Visitreno

[john]

The Peppermill sent me an invitation for a video poker tournament in Feb. I've never entered a tournament and am not sure of how to register. Do I just show up on registration day and sign in or do I have to call someone first? They've sent me loads of slot tourney invites, but this is the first VP I've gotten. First prize is $7,000 and the $99 entry fee is comped.

[garyandsharon]

John

We receive those flyers. In the past, we called the reservation number provided in the mailer. We're out of state. I don't know if that would apply to you living in Reno. If there is a phone number you should call for a reservation. The day of the tourney you go to the registration table and they will have your name on a roster. They will assign you a time and machine for the the number of rounds that are involved. The earlier you go to the registration area the earlier in the day you will play. We register close to the closing time for a later time slot. It's just a matter of preference of when you want to play in the round. When I played, they featured Double Bonus Poker video as the type of poker to be played. I don't know if that game is consistently true for all the video poker tourneys that they offer. Good luck! That $7,000 prize will keep the kids well fed.

Sharon

[john]

Thanks, Sharon. After reading your post, I examined the flyer and found a phone number and code. Now if I can just hit a couple of royals during the tourney, I can give the birds some seed.

John

[JD]

John:

See if you can scout the VP machines to be used in the tournament. Normally, one royal pretty much would end the competition, so it's common to use a goofy pay table.

Often they use a drastically reduced value for the royal with a greatly increased value for some "special" four of a kind.

Typically, a double double bonus poker table will be used with a reduced value for the royal & where 4 aces is a near shoe in (depending on kicker... like HALF of a royal). Certainly an early royal gives any player a huge lead but people will continue to play knowing someone hit a royal in an earlier round. So they use a goofy pay table to keep people interested. Lowest score often pays too.

Trying to play speed VP, it's tough to quickly toss half a full house to try for four aces. Your radar will be tuned for the face cards and you'll catch yourself tossing good hands and holding a couple of face cards.

Usually they start you with a fixed number of credits AND a time limit. Your wins add up but do not cycle into your credits remaining. The idea is to run out of credits AND time at exactly the same time. Too slow of play, and you'll leave unplayed hands on the table. Play too fast, and you'll be sittin on your hands for two minutes wishing you didn't hold on to that deadman's hand.

Make sure you go to awards ceremony 'cause they sometimes give away other stuff. Take some business cards for visitreno too.

Go get em, partner.

JD

[remano]

[john]

JD & Remano,

According to the flyer, each player starts with 1,000 credits with a 15 minute time limit. The session ends when the credits are gone or the 15 minutes expire. At the awards banquet 151st - 280th place get an entry into the $500 cash drawing. All others win between $25 and $7,000 with 2nd place taking $3,000.

I'll let you know what position I finish in, if this computer will accept a number that high.

[JD]

So...I figure that's 200 hands in 15 minutes = 13 hands/minute or about 4 1/2 seconds/hand.

Since there will be a disproportionate number of VERY senior citizens, just playing ALL of your hands is critical... but not so fast as to play stupid.

I played in one at the Siena and 1/3 of entries failed to play off all of their credits. I still got squat. But I hammered them on the open bar at the awards banquet.

Hey !! Maybe THAT'S the real reason why I'm not invited anymore.

JD

[CaSwede]

You have already got some good advise. Every tournament I have been in was different. I have played tournaments that have used bonus poker, DDB, super aces, and one they let you play whatever game you wanted. Most of the tournaments have a full 4,000 coin royal, but as mentioned a reduced royal is possible. You are going to have to play fast. You don't want to have credits left when the time runs out. You will have to play at a 800 hands per hour pace- which is fast. Don't spend a lot of time thinking about a hand. If your luck is poor, and you realize you are not going to be in the money category, then you play for broke as the time gets short. Don't play basic strategy. Hold a two card royal over a dealt straight, drop a low pair over a single ace, etc.

If you have a chance to check out the machines before the tournament starts- do so. You can kind of create a strategy before you start.

The strangest vp tournament I ever heard of was at Sharkey's in Gardnerville a few years ago. The LOWEST score won. A royal meant you were a big loser.

[john]

Thanks for all the advice. I found a very strange VP strategy here:

http://www.casinogaming.com/columnists/dancer/2006/0411.html

This strategy is for a month-long tournament, so I doubt it would work for a 3 session event.

[CaSwede]

Today's mail brought me the same invitation to the Royal Fortune VP tournament in Feb. I guess they decided they are going to let even people like me in.

[john]

OK, Swede, if you kick me out of first place, you're banned from the board. Just curious...did they comp the tourney?

John

[CaSwede]

No comp. I have to pay $99, but they are giving so much more: Free drinks at some bars, airport shuttle service (Hmmm??), and cake and champagne (I am sure it is top shelf stuff). Also- they say they are giving me special room rates ($59). Hmmm again--- I got all sorts of free room offers.

Let's see??? $7,000 first place money or getting banned from this site. Well, there is no question, the not getting banned is worth far more than the $7,000. It is all yours. Enjoy.

[Dave]

When is it John? Well they never invited me pal! That should make you feel better. You know you probably have enough fans on this board we could all come to Reno and root you on. Matching Visit Reno T-Shirts....... Noisemakers. Oh we could have a party. Well I hope you have fun and looking forward to seeing your trip report! Goodluck!
Dave

[john]