VP Pay Schedules:
full pay vs. short/partial pay
I am sure that many Video Poker Players out there are familiar
with the expressions 'full pay,' 'short pay' and 'partial
pay', but, others may ask 'what does that mean'?
The explanation and examples given below should be required
'reading' before play on any VP machine. 'Reading the pay
schedule', that is. We begin with a basic 'plain vanilla'
VP machine pay schedule for Jacks or Better (Jacks+). This
version is usually the choice of newbie VP players.
Following is a full-pay 9/6 regular VP pay schedule for Jacks
or Better: Multiply by 5 for maximum coin play.
Pair--Jacks or Better returns the bet.
Two pair (2 PR) pays 2-1 (exception with Bonus machines).
Three-of-a-kind (3/kind) pays 3-1
Straight (ST) (sequence, not same suit) pays 4-1
Flush (FL) (non-sequential, same suit) pays 6-1
Full house (FH) (3 of a kind and a pair) pays 9-1
Four-of-a-kind (quad) pays 25-1
Straight flush (SF) (in sequence, same suit) pays 50-1
Royal flush (RF) pays 250-1(except with max. coins, pays
4000 or the rarely seen 4700.)
If you bet 5 coins, all winning hands are paid out multiplied
by a factor of 5, except for the Royal Flush. This is a bonus
amount designed as an incentive to play five coins. All those
players who play less than max. coins are setting up the best
payoffs for those who do.
On 8/5 machines, a full house pays 40 for a full house and
only 25 for a flush. You may think that 5 coins doesn't make
that much difference, think again-you are now playing a short/partial
pay machine. Casinos place them on the floor, counting on
the uneducated players not noticing the difference.
You are looking at a distinct casino advantage with partial
pay machines. Calculate that loss of winnings/hour and it's
not a pretty picture as shown below.
9/6 Jacks+ expected loss playing 5 coins per hand is $13.20/hour;
8/5 Jacks+ costs over $20/hour; and lousy 6/5 VP's over $30/hour.
Knowing which slots to play saves you about $7-17/hour. Choose
carefully.
In fact, casinos hold 2% more money on VP's because players
do not play strategically. Therefore, the full-pay machines
are placed at no loss to the casinos, however, a benefit to
those of us who are or who will soon become educated, intelligent
players.
At one Vegas casino, the Mega Poker machines were offering
a $29,000 jackpot. The big jackpot was hit quickly the first
time, but management noticed that the second big payoff was
slow in coming--little jackpots only--what was happening?
Then they discovered the reason-gamblers were not playing
the maximum coins. These players were one or two coins away
from $29 grand--an expensive lesson learned!
I will discuss Deuces, Jokers and Bonus pay schedules in upcoming
articles.
In the meantime, may all your VP choices turn out to be 'royalty'.
Gayle
Mitchell is the author of Casino Gambling Made Easier books, Ebooks,
booklets & the Slots Trilogy.
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