Joker Wild (JW, also called Joker Poker)
There are two main types of single-joker games. The easiest way to distinguish between the two is to look at the last paying combination on the paytable. If the lowest hand is kings or better, this is the game, sometimes called Vegas Joker Wild (although it's found in other places), which has a positive-EV full-pay version (100.65%—game #18). Occasionally, a super-pay version (101%—game #19) is found—these pay 4700 with five coins played for a natural royal flush. More frequently, though, you'll run into low-pay versions of Joker Wild that run in the 96%-98% return range. Once thought to be an endangered species, good Joker games have started to appear in multi-lines and multi-game machines.
These Joker Wild games have difficult strategies and are among the most volatile of VP variations, but good versions can pay the serious VP student well. Casual players tend to like the game because of the wild card, and it offers a couple of intermediate jackpot hands: the wild royal and 5-of-a-kind. In addition, the straight flush comes along fairly frequently and pays 250 for 5 coins just like in JoB, where it's much more rare. Some feel that JW is less boring than Deuces.
The second type of Joker Poker has 2 pair as the bottom-paying hand. It's often called Atlantic City Joker Wild, because it's one of the most common games in that city, although it's occasionally seen in other jurisdictions. On this game, a royal flush is counted as merely a straight flush and the top-pay jackpot is 5-of-a-kind. It's popular because you hit the top jackpot much more often than on other VP games, on average about every 11,000 hands versus the 40,000 for Jacks or Better. However, the severe drain between jackpots shows up in the low EV of 97.19% on the best pay schedule (game #20). Sometimes there's a progressive on these games, which raises the EV, but also raises the already high volatility. And, of course, there are decreased paybacks on many schedules, with much lower EVs.
There's also a Double Joker game in Atlantic City, with varying pay schedules. Those with EVs close to or over 100%, however, are becoming very difficult to find.
For anyone who has the book, I would appreciate any updated information about All American (page 115) and Pick "Em (page 116). We haven't played or even looked at either of these games for years. I believe Pick 'Em has a new name, but I forget what it is. Are there any old Pick 'Em's even left?????
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Jean $¢ott, Frugal Gambler
http://queenofcomps.com/
You can read my blog at
http://jscott.lvablog.com/
Posted by: "Queen of Comps" <queenofcomps@cox.net>
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