Dear Mark,
I follow your column faithfully, and value your
opinion. So-called "experts" have always
told me NEVER to break up a winning hand when playing
video poker. I had an ace high straight with A-K-Q-10
of hearts and the jack of clubs. I discarded the
off jack and was fortunate enough to draw the jack
of hearts for a $1,100 royal on a 25¢ machine.
My question, did I play the hand correctly, or was
it dumb luck? I have been playing these machines
since they came out, but at 83 years old, I am now
spending more time playing a hand-held game at home.
Carol M.
You
played the hand, Carol, like the video poker "expert"
that you are. When playing video poker, all experts
discard certain cards to optimize the "expected
value" of their hands. Herein lies the secret to
winning at video poker-or to say it another way, playing
perfect basic strategy.
So, what does "expected value" mean? Expected
value (or win potential) is the average value of all
the wins attainable
(after the discards
are replaced), assuming that the optimum cards are
retained and each unique possible draw occurs. In
your case, the expected value of your 4-card royal
(A-K-Q-10 of hearts) was a 19, and your natural
straight was just a 4. Great heads-up playing, Carol.
Oh yes, that hand-held game you mentioned playing
at home-another brilliant move on your part. It
is one of the best ways of acquiring gaming skills
without the expense of a live game. Hopefully, some
of my other readers will pick one up (as inexpensively
as $5 at Wal Mart for the Radica model), to sharpen
their playing skills and become experts, like you.
