Video Poker Trainer

This page is a distribution site for V0.7 (a beta version) of the Video Poker Trainer.

Overview

Video Poker Trainer is really two things: First, it is a simulation of the standard video poker game found in casinos. But, more than a game, it is tool to train you to play video poker to your maximum advantage.

Video poker is partially based on game of draw poker. The player gets five cards, chooses which cards to hold for an additional draw, and then gets paid depending on the resulting hand. Jacks or better are required to at least break even on the hand.

Like all the best gambling games, video poker combines luck with skill. In playing each hand, the player has a number of choices. The first choice is how much to wager -- typically one to five units, where a unit could range from $0.25 to $10. The ideal wager amount is based on several technical factors (bankroll size, size of the progressive pot) as well as non-technical factors (mood, comfort-level, purpose).

Once the wager is committed and the initial deal is made, the player is then faced with the decision of which cards to hold for the draw. This is where the number of choices blossoms and hard rule of mathematics takes over.

There are 32 possible combinations of hold cards, ranging from holding all five cards to holding none. The Video Poker Trainer teaches you how to choose correctly every time. The issue is complicated because the relative value of the different choices changes depending on the payout schedule.

You can play video poker at an advantage at a casino depending on the size of the progressive pot. Video Poker Trainer will help you gain that advantage. And, even if you just play a roll of quarters, one unit at a time, for a little fun, Video Poker Trainer will teach you how to keep the house advantage to the absolute minimum.

The heart of Video Poker Trainer is an analysis engine that determines the best sets of hold cards in real-time. This analysis does not rely on heuristic rules for choosing the best hand, but rather computes an accurate expectation value, taking into account the discarded cards and current payout schedule.