Playing Five Coins Versus One Coin in Video Poker
Is Playing the Maximum Number of Coins (also called Max Coin In) on a Video Poker Machine Always Preferable to Playing Less Coins In (i.e. One Coin, Two Coins, Three Coins, or Four Coins)? Let's Analyze the Situation of Playing 5 Coins versus One Coin and Decide, Finally, Whether it is Better to Always Bet the Maximum Number of Coins or if the Number of Coins Bet on a Given Hand of Video Poker Makes Any Difference At All?
Let's begin by analyzing the differences between the ratios of coins returned to coins bet on ALL video poker machines. By looking at the pay schedule of the machine on which you are playing, it is quite obvious that the pay out increases by a factor of 1 for each additional coin bet. For instance, on a typical Jacks-or-Better machine, a high pair pays one coin when one coin is wagered, two coins when two coins are wagered, all the way up to five coins when five coins are wagered. In this example, the only thing different in the payout is the fact that more coins are paid out when more coins are bet. The important fact to note here is that the pay out is always one to one, or the ratio of coins paid out is always the same no matter how many coins are bet- the ratio is always 1:1. Since there is absolutely no difference in the number of coins paid out versus the number of coins bet (i.e. the number of coins paid is the number of coins wagered), the ratio of coins paid versus coins wagered does not increase when more coins are wagered. Does this mean that what we've all been hearing about always playing maximum coins is a myth? Not necessarily. Let's analyze further.
There is one video poker hand, namely the Royal Flush, where this constant ratio is not the same for less than max coin in. Most Jacks or Better (as well as other types) video poker machines pay 250 coins for each coin bet for a Royal Flush for all bets except the maximum bet. The progression is constant: 250 coins for one coin wagered, 500 coins for two coins wagered, 750 coins when three coins are wagered, 1000 coins when four coins are wagered, until we get to the Royal Flush Jackpot, which pays 4000 coins for each coin bet only when the max number of coins are bet. The Royal Flush ratio is 250:1 for all payoffs except the payoff when the maximum number of coins are wagered, which jumps to 800:1 (or 4000 coins for 5 coins bet). This could explain why the typical advice given to video poker players is to always play maximum coins. But how significant is this fact? What effect does playing less than the maximum number of coins have on the return percentage of a video poker machine?
Well, the fact that the the Royal Flush Jackpot of 4000 coins is only paid when the maximum number of coins are bet does have an effect on the payout percentage of a particular video poker machine. The simple fact that the Royal Flush Jackpot pays 800:1 only when the max number of coins are wagered means that the overall return on the machine is greatest only when the maximum number of coins are played. Well, doesn't this mean that we should always play the maximum number of coins then? It all depends on your particular motivation for playing the game and what your goals are. If you are playing to extract the maximum percentage return from a video poker machine, then YES you should always play the maximum number of coins, but if you are playing for enjoyment and want to make your money last longer then you should NOT play the maximum number of coins. Wait a minute, you just said that by always playing the maximum number of coins in I would extract the maximum return percentage from a video poker machine--Yes, but then how can my money last longer if I play less than max coin in and, therefore, am NOT extracting the highest percentage return from a video poker machine? While these might sound like two contradictory statements, they, in fact, are not.
In order to extract the maximum percentage return, a player must play five coins, but the first four wagers, namely when the number of coins bet is between one coin and four coins, have a negative expectation. This means that the five coin player is giving up quite an edge to the machine in order to (later) be rewarded and achieve a return percentage that approaches 100% when, and only when, the Royal Flush Jackpot is hit and the huge 800:1 return is achieved. This 800:1 return makes up for the negative return that the player experiences in his or her quest to hit the Royal.
What does this mean in laymen's terms? The player who plays one coin will lose less than the player who plays two coins and the player who plays two coins will lose less than the player who plays three coins, etc. all the way up to the player who plays five coins who, in the long run, will achieve the best return of all, but the five-coin player had to give up a lot by playing coins one through four. The result is that the five-coin player requires the biggest bankroll and, since this player is risking the most, must play the most accurately according to the Basic Video Poker Strategy for Jacks-or-better Poker.
In conclusion, whether you should always play the maximum number of coins on a video poker machine depends on your motivation for playing the game. If you want to make your money last or lose the least amount in the short-term, then it is probably best to play the minimum number of coins in, or one coin at a time. If you are after the maximum return that can be achieved from your particular video poker machine, have a large bankroll and some time, then the only way you can achieve the maximum return is by playing the maximum number of coins on every hand, using the perfect video poker strategy and, possibly, belonging to a slot club that can get you further incentives for playing your favorite video poker game.
