Visitreno

[alison]

So John and anyone else who plays VP at the Pep. What is the best game to play? I just dabble a bit in VP and think i might play some more of it this trip as it is better odds. not sure though what games are the best to play. help.......

[john]

I think the Pep has the best odds in town (or at least as good as anyone else). Check the machines, as the payouts vary from area to area, but most are good. Another thing is they pay 40 for a full house if you're playing 5 or 10 cents, but pays 45 for quarters or above. My favorite VP game is bonus poker deluxe because it pays 400 coins for every 5 bet. That's $100 playing 25 cents as opposed to $31.25 on jacks or better and or $62.50 playing any of the other bonus poker games. JD tricked me into playing at Atlantis last month and I won $300 playing $1 per hand (10 dimes) because the machine blessed me with about 5 4OAK's.

I know how much you loathe the Peppermill, but if you force yourself to play VP there, you'll probably enjoy it.

[alison]

Thanks John.

I will look for Bonus Poker Deluxe then. Is there any certain area they are located?

Are there any others that i should NOT play??

[Mammothgambler]

Hey Alison,

I didn't do hardly any video poker on this last trip but one thing I can tell you is DON'T bother with the Spin Poker over by the Dino Dollars area. I usually stick with Spin Poker because it gives you so many more combinations, and any type of Deuces Wild, and I usually at least win something, but the one Spin Poker machine I tried out with nickels took about $75!

I didn't get a chance to check out the machines in the Fireside Lounge, those sounded pretty good.

floridagambler

[john]

Hi Ali,

Some of the machines at the Pep don't have bonus poker deluxe, like the ones at the bar in nickel heaven upstairs. A lot of the machines on the floor don't have it. You can find it at the cube bar and the bar near the buffet, which is where I normally play.

FG, I've rarely had any luck at spin poker, but it's kind of interesting anyhow. I play that one low limit for pure entertainment once or twice a year.

[CaSwede]

I will throw in my 2 cents worth. Also, keep in mind this is free advise, and you get what you pay for.

VP is my game of choice at a casino, and I would recommend that a newbie start out with draw poker (Jacks or better). Why? It is an intuitive game that is pretty easy to play. Plus- the variance (volatility) is very low compared to other games. This means that your money should last longer. Look for the full pay version - 9/6. This means it will pay 9 for a full house and 6 for a flush for a one coin bet. If you play perfectly, this game will return 99.54% of your money. To obtain this return you need to play 5 coins per hand. If quarters are too rich for you, play at the nickel level.

Now if you find this game too boring, try playing Bonus Poker. The full pay version of this game is 8/5 (full house & flush). It is also an easy game to play and intuitive, but some of the 4 of a kinds are enhanced in value.

Now John mentioned Bonus Poker Deluxe, and I like this game, but unless you hit some four of a kinds, your money will go quicker than regular draw poker. Why? On draw poker two pair will pay you double your money, but on BP Deluxe, it will just pay you your money back. Two pair is a quite common hand, so you will get shorted on this every time. However, hit a four of a kind, and it will pay you much more. The variance on this game is much higher (more risk). 9/6 is the full pay version of BP Deluxe.

Another game that I like, but I would recommend staying away from for a newbie is deuces wild. I have seen newbie VP players make serious strategy errors. Take as an example a draw hand of 2-2-3-9-A For some reason a new player will hold the 2-2-A. The correct hold is just the two deuces.....the correct hold by far.

You are lucky you are playing at the Peppermill, as they have full pay versions all over the casino of the above games listed. One of my favorites is playing the Jacks or better at the Cabaret Lounge listening to live music.

Good luck!

[hawk]

The "Swede" has given you sound advice. With this exception: IF you study a bit beforehand about Deuces Wild, you can go OK on this by playing proper strategy. Sometimes my money lasts longer here than on other games.
Remember on this game you are going for FOUR DEUCES. Make that your primary play and you'll do OK but Swede's right that many people play it wrong.

But for a newbie, the best way to break in is 9-6 Jacks or Better or 8-5 Bonus. The Doulble and Double Double Bonus games require a lot of capitol often before getting a return.

[remano]

[john]

Remano is absolutely right about the new sports book machines. I was quite surprised to see the Pep stoop to such low tactics as cheating us out fo full pay on a royal unless max bet is played. Max bet is 50 coins up to a dime and 25 for quarters and dollars. I simply avoid the bar at the sports book because of that. Let's face it, 25 or 50 coin max is greedy enough, but requiring max bet for full pay royals is disgusting. AVOID THESE MACHINES, and let the Peppermill know why.

[Ryder]

Double Double Bonus is my game of choice.......but I agree with CaSwede stay with JoB if you a are somewhat newer to playing video poker

and stay away from Multi-Strike Video Poker....that machine is like crack cocaine

[Ryder]

[JD]

Well, choices of VP games is kinda like your favorite flavor of ice cream. If everyone liked the same, they'd only offer carmel almond crunch.

MY best luck in Reno at VP is deuces wild. My impression is if you can play enough hands, sooner or later you'll hit a natural royal. I usually look to the progressive totals and prefer playing at the bar.

I've hit two quarter progressives for over $ 2,200 each, a $ 4k dollar, and a couple of nickel royals with progressives over $ 400. I even hit a $ 1,000 at Harrah's when I was just trying to keep my card active. The Atlantis has some of those "Bet Max" buttons that rip off 50 credits in a heartbeat...BEWARE.

The WORST game is some damn Egyptian five reel slot at the P MIll. It'll suck up $ 50 bills like John empties a Heiniken!

http://wizardofodds.com/videopoker/tables/deuceswild.html

[CaSwede]

JD- you must play a lot of deuces wild to hit that many natural royals. Deuces wild is one of my favorite games, because you got a few high paying hands that can just make your day- Royal Flush and 4 deuces. Also, a wild royal flush pays the same as four of a kind on JOB.

In a non wild game, you will normally see a royal come your way about once every 40,000 hands. In deuces wild the frequency is about once evrey 45,000 hands. Take a draw hand of 10h, Jh, Qh, 2d,3c. In draw poker the correct hold is the 3 to a royal. Howver, in deuces wild you would hold the three to a royal and the deuce- thus you have no chance for a natural royal in the second case.

I finally hit my first natural royal in May at the Peppermill. It was a progressive for $1176.00 phew, just under the W-2G number. I sure have a ways to go to catch up to you!