VP-Do you deviate from correct play?

[DOUBLE B]

I play DB (10/7) 90% of the time. Whenever I can't find 10/7 I will go with 9/7. I must confess I do deviate from perfect strategy on a few hands/plays. One is with 10/7 if I get two pair with A's, I hold only the pair of A's (breaking up the two pair). Another one is if I get 3 suited cards and 2 of them are high cards I discard all but the 2 suited high cards (i.e. Ah Qh 9h 7d 5s-I discard 9h-7-5). The third and last one I struggle with is A & 10 suited with junk. It is hard for me to throw away the 10 and hold only the A. Obviously I have my reason for these plays and I often wonder if other VP players also stray from the straight and narrow path of correct play. Jump all over me for not playing correct strategy---jump on me about going out on a limb! That's fine! Then tell me you "never-ever" intentionally deviate from correct play.


 
I do ask myself if I am the only one who intentionally deviates from correct play or if maybe everyone does. Just to different lengths. However, if you do stray from correct play would you share the game and play/hand where you do deviate from correct strategy?

[doris13]

double b i always hold the 10 and whenever i've hit a royal on a 3 card draw it's because i held that 10.

[cddenver]

Then tell me you "never-ever" intentionally deviate from correct play.



 
I can honestly say that I "never-ever" intentionally deviate from correct play.  That's when playing for money in a casino; here on the site I'll cheat a bit on some hands if I'm down for the day and feel that "I'm due" for something big.  As for dropping the 10 on a suited A/10 deal in DB it's never bothered me at all to do so, since I know I'll be picking up more High Pairs and 3oak's by dropping the 10.  I don't think I've ever drawn the other three Aces on that play, so in my own case I can't claim that I've benefited on that play with big winners (Aces), but I always make that play when I see it.

[brmcc74]

heres my take on it. Youre describing holding 10 and ace(suited) when playing Db. I would say no big deal there. However, I wouldnt do that if Im playing DDB because of the possible kicker draw with other 3 aces. The other hand holding two aces instead of drawing to fullhouse, Ive been doing that without question for years, the payout is worth the risk to me. Alot of what you are mulling over has gone through and will continue to go through any serious players heads for obvious reasons. I say as long as you believe you are doing the right thing, then it cant be wrong. I also have issues with correct and perfect play. The thing is whatever you choose, stick to it and always do it one way not the other. No regrets that way.
OH ya, the other hand where you held the high hearts and dumped the garbage heart . Youre trying for the RF which is the grand prize. I play the same way. Must be why I cant make a living at it.

[spxChrome]

Yup I play the same way.  I even at times when playing TDB break up 2 pair such as 33JJ5 to go for the quad 3's.  I normally on do this if I am up or down to risk it or catch up.
 
As for the A 10 suited, that one always gets me.  In the past I toss the 10 until I saw a lady one day hit the Royal holding A 10.  I said wow, why even hold the 10 cause its those Aces that keep you in the game.  She said you can't get a Royal without it.
 
So now I start holding the 10 but mostly only on high progressive machines.  I still toss it cause I have gotten 10AAAA to many times. 
 
Just the other day I held an AQ in TDB and sure enough AQAAA got me $1600 but could have got me $8000 on a $2 machine.
 

[Eduardo]

I think the only time I deviate on purpose is when I am chasing a progressive royal flush. Mostly because i don't know the correct times to actually change strategy when a royal gets to a certain amount, and also because this is when I feel like "taking a bigger gamble" than my normal play.
 
Hasn't paid off... yet!

[DOUBLE B]

I follow correct play of the following (most of the time-lol), it always gives me pause to stop/think then say "follow correct play". With 10/7 being dealt 4 to flush with 3 high cards/3 to RF/2 high cards (not A's). (i.e.-As Ks Qs 9s Qc). It is very hard not go for the "whole enchilada". I guess thats why occasionally I do! I do find it interesting how VP players think concerning certain plays.

[spxChrome]

Mostly because i don't know the correct times to actually change strategy when a royal gets to a certain amount
 
 
Well on a $1 its $5,300 for a 2/3 machine and $4,400 on a 1 machine.  What you have to watch out for is those that start their progressive at $5K intstead of $4K.
 
I was playing at one casino and the pot was up to $5,700 and I jumped on it, got lucky and got deal the Royal.  After they reset it the machine jumped to $5k I was like ?? they said it resets to $5K insead of $4k.  Had I known that I would not have played it.

[Eduardo]

I would think the important thing isn't the reset amount, but the pay table besides the royal. Even though a higher reset probably indicates a worse pay table (to help balance the lower return).

There is a particular progressive at the hilton that always seems to be really high. Very tempting. But plugging it into vpw showed me that the return wasn't as good as you might think. It was DDB but I forget the numbers. The other lower progressives had a better overall return.
 
Of course, you need that royal to get the return, so a higher progressive is still tempting. You just get fewer chances at hitting if the low payouts are poor.
 
Just another question of "variance"

[BOOPSAHOY]

I usually wont go for a flush if it means throwing away a pair of 2s 3s or 4s. UNLESS the machine is giving me a lot of flushes.