Hey, solid advice on starting with the paytable—it’s definitely the foundation for any video poker tweak. I’ve been messing around with some offbeat ideas on these new variants myself, and one thing I’ve noticed is how much you can stretch your edge by playing around with the discard timing. Like, instead of auto-dumping the obvious trash hands, I’ll sometimes hold onto a weird combo—like a lone ace with a suited kicker—if the machine’s got a quirky bonus payout for specific flushes or something. It’s not textbook, but it’s paid off more than once when the stars align.
Max coin bets are a no-brainer for that royal flush chase; I’ve been burned too many times skimping there and watching the screen taunt me with a “what could’ve been” payout. On the multi-hand stuff, I hear you on low pairs—I’ve been experimenting with splitting my focus across hands, like holding a pair in one and fishing for a wild card in another if the variant’s got some funky modifiers. It’s a slow grind, but it keeps the bankroll breathing when the cards aren’t cooperating.
Volatility’s a beast, no doubt. I’ve been toying with a goofy side strategy: if the machine’s high-variance, I’ll scale my bets down for the first dozen hands or so, just to feel out its mood—almost like it’s got a personality. Probably sounds nuts, but it’s saved me from a few early wipeouts. Adapting’s the name of the game for sure; these new variants are like puzzles begging for a fresh angle. Anyone else tried something off-the-wall that’s actually worked?
