Triple play for recreational players

[FloridaPhil]

Triple play gets you to the mythical "long run" much quicker than single line.

If there's light at the end of the tunnel, why not 10 play, 50, 100 or even 1,000 play if they offer it? It could be a train coming the other way....

[onemoretry]

If there's light at the end of the tunnel, why not 10 play, 50, 100 or even 1,000 play if they offer it?

I've never played (or seen) 1,000 play. I do like to play multiline, though, and regularly play 5 line 50c, 10 line 25c, and 50 line 5c games. Not everyone likes multiline but, to me, it's simply a lot more fun. And, for a given bet size, it's a lot less variable. I have never in my life played $2 single line video poker, a $10 wager, and probably never will. On the other hand, I regularly, and with with no hesitation, play multiline games at $12.50 per deal.

[FloridaPhil]

I've never played (or seen) 1,000 play.

Just kidding about the 1,000 play game. My point is, if the game is a loser why multiply your losses? If you believe you are going to beat the game, I guess it makes you feel that much more optimistic. When you play multi line games everything is magnified. If things go badly, they get ugly in a hurry.

Multi line games in our casinos are penalized. 98.9% deuces wild becomes 96%. 9/5 double double bonus becomes 8/5 and so on. There is no clever scheme or bet juggling strategy that will beat a game like that and there is no bankroll big enough to survive those odds.

You will see more jackpots playing multi line games. You will also see more worthless hands.

[FAA]

Twelve bucks a deal is unreal. I thought dollar single line on a sliding scale was max fun, despite my many busts. My $250 RF has been quite the castor oil to sour me.

[billryan]

Quarter ten play is $12.50 a spin, as is nickel fifty play. I find a bunch of promos kick in at $1,000 coin in, so playing either saves a lot of time, if the pay table dictates.

[FloridaPhil]

Quarter ten play is $12.50 a spin, as is nickel fifty play. I find a bunch of promos kick in at $1,000 coin in, so playing either saves a lot of time, if the pay table dictates.

Betting bigger definitely earns more comps. For me the question is, "What can I do with the extra comps?". I can already stay in the hotel for free. I can't eat any more free food. I don't drink alcohol. I don't go to shows and I no longer have a dog that needs grooming. Just kidding about the dog, but you get my point.

Comps only have value if they have value to you. The best comp has to be cash. Unfortunately, I have never been offered that option.

[Carcounter]

Start drinking alcohol Phil. Just kidding. I usually don't drink when I play VP, but on occasion will have a beer or two.

[FloridaPhil]

Start drinking alcohol Phil. Just kidding. I usually don't drink when I play VP, but on occasion will have a beer or two.

I drank enough in my younger days. My old stomach won't tolerate it anymore.

Comps are a great discussion on this forum. The experts rightly say they should added to the game's odds. 9/6 Jacks is a negative game by itself, add comps and you may have a profit opportunity. When I add up all my free play, free rooms and free food, it's a significant figure even playing at the quarter level. This helps offset the cost of playing negative games.

The problem comes at higher denominations. Let's take the Beau Rivage for example. The quarter Jacks or Better odds at the center bar is 8/5. The $5 odds for the same game in the high limit room are 7/5. You are penalized a little over 1% for playing $25 a hand. Even if the odds were the same, the coin in is much higher increasing your losses substantially. What could they possibly give me in Biloxi that could make up the difference? They could give me an end suite with a nicer view. Would I sleep any better? If they waved the 3% Mississippi State tax, the games are still a huge loser.

Comps only have value if they have value to you. Unless you can sell them for cash or trade them for something you want, they are worthless.

Obviously, no one who is concerned with profit and loss would play games like that. Players who play for entertainment do it all the time. I go to Biloxi knowing the games cost money to play. I know in advance what the casino is willing to give me. The balancing act is knowing how much play is good enough for the casino to invite me back. So far, playing low volatility games 5 quarters at a time works for both of us.

[onemoretry]

My point is, if the game is a loser why multiply your losses?

It's quite true that if you switch from single line to multiline and play the same denomination, you are multiplying your coinin and potential loss. You have to decide if the rewards for more play are worth it.

On the other hand, if you can play more hands with the same pay table at a lower denomination for the same total bet per deal, total coinin is the same, but variance is significantly reduced.

FWIW, at the present time, the multiline games I play are 10 line 25c JOB (9/6), 3,5 and 10 line 25c 8/5 bonus poker, 5 line 50c 8/5 bonus poker, 3,5 and 10 line 25c "airport deuces", 10 line 25c deuces wild bonus, and 50 line 5c deuces wild bonus.

[FloridaPhil]

FWIW, at the present time, the multiline games I play are 10 line 25c JOB (9/6), 3,5 and 10 line 25c 8/5 bonus poker, 5 line 50c 8/5 bonus poker, 3,5 and 10 line 25c "airport deuces", 10 line 25c deuces wild bonus, and 50 line 5c deuces wild bonus.

Those are all decent opportunities. Every casino and every game presents it's own challenges. You can't make assumptions without knowing all the facts involved. Just because a game is positive in Las Vegas does not make it so somewhere else.

The closest game I have to a local full pay game is single line quarter 8/5 Bonus Poker. Add in comps, free play and an occasional bonus and you have a fairly decent game. Playing bigger won't help as the odds are the same. The comp points and free play would be greater, but not enough to cover the house edge. They can give me all the free jackets and wine glasses I can carry off, but my closets are full now.