Huge variance advantage play

Right now there is a bank of reversible royal quarter video poker machines at Sunset Station where the jackpot is at $77,100 (as of 4 pm today). The best games available are 6/5 bonus and 6/5 super double bonus at 96.87%, but with the progressive factored in they are now both at ~100.3%. I didn't see anyone particularly hammering the machines, although a lot of people were giving it a go. I'm guessing professionals aren't really interested because of the insane variance involved, but it is fun to play quarter VP where you can actually win an amount that would move the needle.

The only strategy adjustments I've made is relatively simple ones like holding 3 to a sequential royal over anything. I assume with a 308,400 coin payout there are probably crazy plays like holding a singleton 10 on either side that are significantly better than throwing 5 away.

I bid you good variance if you attempt it.

I ran some strategies (for the 6/5 Bonus Poker version) using weighted payoffs for the royal based on the number of suited broadway cards that were dealt in a way that could result in a Reversible Royal on the draw:

For reference: Standard 6/5 Bonus Poker strategy

Strategy when dealt 4 to a Reversible Royal — but obviously the correct play is to go for the royal at all costs
Strategy when dealt 3 to a Reversible Royal
Strategy when dealt 2 to a Reversible Royal
Strategy when dealt 1 to a Reversible Royal (Queen in the middle)
Strategy when dealt 1 to a Reversible Royal (Ace/King/Jack/Ten)
Strategy when dealt 0 to a Reversible Royal

So if you are dealt 1, 2, or 3 to a royal in positions which cannot result in a Reversible Royal, then follow standard 6/5 Bonus Poker strategy. If they were dealt in positions which could result in a Reversible Royal, look at the appropriate strategy above to see if holding the n-to-a-royal is better than the standard play.

Also, the two strategies for single cards don't take into account the interaction between the ranks. For example, if you are trying to choose between a Queen of clubs dealt to the middle of the hand and the Ace of diamonds dealt to the first or last position, you need to look at both strategies to figure out which one to hold: figure out where the Queen falls in the "Queen in the middle" strategy and compare that to where the Ace falls in the "Ace/King/Jack/Ten" strategy to see which is the better hold (in this example, holding only the Ace is the better play).

Strategy? I thought you put in five quarters and pulled the handle? Well, okay... pushed the little red button.

You mean sequential royal?? In either direction?

Quote: AlanMendelson

You mean sequential royal?? In either direction?

Station Casinos have "Reversible Royal" machines where suited TJQKA or AKQJT will win the jackpot (on regular Sequential Royal machines only TJQKA will win the jackpot). There was a lawsuit in New Jersey brought by a player who got suited AKQJT on a Sequential Royal Flush machine and didn't get the jackpot he was expecting. The court effectively ruled in favor of the casino/IGT.

Honestly, just play the 100.76% Deuces Wild machines for greater return with lower variance. Hitting the 4 deuces is fun. (Or do they even have those machines anymore?)

Orleans has a couple three way progressives in nickels, I think, by buffet.

To be honest I thought the play had to be better than it was before I came home and ran the numbers. It didn't help that I had played the bank of machines on dollar denom at 8/5 super double bonus so at first I used that paytable and added the sequential royal.

At this point you are correct in saying this isn't even close to the best game in the casino, they do have FPDW. It is just rare you get to play a game that could return 61,800x your bet while still expecting to not lose money at a torrid pace.

Quote: Gazreal

To be honest I thought the play had to be better than it was before I came home and ran the numbers. It didn't help that I had played the bank of machines on dollar denom at 8/5 super double bonus so at first I used that paytable and added the sequential royal.

At this point you are correct in saying this isn't even close to the best game in the casino, they do have FPDW. It is just rare you get to play a game that could return 61,800x your bet while still expecting to not lose money at a torrid pace.

You can lose money at 6/5 Bonus pretty quickly; even faster at 6/5 Super Double Bonus. And the variance of the 6/5 Bonus machine with the reversible royals is currently over 2300...lol
Standard 6/5 Bonus is typically 20.65... 6/5 Super Double Bonus is 38.37...the highest variance traditional game, Triple Double Bonus at 9/5 is 100.53.

I'd obv play FPDW still at this point...variance: 25.84

And I am a little surprised that TJQKA is the accepted way for a one-way sequential. I always assumed it was the other way.

Quote: tringlomane

I am a little surprised that TJQKA is the accepted way for a one-way sequential. I always assumed it was the other way.

First, I certainly see and understand your point. Second, my guess why is because TJQKA counts up whereas AKQJT counts down. For example, if the jackpot were for a sequential straight flush, 56789 would win it but 98765 would not. At least, I think that is the logic IGT had in mind.

Circus Circus LV did and I believe still does have a Aces & Eights game with a up-or-down sequential royal jackpot that is almost always positive. You can play the best paytable for $0.50 credits. One time I was there, the JP was $45,000. Oh, how I wanted to hit that. It was hit about a month after I left (posted on their facebook page).

Quote: teddys

Circus Circus LV did and I believe still does have a Aces & Eights game with a up-or-down sequential royal jackpot that is almost always positive. You can play the best paytable for $0.50 credits. One time I was there, the JP was $45,000. Oh, how I wanted to hit that. It was hit about a month after I left (posted on their facebook page).

Yeah, I found the bank this past December on a ridiculous trek to go the "Chuck Jones Experience". It was okay for $15/pair of tickets. The Aces and Eights was about $26k then (so just had been hit I guess). I was tempted to jam some money into it real quick while the g/f went to the bathroom next to the bank. But my tightass didn't want to wager $2.50/hand. :(

Freemont

Found a real interesting machine last year. just 1 machine.

standard 8-5-4 Job with typical $1000.00 jackpot but sequential royal flush 50, 000 coin jackpot

Good information, has the Sunset reversible been hit yet?