Interesting day in a locals spot.

[billryan]

Someone asked me to scout out a game at a remote locals casino that is offering an interesting promo this weekend.
Luckily, you could observe everything from the sports bar so I sit down, throw $20 in a machine and start playing 8-5 BP. The bar has a hand of the day and four eights pays an extra 200 coins.
Older guy sits down and orders a Makers Mark and a Corona, puts in $20 and selects Dueces, with a horrible pay schedule. After about six hands, it's obvious he is clueless. One hand he holds Deuce ,ten another he holds Deuce, JH, 5H. Then I notice he is playing three nickels a hand. After a few minutes, an older woman who I guess is his wife joins him and he gets her a Long Island Ice Tea and another Makers for himself. He is talking and slow playing. After about twenty minutes, he claps his hands- he hit a five of a kind, for 150 nickels, bring his credits up to $17.They cash out and leave a $3 tip.
It got me wondering just how many times a day this sort of thing happens.

[FloridaPhil]

I think it's the norm.  My wife and I play practically all day.  During that time we see a lot of players come and go.   Most players don't have a clue how to play deuces.  We've even seen them throw two deuces away going for a royal.  Occasionally, someone will ask us about a certain hand.  When we give
them the computer right answer they often don't agree and do something
else.  It not just old people either, it seems no one knows how to play this game right.  It's one of the games you really need training software to learn.As far as the guy you mentioned is concerned.  He's playing nickles, had a good time for his money and left smiling, so who cares?

[DAAnMAAn]

All true. Deuces is not an intuitive game. A reason why I encourage beginners to begin with jacks or better or bonus poker, not that they don't require some study, but it's more understandable to an amateur. Flop two pair, save two pair, etc. Plus the low variance keeps them playing longer and they get more enjoyment out of it.
Deuces isn't a high variance game either (not including double deuce, loose deuce, or triple deuce in the discussion)...but it's a more difficult game to play correctly.
One story, I was playing video poker at casablanca hotel in Mesquite, NV, a few years ago. A lady close by me is playing single line ugly deuces and flops 10c, 2,2,2,Ac. Flopped a wild royal. But didn't know what to do. She agonizes and agonizes, moans and hawks. I'm just enjoying the spectacle, and stop playing and just watched her curious at what she does. She asks her husband. He didn't know what to do. So what does she do? She does what 98% of deuces players do which is the wrong play, keep the deuces and go for it! Err, no deuce. After her play (notice I said after. I'll never say anything during play because experience has taught me they will usually not listen to you or blame you if it goes wrong)...I said to her the book says to keep the wild royal. Are you on vacation? She said yes, it's their last day. Then I told her, well, your here to gamble, go for it, forget the book. And that was that.

[FloridaPhil]

We think deuces gives the best overall VP value for your money.  Once you learn to play it right, the variance is relatively low and the excitement level is high. The royal and quad deuce jackpots make up a lot of the return, so you can have a bad day without one or more.  Frankly, I find it much more fun than waiting for a quad.   The fun of deuces is that over 40% of hands pay something and with the deuces in the game anything can happen.   It's a good game for earning comps because you can play a long time with your money compared to other money sucking games.

[billryan]

Okay, I guess I wasn't clear. My point was the bartender gave a guy playing three nickels three premium drinks plus a beer. It's nonsense like that that is causing casinos to lower paytables and put in meters.

[rapidbison]

Perhaps you weren't clear....You did say it was a bar, right?

[Chicagoan]

Okay, I guess I wasn't clear. My point was the bartender gave a guy playing three nickels three premium drinks plus a beer. It's nonsense like that that is causing casinos to lower paytables and put in meters.

Dang, I missed it completely. I thought you were complaining about someone taking their wife to a bar with them.

[rapidbison]

Perhaps if you were clear-voyant.....you would have predicted their final destination was mayb....the high-limit room....

[FloridaPhil]

I believe the reason they give free drinks in a casino is so people will gamble more.  This guy turned their ploy to his advantage.   Don't worry, he'll be back and the casino will get paid for the drinks plus a lot more. 

[Vman96]

I believe the reason they give free drinks in a casino is so people will gamble more.  This guy turned their ploy to his advantage.   Don't worry, he'll be back and the casino will get paid for the drinks plus a lot more. 


Not if he keeps playing 15c a hand. But it sounds like he is playing terribly, so maybe the casino will still end up ahead. Depends on how much Maker's Mark actually costs them. I have read many people complain that they can't get that comped at various Vegas casinos in the last few years.