Professional Video Poker by Stanford Wong

A Book Review

Professional Video Poker by Stanford Wong was one of the first books about video poker strategy ever. It's a factual book full of math and charts, and if that's your cup of tea, you'll probably really enjoy Professional Video Poker. On the other hand, if you're like me, and you prefer something with a little more color that reads less like a textbook, you'll probably be more interested in Dan Paymar's Video Poker - Optimum Play.

Video Poker Win Rates

Wong's coverage of how to calculate your win rate playing video poker professionally is the first chapter of the book, and it's good stuff, although really it's pretty simple math. You just multiply your edge by the number of hands you play per hour and multiply that by the amount you're betting on each hand. A good video poker player can probably get in 600 hands per hour, and obviously, the more you can wager per hand, the more you can win per hour.

Progressive Video Poker Strategy

Wong pays the most attention to calculating how to find positive expectation situations while playing progressive versions of 8/5 Jacks or Better video poker, which is certainly a valid approach to playing winning video poker. Although it seems to be a more volatile approach than learning to find and play full pay Deuces Wild and Joker Poker games.

Other Video Poker Games

Wong provides only minimal coverage of other video poker games and opportunities, although the section on video poker tournaments was interesting.

Conclusion

Professional Video Poker is probably more interesting as a historical document than anything else. When it came out, the book was the only one of its type, but now multiple books and websites offer potentially more interesting and useful information about how to play professional video poker.

Professional Video Poker and Stanford Wong on the Internet

• Free download of Professional Video Poker by Stanford Wong at BJ21 - includes detailed review
• Stanford Wong's official website
• Jetcafe Review
• Stanford Wong profile on BlackjackHero

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