Help! Best strategy Multi-strike 3Deuce Straight Flush

[Lucky Larry]

So I need some help from some of you VP math guru's.
Multi-strike VP has four levels of multipliers based on moving from Level 1 to Level 4 with a winning hand or a "Free Play" hand which moves you to next level:
Level 1 win pays 1X = even money
Level 2 win pays 2X
Level 3 pays 4X
Level 4 pays 8X

So the question came up tonight in a family discussion:
Game: DW Double Bonus
Hand Dealt: Straight Flush with 3 Deuces
Question: At what point would you throw the SF and just keep the 3 deuces?
Straight Flush pays 9X or 45 credits

Based on my training you would throw the straight flush every time since you generally hold only:
3D/RF; 3D/5 Kind; 3 D/Ace regardless of the multiplier.
At Level 4 8X on a straight flush the pay out is 360 guaranteed but I think you still go with the option of the 3 deuces.

What say you guru's?

[olds442jetaway]

Hi Ll. I haven’t looked this up in a long time, but like this game. I have a couple of them at Mohegan Sun with the same paytable at nickel, quarter, or dollar level. My Mrs. hit a nickel Royal once on it on the top line with infrequent play. I give it about 2-5 percent of my play and have hit everything on it except the Royal on the top line. I agree with your gut feeling above, but I think we best wait for the Einstein’s to chine in. There are a couple of things/holds that are different though. Better check me, but if I remember, if you have a D, 7,8 suited or similar, I just hold the D. I may be wrong on that one. Now I am curious. I think I will check the Wizard on the differences. I think Vman has this and more down pat.

[dinghy]

Hand Dealt: Straight Flush with 3 Deuces
Question: At what point would you throw the SF and just keep the 3 deuces?

Keep only the deuces. I'm not aware of any Deuces variant where you would correctly hold the SF.

Your EV holding only the deuces should be almost 600, although you'll only win 160 if you fail to improve.

[billryan]

I don't think I've ever played this in a casino but I took Mr. Dancers class on the game twice.
Since the object of the game is to survive to the next level, there are some adjustments you make to get a winning hand, as opposed to going for the best paying hand on the lower levels, but the top level plays like any other single line, if I recall correctly.

[Eduardo]

Since the object of the game is to survive to the next level, there are some adjustments you make to get a winning hand, as opposed to going for the best paying hand on the lower levels, but the top level plays like any other single line, if I recall correctly.

That's correct. But in this case, the player already has a winning hand whether they hold 3 deuces or a SF. So given that, I would think standard rules apply for the pay table no matter what line you are on (for this particular hand).

[onemoretry]

That's correct. But in this case, the player already has a winning hand whether they hold 3 deuces or a SF. So given that, I would think standard rules apply for the pay table no matter what line you are on (for this particular hand).

I agree. The difficult decisions in this game involve choosing to hold a paying hand (so you can advance to the next level), or going for a higher paying hand, with the risk of getting zilch.

There is a way to calculate the best holds (they change as you advance up the levels), but I don't recall exactly how it's done.

[BobDancer]

Does nobody here have Video Poker for Winners?

Multi-Strike is one of the games analyzed by that software. It's very easy to enter in five cards for any pay schedule and find out what the correct play is.

Also, even though it's relevant that straight flushes pay 9-for-1, it's also relevant what ALL pay schedule categories for 4K and higher return. When one of your potential hold is three deuces, how much you get for 4K, 5K, WRF, 4D, and 4D+A is all relevant.

With that said, hold the three deuces on all levels.

Eduardo's supposition that since you're going to move to the next level whether you hold the three deuces or all five cards was spot on. The only times the strategy varies in this game is when at least one of the options requires a successful draw to move up.

[Player422738]

Hand Dealt: Straight Flush with 3 Deuces
Question: At what point would you throw the SF and just keep the 3 deuces?

Keep only the deuces. I'm not aware of any Deuces variant where you would correctly hold the SF.

Your EV holding only the deuces should be almost 600, although you'll only win 160 if you fail to improve.

In ultimate X, you go with SF I think in order to get big multipliers for next hands if current hands don’t have enough multipliers.

[dinghy]

In ultimate X, you go with SF I think in order to get big multipliers for next hands if current hands don’t have enough multipliers.

That's a really interesting example, thanks!

Ultimate X here on the site, Deuces Wild is 98.9% base. Conventionally, the 222 hold earns 71.5 coins on average, versus only 45 for the SF.

In ultimate X if you hold the SF, your next hand multiplier will be the maximum 12x, but if you hold the 222 you'll usually earn a not-too-shabby 7x because your hand is unlikely to improve. Therefore I'm doubtful about departing from typical strategy.

I'm not an ultimate x player, so I may be missing a nuance.

[Lucky Larry]

Bob, et.al.
I used VPW and WinPoker for a single hand of DW DB analysis to check prior to asking the question. I'd learned from you and others to keep the DRF, 5K, 3D/A from my readings/research over the years.

Carrie's question was more oriented to the upper 4X and 8X multiplier. My assumption was you would still play it the regular way.

Thanks everyone, I'll text her tonight since she's probably playing it tonight.