Simple Jacks or Better Strategy Tutorial

Statistical Arbitrage strategy applied to Video Poker

Introduction

Jacks or Better is a popular video poker game available at many online casinos. When collecting casino matched deposit bonuses, it counts towards wagering requirements for most online casinos, has a high payout, and a large jackpot.

This article will show readers how to calculate and maximise their expected return when using Jacks or Better to clear Casino bonuses. In effect, this is a statistical arbitrage strategy similar to that used by Casinos to maintain a house edge against players.

Readers who do not already know how to play Jacks or Better are advised to read this tutorial covering the basics.

Simple Optimal Strategy

CSBS favours a simple Jacks or Better strategy as it allows a faster rate of play with minimal expected loss. 5 coins should be played per hand as this maximises the payout from a Royal Flush.

This simple strategy has a 99.46% payout. To use the it, find all the ways to play a possible hand from the list below, and select the one that is highest. A high card is one that is a Jack or better (i.e. Jack, Queen, King or Ace).

To execute the strategy, players simply play the initial hand that is highest in this list:

Full house or better

4 to a royal flush

Straight, three of a kind, or flush

4 to a straight flush

Two pair

High pair (i.e. pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings or Aces)

3 to a royal flush

4 to a flush

Low pair (i.e. pair of Tens or lower)

4 to an outside straight

2 suited high cards

3 to a straight flush

2 unsuited high cards (if more than 2 pick then pick lowest 2)

Suited 10/J, 10/Q, or 10/K

One high card

Discard everything

Expected Returns - Intercasino US Example

Before claiming any casino deposit bonuses, it is important to understand the terms and conditions, and any wagering requirements. As an example, we shall consider claiming the Intercasino US $90 monthly deposit bonus, and demonstrate how to calculate the expected return.

At time of writing, Intercasino US offer a $90 monthly deposit bonus. This means that playerss depositing $90 will receive a $90 bonus into their account. (Intercasino US credits this immediately upon deposit, but other casinos may act differently).

The terms and conditions state that players must wager an aggregate total of 25 times the bonus in the casino before they can withdraw the bonus money. For example, a player who deposits $90 and receives a $90 bonus must then wager an aggregate total of $2,250 before they can cash out.

A player using the Simple Strategy would expect a payout of 99.46% which is equivalent to a loss of 0.0054%. Therefore, if they wager the full $2,250 wager requirement they would expect a loss of $2,250 * 0.0054 = $12.15.

Since the player received a $90 deposit bonus, their expected profit is therefore - $90.00-$12.15 = $77.85.

Problems to consider

There are some additional considerations that players may want to consider before taking advantage of these bonuses. A few are listed here:

• Neteller users must pay $1.00 to withdraw. This is an additional cost reducing the expected return to $76.85.

• The expected return is only an estimate. Players are not guaranteed to win every month, though if they hit a Royal Flush then they could make a lot more than $77.85.

• Some casinos will allow players to withdraw their deposits before they have even started working through the wager requirements. CSBS does not recommend this as it can lead to players being banned for abusing the promotions.

Ben Willets is an enthuisiastic gambler and runs the popular Casino and Sports Betting - Even the Odds Website (http://www.financialcharti ng.com/casino-sports-betting-strategies/).

---

Google News Updated : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:56:09 GMT Milk, Sunshine Each Day Keep the Doctor Away - Washington Post ABC News Milk, Sunshine Each Day Keep the Doctor Away Washington Post - 5 hours ago · Kids from newborns to teenagers should take twice as much Vitamin D as previously recommended because it may help prevent serious disease, a leading medical group said yesterday. Video: HealthWatch CBS More tenacious about vitamin D Chicago Tribune Reuters - WBIR-TV - WebMD - eFluxMedia all 656 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:17:28 GMT North Korea to resume nuclear dismantlement - The Associated Press Voice of America North Korea to resume nuclear dismantlement The Associated Press - 2 hours ago SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korea planned to resume dismantling its nuclear program Tuesday for the first time in two months, days after the United States removed the communist regime from a terrorism blacklist as a reward under a disarmament pact. IAEA: N. Korea disabling set for Tuesday CNN International North Korean foreign minister set for nuclear talks in Moscow RIA Novosti Bloomberg - AFP - New York Times - Daily Nexus all 3,718 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:11:42 GMT Asian, European Markets Continue Upbeat Rally - Washington Post Washington Post Asian, European Markets Continue Upbeat Rally Washington Post - 1 hour ago By Blaine Harden TOKYO, Oct. 14 -- Feverish buying in Japan on Tuesday replaced last week's market panic, as the benchmark Nikkei stock index soared to its largest-ever percentage gain in a single day, up 14.15 percent -- part of a global rally in ... Video: Asia Markets Mostly Up Monday AssociatedPress World Markets Reflect Growing Hope TIME The Associated Press - guardian.co.uk - Bloomberg - MarketWatch all 1,133 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:11:14 GMT Kashkari Leaps From Obscurity to Lead Role in US Bank Rescue - Bloomberg New York Daily News Kashkari Leaps From Obscurity to Lead Role in US Bank Rescue Bloomberg - 3 hours ago By Robert Schmidt and Rebecca Christie Oct. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Minutes before Neel Kashkari's public debut as the chief of the US Treasury's financial rescue plan, he sat in a hotel lobby in Washington, unrecognized by many of the international bankers ... What Treasury is planning CNNMoney.com After Historic Rally, Feds To Buy Bank Ownerships WCBS-TV New York Reuters - Bizjournals.com - San Francisco Chronicle - The Associated Press all 1,670 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 07:57:34 GMT Cambodia: Thailand withdraws troops from border - The Associated Press Washington Post Cambodia: Thailand withdraws troops from border The Associated Press - 2 hours ago PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) - Thai troops retreated from a disputed border zone Tuesday, a Cambodian general said, averting a possible military clash after Cambodia's prime minister issued an ultimatum to Thailand to withdraw by midday. Thai army to maintain troops in disputed area Xinhua Thailand, Cambodia spar over border troop positions AFP AHN - Scotsman - Bernama all 747 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:51:31 GMT House Race Is Shaken by Report of an Affair - New York Times ABC News House Race Is Shaken by Report of an Affair New York Times - 8 hours ago By IAN URBINA WASHINGTON - The Florida congressman who succeeded Mark Foley after he resigned because of a sex scandal is now embroiled in a sex scandal of his own, and has requested a Congressional ethics investigation to clear his name. A Florida (House) Bombshell Washington Post House to investigate lawmaker for alleged affair, ethics lapse CNN The Associated Press - Local10.com - CBS News all 357 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:20:36 GMT Berlusconi Shares Investor Pain With $2 Billion Loss (Update2) - Bloomberg Voice of America Berlusconi Shares Investor Pain With $2 Billion Loss (Update2) Bloomberg - 2 hours ago By Andrew Davis and Lorenzo Totaro Oct. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi promises Italians they won't lose ``even a euro'' of their bank accounts in the current credit crisis. Video: Bush Says He Will Help US Banks AssociatedPress Bush To Speak About $250 Billion Banking Rescue Plan Monday Morning AHN BBC News - Voice of America - The Associated Press - Wall Street Journal all 809 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:46:59 GMT RSS For Web Pages Website Traffic Promotion

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Party Poker Sign up Bonus Code Tutorial

I have had a lot of emails from people who... Read More

The Secrets of Converting Come Bets

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secret of converting... Read More

Becoming a Consistent Winner at Online Low-Limit Texas Hold Em

Start with LIMIT Texas Hold 'EmBoth limit and no-limit Texas... Read More

Three Card Poker Basics

Three card Poker is a fast paced game which is... Read More

Online Casinos Give You The Gambling Without the Travel Costs

Although the majority of gamblers would appreciate a trip to... Read More

Discover YOUR Online Poker Room

As all the poker sites on the internet call themselves... Read More

Free Online Card Games -- Getting Ready for Las Vegas

Free online card games that can be played over the... Read More

The Secret of Protecting Your Pass Line Bet

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secret of protecting... Read More

Top 5 Things to Look for when Buying Quality Poker Table

When one is ready to buy a quality poker table... Read More

The Day I Decided To Stop Gambling With Gamblers Anonymous

Everything was going perfect for me in life. Good job,... Read More

Gambling Addiction Affects More Then Just The Compulsive Gambler

At one point in time our society believed that gambling... Read More

Slot Machines

On average, one third of the casino's total revenue is... Read More

Stay Young- Play Bingo!

Exercise, intellectual stimulation, surgery, meditation or detox ? you name... Read More

Shorthanded Poker, an Untapped Gold Mine

Feuled by seemingly nonstop television coverage and internet access in... Read More

Virtual Casino Gambling

You might be wondering how virtual casino gambling started and... Read More

How to Beat Roulette with A Simple 3 Point System

Many players try to beat roulette by buying a "sure... Read More

How To Play Craps

Craps is generally seen as a fun and exhilarating game... Read More

Casino Gambling Tips for Online Gambling

Casino gambling tips for the Internet are good to know... Read More

Video Poker - Should You Play Maximim Coins?

The arguments are almost endless about whether or not to... Read More

The History Of Blackjack

The origin of Blackjack is somewhat unclear. Some people believe... Read More

How to Win a Million Dollars Without Spending a Lot of Money

I love Major Millions. And realistically speaking, there's not really... Read More

Craps 101: What You Need to Know About

Alternatively called as Hazard, Craps has been here since centuries.... Read More

Why Online Poker is Better Than Land Based Poker

Online Poker has become the greatest hit in the online... Read More

Fancy Winning A Million Pound Jackpot?

Slot machines have become over the last hundred years, one... Read More

Poker Face in Cyberspace

His palms are sweaty and his heart is racing, but... Read More