Doubling Up Playing Video Poker
Dear
Mark,
What are your thoughts on the double up feature of video poker?
Is there any limit to the amount of times you can double up? Is
it a good bet? Guy F.
|
Some
video poker games, Guy, allow you a Double Up or double-or-nothing
bonus option on a winning hand. Activated by your pressing
the "Yes" button after a win, the game then deals
one card face up for the dealer and four cards face-down
for the player.
The player then chooses one of the face-down cards. If this
card beats the dealer's, the player wins double the amount
previously won, along with the option to try to double op
again.
|
|
Like
the odds bet in craps, the Double Up wager is one of the few casino
bets offered that doesn't have a house edge. You have a fifty-fifty
chance of winning any given bet (ties excluded) regardless of
the amount wagered or the results of prior bets.
Most machines limit the number of double-ups to five times. How
many times you should double up depends on the paytable and your
risk tolerance level. Only you, Guy, know how much you are willing
to bet on the turn of a card. If your goal is to achieve the highest
expected return the machine can offer by lowering the overall
house edge with the double-up feature, then you should double
up the maximum number of times allowed.
Three caveats though, Guy: Many casinos do not allow you to use
your slot club card and chase down cash points on double-up bets.
Also, watch your double-up winnings so that you don't go over
the $1,200 threshold and end up being handed a W2G. Finally, because
playing video poker is typically a negative expectation game,
when saying yes to the double or nothing feature, you increase
the total money wagered, but at no cost to that expected loss,
thus lowering the overall house edge. But if you are playing a
video poker machine that has a 100% plus return paytable, I would
recommend against the double-up bet, since it will lower your
overall advantage.
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