Video Poker Forum

Twice on my last trip to AC I was dealt a flush, that was also 4 to a straight flush open. Both times a keep the flush, but I keep wondering how much I would lose by going for the straight flush? Does anyone know the odds on this?
Jack

I was playing 25 cent jacks or better   9/6.
 
Jack

If you dump the flush and go for the straight flush, there are 47 possible outcomes.  There are 6 straights, 6 flushes, 2 straight flushes, and 33 zeros.
 
Holding the flush is not just a marginally better play, it is a vastly superior one.
 
If you were playing All American (aka USA) poker, where the straight flush pays 1000 credits,  you would, indeed, go for the straight flush.

I was dealt a SF king high a few weeks ago for 250 credits. I dumped it though in search of the RF. I should have kept it but I didnt go out to win a SF. That mentality means deviating from Perfect strategy but I like to gamble. As long as you can live with it, no regrets.
 
Today I was playing a $1 DB that had the Prog up over $8G. Thats 2 RF's to me. So if I was dealt the same King high SF, I would again toss it in search of the RF. I know this isnt correct play and others will chime in and offer their opinions but if I hit, Im a genius.GL

[QUOTE=brmcc74]I. That mentality means deviating from Perfect strategy but I like to gamble. As long as you can live with it, no regrets.
 ]

]I was dealt a SF king high a few weeks ago for 250 credits. I dumped it though in search of the RF. I should have kept it but I didnt go out to win a SF. That mentality means deviating from Perfect strategy but I like to gamble. As long as you can live with it, no regrets.
 [/QUOTE]
 
Whoops!  I'll try that again.
 
A certain video poker writer has a term for folks who play like that.  It's "losers".
 
Personally, my goal is not to get as most royal flushes as I can, it's to win (or lose as little) as I can.  That means not going for the longshot unless the payoff justifies it.

hijack,
Unless the flush is 4-RF or a progressive RF with a huge payoff I generally play the odds and keep the flush. My philosophy is to stay in the game with the best decisions until I hit the big hit or the RF. Keeping a flush gives me a shot at playing a few more hands. The RF will come when its the "right time".

LL

I was dealt a SF king high a few weeks ago for 250 credits. I dumped it though in search of the RF. I should have kept it but I didnt go out to win a SF. That mentality means deviating from Perfect strategy but I like to gamble. As long as you can live with it, no regrets.
 
Today I was playing a $1 DB that had the Prog up over $8G. Thats 2 RF's to me. So if I was dealt the same King high SF, I would again toss it in search of the RF. I know this isnt correct play and others will chime in and offer their opinions but if I hit, Im a genius.GL 
 
As long as you are enjoying yourself, you should play the way that makes you feel good. I never regret a VP decision (unless I "double-hit" a hold button - then I'm a dufus). I like to maximize my bankroll, too, but I don't think I ever play enough hands for the "Perfect Strategy" approach to work in my favor. Even the poor pay tables on the Vegas strip don't bother me too much, since I'm there for a few days to have fun. I let the comps I receive offset some of the casino's advantage. The rest, I feel, is the price of the entertainment.

]I was dealt a SF king high a few weeks ago for 250 credits. I dumped it though in search of the RF. I should have kept it but I didnt go out to win a SF. That mentality means deviating from Perfect strategy but I like to gamble. As long as you can live with it, no regrets.
 
 
Whoops!  I'll try that again.
 
A certain video poker writer has a term for folks who play like that.  It's "losers".
 
Personally, my goal is not to get as most royal flushes as I can, it's to win (or lose as little) as I can.  That means not going for the longshot unless the payoff justifies it.[/QUOTE] I am just offering an opinion of a possible way to play. Keep buying books,software and prop and keep studying the game and Im sure you will soon be a millionare.........................calling people losers for what

Each to their own. Just realize that as you do this more and more times you will eventually realize the "average" result. That means that even though you might hit the RF a few times, you are a net loser.
 
Some value that as entertainment. I value overall results. The world would be a boring place if we were all the same.