Poker

Help me!
I now have "You've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em..." in my head!!!

[Mick Fan]

OK, Ammie. I'll help ...

"Know when to walk away, know when to run ..."

[Another day in Paradise]

"You never count your money when you're sitting at the table"

[The Drunken Actuary]

Back to the original question, sort of...How about video poker. I like to go to vegas and play black jack, but lots of folks say video poker has great odds too. Anybody ever play video poker enough to have an opinion? Last time I was in vegas I played a few times but not too much.

[Cynical Realist]

Simple Poker Rule:
The more basic the game the more strategy is involved. The more monkey the game the more luck that is involved.

MNPoker - I guess that's why you Minnesotan's call them Iowa Chimp Games. I I don't disagree with you. But you have to take the local opportunities where I can get them.

Not going to be there in March??? I just lowered my bankroll needs below 4 figures and raised my expected profit to a cool $350. Although I'll be disappointed your not there, I won't miss the competition especially against the drunken pigeons in that game.

I'm surprised NYNY doesn't have a Limo waiting to whisk you to the airport every Friday. I know they want you back badly.

VIDEO POKER - Yes, have played a ton - know it inside and out. There are money making opportunities there even for the .25 player between the expected value of the game, casino cash back and comps. You need to know the game very well - do not be afraid to pay for some information to learn how to play the different games.

However, the variances of some of the games can create some big swings in the short term - so it does take some bankroll to get past the down swings. There are many different games, some with bad paybacks, some with higher variances. You need to know what you are getting into.

The best bets are to stick to Jacks Or Better 9-6 machines if you can find them anymore. (That's 9 on the FH and 6 on the Flush). A lot of pros also pay a lot of Dueces Wild because of it's lower variance.

If you really want to learn get WINPOKER to practice on your computer at home. It's a great product. There;s a lot of info here: http://www.vphomepage.com/ and you can order WINPOKER here too.

The best part of Video Poker is if you are learning you can sit with your cheat sheets on your lap and play at your oen speed. The trend in the casinos is to dry up the best plays - there are quite a few pros who make a living off these things making 5 figures a year in profit. The casinos are starting to cut back the best opportunities.

You have to know how to read the pay tables - how to find games you know, and what are good Expected Value opportunities to "invest" your money in.

Oh well Jenny just won the semis down under - better get some shut-eye!

[PocketAces]

I played semi-professionally for about 5 years. Exclusively hold-em, generally 20-40, about 1000 hours a year. Also dabbled in tournaments.

[Mick Fan]

See TAN topic ...

[Darth Tater]

I've heard that Actuaries love to gamble. I personally have a thursday night poker game that is almost as important as making mass on Sunday. I've been to Vegas and look forward to going back soon, I hope.

Also, I rarely leave a loser at this little game.

[Numbers Nerd]

Ok, so I got a bit of a lesson on Saturday night. Now I'll ask for some advice. I often dropped out early - I was by far the most conservative player at the game. So I only won four pots in six hours - at a 9-person game. Was it bad luck, or should I stay more often? When the ante is $9, and the bet is $1 or $2, and everyone is in, it seems to me that pot odds change, so maybe you should be like everyone else and always call.
(game was $1 ante, $3 max bet. Played hold-em, 5-card stud, 6-card stud lowball mostly.)

Suggestions?

[switched]

NN:

You took 4 pots in 6 hours? How many did you LOSE? If you came out positive, and only played a few hands, you were doing it right. Boring (since you're out of most hands), but constant positive expectation. Only bet when you think you'll win.