New Game field trial "Poker with a Joker"

There has been some new game intros recently here in Nevada: Pai Wow poker, 40x Blackjack, DJ Wild, Go Fore it, and Poker with a Joker at Green Valley Ranch (which is a remarkable place to obtain a Nevada Field Trial.)

The new game is a casino-banked poker game where the players get five-card hands to play against the dealer - and with a fully wild joker floating around in the deck - which can end up in your hand, the dealer's hand, or on the community board, - which is pretty wild.

The humdingers of the game are pretty good:
1. On your five card hand, you can elect to either play your full five-card hand - as is without using the community board if you don't need it, or discard one card to add to a two-card comminty board, - discarding what you think is your hand's weakest card. Watch out if you have a flush draw with a straight draw or a good pair....Now this is a little bit like Video Poker - nail the big hand and Hold It All, else "draw" by adding in the community board to your hand, -- if you need to.

Obviously, if you have a four card flush draw or outside straight draw, you go for it unless it requires breaking up a pat pair of 8's or better (in which case you have a shot at two pairs, trips, quads, and still may have a draw, too). Let me also say that IF you get three to a straight but with the joker (e.g., 7-8-9-joker), you get a "Super-Draw" scenario, where you have FOUR ranks that can complete your straight - two ranks on each outside end - as the joker can move around wide to complete your straight (get a 5 or a 6 or a 10 or a jack, the joker will plug the straight for you. You will take this over a flush draw.)

2. After seeing your initial five cards, you may raise 1x or 3x, or fold, - if you have no face cards or any draw. You would fold about 1% of the time, as you consistently have a shot when the board is a later show. Fold only with a Jack-high hand or less with no draw at all, - pretty rare.

3. And this is the real kicker: the dealer has to show AND play his hand by a simple house way - before seeing the community board - so he may discard the wrong card.

That last feature makes this game remarkable: No other poker carnival game forces the dealer to set his hand blind before showing the community board - while all other community board casino poker games (like UTH, Texas Hold 'em Bonus, etc.) allow the dealer to declare his best hand after seeing the community board open to him, - so he can play his best hand against you "not blind." Not in this game: the dealer sets his hand blind by a house way - and hopes for the best, as do the players. So you get a last-call "Hail Mary" chance at the end of your round of play, virtually every time.

I also like the fact that the player is not forced to discard when he gets dealt a great "pat" five-card hand like a flush or a full house - he can just say "I'm sticking with THIS great hand dealt, - so I don't need the community board, and you can't force me to break up a monster hand." Good feature, making the discard optional to use the community board. Now...the player may still do so at his own choosing: If he gets a straight that is also four to a straight flush, he may gamble and try for the jackpot, - which is the best EV play in those rare circumstances, - but you retain that option at your control. Full House? break up the pair and use the board to try for the four-of-a-kind bonus if you want as a gambler - you already won the "wild-5" side bet on two pairs or better anyway, just using house money "for the try," is the thinking here. A Very Flexible Player's Poker game.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I know the man who developed this game, but don't want to say this is a plug - because what I am saying is that this man impressed me very much - friend or stranger or not - and that he not only came up with new poker-play stuff, - but that it looks good and plays very well. Very Exciting game from a good guy.

I will say that it is NO EASY FEAT getting your field trial at Green Valley Ranch Station, so the executives there clearly (and rightfully so, IMO) thought that both the man and his game deserved fine merit.

This game has a worthy shot, and this is my honest opinion, - even if I hadn't know him from Adam. I wish I had though of this stuff myself. I salute him.

Take a look of the recents field trial games in public play - and support them all if worthy - at:

Nevada Gaming Field trials as current

Quote: Paigowdan

There has been some new game intros recently here in Nevada: Pai Wow poker, 40x Blackjack, DJ Wild, Go Fore it, and Poker with a Joker at Green Valley Ranch (which is a remarkable place to obtain a Nevada Field Trial.)

Thanks for the information on Poker with a Joker. The GVR doesn't take chances in field trial games often. Where is this 40x blackjack game? Hasn't Pai Wow Poker been at the D, and previously Fitzgerald's, for as long as anybody can remember?

PaiGowdan, I'm a little confused by "you discard a card to add to the community board. " When you say add to the community it makes it sound like others or possibly dealer can use it as part of the community board.

Quote: Wizard

Thanks for the information on Poker with a Joker. The GVR doesn't take chances in field trial games often.

Mike-
No, they [Station Casino Executives] do not play around at all. They want things right and correct, and they were quite thorough and meticulous during this field trial examination.

Both Dr. Al Lwin (the inventor) and myself (assisting him) had to complete five live game demonstrations for them, as well as many technical discussions on the math and the GLI reports that Dr. Lwin, myself, and Charles Mousseau paid great attention to, - just going into this field trial proposal.

The Station Casinos executives were extremely thorough, and I would absolutely say that this was the most demanding and meticulous game consideration field trial review that I had ever seen after many years in the business.

The Station Casino executives were very gracious and observant, - but I will say there was also a very strong and polite sense that "you gentlemen need to get this right, with a great game and great showing here - or else you may need to have your field trial somewhere downtown or in Reno...[cough, ahem...]" I will say we understood this going in, as Green Valley Ranch is a serious gaming property; it is a both high-end property, as well a serious gambling hall for those who wish to play for real. We took it very seriously.

It was not at all some sort of perfunctory "perhaps you'll do all right with a 'decent' game demo," - instead it was absolutely the most demanding and serious game demonstration requirements from a casino operator that I've seen, having been a part of this work in the many years of working in the industry, designing games, and demo-ing games and doing dealer training.

Stations executives had reviewed the game thoroughly by the time of only our the second game demonstration, asking very sharp game play questions (particularly Mr. Jeff C., the Director of Table Games at Green Valley Ranch, as well as another very sharp top executive known as Richard.) They actually had tested us very thoroughly to ensure that the game would be strongly supported, quizing us on everything from the reasons on Dr. Lwin's artwork decisions, and the selection of the initial pay tables to use, and all participants were serious; some of Al's decisions were over-riden by Jeff, and for the very best of production reasons. Keep in mind that the game was to go into their primary gaming pit, and into a "Gem" Station's property, and was to be open seven days a week for many hours per day. They absolutely expected and recieved 100% dedicated and professional support after they felt the game itself was proven worthy, and alluring to players, and very solid. I assure you, anyone can see Dr. Al Lwin available daily, and near or in GVR with his cell phone strapped to his belt on "atomic vibrate and flash."

And yes, Mike, you are right - Green Valley Ranch does not take chances in field trial games very often, but they will for a rare promising game where the inventor goes the extra mile (or hundred), operating on the basis that if the inventor supplies true good faith effort, then they will consider it. With that, I say that this guy Dr. Al Lwin deserves a salute from all on this. They expect and demand that the game is solid, the game is alluring to players, the procedures are secure, the math is solid, and attention to detail was carried out in good faith. Al went so far as to dictate that the two-card community board is drawn from the top of a five card packet, and not the bottom, to prevent hole carding on the game, for reasons of game protection. Now this is close attention to detail from a game designer.

There were four separate dealer training sessions, for day shift and swing shift, seperated by a few days of the week to insure that all dealers had covered training, inspite of their day-off schedules. The dealers who took quickly to the game were primarily their poker game and Pai Gow dealers, but all dealers had training exposure, if needed to cover the game. A few minor layout descriptions and additions for additional clarity were required ("Bonus bet requires player's hand to beat dealer" to prevent confusion and shot-taking, etc.), but all-in-all, an exceedingly fine intro, I believe.

If the game is very good, it'll make it, and I believe that it is, but in all honesty, the jury of gamblers is still out, - as they decide in the end.

All in all, a serious effort with a lot of care. It's got an awesome shot, and we shall see. I believe and hope the game will make it.

To answer Mike's statement that "GVR doesn't take chances in field trials games often," I can attest that this is true, and that they do not, but when they do offer a field trial, they take it seriously and professionally. The QA/QC bar is very high at Stations, and at GVR in particular.

Quote: Wizard

Where is this 40x blackjack game?

I like this thing. It is an impulse Blackjack side bet that is sexy: make the side bet, and you bet-raise 40x on it (actually it's 4x, as you bet 10% of your main bet, but still it is hot.) Some places may not like it because it can change basic strategy, which'll really upset old school players. But I think it'll get into some places, and is worthy.

Quote: Hunterhill

PaiGowdan, I'm a little confused by "you discard a card to add to the community board. " When you say add to the community it makes it sound like others or possibly dealer can use it as part of the community board.

If you discard a card from your five-card hand, you can use the community board with your [now] four-card hand, - for best 5-cards in six total.

However, should you be dealt a fantastic complete hand (a flush, or five-of-a-kind, a full house, etc.), you can just play that monster hand without the requirement that you break a great complete hand apart.

Interesting. If it succeeds, I'll have to check it out.

Good luck with it.


I assume it's an even money bet, but where's the edge?

Also, is there a side bet?

Quote: DJTeddyBear

Interesting. If it succeeds, I'll have to check it out.

Good luck with it.


I assume it's an even money bet, but where's the edge?

Also, is there a side bet?

Dave, the game is complete.
The edge is in the bonus bet, going for a better hand for it; bonus bet (like the blind bet) pays on a straight or better, like UTH. (And in the dealer's qualification, where the Ante is a push if the dealer lacks a pair of 2's or better - also same as UTH).

Also, and so the player's edge is in the option to play your full hand or to "draw more" [by connecting to the community board] - with this decision being the player's choice, - which in a way, is a tiny bit like VP on a table game - to hold or get more cards.

Also the player'sw edge or humdinger edge is in the dealer possibly blowing his hand at the end [by playing a house way blind - a first for a casino poker game], instead of declaring his hand with all cards available.

There is a side bet based on your original hand dealt, called the Wild-5 side bet, paying big on two pairs or better.

Either Mike or Steve How or Eliot will write on this game at their sites - in fact, it would be interesting to see if the game is somehow AP-able (I think it is relatively tough,- very tough).

Intriguing, Dan. I've been working on a 'poker joker' concept myself, but it's significantly different from the one you describe.

Congratulations on the trial. Keep us posted.

Quote: Paigowdan

Either Mike or Steve How or Eliot will write on this game at their sites - in fact, it would be interesting to see if the game is somehow AP-able (I think it is relatively tough,- very tough).

I don't know if the rules you posted are sufficient to do that. Can you post a rack card, either here or on your corporate site?

Quote: Paigowdan

Mike-
No, they [Station Casino Executives] do not play around at all. They want things right and correct, and they were quite thorough and meticulous during this field trial examination.

Then why did they install at least 100 Guaranteed Play machines at the Red Rock. I think the other Station casinos had plenty as well. The number of times I saw anybody playing Guaranteed Play --- Zero.

However, anybody can make a mistake.

I may have the chance to visit the GVR on Wednesday. Will Joker Poker be open in the afternoon?