I played DreamCard Video Poker at Harrah’s Atlantic City during a Caesars Rewards 10× Tier Credit multiplier—a key stop in my quest for Seven Stars status.
I explain why I played during this promotion, DreamCard Video Poker, and situations where I deviated from the suggested DreamCard.
Weeks ago, a host from Harrah’s Atlantic City invited me to play during the 10x Tier Credit multiplier promotion, also offering a three-night stay. I took this offer because I want to earn Seven Stars status without having to give up lots of expected value playing outside of these multiplier promotions.
America Loves Math
Before play, I started with about 110,000 Tier Credits – 40k short of Seven Stars, so earning 2500 base Tier Credits (one base Tier Credit per $10 wagered) would give me 25,000 Tier Credits and another 5000 bonus Tier Credits for earning 2500 base Tier Credits in a single gaming day (about $500 in expected losses on $25,000 playthrough on a 98% return to player game).
I should also earn another 5000 Tier Credits from spending on the new Caesars Rewards Prestige credit card, then Tier Credits from Caesars online Blackjack play should take me over the needed 150k Tier Credits for Seven Stars status.
I found an 8/6 DreamCard Video Poker paytable at the $1 level where a ten credit wager was needed for the DreamCard feature, so I played $10 a hand. This single-line game likely has more variance compared to various 100-play games at Harrah’s, but the return to player is likely better around 98% compared to other games offering 96-97%.
Dreaming of Better Hands
During DreamCard play, the fifth initial dealt card becomes a DreamCard and the machine chooses a card which it thinks is the best choice (or a very good choice?) to improve your hand based on the other four dealt cards.
There were times where I did not prefer the selected DreamCard, largely because it suggested higher variance higher return situations compared to a similar expected value selection with a ‘sure thing’ also having chances to improve.
Should I change the DreamCard?
Example One:
Several times during the session, I would see an initial dealt hand like King of Spades, Ten of Spades, Deuce of Diamonds, Three of Clubs, and DreamCard. The DreamCard would often default to a hand like Ace of Spades or Queen of Spades prompting me to hold three cards to a royal flush rather than selecting a King for a guaranteed Jacks or Better win with a chance for improvement.
Using the Perfect VP app on Android, an app that shows best holds, variance, and EV of hands and hold selections, I see:
King of Spades, Ten of Spades, Deuce of Diamonds, Three of Clubs, Ace of Spades: 1.33 in expected value and variance of 592.34
King of Spades, Ten of Spades, Deuce of Diamonds, Three of Clubs, King of Diamonds: 1.53 in expected value and variance of 2.57
We can see that changing the DreamCard to a guaranteed Jacks or Better is a slightly higher expected value play compared to holding three to a royal (effectively dumping a guaranteed Jacks or Better). The royal flush, at this play level, would also generate a handpay that would slow your session, have [more] tax implications, and result in more lost expected value if you were to tip a slot attendant. I changed the DreamCard to avoid the handpay, keep the session going, and lower the variance.
Example Two:
Another situation prompted me to change the DreamCard with the following deal:
Ace of Spades, King of Spades, Queen of Hearts, Jack of Spades, DreamCard (suggested Ten of Spades).
This hand was a dealt straight with four to a royal flush, so the play should be to hold the four to a royal, but I don’t like the DreamCard as the Ten of Spades. Switching to the Queen of Spades slightly improves the expected value because it maintains four to a royal flush while adding extra redraw potential for jacks or better with a pair of queens.
Consider the following options and math from Perfect VP:
(Suggested DreamCard Ten of Spades): Ace of Spades, King of Spades, Queen of Hearts, Jack of Spades, Ten of Spades: 18.4 in expected value
(Changing the DreamCard to Queen of Spades): Ace of Spades, King of Spades, Queen of Hearts, Jacks of Spades, Queen of Spades: 18.53 in expected value
The expected value isn’t that much different with the suggested Ten of Spades DreamCard, but changing the DreamCard to the Queen of Spades is the better option because we possibly improve to Jacks or Better with two queens on the redraw.
Waking Up
DreamCard Jacks or Better involves more thinking than the standard Jacks or Better games, so it may not be for beginners, but slight losses in expected value by having a default strategy of keeping the suggested DreamCard aren’t horrible (and much better than playing Slots, Triple Zero Roulette, or other games with a very high house edge).
The fun factor, in my experience, was also a bonus with DreamCard as I saw many more dealt winning hands due to the DreamCard. Four of a Kinds were far more common, I hit at least two straight flushes, and had many starting hands like Three of a Kind. I also had many more chances for a Royal Flush, but unfortunately had zero Royal Flushes during this session. The system shouts, “DreamCard!” with dealt at least three of a kind and says, “DreamCard Winner!” for dealt straights and above.
DreamCard Video Poker may not be for everyone because it adds complexity and variance decisions, but it can be a good option during a Tier Credit multiplier and add some fun factor versus a standard Jacks or Better Video Poker games.
As always, use credit responsibly and gamble intelligently.
Join the TravelZork FB Group -> HERE
Visit: TravelZork Travel
Stay up to date with: ZorkFest
Also: Watch, Like, and Sub on YouTube
Check it out: The Yo-11 Minutes Playlist on YouTube