http://www.freevideopokergames.info/2009/06/how-can-a-video-poker-machine-have-a-100-payout-yet-i-still-lose/ Play Video Poker Online For Free Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:55:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 http://www.freevideopokergames.info/2009/06/how-can-a-video-poker-machine-have-a-100-payout-yet-i-still-lose/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Doug Sun, 14 Jun 2009 04:09:13 +0000 http://www.freevideopokergames.info/2009/06/how-can-a-video-poker-machine-have-a-100-payout-yet-i-still-lose/#comment-43 Human error is one reason. Every mistake from optimal play can cost you money. For example, if your playing Jacks or Better and get dealt: AcKcTc6cJh In general, you want to keep 3 to a royal in these situations, except when you have a straight penalty card...which is the Jh here...which will make keeping 4 to a flush slightly more profitable. So it's likely 99% of casual players will make the wrong play in this case and this will cost you a few pennies on the hand most likely. See: http://wizardofodds.com/jacksorbetter for more details The second reason which will happen to even flawless players is Variance. Roughly 2% of the total return on most video poker machines comes from hitting a royal flush. So for any stretch of hands where you do NOT hit a royal flush, you will likely win only 98% of your money back. Considering on most video poker machines, one can expect to hit a royal flush every 40,000 hands or so...it would be quite easy to lose a sizeable sum of money before that royal comes your way. Human error is one reason. Every mistake from optimal play can cost you money.
For example, if your playing Jacks or Better and get dealt:
AcKcTc6cJh
In general, you want to keep 3 to a royal in these situations, except when you have a straight penalty card…which is the Jh here…which will make keeping 4 to a flush slightly more profitable. So it’s likely 99% of casual players will make the wrong play in this case and this will cost you a few pennies on the hand most likely. See: http://wizardofodds.com/jacksorbetter for more details
The second reason which will happen to even flawless players is Variance. Roughly 2% of the total return on most video poker machines comes from hitting a royal flush. So for any stretch of hands where you do NOT hit a royal flush, you will likely win only 98% of your money back. Considering on most video poker machines, one can expect to hit a royal flush every 40,000 hands or so…it would be quite easy to lose a sizeable sum of money before that royal comes your way.

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