A tournament rewards a position on a leaderboard rather than simply the expected return of one hand. This column addresses that distinction, making it a useful introduction to the tension between choosing the strongest average result and chasing a score that can overtake other players.
The wider question
A useful hand comparison starts with the exact variant and its complete payout schedule. A familiar game name is not enough to identify every rule. When reading a historical strategy discussion, keep its assumptions attached to the example; a different schedule or extra feature may call for a different comparison.
This is an original editorial reading note on the topic of a John Robison column, not a reproduction of the full article. The date above belongs to the original publication. Read the linked column for the author’s complete account and conclusions.
Ask the Slot Expert: Video poker tournament strategy -- not necessarily based on Expected Value
John Robison · Apr 23, 2025
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