Hunting for decent games

MathMan · Hunting for decent games

We headed to the Casino Queen (East St. Louis) on July 4th. They had a double points day (.25% * 2) We played the Loose Deuces and I hit 4 deuces fairly quickly. I switched to 9/7 Double Bonus and things went well. After a couple of hours I was way ahead, and I decided that I wanted to go home with most of my winnings. However, my wife wasn't ready to bail.
I was willling to risk a couple of twentys, but I was hunting for something that had a lower variance. My wife suggested that I check out the spin poker machines. I had never touched these machines, but I had seen someone walk away with a three royal, over $3000 win playing 9 lines at $1.25 each. This definitely was not what I had in mind, but I checked out the machines anyway. The first thing that I found was that you could play five coins on just one line. I checked the pay tables and found 8/6 JOB, Illinois Deuces, 6/9 DDB, and a super aces that paid almost 99%. Then I found 5/8 Bonus poker. Here's what I needed; a fairly good return, with the double points (by St Louis standards) and a strategy that I could handle. I played for a long time, staying close to even, and finished with a 4 of a kind and a flush to put me ahead $2.50. Certainly not a win to brag about, but I was able to protect my other wins and I did enjoy checking out a new type of machine.
When I head across the river to the President, the best games that I can find, below $1, include $.05 100 line games. I choose one or 2 lines so that I can play slightly negative games without too much risk.
I don't know if Tunica has any decent games that are "hidden" like these spin poker and 100 line games that I have found here in the St. Louis area. The point is, as more and more decent pay tables vanish we are going to have to get more creative as we seek decent plays.

Brianzz

Fitz has some very nice 50 and (I think) 100 play games in quarter upstairs in front of the cashier if you want to live on the wild side.

Jean

Mathman,
I haven't been to the Casino Queen or the President for a few years. When I go down to St. Louis I usually go to Harrah's. I looked around there the last time I was there (few months ago) and didn't see any good pay poker there. So if they have any they must have been occupied.

WTG on leaving with your winnings. I think that's the hardest part of gaming is to get out the door with money...LOL

Thanks for sharing.

MathMan · Re: hunting for good machines

Jean: You ought to check out the new Casino Queen when you visit St. Louis. It is a completely different atmosphere from the crowded, smoky boat. There are no positive machines at the quarter level. They have 10/7 double bonus at the dollar level that pays only 239 for straight flushes and certain four of a kinds, so that jumps to over 100% with comps and cashback. There are only a few of these machines, scattered among the $1 9/7's. One problem: You have to play for 4 months to be eligble for mail coupons.
The President is a crowded, smoky boat. Right now it is closed from the flooding (I think). I haven't been there for a couple of months. They basically shut down the third floor, except for the bar containing 8/5 bonus progressive. The cashback is not worth worrying about. The Lumiere is worth visiting once, although the video poker pay tables are insulting.
Brian; Thanks for the info on the Fitz. I checked out the details on Marsha Ness' (tough plural) site. I'm certainly going to miss her.

Hunting for decent games

Re: hunting for good machines