If your only goal is a hand pay...

[Eduardo]

One of our illustrious members has the goal of getting a hand pay. Because this discussion is buried in an unrelated topic, I thought it deserved it's own thread.

Currently they have stepped up part of their play to 10 play quarters to reach this goal. My response was:

I may be wrong, but I would say that if your goal is a hand pay, 10 play quarters is NOT the way to go. Stop and think: What win will be required for a hand pay? A royal flush won't do it... even drawing to multiple 4 of a kinds won't do the trick.

You are trying to get a DEALT quad or royals on MULTIPLE lines at the same time? You are making this very hard on yourself.

Why not play dollars exclusively and wait for the next royal?

(I would suggest $5 and simply go for a quad, but let's not get carried away here)

I'm curious what some of our more analytical members have to say... if you disregard all other factors, what would be the best way to:
1) earn a hand pay
2) on negative machines
3) while sacrificing the least amount of money?

Would $5 play lose less money on average while waiting for a quad?
Would dollar play actually lose less over more play while waiting for a royal?
Would you simply play the highest denom available where a hand pay can be found the quickest?

[FloridaPhil]

Of your choices, I believe playing $5 machines would be the cheapest quickest way to reach this goal. Personally, I would play Bonus Poker and wait for quad aces. The low variance would cost you less before it happened.

Playing $10 Jacks or Better might be better. Especially if you hit a quad on the first hand.

[billryan]

If your only goal is a handpay….
you just might want to learn how to actually play the game correctly.

[FloridaPhil]

My dog could hit a hand pay. It doesn't take much skill.

Years ago when I first started playing VP I had the same goal. I would sneak into the high limit room once in a while and take a pot shot. I would throw $100 into a $5 machine just for fun. Two weeks in a row I was dealt a DDB quad for $1,250. That's when I learned about W-2Gs.

[Vman96]

$5 DDB or $10 Bonus or JoB. Basically any game that gives you a W2G for any quad or straight flush.

I don't see the obsession behind trying to get one though.

[billryan]

Some people evidently don't think they pay enough taxes.

[OTABILL]

While I haven't played there in a number of years, Casino Arizona had a DDB quarter multiple progressive where you got a hand pay anytime you hit one. Could be for 2,3,4 with or without the kicker, aces with or without the kicker and of course the rf. I remember the wife and I getting handpays for under$500 many times. Don't know if that policy still exists.

[FloridaPhil]

While I haven't played there in a number of years, Casino Arizona had a DDB quarter multiple progressive where you got a hand pay anytime you hit one. Could be for 2,3,4 with or without the kicker, aces with or without the kicker and of course the rf. I remember the wife and I getting handpays for under$500 many times. Don't know if that policy still exists.

I have played at a number of American native owned casinos that hand pay every jackpot from $500 and up. One I remember had a really loud and obnoxious alarm when one was hit. I sat there for 30 minutes with the alarm blasting waiting to be paid. I guess they wanted everyone within 5 blocks to know someone actually won something.

[Eduardo]

I don't see the obsession behind trying to get one though.

I try not to ask "why." I guess it's just one of those bucket list things.

Personally, I have two goals when it comes to royals:

1) Never get a royal worth less than $1,000.
2) Never get a royal worth more than $1,000 that would result in a hand pay.

The first I easily avoid by never playing lower than quarters max bet. I'm sure I'd get over the second one if it happened.

[FloridaPhil]

1) Never get a royal worth less than $1,000.
2) Never get a royal worth more than $1,000 that would result in a hand pay.

On my office wall are three W-2Gs I had framed. Each one is $4,000 each. I received them all in one day. Before I go to the casino each week, I look at them. I remember how great it was to walk out of the casino with stacks of hundred dollars bills. I won so much money that day that I was finding money in our jacket pockets three weeks after we got home. I also remember how I fed them back into the machines over the next six months. It keeps me from repeating my folly. If I had won a million dollars, I would have had the same end result. It's not how much money you win that makes you a winner. It's how much money you keep.