Hey, um, anyone tried mixing up their VP strategy with some blackjack-inspired moves?

[denle]

Hey everyone, I’ve been tinkering with my video poker game lately and, uh, had this odd thought about borrowing some blackjack ideas. I know it sounds a bit out there since they’re different beasts, but hear me out. In blackjack, you’re always weighing when to hit or stand based on the dealer’s upcard and your odds, right? So I started wondering if I could apply a similar mindset to VP, especially with hands where the decision isn’t super clear—like, say, holding a low pair versus chasing a flush draw.
I’ve been playing mostly Jacks or Better lately, and there’s this spot where I’d normally just keep the pair and move on. But then I thought, what if I treated it like blackjack and considered the “dealer’s edge”—or in this case, the machine’s paytable odds? I started digging into the expected value of each move, and it got me second-guessing the standard strategy a bit. For example, with a hand like 7-7-9-10-J (no suit match), the safe play is holding the sevens. But if I think about it like blackjack, where you sometimes take a risk based on the situation, I wonder if going for the straight might shake things up profitably over time.
I ran some quick numbers—not full-on simulations, just back-of-the-napkin stuff—and it seems like the EV difference isn’t as big as I expected. Standard strategy says the pair’s the way to go, with an EV around 0.45 or so, while the straight draw sits closer to 0.38. But if you’re on a machine with a slightly juiced paytable, or if you’re in a streak where draws feel hot, could it be worth the switch? I’m not saying it’s a game-changer, just that it’s got me rethinking those middle-ground hands.
Has anyone else tried mixing things up like this? I’m kinda hesitant to lean too hard into it without more data, but it’s been fun to experiment. I’d love to hear if you’ve played around with VP decisions in a way that’s, uh, not exactly by the book.

 

[bartchmiel]

Yo, that’s a wild idea, and I’m totally here for it! Mixing blackjack vibes into video poker? That’s the kind of out-of-the-box thinking that gets my blood pumping. I haven’t gone as far as you with the EV napkin math—respect for that, by the way—but I’ve definitely been screwing around with some unconventional plays in Jacks or Better myself, and your post got me thinking about how I approach those murky hands.

So, I’m all about high-risk moves, especially when the payoff feels like it could hit big. Your example with the 7-7-9-10-J hand hits home because I’ve been in that exact spot, staring at a low pair and wondering if the machine’s daring me to chase something spicier. I usually lean toward the pair because, you know, it’s the “smart” play, but I’ve started experimenting with breaking the rules a bit, kinda like you’re saying with the blackjack mindset. Instead of treating VP like a math puzzle, I’ve been thinking about it more like a penalty shootout—you know, where you’ve got to read the moment, trust your gut, and maybe take a shot that’s not the obvious one.

For instance, last week I was on a 9/6 Jacks or Better machine, and I got dealt 6-7-8-9-Q, no suits matching. Standard play is to hold the 6-7-8-9 for the straight draw, right? EV’s decent, around 0.43 or something. But I was feeling cocky, like I was in a high-stakes shootout, and I decided to just keep the 7-8-9 and ditch the 6 and Q, going for a gutshot straight or maybe even a miracle pair that could ladder up. Dumb? Maybe. But I hit a 10 on the draw, and that straight payout felt like nailing a top-corner penalty. The rush was unreal.

Now, I’m not saying I’m throwing strategy out the window—my bankroll wouldn’t survive that—but I’ve been playing with this idea of “situational risk,” like you mentioned with blackjack’s hit-or-stand vibe. In VP, it’s not about the dealer’s upcard, but I’ve been paying more attention to the flow of the session. If I’m on a hot streak, or if the machine’s paytable has a little extra juice on straights or flushes, I’m more likely to chase a draw over a pair. I figure it’s like picking your moment to shoot in a penalty kick—sometimes you go safe, sometimes you blast it and pray.

Your point about the EV gap being smaller than expected is super interesting. I haven’t crunched numbers like you, but I’ve noticed that on some machines, especially ones with slightly better payouts for straights or four-of-a-kinds, the riskier plays don’t hurt as much as you’d think. I’ve been keeping a sloppy log of my sessions, and when I go for those “blackjack-inspired” risks—like tossing a low pair for a flush draw with two high cards—it doesn’t tank my results as bad as I feared. Maybe it’s variance, maybe it’s luck, but it’s got me wondering if there’s a sweet spot for bending the rules without going full degen.

Have you tried this on other VP variants, like Deuces Wild or Bonus Poker? I’m curious if the logic holds up there, since the paytables and wild cards mess with the odds. Also, do you ever factor in the machine’s “vibe”? Like, if you’re hitting draws left and right, do you lean harder into those riskier plays? I know it’s not scientific, but sometimes I swear the machine’s telling me to take the shot. Anyway, love the idea, and I’m gonna keep tinkering with this hybrid approach. Keep us posted if you stumble on any game-changing combos!