Three credit progressive Video Poker

Hello! I'm currently at Harvey's Lake Tahoe and ran into what is in my experience a somewhat unusual Video Poker game at the California bar here. Several of the machines are configured with a $1 3 credit max bet Video Poker game. It otherwise follows the standard 8/5 jacks or better pay table except for the addition of a progressive that pays on a royal flush, straight flush, and 4 of a kind. The royal starts at $2500, the straight flush at $150, and the 4 of a kind at $75 nd the 3 credit max bet. Has anyone encountered this game elsewhere? Also does anybody know the odds on such a game and at which point the progressive makes it a positive game?

You can use the Wizard of Odds return tables to find the answer.

Assuming you will not be varying your strategy with the size of the progressives, you can use this procedure: For the 4 of a kind, multiply the amount of growth in its progressive above $75 by 787.63. For the straight flush, multiply its progressive growth above $150 by 35.89. And for the royal flush multiply the difference between its progressive and $2500 by 8.30. Add these three numbers. If the total is greater than 26,185.85, then the machine has a positive EV.

For example, if the royal is at $2500, the straight flush is at $150, but the 4 of a kind is at $109, then the total is simply 787.63 X ($109 - $75) = 26,779.42, which is greater than 26,185.85. Therefore, the machine has a positive EV at that point [if you use (800...)8/5 jacks or better strategy.]

Quote: antcomp

Hello! I'm currently at Harvey's Lake Tahoe and ran into what is in my experience a somewhat unusual Video Poker game at the California bar here. Several of the machines are configured with a $1 3 credit max bet Video Poker game. It otherwise follows the standard 8/5 jacks or better pay table except for the addition of a progressive that pays on a royal flush, straight flush, and 4 of a kind. The royal starts at $2500, the straight flush at $150, and the 4 of a kind at $75 nd the 3 credit max bet. Has anyone encountered this game elsewhere? Also does anybody know the odds on such a game and at which point the progressive makes it a positive game?

sounds like you are getting and extra 33.33333333333333333 coins over a standard 5 coin VP machine on the Royal Flush. 97.38 VS 97.30. You need to make up 2.62 % somehow. The Royal adds about 2%, the Str8 Flush adds about .5 , the 4 of A kind adds about 6%.

Most likely you will have a play because the 4 of a kind get's high enough. It would be slightly over break even if the 4 of a kind get to 50% above the reset amount

Knowing what the meter move is on all 3 of the meeters is important for a few reasons, for now this will help determine how often you might find a play.

Thanks guys! I looked at the return tables earlier and even tried to run it through to get a strategy. However, I wasn't quite sure how to reconcile the $3 max bet as opposed to the standard $5, to trigger the progressive.

Quote: antcomp

Thanks guys! I looked at the return tables earlier and even tried to run it through to get a strategy. However, I wasn't quite sure how to reconcile the $3 max bet as opposed to the standard $5, to trigger the progressive.

Any Idea what the meter movement is ? If it's really low, it will be rare to get a play.

Since it's a progessive the strategy will "slightly" change from a standard 8/5 strategy as it goes up. RF and stright flush draws mainly. Hands like K 10 ss, 3 card streight flush draws.

I would just put it at 5 coins adding the apropriate amount in for the progessive amounts.

Those machines have been there for years, so if there is a play at times someone is on top of it.