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Video Poker Variance Factor
Video Poker has been steadily gaining in popularity since it was introduced. Some lucky mathematicians figured out how to get an advantage over the casinos and made some money. The casinos soon caught on and revised their programs to include a foolproof house advantage. Although it can be as low as less that .5%, it's present in 99.9% of VP machines.
There is a category of Video Poker Machines known as "Full Pay". This usually refers to an unusually high percentage of return, and some casinos even advertise these machines as a "hook" to get the players in. A few, and only a few, can pay over 100%. However, this depends on an absolutely perfect strategy with 'No" mistakes, and I mean.... None. This in itself is close to impossible. And then, there's the Variance Factor" More on this ..read on.
These machines must by law pay out at their advertised percentage but how they get there may vary. The rules are many but simplified it just means not all programs are as "user friendly" as others. Each play must be a 52 card deck, drawn at random and so on. Too much detail to go into here.
Casinos know that most regular players have a limited bankroll, and the fact that a "Royal Flush" occurs on average only once in 40,250 plays(decisions) doesn't help. At a buck and a quarter per play, that's over $50,000 coin in on a quarter machine to hit that Royal. Sure you'll put some back through as you go along and hit small jackpots but no one can predict the exact percentage for this as every machine pays back at random.
Enter the "Variance Factor".
There's no guarantee or law you'll get that Royal within the average window of play.
You might go through $150,000 before you get one, or you might get two on the same day. No One can say, the machines computer chip has to be random by law.
There's a group of players out there known as "Advantage Players". Yes there are some that may still get ahead or break even over the long term but that means the "Long" term. They know perfect basic strategy, where and when all the multiple cash back promotions are, which progressives can go positive and if a casino makes a mistake they pounce like a pack of hungry wolves at a fresh kill until the casino figures out it's error and corrects it.
And, they play at blazing speed for many many hours, even days on end. Some casinos will even feed these players at their machines so they don't have to stop even to eat. So, what do they do when they have to go to the bathroom? Well, that Depends.
So, if you don't live in an area that offers true full pay over 100% payback machines, multiple points promotions and/or cash back incentives, or liberal progressives, and have the time and inclination to spend countless hours and who knows how much money on Video Poker then you are a regular part time player, so here's the point.
Don't fall into the Advantage Player mindset and beware of the Gurus that will tell you it will all come out in the wash as long as you hang in there and continue to play, play, play! And yes, buy my software and books while you're at it.
And then there are those that advocate a deviate strategy and tell you they've made millions! Don't follow the basic strategy, that's for suckers they will say, buy my book, not his...
Just like so many beat the casino systems that have come down the pike since before indoor plumbing there's nothing new here.
If it sounds too good to be true.... well need I say more?
There is a category of Video Poker Machines known as "Full Pay". This usually refers to an unusually high percentage of return, and some casinos even advertise these machines as a "hook" to get the players in. A few, and only a few, can pay over 100%. However, this depends on an absolutely perfect strategy with 'No" mistakes, and I mean.... None. This in itself is close to impossible. And then, there's the Variance Factor" More on this ..read on.
These machines must by law pay out at their advertised percentage but how they get there may vary. The rules are many but simplified it just means not all programs are as "user friendly" as others. Each play must be a 52 card deck, drawn at random and so on. Too much detail to go into here.
Casinos know that most regular players have a limited bankroll, and the fact that a "Royal Flush" occurs on average only once in 40,250 plays(decisions) doesn't help. At a buck and a quarter per play, that's over $50,000 coin in on a quarter machine to hit that Royal. Sure you'll put some back through as you go along and hit small jackpots but no one can predict the exact percentage for this as every machine pays back at random.
Enter the "Variance Factor".
There's no guarantee or law you'll get that Royal within the average window of play.
You might go through $150,000 before you get one, or you might get two on the same day. No One can say, the machines computer chip has to be random by law.
There's a group of players out there known as "Advantage Players". Yes there are some that may still get ahead or break even over the long term but that means the "Long" term. They know perfect basic strategy, where and when all the multiple cash back promotions are, which progressives can go positive and if a casino makes a mistake they pounce like a pack of hungry wolves at a fresh kill until the casino figures out it's error and corrects it.
And, they play at blazing speed for many many hours, even days on end. Some casinos will even feed these players at their machines so they don't have to stop even to eat. So, what do they do when they have to go to the bathroom? Well, that Depends.
So, if you don't live in an area that offers true full pay over 100% payback machines, multiple points promotions and/or cash back incentives, or liberal progressives, and have the time and inclination to spend countless hours and who knows how much money on Video Poker then you are a regular part time player, so here's the point.
Don't fall into the Advantage Player mindset and beware of the Gurus that will tell you it will all come out in the wash as long as you hang in there and continue to play, play, play! And yes, buy my software and books while you're at it.
And then there are those that advocate a deviate strategy and tell you they've made millions! Don't follow the basic strategy, that's for suckers they will say, buy my book, not his...
Just like so many beat the casino systems that have come down the pike since before indoor plumbing there's nothing new here.
If it sounds too good to be true.... well need I say more?