I was playing a 9/6 Jacks or Better slant top at the Borgata one night last week. The casino was rather empty, as is typical of December in Atlantic City. Two women, apparently mother and daughter, took a machine near me, checked that it was indeed 9/6 Jacks, and started to play. They didn’t notice that that particular machine shorted the 5-coin straight flush by 11 coins, paying 239 instead of the standard 250. Two full-pay machines near them were unoccupied.

They didn’t know strategy either. The daughter played and the mother coached. “You want to hold the Jack, King and Ace,” the mom said. “That way you have a chance to match any one of them for a high pair.” Daughter followed directions. As any semi-competent video-poker player knows, the correct play is to hold the Jack and King alone. A few moments later, the daughter got Jack, Queen, King and Deuce of Hearts along with another card. Mom advised her to go for the flush as it was “better odds.” Wrong again. The proper play is to go for the royal.

On Saturday, I went to the Showboat to pick up some bounceback cash. As most players know, they have reduced their full-pay inventory to eight machines in the House of Blues section. I had to wait for a seat. I watched an older woman play 9/6 Jacks or Better to occupy the time. If she got a low pair with a high card in the hand, she held the “kicker.” I saw her do it several times. Fortunately for her (or unfortunately, in the long run), the matching high card came out several times to give her two pair. She also discarded low pairs in favor of two or three high cards, another bad play.
This got me to thinking. A lot of casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas are decimating their full-pay inventories out of fear that advantage players might win a few bucks from them. Watching these players at work last week, I don’t think they have anything to worry about.
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