The myth of playing 5 coins in video poker.

[BobDancer]

  98.37% if you play one coin optimally...It's a heroic assumption that one-coin players are playing optimally --- including using a different strategy for one-coin play than they do for max-coin play. Yes it could happen, but it would be pretty rare.Playing one-coin using max-coin strategy puts you closer to the 98.2% return cited.

[royal flush]

one coin players give up 2% on average

[New2vp]

2% × (800 - 250) / 800 = 1.375%

2% is the rule of thumb return due to the 800 per coin max-coin royal. When playing short coin, you still get paid 250 per coin for royals (rather than zero), so you lose most of the 2%, but not all of it.

[BobDancer]

In 9/6 JoB, the royal, using 5-coin perfect strategy, is worth 1.98%.Using the same strategy, a single coin 250 payout is worth (250/800) * 1.98% = 0.62%. This is a reduction of 1.36%, which is quite a bit less that a 2% rule of thumbThis reduces the 99.54% to 98.18% --- assuming you're using the same strategy. Using correct single coin strategy, the game is worth 99.37%. This means using the 5-coin strategy costs 0.19% compared to using the correct 1-coin strategy.

[WVRadar]

In 9/6 JoB, the royal, using 5-coin perfect strategy, is worth 1.98%.Using the same strategy, a single coin 250 payout is worth (250/800) * 1.98% = 0.62%. This is a reduction of 1.36%, which is quite a bit less that a 2% rule of thumbThis reduces the 99.54% to 98.18% --- assuming you're using the same strategy. Using correct single coin strategy, the game is worth 99.37%. This means using the 5-coin strategy costs 0.19% compared to using the correct 1-coin strategy.

Although I usually am playing at less than full coin, I still use that strategy in the event that I do play max bet. The number of coins I am playing varies according to whether I am ahead and by how much.

[onemoretry]

The number of coins I am playing varies according to whether I am ahead and by how much. As others have pointed out, playing less than full coin, but more than one, is the least sensible way to play. You are giving the casino an increased advantage, and are exposing more of your bankroll to that casino advantage than you need to.

[WVRadar]

[QUOTE=WVRadar]
The number of coins I am playing varies according to whether I am ahead and by how much. As others have pointed out, playing less than full coin, but more than one, is the least sensible way to play. You are giving the casino an increased advantage, and are exposing more of your bankroll to that casino advantage than you need to.[/QUOTE]

I am aware of that. However, I have found that playing single coin makes it too hard to get to the level that I want to cash out at (when I double my original coin in).

[Vman96]

[QUOTE=Vman96]  98.37% if you play one coin optimally...It's a heroic assumption that one-coin players are playing optimally --- including using a different strategy for one-coin play than they do for max-coin play. Yes it could happen, but it would be pretty rare.Playing one-coin using max-coin strategy puts you closer to the 98.2% return cited.[/QUOTE]

True. I don't expect anyone to one coin 9/6 JoB optimally. Most people definitely won't hold AJ8 suited over AJ suited like they should in single coin. But the biggest strategy change between single and max coin is pretty easy to remember if someone is told it. 4 to a flush > 3 to a Royal in single coin. That is where most of the return difference between the two strategies comes from, iirc.

[BobDancer]

 
I am aware of that. However, I have found that playing single coin makes it too hard to get to the level that I want to cash out at (when I double my original coin in).You do know, I assume, that this kind of "money management" rule has NOTHING TO DO with winning at gambling. In fact, such a rule COSTS YOU MONEY because it causes you to make expensive decisions in the hope of making today's score up to such-and-such a number.These kind of money management rules are common among recreational gamblers. The Recreational Forum here is intended so that recreational players can discuss such things --- things that more serious players recognize as nonsense.It's no crime to be a recreational player. There are certainly more of them than there are serious players. But different parts of this forum are meant for different people --- and different threads. This thread should be moved to the Recreational Forum, in my opinion. It will open it up to players who sympathize with your point of view who aren't allowed to post on this forum.

[WVRadar]

[QUOTE=WVRadar] 
I am aware of that. However, I have found that playing single coin makes it too hard to get to the level that I want to cash out at (when I double my original coin in).You do know, I assume, that this kind of "money management" rule has NOTHING TO DO with winning at gambling. In fact, such a rule COSTS YOU MONEY because it causes you to make expensive decisions in the hope of making today's score up to such-and-such a number.These kind of money management rules are common among recreational gamblers. The Recreational Forum here is intended so that recreational players can discuss such things --- things that more serious players recognize as nonsense.It's no crime to be a recreational player. There are certainly more of them than there are serious players. But different parts of this forum are meant for different people --- and different threads. This thread should be moved to the Recreational Forum, in my opinion. It will open it up to players who sympathize with your point of view who aren't allowed to post on this forum.[/QUOTE]

Duly noted. I will confine my posts to the Recreational Forum.