90-9-6 Jacks or Better: what should I do?

Update 10/17: This machine is gone. :^( A week after I posted this, we went back, and half the casino was down due to a blown transformer. After they got it powered back up, that bank of machines was "Out of service," so I figured that it's time was short. It was still there through September, though, so I guess they couldn't change it immediately. Anyway, as of last Thursday, it's 6-5 Jacks, just like the other machines in the bank. Didn't matter much anyway, since most of the time it was in use, usually by video keno players.



So, I discovered a random 90-9-6 Jacks or Better last time I went to Ak-Chin. I'll be there again this weekend, so if it's still there, I'm going to play the hell out of it. The biggest thing I'm trying to decide on is what denomination I should play (25¢, 50¢, or $1).

90-9-6 is a hair under 100% (99.9962%, to be precise), which would indicate playing quarters (to minimize loss).

But since the loss is so tiny, I might as well play dollars to maximize any wins.

But the variance at a dollar might eat me alive, so maybe split the difference?

Or am I overthinking this?

(And if the 90-9-6 machine is gone, I think there are some x-line 9-5 Ultimate X/Super Times/Whatever machines in small denominations. If I can play them at 5 coins, they'll play just like regular x-line 9-5 JoB, right?)

If you're looking to make a specific win, play at the largest denomination possible until you hit your target or go bust trying.

However, what makes video poker awesome is the slot-like high variance with very reasonable odds. If you're looking to "play the hell" out of it for a long period of time (considering it's one of the best places to be throwing your money), I'd play quarters. There's a decent chance you'll be able to hit a big win on quarters, as well.

If it were me, I'd play with quarters (me being a low roller and all).

Quote: wildqat

(And if the 90-9-6 machine is gone, I think there are some x-line 9-5 Ultimate X/Super Times/Whatever machines in small denominations. If I can play them at 5 coins, they'll play just like regular x-line 9-5 JoB, right?)

Emphatically not, for the Ultimate X. The strategy varies from hand to hand, according to the sum of all the multipliers currently active. Also, since half of your wager goes to activating those multipliers (not just 1/6th, as in STP), there is a LOT of variance, even at JOB. I think that the game is a blast, but a word of warning: I've played the .05 3-line version and a session bankroll of $300 was barely adequate.

The Harrah's Total Retards points you would earn on the 90-6-90 JOB would push the game into positive territory, a near-miracle for AZ video poker, so I would play the game for dollars as long as I could, until Harrah's realized its mistake and took the machine out back and shot it. If you haven't done Doofus in a Day, that might be a very good way to do it, with positive EV to boot.

Quote: mkl654321

The Harrah's Total Retards points

A misspelling, typo, or tasteless pun?

Depends on how much you're willing to lose. With dollars, you could easily lose $15-20K if you "play the hell out of it." With half-dollars, half that, etc. The straight flush doesn't come up that much, as you know -- the variance is higher than regular 9/6. The strategy is different, too. Since you're asking the question here, I assume you don't have a bulletproof bankroll, so I would play quarters. If you hit something really big, like a RF or SF, then maybe switch to half-dollars.

Thanks for the replies. I guess when I said "play the hell out of it," I really meant "play it as exclusively as possible." :^) Of course, that wound up being a moot point anyway, since the machine was occupied by keno and slot players most of the time. I did get some time on it shortly before we left, and I managed to cash out $47.50 up playing quarters (and thirty seconds after I stood up, the keno player next to me reserved it for her friend). The rest of the time, I was playing the 10¢/10-line 9-5 Jacks or Better (see below).

It is true that I'm a cheapass low roller, but this is too good an opportunity to pass up. Normally, I wouldn't even be asking the question (I'd just be playing quarters), but I think that if I (or someone else) hit a jackpot on JoB, that it will, as mkl654321 said, be taken out back and shot. Playing dollars gives me the best chance of capitalizing on the opportunity, but also the best shot of running out of money in the process.

Quote: teddys

With dollars, you could easily lose $15-20K if you "play the hell out of it."... The straight flush doesn't come up that much, as you know -- the variance is higher than regular 9/6. The strategy is different, too.

Oh, I know. I still have yet to hit a SF on something other than Deuces Wild, even with mostly proper strategy (which I got from VP Genius. Thank you for that, BTW). The variance is only a little higher than 9-6, though (it's still less than Bonus Poker, for instance). I think it'd be tough to lose $15K+ without pumping ten times as much through the machine first, but I could see being down more than the value of the royal before I hit one.

Quote: wildqat

(And if the 90-9-6 machine is gone, I think there are some x-line 9-5 Ultimate X/Super Times/Whatever machines in small denominations. If I can play them at 5 coins, they'll play just like regular x-line 9-5 JoB, right?)

I answered my own question on this:

a) They're Super Times Pay with 9-5 JoB at 10¢/10 line (there are higher denoms with fewer lines running 7-5 JoB X-( )

b) If you play 5 coins, it does play like normal multiline poker, and the variance is loads lower than playing with the bonus bet (which is what I'm looking for), or $1 single line.

Quote: mkl654321

positive territory, a near-miracle for AZ video poker

Actually, positive territory isn't all that miraculous if you count progressives. Desert Diamond has some 25¢ 8-5 progressive JoB machines that get positive every so often (they were $2350 a couple weeks ago, which is 102.7%), and Wild Horse Pass had some Double Bonus progressive machines that paid $500+ on quad aces and $200+ on quad 2-3-4 (don't know if they're still there). The variance is murder, though. :^)

Quote: wildqat

Oh, I know. I still have yet to hit a SF on something other than Deuces Wild, even with mostly proper strategy (which I got from VP Genius. Thank you for that, BTW). The variance is only a little higher than 9-6, though (it's still less than Bonus Poker, for instance). I think it'd be tough to lose $15K+ without pumping ten times as much through the machine first, but I could see being down more than the value of the royal before I hit one.

Actually, it's very easy to put in $15-$20K action in a day if you are playing dollars. At 750 hands an hour (fast speed), you can do it in 3-4 hours. Do that for ten days, you'll have given them $150,000 in action. A return of 75% on that isn't outside the realm of probability. Also, you should have at least 3 to 4 times the royal in bankroll. I know it's tempting to underestimate your bankroll needs and think you'll have good-to-break even luck. Take it from someone who has been there -- don't do anything reckless.