I was playing $10 Bonus Poker at the M Resort in Las Vegas at 5 a.m. one morning. I know it’s too early for most players to be at a casino but there was a method to my madness. The machines I want to play are at a bar in a room that is frequently rented out for luncheons or other functions. If an organization rents out the room, they expect the room to be devoid of players for the duration. If I get there early enough, there’s a really good chance I can finish my play uninterrupted.
I was dealt 2♠ 2♥ 2♣ 8♦ 9♦. I tossed the diamonds, of course, and was fortunate to draw 2♦ A♦, making the final hand four deuces with an ace “kicker.”
This was a $2,000 jackpot and I quietly waited for an attendant. They have a system at the M where jackpots trigger some sort of electronic message which gets relayed fairly quickly to a floor person. I typically bring a book along in case this takes awhile. At this time of day, they have a skeletal crew because there are relatively few patrons compared to other times of the day and things can back up if two or more jackpots happen at the same time.
When the attendant came up, he smiled and said, “Very good! With a kicker!” Were I playing Double Double Bonus, the hand would be worth $8,000. Had I been playing Triple Double Bonus or Deuces Bonus on the same machine for the same denomination, the jackpot would have been worth $20,000 rather than a “measly” $2,000. When he first saw the number pop up on the screen, he assumed there was another zero because after all, it was a $10 game and good jackpots on such a big game must be “YUGE!” (or however you spell this year’s new word).
When he finally realized that the game I was playing didn’t pay extra for good kickers, he told me I had wasted the ace. I could have used it so much more lucratively in other games.
I smiled. I took this as friendly “advice” from someone who meant well.
“True,” I said. “But unfortunately they don’t let you pick the game after you hit the jackpot! I guess I’ll just have to live with this.”
To my mind, I didn’t waste the ace. “Wasting the ace” presumably is based on the theory that we only get so many 2222A jackpots in our playing career and we must maximize the value of each one.
I don’t subscribe to that theory. There is no video poker scorekeeper in the sky keeping track of how many times I’ve received that particular hand.
The 99.45% version of Deuces Bonus, with appropriate play, yields such a hand every 36,200 hands. It’s possible to get two or three of those jackpots in the same day. It’s possible to go several hundred thousand hands without hitting it. Whether I stay on the same machine or switch lots of time; whether I leave for the day after losing or winning some predetermined amount or keep playing straight through; whether I average four hours of play every three months or 40 hours a week–none of those things matter.
What does matter? The return on the game is one important factor. If Triple Double Bonus is the highest paying game in a casino within the range of denominations I prefer — and I can afford the swings — and if I play there at all, that’s the game I’m playing. If Bonus Poker pays the most, I’ll play that.
The first game has a sky-high variance. That means it’s very exciting and you’ll either win or lose a ton. The second game has one of the lowest variances in video poker. For some players that means it’s the most boring. How exciting or boring a game is isn’t in my list of major concerns.
The slot attendant had to come back to pay me. He didn’t actually give me $2,000 in cash (although he would have if I wanted it that way), but rather left the 200 credits on the machine so I could continue playing.
He was still a bit sorry for me that I had wasted that ace, but I assured him that I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it — and getting the fourth deuce was good news and I was happy with the hand. He shrugged like I was really confused but he didn’t want to embarrass somebody who couldn’t understand his point. And then he left.
Though the article takes place at 5 am, if it was during the middle of a busy day, I have personally experienced that there is much guilt tripping that goes on by other people playing nearby if I got a premium quad outside of DDB/TDB. This article helps players to see the long term benefit so thank you Mr. Dancer for this motivating piece.
It is not worth giving up an additional 1% house edge to play 9/6 Triple Double Bonus (I believe that is what I saw two months ago) over Bonus Poker to get those jackpots. If both games are on the same bartop, I believe the M Resort will rate them the same ADT value as well. Aside from potentially losing more, a big single day win may also affect the next few mailers based on rumors I’ve heard.
I have yet to see any sort of comprehensive report or compelling evidence that constantly moving around machines would yield better results from the superstitious folks on the web. If I get to play in a lesser smoke location and/or buttons in good working condition, I’m not going to relinquish my spot until I’m done playing.
Alpax:
I have wondered for years about moving from one machine to another when the machine I am playing seems to get “cold.” If you ever run into any info about this in the future, it would be great if you could post it. I would be very interested. Thanks.
Is M Resort bounce back that good to make bonus poker a positive play? I assume on 2x points day your around 99.77% so you are still looking at finding 0.23% for an even handshake.
From a RNG standpoint, had you been playing TDB instead a that precise millisecond, would you have gotten the same result?
I think the point you’re making is pretty obvious to anyone with a functioning brain. Obviously, there is no allotted ration of good hands. When I’m playing FPDW and I’m dealt 222xx, and I wind up with four of a kind, I don’t bemoan the fact that I’ve “wasted” three deuces.
What I’m really interested in is what aspect of your play made it actually profitable to play a normally 99.17% game. MLife benefits don’t even come close to making up for that.
Earlier I was playing 8/5 SDDB getting creamed when finally was dealt four 4’s + 9. Drew an 8 so only hit the 400 credits. Not long after, drew four 2’s no kicker for another 400. Was hanging around when within 20 minutes hit four J’s + 3 clubs twice! Four K’s no kicker followed a bit later. Started losing bad as this game can go when held KQQQ and pulled the one outer Q for 800 credits. Took a restroom break and got a drink.
Came back and decided to just play the 8/5 BP. Only 20 minutes in and holding a lone A, the draw was JAAA for the 400. Had that same attendant saw that, he probably would’ve said the same thing about not getting that hand on SDDB for 1600 credits instead. I kept playing and about half an hour later, holding 33, I drew A33! I was fine with all outcomes and didn’t question a thing.
Hi Bob, could you please tell me what the variance is for deuces wild bonus poker? Or direct me to a sight. Thanks for all your great information. Tony Bellisario, Moorpark, Ca.
This isn’t really the place to ask such questions. In the future, for questions unrelated to the current blog, contact me at [email protected]
That said, the “standard” 9-4-4 version (99.45%) has a variance of 32.66 — which is a bit higher than regular Deuces Wild, but not by much