Cryptologic video poker autohold

[thelawnet]

Cryptologic have implemented autohold for their video poker games. Unfortunately it's a total joke.

"The auto-hold feature allows you to let the game suggest which cards to hold after the initial deal. You may toggle the system on or off at will. Additionally, you are not forced to accept the recommendation of the system; you may manually change any of the suggestions prior to clicking on ‘draw’ to continue the hand.

Please note that the strategy suggestions are an accurate representation of simple strategy for each variant but there are highly advanced exceptions that are not incorporated into the feature. Additionally, the system will not select any card(s) to hold for hands without a pair and without a strategically correct draw. For more information on intermediate and optimal strategy in video poker, we recommend the website of a highly regarded gaming math expert at http://wizardofodds.com/videopoker
"

It will never hold:

one, two or three high cards (except 3 to a Royal)
3 to a straight flush

preferring to discard all five cards

Shameful. The payout of this strategy is only around 93%.

[RobWin]

Cryptologic have implemented autohold for their video poker games. Unfortunately it's a total joke.

"The auto-hold feature allows you to let the game suggest which cards to hold after the initial deal. You may toggle the system on or off at will. Additionally, you are not forced to accept the recommendation of the system; you may manually change any of the suggestions prior to clicking on ‘draw’ to continue the hand.

Please note that the strategy suggestions are an accurate representation of simple strategy for each variant but there are highly advanced exceptions that are not incorporated into the feature. Additionally, the system will not select any card(s) to hold for hands without a pair and without a strategically correct draw. For more information on intermediate and optimal strategy in video poker, we recommend the website of a highly regarded gaming math expert at http://wizardofodds.com/videopoker
"

It will never hold:

one, two or three high cards (except 3 to a Royal)
3 to a straight flush

preferring to discard all five cards

Shameful. The payout of this strategy is only around 93%.

I agree, but still I think that most peeps that are well familiar with all the video poker game variants online will always choose to hold their own cards, no matter what the program is suggesting. Of course, there are the exceptions of the newbies though and it is a shame that some of the auto hold programs confuse them with what is not always optimal strategy.

[thelawnet]

I agree, but still I think that most peeps that are well familiar with all the video poker game variants online will always choose to hold their own cards, no matter what the program is suggesting. Of course, there are the exceptions of the newbies though and it is a shame that some of the auto hold programs confuse them with what is not always optimal strategy.

There is nothing wrong with the autohold you see at most casinos, whereby only paying hands are autoheld. It is fairly obvious that this is not optimal, but what crypto have implemented is simply a perversion.

[adamw]

Hi folks,

Thanks for your comments - we [InterPoker] are always keen to gain feedback on the game. I'm sorry if our auto-hold feature has been causing you some annoyance. It's designed to give the basic play as a suggestion, thereby reducing the number of mouse-clicks and user fatigue.

As you can see from the quote you pulled from our site, we emphasise that these suggestions can be ignored or turned off at any time and we even disclaim against the auto-hold delivering the 'perfect' choice. Obviously you guys know this, as you're regular players. That's why, for newbies, we provided a link to Wizard of Odds so people can read up on how to save money in the long run.


We really do welcome your comments - we're seriously concerned with the usability and enjoyment of the game and are always interested to find out what you think. In fact, I'd love to get your thoughts on how you think we could improve the auto-hold feature.

We've been working on improving VP and some recent changes include Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild paytables getting bumped up, new features and artwork, 25 hand format is now available and 50 and 100 hands are available on regular VP. We'd love to know what else can we do to make it even better?

Adam
(working on brhalf of InterPoker)

[thelawnet]

Hi folks,

Thanks for your comments - we [InterPoker] are always keen to gain feedback on the game. I'm sorry if our auto-hold feature has been causing you some annoyance. It's designed to give the basic play as a suggestion, thereby reducing the number of mouse-clicks and user fatigue.

As you can see from the quote you pulled from our site, we emphasise that these suggestions can be ignored or turned off at any time and we even disclaim against the auto-hold delivering the 'perfect' choice. Obviously you guys know this, as you're regular players. That's why, for newbies, we provided a link to Wizard of Odds so people can read up on how to save money in the long run.

I don't think it's clear that it's not optimal, most people will not check the help. The fact that it does hold some 'non-obvious-to-the-beginner' hands is rather confusing, as it may lead you to assume that the play

We really do welcome your comments - we're seriously concerned with the usability and enjoyment of the game and are always interested to find out what you think. In fact, I'd love to get your thoughts on how you think we could improve the auto-hold feature.

I would think that is obvious - make it play CORRECT strategy. It is not particularly computationally expensive to calculate. Failing that, remove this feature.

[JHV]

Hi folks,

Thanks for your comments - we [InterPoker] are always keen to gain feedback on the game. I'm sorry if our auto-hold feature has been causing you some annoyance. It's designed to give the basic play as a suggestion, thereby reducing the number of mouse-clicks and user fatigue.

Hi Adam, my name is Jonny. I call a spade a spade and am on a 2 strike policy as a result. I'm going to continue to call a spade a spade - but will try to do it in a more refined manner so as not to get permanently-banned.

thelawnet: I actually first pointed out this issue in this post the day before I was temp-banned:
http://www.casinomeister.com/forums/...tml#post313228

Their default Auto-Hold feature is so incorrect, it's almost criminal. One one of my first spins on Jacks or Better, the Auto-Hold feature held 4 to a OESD instead of a low pair.

That's 0.8237 (low pair) vs 0.6809 (4 to straight, no high cards).

14% "error" in the Auto-Hold - oh InterCasino...

No one seemed to care or agree with me (at the time) that this was horrific.

That's why, for newbies, we provided a link to Wizard of Odds so people can read up on how to save money in the long run.

Oh come now, Adam.

You are aware of the Wizard of Odds, who provides Video Poker players with Basic (99.5% or so return), Intermediate (slightly better return) and Advanced (slightly better return) strategy - yet you ignore even the incredibly simple Basic strategy and intentionally use a strategy that suggests players hold cards which gives 93% return?

And then justify it by saying "but we post a link to Wizard of Odds correct strategy"?

No, Adam - if I was to call a spade a spade here, it would likely get me banned. But you cannot claim this was an innocent mistake, surely. Can anyone buy that claim (that 93% return - terrible, terrible suggestions on the Auto-Hold - was somehow a mistake)?

If you can buy that claim, I have a REALLY BIG BRIDGE to sell you. PM me for details - it's going at bargain basement prices.

We really do welcome your comments - we're seriously concerned with the usability and enjoyment of the game and are always interested to find out what you think. In fact, I'd love to get your thoughts on how you think we could improve the auto-hold feature.

Seriously? How about putting in even BASIC Auto-Hold strategy that isn't massively incorrect and financially damaging to new players who (mistakenly) believe that your Auto-Hold suggestions aren't slaughtering their playing bankroll at 20x house advantage.

InterCasino is the oldest and one of the largest online casinos in the world.

Are you seriously posting here saying this was a genuine mistake? If you're saying that, I'd genuinely like to hear you actually make that claim word for word.

And I'd be interested in hearing how you plan to fix this "accidental" Auto-Hold debacle?

-------

And whilst I've got your attention (I hope?), could you explain why no one from Inter has responded to my very long thread where I make fairly serious allegations about the unethical business practices employed by InterCasino?

Perhaps everyone from Inter has simply missed it?

I'll assist (as that must surely be the reason no one from Inter has participated in the 13-page long thread) by linking you directly to it:

http://www.casinomeister.com/forums/...ally-long.html

I look forward to your responses, Sir.

[Pulver]

Nail on the head JHV!

Why would someone implement an autohold feature with the wrong strategy programmed into it, if it werent for the fact that it would generate a much larger profit?

Very sneaky practise indeed...

[JHV]

Nail on the head JHV!

Why would someone implement an autohold feature with the wrong strategy programmed into it, if it werent for the fact that it would generate a much larger profit?

Very sneaky practise indeed...

Exactly. Wouldn't it be nice to live in a world where all these "innocent mistakes" went both ways? And were allowed to continue as long?

Example: InterCasino launches a new Blackjack game which is just like standard BJ, except it pays Blackjacks at 4:1 instead of 3:2.

Then, once identified, they let the situation continue for months without fixing it.

---------

Gawd, I'd like to live in THAT world. Wouldn't you?

[thelawnet]

Exactly. Wouldn't it be nice to live in a world where all these "innocent mistakes" went both ways? And were allowed to continue as long?

Example: InterCasino launches a new Blackjack game which is just like standard BJ, except it pays Blackjacks at 4:1 instead of 3:2.

Then, once identified, they let the situation continue for months without fixing it.

---------

Gawd, I'd like to live in THAT world. Wouldn't you?

Ha ha, Boss Media did this.

Except they took all the money back, and then 'fixed it' so the rules said 'blackjack pays 3:2', but it actually pays 1:1. (not quite this, it's actually far worse than that, bj pays evens costs the player a couple of %, but their rule change costs 5.2%)

And they're still doing it!

http://www.casinomeister.com/forums/288109-post39.html