Online Video Poker - Should I learn it?

[cbfair]

I've done a bit of casino whoring but now I'm thinking of getting serious.

Specifically for intercasino, as I look through wizard of odds, it looks silly to play anything except VP.

Question 1: If I'm gonna whore a casino, why should I play BJ or Pontoon over VP? Yeah, I know it may be harder to play optimally, but one can learn, right?

Question 2: If I'm gonna play VP and haven't read a book, should I rely on Bob Dancer's WinPoker or VP Strategy master to guide me? And if so, which is better?

Question 3: Can WinPoker generate a strategy card for a given paytable like VP strategy master? If yes, then that would answer question 2.

Thanks,

cbf

[Homer]

Question 1: If I'm gonna whore a casino, why should I play BJ or Pontoon over VP? Yeah, I know it may be harder to play optimally, but one can learn, right?

BJ and Pontoon have a lower HA than most forms of VP. Only FPDW and Double Bonus are better, and those are not readily available and the strategies are not simple. You should learn the strategy for JOB, though, for times when BJ is restricted.

Question 2: If I'm gonna play VP and haven't read a book, should I rely on Bob Dancer's WinPoker or VP Strategy master to guide me? And if so, which is better?

From what I've heard, they are both quality products. However, to whore casinos you don't need that stuff. Just use the strategies outlined at the WoO website, or use this site (has color-coded strategy cards for JOB, FPDW and Double Bonus <font color="blue">generated by VPSM</font>).

Question 3: Can WinPoker generate a strategy card for a given paytable like VP strategy master? If yes, then that would answer question 2.

No idea, sorry.

[playersare]

1. even with a similar theoretical house edge, the variance in VP will be higher due to the low likelyhood of hitting the "jackpot" hands, particularly the royal flush. although it only hits 0.02% of the time (once every 50000 hands or so), the 800 coin RF payout accounts for a full 1.98% of the full pay 9/6 Jacks or Better schedule. this variance becomes even higher with more exotic varieties like Full Pay Deuces Wild and 10/7 Double Bonus, even though the net return with perfect play is over 100% - this figure is almost impossible to realize in short term whoring sessions.

2. WinPoker is excellent software to practice on. for books, the best overall is probably "Video Poker - Optimum Play" by Dan Paymar. many reputable general gambling books, such as Steve Bourie's "American Casino Guide" also have the basic strategy chart for Jacks or Better, which is pretty much the only game you need to learn for manual VP whoring.

3. no, but the sources in my answer to #2 will do, and you can print them from the wizard of odds site as well.

stick to blackjack or pontoon at the Crypto casinos, and find good deals at Microgaming/Viper skins which still allow autoplay (read T&amp;C's carefully!) manual VP is a good option at Playtech sites which have significantly higher WR's for blackjack, or do not allow BJ at all.