Pechanga Casino - Paradise for 9/6 Jacks Or Better

Who has your favorite video poker games? Who should have more?
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alpax
Video Poker Master
Posts: 1913
Joined: Sat Jun 14, 2014 4:42 pm

Pechanga Casino - Paradise for 9/6 Jacks Or Better

Post by alpax »

Trying not to make a cheap first post for the achievement. I know this casino is brought up a few times on these forums while lurking (had a site membership since April this year).

A. Reason I picked up Video Poker

After playing slots for a few years and seeing losses mount, I made a new years resolution to incorporate video poker play instead of slots. I know slots have 7% or more house edge, it just gives me thrills to win multiple folds my bet time to time. In the long run, its not as thrilling to leaving the casino with an empty wallet.

I am a big fan of Michael Shackleford's WizardOfOdds site, to pick up any casino game strategy and rules right away. Though he encourages to play VP over slots, it took me years to buy into his philosophy and it is paying off results wise thus far.

On YouTube, I have watched the American Casino Guide video where they interviewed Linda Boyd (VP expert) to provide 10 reasons why Jacks or Better is a good game to play. I also saw the interview with the Wizard on his advice on video poker play.

The Wizard has a great page for Jacks or Better optimal strategy (99.54%), and I bought the VP Pocket app from Google Play for $5 to practice the play. I've practiced a lot these past few months to get at least 99% proficient.

-- Edited as of June 2015 --

B. Information about the casino and its JoB games

Website: Link

Voted the #2 Best Casino outside of Las Vegas by USA Today in 2015

Pechanga is the largest casino on the west coast and is located in Temecula, California. It has the largest gaming space to the west of Windstar Casino (which largest in the US).

EDIT: As of April 2015, the majority of the Game King machines have been replaced with new ones. The machines have been changed to require $5 coin in a tier point, while their slots (pretty loose in its own right) is $1 coin in a tier point.

1000 tier points = $1 bounce back cash. They also give you a comp benefit balance separately which is at a higher rate (about 0.10% of your coin-in) which can only be used for resort amenities such as spa services, golf, gift shop, and any of their 11 restaurants.

Every machine offers these games:



Bonus Poker is 8/5
Bonus Poker Deluxe is 8/6
Deuces Wild Bonus Poker is 25-9-4-4-3-1-1
Deuces Wild is Airport 25-15-9-4-4-3-2-1
Double Bonus is 9/7
Double Double Bonus is 9/6
Jacks or Better is 9/6
Triple Bonus Plus is 8/5
Triple Double Bonus is 9/6 (this is actually much improved, before 8/5 TDB was the best and many people still played it!)

There are 3 types that offer the denomination set

#1: 5 cent / 10 cent / 25 cent / 1 dollar
#2: 25 cent / 50 cent / 1 dollar / 2 dollar
#3: 1 dollar / 2 dollar / 5 dollar

The high limit room has the games for the highest stakes, $1, $2, $5, $10, $25, $50, $100

Double Bonus is 9/7
Double Double Bonus is 9/6
Jacks or Better is 9/6
Bonus Poker is 8/5

Edit: As of February 2016: No Longer Available
ACE$ Bonus Poker is 8/5 [not $1, $50, $100]
Bonus Poker Deluxe is 9/6 [not $50, $100]
NSU Deuces


For the Ultimate X Players (I am not)

You can find 8/6 Jacks or Better, 7/5 Bonus Poker for 25c/50c/$1 at 3/5/10 Play.

Tier Status is based on the 6 month play system, so hard to move up in status as a VP player as opposed to the slot players. Those that mix their play can get in to higher status.

Silver - Most Basic
Gold - 50,000 points - Eligible for special promotions, higher discounts at the casino outlets
Platinum - 200,000 points - Priority seating and in line
Red - 350,000 points - VIP level, assigned a casino host

Tedlark
Video Poker Master
Posts: 7937
Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2006 12:29 am

Post by Tedlark »

Welcome to the forum and this was informational. Thank you.

Vman96
Video Poker Master
Posts: 3288
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:49 am

Post by Vman96 »

Strategy for 9/6 Bonus Deluxe is not much different than JoB. Playing 9/6 Bonus Deluxe with a 9/6 JoB strategy is still a 99.61% return game.

The biggest things I can think of offhand are:

Inside straight draw is better than garbage.
Inside straight draw with 2 high cards is better than 2 offsuit high cards.
4 to a flush is better than 3 to a Royal that has BOTH the Ace and Ten.

But unless you get the same amount of comp points as 9/6 JoB, it's not worth playing vs. JoB (your post is unclear about that to me).

And thank you for making a very solid first post. More contributions like this are very welcome.

case
VP Veteran
Posts: 831
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2011 7:37 am

Post by case »

Did you know Shackleford sold his Wizard of Odds site for 2.3 million? I am glad for Mike. An honest guy. He will continue to manage the site for now

alpax
Video Poker Master
Posts: 1913
Joined: Sat Jun 14, 2014 4:42 pm

Post by alpax »

I appreciate the welcome Tedlark/Vman96. I hope to post a success story if I am able to land a royal flush. I know it is 1 in 40,000+ hands for most games, I played about 25,000 hands at the casino and 50,000 hands (single line) here at videopoker.com and did not land one. Reading most people's experiences here, it could take maybe 100,000 or more to even see one so I am not too concerned yet.

I am aware the most popular VP game people play is Double Double Bonus, but what interested me the most in Bonus Poker Deluxe is that all quads pay 80-to-1 rather than 2s,3s,4s and Aces. I preferred the balance though any game will be much more volatile with 2 pairs reduced to even payout. Looking at VPFree2.com, it is more rare to find the 9-6 Bonus Deluxe, as most places do 8-6.

I appreciate the tips Vman96. I did realize Bonus Deluxe strategy generated from wizardofodds strategy maker plays close to Jacks or Better coincidently. I had a bad habit of holding inside straights during JoB practice, but I learned from the strategy section that inside straights are only good to hold if 2 pairs pays even money.

To be more specific about the Casino Club rewards, it works similar to MGM M Life where you get FreePlay and Comp Dollars at the same time. I do not play in Vegas as nearly as much, but I know that M Life has a rate of $3 coin in slot play or $10 coin in video poker play to earn 1 point, and 1000 points will earn $10 FREEplay as well as $10 express cash comp.

Pechanga offers $1 coin in slot play or $2 coin in video poker play for a club point. I know 1000 club points give $1 free play, but the casino comp is where I will pay more attention the next time I play; it feels like it goes up at a faster rate. I know it took me a while to earn $50 worth of free play, but I earned more than $100 in casino comps during that time.

The high limit room machines offer the best video poker payouts for any game that is non-JoB and requires $1/$2/$5/$10/$25 denomination. It requires $5 coin in per casino point, so to accumulate points it will require 2.5x times the amount as opposed to playing JoB or short pay versions of that machine.

The tier system is based on every 6 months of play

Gold - 50,000 casino points (20,000 max bet $1 hands)
Platinum - 200,000 casino points (80,000 max bet $1 hands)
Red - 350,000 casino points (140,000 max bet $1 hands)

The big difference between the standard Silver membership and Gold membership that I value is:

1. Free Play offer is just one time the entire month compared to weekly you get with gold.
2. They have a shuttle bus that runs daily from 50-60 miles away. Gold+ members get to ride free, Silver members pay $5
3. Special Drawings - about two days in a calendar month for Gold+ members
4. Increased comp rate per casino point, will find out later
5. Special gift offer for showing up on certain days
6. You get 2 food offer coupons for gold compared to 1 for silver.
7. More discounts on food/services.

I do not think I have the bankroll to become a Platinum member, but for that you will get a personal casino host assigned to you as well as priority line for cashiers, buffet, and guest services.

I just wanted to reach gold level to retain the benefits each six months, I felt playing Jacks or Better will help renew it effectively without losing too much. Once I reach it I was going to try out a more volatile game like Bonus Poker Deluxe from there.

alpax
Video Poker Master
Posts: 1913
Joined: Sat Jun 14, 2014 4:42 pm

Post by alpax »

Did you know Shackleford sold his Wizard of Odds site for 2.3 million? I am glad for Mike. An honest guy. He will continue to manage the site for now

I was not aware of this until now. It all happened recently as I did a search online after reading your post and saw the acquisition news.

I have been going to wizardofodds for more than 10 years, I probably saved a lot learning to play most of the casino game properly and to avoid certain games with high house edge. Again, I regret not transitioning from slots to vp soon enough, that's on me. I will keep slot play to a minimum here and there.

I sort of knew Shackleford was in financial trouble maintaining the site the past few years, it gets high traffic for a reason. I did not know it got so grim the last couple of months.

I am glad for Mike as well was able to coup that kind of money for his hard work researching hundreds of games at various pay tables, he deserves the best. I am grateful he will still maintain the sites and the new ownership will not change the philosophy of that site.

alpax
Video Poker Master
Posts: 1913
Joined: Sat Jun 14, 2014 4:42 pm

Post by alpax »

Not listed on VPFree2, but there is one Video Poker machine for the highest stakes. The first six games are considered payable, the other six are not.


alpax
Video Poker Master
Posts: 1913
Joined: Sat Jun 14, 2014 4:42 pm

Post by alpax »

This is too irrelevant to post in the VP Stories or Recreational Play forums.

Today I took my first shot at FloridaPhil's cheap poker system [ http://www.cheapvideopoker.com ] here at this casino. This casino offers Deuces Wild (DW44) at an NSUD paytable $1, $2, $5, $10, $25, now learning today, $50 and $100.

Phil plays with 25c and $1
I went with $1 and $5 since that is the minimum to play on a NSUD paytable. My budget is manageable for handling 4 times the swings. Modified everything on the system by a factor of 4. The bankroll requirements to starting point at 4 times at $80, the higher denomination play at $100, and cash out at $200 mark.

The multiple denominations will allow for $2/$10, $5/$25, $10/$50, $25/$100 play on the system.

Quad Deuces on $2 and above max bet will trigger a handpay.

Starting at $10 max bet a Wild Royal and above will trigger a handpay.
Starting at $25, a max bet straight flush will trigger a handpay.

I did not have the strategy fully mastered with memorizing all the exceptions to the NSUD strategy one coin and max coin, I went with WizardOfOdds strategy (easier to remember) for single coin and max bet, so played even more recreationally.

Brought a bankroll of $600, had a $30 free play mailer and a $10 promotional free play from a random event.

Divided up into 8 sessions of $80 starts. At the end I was only able to convert 2 of them into $200 cash out tickets. It was fun to experience the swings seen by the system. I got to play about 3000 hands total, under a cycle of Quad Deuces. Unfortunately all the 4 Wild Royals and 7 of the 5OAK were all from the $1 single coin pushes which is also a factor from the loss aside from not playing the most optimal as possible.

During the session a person was bitter seeing that one of the 5OAK were 4 aces and a deuces, which is good for Double Double Bonus. The day was just not meant to be :( I also landed 4 high cards in clubs suit, with the 5th card being the 10 of spades.

I will give it another go next month and get more preparation in, I was too eager to try it out, but it was fun.

Vman96
Video Poker Master
Posts: 3288
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:49 am

Post by Vman96 »

No offense to Phil, but you really should never be min betting games at higher denominations with the exact same paytables available at lower denominations. Well unless you like lighting money on fire, of course.

I myself would play $1 max consistently if you can handle the swings. NSUD is such a GREAT game, but because of this, the short pay royal penalty hurts you very badly.

Let's say you play NSUD at 500 hands an hour.

Expected losses:

Max coin: 0.27% house edge x $5/hand x 500 hands/hr = $6.75/hr

1 coin: 1.50% house edge x $1/hand x 500 hands/hr = $7.50/hr

You're already losing more money longterm just by betting 1 coin!

Now where Phil plays, this is what his lowest level of progression likely looks like if his casino offers "Colorado Deuces" (96.77% max) for quarters.

Expected losses:

Max coin: 3.23% house edge x $1.25/hand x 500 hands/hr = $20.19/hr

1 coin: 4.44% house edge x $0.25/hand x 500 hands/hr = $5.55/hr

So it makes a LOT more sense for Phil to use this strategy at his casino to increase play time, while still being able to win big.

But if you really want to use a progression system on this I would have steps like this.

$1 min bet
$1 max bet
$2 max bet
$5 max bet

Of course tax implications are worse at $2 max level and higher. Does California let you write off losses for state taxes? Not all states do. If they wouldn't, I would be more conservative in moving beyond $1 max.

alpax
Video Poker Master
Posts: 1913
Joined: Sat Jun 14, 2014 4:42 pm

Post by alpax »

As always and many times already, thanks for another insight on this play Vman.

The quarter, half-dollar, and $1/$2/$5 dollar video poker machines outside of the high limit room have Deuces Wild set to 20-12-9 (for 25c/50c) and 20-12-10 (for $1/$2/$5). I told Phil I wanted to risk playing $1 as a starting to play NSUD which has an ER of 2% higher, of course he told me it will not be a cheap way to play video poker if I used his system on dollars. Did not know single coin play was worse in the long run, I paid more attention to the 96% ER figure on the website, assuming it was Airport Deuces minus the Royal Flush payout rather than the Colorado Deuces payout.

I do not know the name of the 20-12-10 table, I see it quite a bit.

No wonder Phil takes a shot at single coin $5 time to time if he gets to play on Airport Deuces paytable. I did not get a direct response to the question if $1 and $5 had the same paytable, otherwise I would have gone max $1 bet if I was going for a pot shot.

I thought about doing max bet $1 as a start, and if I win 4-credits, I thought of doing $5 max bet until I lose and dropping down to $1 max bet. I will not go to the $25 max bet tier. But seeing Phil win with a single coin $5 twice in a short span, I did go with his system entirely. I got burned from having all the Wild Royals and 5OAK on single credit $1 denom throughout the session.

California is one of the states where you do not have to report any form of gambling winnings as income (just Federal). While that might sound good, without getting into deep discussion in politics, there are other heavy taxes to pay for the state; I think it is the highest in the nation at an average of 9.4%

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