Help Page

The information on this page describes the different tabs that are available in each video poker game analyzer:

• Game Info
• Paytable
• Options
• Hand Analyzer
• Paytable Analyzer
• Simulator
• Strategy Guide
• Training
• Programming

Game Info

The Game Info tab displays information about the game you are viewing.

Paytable

In the Paytable tab of each game analyzer, you can either select a predefined paytable from the drop-down list, or you can type your own paytable into the text boxes located to the right of each type of winning hand. If you move your mouse over an existing value, it will become highlighted so that you can type over it.

Options

In the Currency section of the Options tab, you can select a currency symbol, a coin size (0.01 to 100.00), and the number of coins played per hand (1 to 100).

In the Taxes & Tips section, you can select if taxes and/or tips are going to be withheld from large winnings. When you select these, the strategy will be adjusted by reducing wins which meet or exceed the threshold by the amount of taxes and tips deducted from them.

For games which offer a Sequential Royal Flush, you can also select which direction qualifies as a Sequential Royal Flush: TJQKA only, AKQJT only, or both.

Hand Analyzer

In the Hand Analyzer tab, you can analyze a hand (based on the paytable and options you have selected) by clicking on a card image within the deck to select the cards. After selecting the appropriate number of cards (five for most games, four for Double Down Stud and Pick 'em Poker games), click the Analyze Hand button to determine the best play. The results will also show you information about the less-than-optimal ways to play.

Click on New Hand to clear the cards so that you can enter another hand. Click on Random Hand to have the computer generate a random hand for you.

Paytable Analyzer

The Paytable Analyzer simply analyzes the game using the paytable and options you selected, and shows the long-term return using perfect strategy. This is basically identical to the Strategy Guide mode except no strategy guide is calculated or shown. This makes the Paytable Analyzer mode slightly faster than the Strategy Guide mode.

Simulator

In the Simulator tab, select a number of hands to simulate (up to 10,000 hands) and click the Simulate button. The hands will always be played using perfect strategy. A summary of statistics will appear after the simulation is completed, including a graph which indicates the fluctuation of the bankroll throughout the session.

Strategy Guide

The Strategy Guide section will analyze the game using the paytable and options you selected, and present a basic strategy guide based on the results. I recommend you read the bottom of the Creating Strategy Guides article for information about the strategy guides.

Training

The Training Mode lets you practice your skills using the paytable and options you selected. Click the Start Training button to be dealt a new hand. Click on a card to hold or discard it. When you have finished holding the card(s) that you think represent the best play, click the Check Play button to see if you were correct. If you made the correct play, a message will appear below the hand telling you so. If you made the incorrect play, the best play will be shown as well as a complete analysis of the hand.

Statistics of your accuracy during the session will appear above the hand. Click on the New Hand button to continue training.

Programming

The Programming tab displays the deck simplification model used for the game, as well as the hand scoring code. If there is something special about the game, such as Shockwave and Sequential Royal Flush games, then additional programming information will appear at the bottom of the page.