Peek and Play poker

[Skinzy]

Skinzy, I understand that it is frustrating when dealt a 4-card royal flush draw in this game, and you can see that the next card doesn't help at all. And in multi-play like 10-play, you quickly go from 10 chances at a royal to ZERO!! Plus, this game's optimal strategy is quite confusing since you must keep the next card on the top of the deck unless you decide to stand pat holding all 5 dealt cards.

However, that is exactly what happens in pretty much all video poker draw games. You just don't see that top card until after the draw.

In some ways, this would be a dream scenario. Can you imagine how much better you could do in a casino if you somehow knew what the hidden top card to be drawn was? Based on this game, you would be able to make a profit of perhaps 30 to 35 percent of coin in (if you only had to invest 5 coins per hand).

We just don't realize until after the draw what that top card is. I know most don't like this, but for me, it is a nice change of pace to play once in a while ... if you can divorce yourself from the immediate frequent frustration before the draw. And if you can tease out what the optimal strategy is with this feature. There is also Super Peek and Play Poker where you can pass on the top drawn card. I imagine most people prefer the "Super" option; however, it does cost an additional 14.3% investment prior to the dealt cards (8 coins per hand instead of 7 for regular Peek and Play.

Ted, I imagine the reason that Skinzy is choosing to play this game despite his misgivings, is because it is the Members Rule game this week. If he wants a chance at winning, that is what he has to do ... or forego this completely and play the other contest games. Your comments above caused me to check out the regular video poker play, and I saw that you were leading the field on that game. It took me a while, but if you are interested, I got lucky with TDB hitting small quads plus the kicker to eke a little ahead of you. Good luck if you try to retake the lead.

I, in fact, am sitting out the Members rule this week. It really is just the fact that it forces you to take the peek card in every hand that drives me bananas. You are basically paying for something (albeit with imaginary coins) that actively handicaps you 90% of the time... That sounds about as bad as insurance. I was actually succeeding at getting drawing tickets by ignoring whatever was in my hand and tossing the whole thing if it didn't line up with the peek card(unless of course it was a made hand), and that is when I was like, ok... This is just silly.

[Skinzy]

These are the reasons Super Peek and Play came along... which allows you to "Burn" the draw card when it doesn't contribute.

I don't think either game is available in casinos any more, so the concept likely didn't catch on with players.

Not. Surprising.

[New2vp]

These are the reasons Super Peek and Play came along... which allows you to "Burn" the draw card when it doesn't contribute.

I don't think either game is available in casinos any more, so the concept likely didn't catch on with players.

Despite the frustration of being forced to hold the frequently unhelpful Peek Cards, the DDB & TDB versions of Peek and Play did produce 46% and 51% more Royal Flushes; also, 31% and 34% more Quad Aces plus Kickers. It seems like a lot of variations from "regular" video poker were designed to do that.

But games with exotic (or, perhaps more appropriately labeled, "eccentric") optimal strategies often don't catch on. Ultimate X is a notable exception.