OK What Would YOU do??

[Quad Deuces]

Good.  Go for the royal every time.  It's the best play.Even if the straight flush pays 2000 coins, break it.  it's not a royal and is, therefore, no good at all.

[New2vp]

Excellent point, Quad, and well played.  And probably the best point that you could make in this thread.  When it comes to self-interest and subjective preferences, there is no objectively right answer for everyone.  If one wishes to maximize expected value, there is no question, but there are lots of decisions in the world that do not use that criterion.For your own self-interest, certainly others making poor expected value choices is good.  If casinos can be more profitable in their vp games, they can make choices to keep vp machines rather than other slots and even offer better games.Those who would go for the royal and eschew expected value have an additional thrill hoping and wishing for the holy grail...er....royal flush.  And no one can tell how much that feeling is worth in expected coins per thrill.And what if they hit?  A couple percent of the time that DOES hit...and they have a story for a lifetime to show how they quieted the naysayers, defied the odds, and made history...at least, in their version, for a little while, they were heroes and slayed the proverbial dragon.  And who knows how much that is worth in expected coins?It doesn't matter if they get no royal the next 100 times...and who knows how long that will take for the observations to even out.  They only need to win once...for their own hero story, forever.  Or to explain their own devil-may-care attitude, even if they don't hit.  For a few brief seconds, they are James Bond!

[Vman96]

I wonder if you surveyed random video poker players what would be the average payout needed for people to NOT break this. Because it sounds like 300 (that's $75 at quarters!) may not be enough even for this forum, except for the ones that want to maximize winnings with respect to a random poker deck. And note that breaking this hand has a chance of losing it all, but that doesn't seem to bother people?

Is it because they play games similar to Super Aces Bonus (I'm looking at you, Double Double Bonus), and they play for long enough periods of time where a 300 credit win usually wouldn't get them out of the hole?

[onemoretry]

I would gladly give $62.50 for the chance at $1000


 If the likelihood of connecting for the royal was one in 1000, would you still pay $62.50 for the chance? 

[dbldbl scotty]

would you pay $300 for a chance at $4000 or more (progressive) ?few months ago, Hollywood's $1 progressive was over 10k, now what?

[Quad Deuces]

I would estimate the RF would need to be approximately $3,500 (14,000 coins) for it to start to make sense to break a pat, 300-coin SF, but that is not the question that was asked.

[luvzlyfe]

Thanks for all your thoughts. The royal paid 4,000 quarters ($1,000.00). I am one of VP's little guys. The $75 sure thing was more appealing to me as opposed to the possible $1,000.00 royal. Gives me the chance to play another day!

[rvegas70]

I would have gone for the Royal playing dollars and higher for sure.

[Lucky Larry]

Congratulations luv on the Straight Flush. For 25¢ denomination I'd have taken the SF. But, then I generally play the odds and have been jaded many times "going for it". Experience can be a wonderful teacher like my recent picture of holding a 5 kind-3 deuces on DW.

Here's a story from this weekend to continue the perspective. Sat down at a 100 play 5¢ machine up several hundred from 25¢ DW. The lady next to me "M" is a 100 max play TDB addict($25/every hand). She was up to $1300.

[I had seen M before put in over $3K previously waiting for the "big dealt hand" the whole time moaning about her losses but still playing a high volatility game like TDB. She had finally hits 2's or 3's w/k and cashed out a winner so she confirmed her belief it would come.]

As the losses came she continued to play TDB, meanwhile my DW/DW B/DW Dbl B combination of 40 hands had brought me to $1500.   After losing all her money M puts in $400 more but asks about playing DW Dbl B. I explain the differences and she starts playing - asking about specific hands. Hold the Ace + 3 deuces I explained, 'Oh no, it lessens my chances of 4 Deuces!" finally agreeing and hitting 5 (5 A's) and 2 (4 D+A). A few hands later- a disagreement over holding Q+10 to RF (and hitting a RF) she agreed I knew the game. Now up an additional $400 she immediately switched back to TDB and went to "0".

It all about whether you like vanilla, strawberry, chocolate or some other type of ice cream.

[Quad Deuces]

I don't know if people understand exactly how bad a bet going for the royal here really is.You can expect to make the royal once every 47 times. The other 46 times you will get nothing or measly straights, flushes, or high pairs.If you were presented with this exact hand 47 times, you'd expect around $1085 in return going for the royal every time.  If you were to hold the pat straight flushes, you would have $3525.  It would be a horrible, horrible play to break it and hold 4 cards.  Horrible.You already got extremely lucky getting the dealt straight flush and are paid handsomely for it in Super Aces Bonus.