Jeff

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "JShort_DE" <jmdshort@c...> wrote:

Having say this - the example that you gave seems to be wrong from
the start! At first glance, I thought that a flush was always
favorable to an open 4SF. When I ran VPSM and looked at each game
under the advanced strategy, I confirmed that, except for Deuces
Deluxe, every game had a Flush having a higher EV than an open 4SF
(except if its a 4RF, of course).

#6

(snip)
Having read Skip's reply, I realized that I made an error with my

advice listed above. The advice above is only correct for non-

Wild Card games or for those Wild Card games (like Deuces Wild)
where the hand does not contain any Wild Cards, except again for
Deuces Deluxe.

When you take Wild Cards into consideration and a hand that has

one wild card (whether its a Deuce or Joker), it is favorable to go
for the Open SF than the Pat Flush for every game except for Joker
Wild - 2 Pair or Better.
(snip)

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "JShort_DE" <jmdshort@c...> wrote:

Sorry for the confusion

Jeff

*********************************************************************

You are still wrong,

The following are the rankings of the relevant (and often confusing)
hands in three types of deuces wild games when the hand consists of
exactly one deuce:

FPDW (100.76%): SF4>F5>S5>Trips>SF4i>SF4di>SF4(Ace low)

NSUD (99.73%): F5>SF4>SF4i>S5>SF4di>Trips>SF4(Ace low)

Airport/Illinois Deuces (98.91%): F5>SF4>SF4i>S5>Trips>SF4di>SF4(Ace
low)

F5 = pat flush
S5 = pat straight
SF4 = open 4-card straight flush
SF4i = 4-card inside straight flush
SF4di = 4-card double inside straight flush
Trips = three-of-a-kind

L. Wluiki