First royal flush on min bet

[NotSoMuch]

I've been lurking for a bit but decided to create an account so I could post my experience.

I'm new to video poker this year (online only so far) and have basically been losing all year. I was tired of the losses piling up so today I decided to drop to min bet and just zone out for awhile. Only ten minutes in, I hit my first royal flush for a whopping $80. To add insult to injury, the game crashed while dealing the two cards so I didn't even get to see it (my account was credited with the payout so at least the system was still functional).

I like video poker but I'm not sure I have the fortitude to stay the course through downturns. I'm curious how others manage these swings in wins and losses.

[dinghy]

Only ten minutes in, I hit my first royal flush for a whopping $80.

I presume you bet 10c and were paid 800 credits. A b&m casino would likely pay only 250 (on a 1-credit bet), so could have been worse.

I'm curious how others manage these swings in wins and losses.

Some players crave the swings. They enjoy the wins, and I think the losses give them a satisfaction although of a different type.

If you're not one of those people, I would suggest analyzing the numbers. If you're playing against a 2% house edge and wager $1000 total, math says you should lose $20. Unless you're playing the best games and promotions, it's hard to avoid being an overall loser.

[NotSoMuch]

Yes, it was a 10 cent bet with 800x. I also have the luxury of being in Canada and playing on full pay tables at any denomination so for sure it could have been worse. I've been messing around with TDB but this hand was on 9/6 Jacks with 99.54%.

I saw a post from a few years ago and it offered some real clarity.
viewtopic.php?t=12453

Looking at the graph of 100,000 hands played, I realized that any given session would be a tiny portion of that chart and could start anywhere along it. Stock traders have a similar chart with rolling averages to show how many periods are profitable. I have a coding background so I'm considering doing something like that if I can find the time.

[onemoretry]

I also have the luxury of being in Canada

What part of Canada do you live in?

[NotSoMuch]

BC. All online gambling here is government run unless I go to offshore sites like Bodog. I tried them once and it was alright. Never had to cash out though. I hear the local casinos like River Rock are pretty good but I sold my car so I don't get out much.

I have a buddy who goes to Vegas a few times a year and I've been considering going along. I bought some vintage 1950s Vegas cards and dice to get in the spirit of things but I have yet to go.

[dinghy]

I saw a post from a few years ago and it offered some real clarity.
viewtopic.php?t=12453

That's a good visual.

I like to examine the outcome frequencies. Wizard of Odds analyzer will generate a table, or you can use WinPoker or other software.

In Jacks, the only really difficult outcomes are the royal and SF. They contribute only about 2.5% on a 99.5% game, so that leaves 97% available from the other outcomes that come along regularly.

TDB however, is infested with difficult outcomes. 70 or 80% sessions are possible, or you can far exceed 100% if you run hot.

I'm jealous of your online gambling options. My parents only allow me to bet sports. (My parents are Joe Lombardo and the Nevada state legislature.)

It's not a popular topic here on the boards. I think people are maybe afraid they'll click a mouse and lose a house .

[NotSoMuch]

The online video poker here allows bets up to $10,000 or more. That would be $8 million for a royal flush, tax-free. I doubt anyone plays at that level but it's a bit crazy it's even offered.

TDB was break even for me. I lost a handful of 100s but then hit four aces w/kicker, three hands of 4s w/kicker and several more quads, all in one night. Thrilling for about a minute until I realized I was right back where I started. I like risky long shots but I think I'll be low-rolling Jacks for now, at least until I feel more comfortable with it all.

[dinghy]

I like risky long shots but I think I'll be low-rolling Jacks for now, at least until I feel more comfortable with it all.

Do you only have one legal site available to you? I only see PlayNow.

That would limit your options if you wanted to shop promotions or loyalty rewards.

[NotSoMuch]

No real promotions, comps, or points. I got a 10% refund on my losses last month but those are rare. They also have some sort of membership thing but it maxes out at half a percent of spend and excludes video poker. I get 4 times that just on my credit card.

The local casinos probably have some deals but food and real estate are the most expensive items in this area. A motel room is $250 in off-season and a typical steak dinner runs $100 with drinks. Canada is a mixed bag. You can leave your doors unlocked and you may not go bankrupt on healthcare, but with real estate at $1 million minimum and full discount car insurance at $2500, living here has it's price.

[NotSoMuch]

Boy it's just occurred to me, Jacks pays 99.54% (best case) and my credit card pays out 2% cashback with no transaction fees. Long-term, I could be making a consistent gain of 1.5% if I play at optimal.

Hm, something to think about.