Video Poker Tournament Advice

[spxChrome]

I've always wanted to try one out and looks like May 9th there is a Video Poker tournament in Tunica.  So having never played in one I was looking for some advice.  Do you use the basic stradegy or do you take more risk.  Such as throwing trips away when 3 to the royal? Or maybe just tossing a pair away when 3 to the royal?  What does it take to win one of these things?  Any help would be much appriciated as my access to playing in these things are limited I want to make the most of my fun.

[faygo]

There was a thread sometime back that discussed Tournament play. Things that have to be taken into account are, game, set Number of hands VS speed, current standing in the tournament and others. Go to the top of the Forum, click on search and use the key word tounament. That thread should come up.  Also at Bobdancer.com  he has a couple of articles on tournament play.  Good Luck!

[spxChrome]

So I found out it is the 2008 Annual $50,000 Millionaire Maker Tournament Video Poker.  Rules are 2 x 10 minute sessions.  Doesn't say anything about which game I'm thinking DDB.  Anyone ever play in their annual tournament could give a little more insight on how many players to expect, the game that will be played and what a good score is after a first round?  Or anything for that matter would be much appriciated.

[gracefire]

Hello, I play in tunica.  Where will the tournament be on May  9th.  The reason I ask is...Hollywood tourn are deuces wild tourn, Harrah's tourn. are double double bonus.  E-mail the casino and I can let you know the game.  thanks, Robbie

[Eduardo]

This sounds similar to the tournament I played in at the Hilton, but they surprisingly used Jacks or Better.
Essentially what it came down to was if you were happy walking away with $50 or $100, then play your basic strategy and hope for some cards.  If you want to win $1,000 or more then throw away anything (and I do mean anything) that will not lead to a Royal or Straight flush. Obviously that doesn't mean you have "good" odds at winning, but you have better odds. It will still take that lucky royal to bring home anything much.
 
If the game was DDB, then I would say either play basic for the low end prizes or go for royals and high quads, keeping kickers.
 
Obviously you can still win playing correct strategy if the cards come up right, so you need to decide if it's worth giving up maybe $50 in winnings for the small gain in odds at winning by throwing away some basic winners.
 
It really is crazy the extremes so you either have to choose to try to take home a low prize and play smart, or pull out the habaneros and have no fear of falling on your face.
 
If I had it to do over again, I would have made my mind up about that in the first round. I played the first round fairly conservatively and hoped for cards. Then when I saw where I was in the field going into day 2, I threw away anything that wouldn't be a big one.

[spxChrome]

Its the annual Harrahs Millionare Video Poker tourny.  Its $100 entry fee $50,000 cash prize pool and they have these all over Harrahs kind of like a circuit.  Then the top 3 out of each circuit event (usually around 200+) go to New Orleans "this year" to play for the $1 million dollar prize.  1st is a Cool Million and 2nd is $25K but in this small circuit event I think 1st is $25K and down.
 
What I read was last winner got beat by 25 points, it was like 10,680 to 10,655.  They scored that much in 10 minutes, the winner got like quad kicked aces 3 times, quad kicked 4's, quad kicked 2's and bunch of other stuff.  The loser got the Royal and kicked the aces once and many 4 kind.
 
I can't even being to imagine get 10K in 10 minutes.  I mean how many hands can you play in 10 minutes?  I'm thinking 160-180 to be superfast.  To get those kind cards in 160 hands?!?!?
 
I been playing poker many years and be lucky to get quad aces 2x in a 12 hour session :O
 

[Eduardo]

Yeah, no doubt it takes a lot of luck. If there are unlimited hands in the time limit, play as FAST as possible to give yourself as many chances at possible.
 
In the tourney we played in, we had 20 minutes each round but a max number of hands.  It didn't take nearly the 20 minutes to finish your hands, even at a relaxed pace.

[marie meijer]

FYI: Log on: video poker tournament strategy. Among others, this includes Bob Dancer's 8-01-06 column and refers to his 4-11-06 column. (or http://www.casinogaming.com/columnists/ ... /0801.html) Most of  my day revolved around MGM Detroit for 6 min of VP DDB $35000. invitational tournament. $10000, $5000 and $3000 were 1st-3rd place. 4-50th place: random cash and free play between $100-1500. Players were seated at 15 min. intervals. It was well-organized with a swipe of the player's card at a kiosk to obtain a paper designating play time and seat assignment and another surprise ticket for a $22 great buffet at the very cool and spacious "Palatte", with artist studio theme. Early on, someone had a score of 9,000! These Game King machines start out with 20 JOB (as $5 on a quarter machine) and the royal is 16,000. Some quads would have paid 3200 and 6400. I can call in soon IF I feel like facing where I placed. This was over-kill to an already bruised ego from the fun Hilton contest, but still an entertaining day!'Best in Tunica tournament! It seems counter-productive to PAY to enter a tournament as Harrah's, yet that is little compared to what one might unwillingly leave in the casino that day.

[bigboy]

  I mean how many hands can you play in 10 minutes?  I'm thinking 160-180 to be superfast.  To get those kind cards in 160 hands?!?!?
 
 
If you're fast, i'd expect that you'll get in around 250 hands.
If you're blazing fast, around 300 hands. On tourney machines, there's no lag time waiting for credit wins to add-up.

[spxChrome]

Here is the link to the event this Saturday:  http://www.harrahs.com/EventsDetail.do? ... ar=05-2008
 
Still can't find any more information on if it is only time limit and which game.