Video Poker Help

[Flushed]

Hi I would like to know what you guys can tell me for hints, strategies or tips for my video poker playing.I will tell you the type of machines I usually frequent, as I don't know if they are 9/7, 10/5 or what ever as I am not that mathmatically inclined:).The machine I play most often is a (5 credit max-$1.25)25cent Double  Bonus Poker( Progressive):Progressive Pays:4 Aces(starts at $200)4 2's-4's(starts at $100)4 5's-K's(starts at $63.00)Straight Flush(starts at $250.00-never hits before $272.00)and Royal Flush(starts at $1,000)A jist of the paytable for the 25cent carousel:Jacks or Better: 5creditTwo Pair: 5creditThree of a kind: 15 creditStraight: 20 creditsFlush: 30 creditsFull House: 45 creditsWhat would be the best way to go about playing these machines, which strategy.As for the other poker machine I frequent it would be a (5 credit max-$5.00) $1 Double Bonus Poker(Progressive):Progressive Pays:4 Aces(starts at $800.00)4 2's-4's(starts at $450.00)4 5's-Ks(starts at $250.00)Straight Flush(starts at $250.00)Royal(starts at $4000.00)As for the rest of the paytable it is the exact same as the pay table that I  listed for the 25cent machines.Please note all these pays are with a max bet of 5 credits, also these are a carousel of 12 machines each.Thanks for any help you can give.

[Eduardo]

Your best bet to learn how to play these machines is going to be to get a program like VPW or another training program that lets you change pay tables, plug in these progressive amounts, and see what to hold in different situations.


 
I'm not sure if you are looking for something specific in the advice?

[Flushed]

Just anything in general, last night I hit two royals on the 25 cent carousel, which I know is not going to be common, I really would just like to increase my odds of 4 of a kinds.

[EDC1977]

Try Wolf video poker or VP Wizard sites for free trainers. Wizard of odds might have a trainer too but I'm not sure, haven't visited in a long time.

[oej719]

Just anything in general, last night I hit two royals on the 25 cent carousel, which I know is not going to be common, I really would just like to increase my odds of 4 of a kinds.


Learning like eduardo said will be the best way to play to have the best shot at winning.

If you just want 4 of a kinds, then only go for them. You may hit more of them but overall your bankroll will vanish faster.

[cddenver]

I will tell you the type of machines I usually frequent, as I don't know if they are 9/7, 10/5 or what ever as I am not that mathmatically inclined:).

A jist of the paytable for the 25cent carousel:
Jacks or Better: 5credit
Two Pair: 5credit
Three of a kind: 15 credit
Straight: 20 credits
Flush: 30 credits
Full House: 45 credits

 
The 9/7 and 10/5 values are the 1-coin pays for Full House/Flush.  Just multiply those numbers by 5 to get the 5-coin pay. 
 
9/7 = Full House 45, Flush 35.
10/7 = Full House 50, Flush 35.
 
Turning it around, the credit values you posted for Full House (45) and Flush (30) when playing 5-coins equate to a paytable of 9/6.
 
You'll hit a quad roughly every 400 hands, which works out to one quarter of one percent of total hands.  Playing for quads by breaking up dealt hands like Two Pair and Full Houses will increase the number of quads you hit slightly, but as oej wrote you have to look at all of the lesser-paying hands that you're giving up in that other 99.75% of your hands played to get that occasional extra quad. 
 

[shadowman]

You don't have to be mathematically inclined to play good strategy. All it takes is the willingness to learn the strategy which is simple memorization. It does take time however and even after you learn the strategy you have to review it occasionally to refresh your memory.
 
There are different strokes for different folks as well. You might just want to learn enough improve your results. The first 20% of your effort will yield 80% of the gain.
 
If you are going to play these games a lot then at least some effort will make a big difference. You can look at the strategies on vpgenius.com to get an initial feel, but buying one of the software programs helps enormously. There's nothing like instant feedback. They are well worth the cost.
 
If you decide to make this initial effort you will not be disappointed.
 
Now, for the bad news. The first game you listed starts at 96.4% so unless the progressives go up quickly you will lose at the game over time playing good strategy. You will just lose a little slower. The other game pays back about .5% better but since you are betting more you will actually lose more over time (assuming the progressives are similar). This is where it helps to understand some simple math. In the first case you lose 3.6% of $1.25 each hand (4.5 cents) vs. 3.1% of $5 each hand (15.5 cents) in the second case. These are averages assuming perfect strategy play and no progressives.