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There are some games that give you the option to collect your winnings or try to double them, usually by picking the high card. I figure it's an even-money bet with no real house advantage, so my question is whether to take the risk or not. And if I do, should I double ALL wins, just the small ones, just the middle-size ones (never the big ones I suspect) or random whenever I feel lucky? Does it make any difference?
Double or nothing - strategy
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shadowman
- Video Poker Master
- Posts: 3587
- Joined: Mon Oct 23, 2006 5:42 pm
Doubling increases variance. Otherwise it is an even bet as you indicated. Increasing variance increases the chance to win or lose big. The more you double, the more the variance increases.
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EDC1977
- Video Poker Master
- Posts: 2001
- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:12 pm
As Clint Eastwood would say" do you feel lucky?" Understand theres a house advantage attatched to everything and that bet wouldn't exist if there wasn't a house edge.Once you've won however large, the house will do anyting to get it back. Playing double up only decreases your edge and make the house happy.Kinda like playing war on a videopoker machine.
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jm002546
- Senior Member
- Posts: 398
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:13 am
Even money? I wouldn't count on that.
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kirbyk
- Forum Newbie
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Sun Dec 17, 2006 1:46 pm
I think I've got my answer - as a low roller with a small bankroll this is not something I should do. Just play video poker, not war.
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shadowman
- Video Poker Master
- Posts: 3587
- Joined: Mon Oct 23, 2006 5:42 pm
Even money? I wouldn't count on that.
It is true and well documented. The doubling action is based on a 52 card deck (or more with jokers) and uses the RNG just like the VP game. It's quite easy to determine the payback with this information ... 100%.
It is true and well documented. The doubling action is based on a 52 card deck (or more with jokers) and uses the RNG just like the VP game. It's quite easy to determine the payback with this information ... 100%.
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spxChrome
- VP Veteran
- Posts: 819
- Joined: Tue Nov 07, 2006 9:21 pm
Yup I don't do it but what frustrates me is many times you can't even win. Say the doubleup shows a 6, there is no guarantee since the rest of the deck could be 2,3,4,5. So its not even a coin flip imo.
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clwn2
- Senior Member
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2007 12:35 am
Hi Kirbyk,
Everyone answered superbly but I will add my own two cents in easy to understand language. I liked what EDC said "Do you feel lucky"? Now was that Dirty Harry or the man with no name? I have seen them all so many times that I get them mixed up. Anyway, you get the point.
Shadow mentioned that the double up feature makes the variance higher. The way I look at it is this. You are playing a machine for an hour or sometimes many hours. Now you get some kind of a high paying hand and now you have the option to double up or not? You would have to be twice as lucky to double up. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that you will see another nice hand like that during this session. To me doubling up on a regular basis almost insures that you will lose all of you money most of the time. Statistically this may not be exactly correct but I am sure it is in the ballpark.
The way I look at it is this: I have a hard enough time getting the good hands in the first place. I would not even consider risking a substantial amount on a chance to double up or lose everything. I had friend of mine that I use to play with on regular basis. He was much luckier than me overall. He read no books and knew nothing about payback percentages or schedules or strategies. Nevertheless, he was the one who ended up with the dealt royals and big hands.. He also liked to double up and did it quite often. He was either in the money or broke bumming off me. I, on the other hand, was more conservative and less lucky. Needless to say who ended up with at least some money most of the time. Everyone has to decide for them self what kind of player they are going to be.
I think Bob Dancer wrote a column about this very subject a while back. You can probably find it at bobdancer.com in his archive for his columns.
Everyone answered superbly but I will add my own two cents in easy to understand language. I liked what EDC said "Do you feel lucky"? Now was that Dirty Harry or the man with no name? I have seen them all so many times that I get them mixed up. Anyway, you get the point.
Shadow mentioned that the double up feature makes the variance higher. The way I look at it is this. You are playing a machine for an hour or sometimes many hours. Now you get some kind of a high paying hand and now you have the option to double up or not? You would have to be twice as lucky to double up. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that you will see another nice hand like that during this session. To me doubling up on a regular basis almost insures that you will lose all of you money most of the time. Statistically this may not be exactly correct but I am sure it is in the ballpark.
The way I look at it is this: I have a hard enough time getting the good hands in the first place. I would not even consider risking a substantial amount on a chance to double up or lose everything. I had friend of mine that I use to play with on regular basis. He was much luckier than me overall. He read no books and knew nothing about payback percentages or schedules or strategies. Nevertheless, he was the one who ended up with the dealt royals and big hands.. He also liked to double up and did it quite often. He was either in the money or broke bumming off me. I, on the other hand, was more conservative and less lucky. Needless to say who ended up with at least some money most of the time. Everyone has to decide for them self what kind of player they are going to be.
I think Bob Dancer wrote a column about this very subject a while back. You can probably find it at bobdancer.com in his archive for his columns.
