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An error in the strategy for
deuces wild 10-8-4-3 machines listed on page 121 of Frank
Scoblete's book, Victory at Video Poker?
By
John Robison,
27 July 2003
Dear Mr. Robison,
I've been searching the web trying to
find any reference to whether or not there is an error in the
strategy for deuces wild 10-8-4-3 machines listed on page 121
of Frank Scoblete's book, Victory at Video Poker. The copyright
date on my copy is 1995, but I think it's the 5th printing,
2002. I'd like to learn the proper play for deuces wild video
poker, and am reading the pertinent sections in Mr. Scoblete's
book. However, on page 121, rules 12 ("Three cards to a
one-deuce straight flush - double inside draw") and 13 ("Four
cards to a one-deuce straight - inside draw"), listed under
non-deuce hands, refer to hands with deuces in them. I didn't
see this occur in any other deuces wild non-deuce hand
listings. Is this an error, and should these two rules be
listed under deuce hands? If so, where do they fit in? If not,
shouldn't there be an explanation as to why they're listed
under non-deuce hands?
Also, when a rule refers to two cards to
a royal flush with a jack or queen high, do the rules differ if
the high card is an ace or a king? If so, why? Why wouldn't the
rule be consistent for any two cards to a royal flush?
I hope you don't mind my asking you about
Mr. Scoblete's book. I got tired of looking at pages that
referred to the book without really discussing it, and you were
listed as editor on the RGT Online games site, which stated it
was presented by Mr. Scoblete. I noted that you contribute to
the Atlantic City Insider. My husband goes periodically to
conventions and trade shows in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
I've been debating taking the train up from Washington, DC, to
Atlantic City, but I've noted some criticism that the video
poker settings are different there than they are in Las Vegas,
and that the return is not nearly as high in Atlantic City as
in Las Vegas. Is that correct? For the price of the train
ticket I can get round-trip airfare to Las Vegas, so if the
return is greater there I would rather wait until we can both
take some time and go to Las Vegas.
Thank you for your time and attention to
these questions. I've asked more questions than I intended to
when I started this message - my primary concern is with the
first question concerning the deuces in the non-deuce listings.
Your assistance is appreciated.
Very truly yours,
Jessica
Dear Jessica,
That definitely does look like a mistake
having those rules in the non-deuce hands section. In any case,
the paytable to concentrate on is the one on page 116 because it
is the most widely available Deuces paytable.
The reason the rule specifies the highest
card is because a two-card royal jack or queen high can lead to
many more straights and straight flushes than a two-card royal
king or ace high. The expected value of a two-card royal depends
on what the highest card is.
There are plenty of playable video poker
machines in Atlantic City, but nowhere near the number of good
machines as in Las Vegas. And there aren't any good Deuces Wild
machines in AC. Another thing to keep in mind is that most of
Atlantic City's cashback is bounceback--that is, you have to come
back to collect it on your next visit. AC is a lot closer and I
think you'd have a good time, but nothing can compare to Las
Vegas.
Best of luck in and out of the casinos,
John
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