vpFREE2 Forums

Strat Question for MS STP JOB

#1

Yes, I know it's the "crack cocaine" of VP. But I'm going to play it
at the Elco in December and I've been practicing on videopoker.com.

I have a pretty accurate 9/6 JOB MS strat, but my question is this:
What kind of strategy adjustments to make for a HUGE multiplier. Say,
like 40X? I'm wondering if you revert back to the strategy
adjustments you make on the bottom line, if you don't have much to
draw to.

Say you are dealt Kh, Js, 2d, 2s, 6c

Hold the 2's? or the (2) unsuited high cards? Or always hold the
perfect strat play, which is obviously the 2's?

I'm interested in getting some opinions so I can decide what I'm going
to do in these situations. With the lower multipliers, I can pretty
much figure it out based upon the MS strat, but the huge ones are a
quandary.

#2

bigfuspoker wrote:

I have a pretty accurate 9/6 JOB MS strat, but my question is this:
What kind of strategy adjustments to make for a HUGE multiplier.
Say, like 40X? I'm wondering if you revert back to the strategy
adjustments you make on the bottom line, if you don't have much to
draw to.

Say you are dealt Kh, Js, 2d, 2s, 6c

Hold the 2's? or the (2) unsuited high cards? Or always hold the
perfect strat play, which is obviously the 2's?

I'm interested in getting some opinions so I can decide what I'm
going to do in these situations. With the lower multipliers, I can
pretty much figure it out based upon the MS strat, but the huge ones
are a quandary.

If I understand this correctly, the game you're referring to is
MultiStrike - Super Times Pay ... where the STP feature is combined
with the standard MS game. The STP multiplier varies from 2x-5x,
which when combined with the MS top line 8x multiplier, can make for a
compound single hand multiplier of 40x.

The two multipliers actually impact strategy independently -- and the
STP multiplier calls for no strategy change because it uniformly
adjusts the ER of all 4 lines ... in other words, the STP multiplier
acts as a constant. Consequently, strategy for MS-STP is identical to
that of standard MS and no adjustment is necessary, even when the 5x
STP multiplier rears its head.

- Harry

#3

Harry: Thanks for replying! I want to clarify what you said in your
reply though:

"The two multipliers actually impact strategy independently -- and the
STP multiplier calls for no strategy change because it uniformly
adjusts the ER of all 4 lines ... in other words, the STP multiplier
acts as a constant. Consequently, strategy for MS-STP is identical to
that of standard MS and no adjustment is necessary, even when the 5x
STP multiplier rears its head.

- Harry"

Are you saying that the STP multiplier is independent because it
adjusts just the one line and you still have to work your way up? I
might be confused but I'll clarify that on MS STP, the STP multiplier
is just for the line that it comes up on. But if I understand you
correctly, the fact that it is just a one time deal, means that you
still use the same strat to go up the ladder unless you are on the top
line. And 40X is only possible on the top line. Would I make any
strategy adjustments for that or just use optimal strat?

Thanks again for your reply. This is a fun game, but I also want to
play as optimally as possible. - Catherine

#4

bigfuspoker wrote:

Are you saying that the STP multiplier is independent because it
adjusts just the one line and you still have to work your way up? I
might be confused but I'll clarify that on MS STP, the STP multiplier
is just for the line that it comes up on. But if I understand you
correctly, the fact that it is just a one time deal, means that you
still use the same strat to go up the ladder unless you are on the top
line. And 40X is only possible on the top line. Would I make any
strategy adjustments for that or just use optimal strat?

Thanks for asking for the clarification. Today's been a "phone day"
and I've been browsing/posting as a diversion between calls/while
holding -- my reply to you was a little distracted.

Let me backpedal to the regular Multistrike game. Strategy varies
from standard play strategy because it seeks to optimize two separate
goals (that are somewhat at odds with each other) on each of the first
3 lines : (a) the strongest win on that line AND (b) the strongest
likelihood of advancing to the next line to increase the overall win
for that play.

When you introduce the STP multiplier to the game, you boost the
paytable for the current play line each time it appears. Since a
constant multiplier uniformly impacts all potential winning hands, it
doesn't alter strategy as it relates to seeking the strongest win
(first goal). Nor does it present cause to alter strategy to change
the probability of advancement (second goal), since the value of
advancing to upper levels is unchanged. Consequently, you follow
standard MS strategy when playing the STP version, whether a
multiplier appears or not.

- Harry