Baccarat What is the opposite concept to hold percentages?

So, is there another expression for 'the amount a gambler gain from a game'?

I just want to know more about the terminologies in gambling.

 

The most common terms are, "edge", "Overlay" or simply, "win". They are used differently.

Edge is generally used to express a percentage like "I have a 2% edge on 678-JKR Poker."

Overlay is more general and typically used for dollar amounts. So if you saw an 5/8 JoB $1 machine with a jackpot at $12,000 and knew it costs $8,800 to hit, you'd say you had a $3,200 "overlay". When talking in these terms you could also just say it's a $3,200 "win."

In pro circles it is more common to refer to edges and overlays and wins as "plays." Things are simply plays or the they are not plays. If they are plays you can say stuff like I got a 2% quarter play. That you are gambling with an edge is implied and not generally mentioned.

Most of all the pros I know always convert the edge, speed of wagering, and denomination into an hourly rate of earn. So if you had found that 5/8 $1 progressive you'd think to yourself.

1000 hands an hour at $5 per hand is $5000 at an edge of 2% = $100 an hour.

Saying you found a $100 an hour play would be the most common verbiage I used. Of course I only spoke to people who knew what the hell I meant.

~FK

I have used "overlay" several times, but not in gambling, in reference to an ex...

 

Would love a $100 an hour "edge". I'd never work again! It'd be like my own personal ATM machine! Although I do pretty well in roulette when winning, but that's not 100%! And not $100/hr! haha

 

Oh...another difference between pro and non-pro gambler speak.

When a pro mentions "the hold" of a game it does not mean they aren't playing with an edge. Technically there is no "hold" for anything where the odds are in the players favor. However, it is quite common to omit the jackpot.

Example: As previously stated 5/8 JoB Video Poker costs on average $8,800 to hit a Royal. 5/6 JoB on the other hand costs closer to $12,600 to hit a Royal. If you walked into a casino and found a progressive at $20,000 on 5/6 JoB it would be a massive edge and overlay. However you might well say something like, "Ah dam. I hate 5/6 JoB it's got such a high hold. Guess I got to play it."

To a pro hold can be used to refer to short term loss, rather than long-term expectation.

 

Dude that was a bad play for us. I used to get on $600 an hour plus plays all the time. These were progressives though so they aren't always there and you have to scout.

Imagine a 5/6 Jack or Better Dollar.

Royal Flush = $18,000 (Normally $4000)
Straight Flush = $$4,100 (Normally $250)
4K = $526 (Normally $125)

I played on exactly those meters at Harvey's Lake Tahoe.

 

I wish I had known back in the day about the JoB. I used to play VP all the time, but never studied the overlays, or else I would have been right there with you. And that being said, in my 25+ years of playing VP, I have NEVER hit a natural Royal Flush. Plenty of RF's with Deuces. In fact, I hit a half dozen of those every trip I go on, although blackjack is my game, followed by roulette. My father in law, on the other hand, is a casual gambler. Goes once a week to the casino in Columbus and plays 2 or 3 hours of Double Double Bonus. He has hit several dozen RF in the past 20 years. Amazes me how he does it and I can't get one!

 

I’ve hit one royal flush in my life. I was at a poker tournament and caught it on the turn and my face lit up. Guy next to me says, “can’t hide that look, you’ve got something.” And I couldn’t contain myself, I blurted out, “I hit a royal flush!” I was more excited about that than the prospect of winning the tourney. I checked because I already screwed up making that announcement, but just wanted to go through the motions and show my winning hand. Some idiot goes all in and calls bullshit on me. I was absolutely flabbergasted and excited at the same time. It helped me wipe out that table. That particular tournament I made it to the final table and got into the money but didn’t even place top 3. Still more exciting of a day than some of the tournaments I’ve won. The hand that the guy that went all in on me was an ace/ten. Same thing I had, except he just had a straight. I remembered in that moment thinking he must have had a flush, but nope, just a lot of balls and no brains.

 

That’s great! I’ve certainly not had one on the felt either. I was referring to video poker but man if I got that in hold ‘em I’d be like you. No way to contain that! Haha

 

One and only r.f. after thousands of hands , online poker tournament also checked pot to qualify the hand ( show winning hand) won the pot . Not one player recognised it was a royal, I’m excited and mentioned it , one player classic reply was “ what’s a royal” . I said it was just another winning hand no biggie. That’s new generation poker for you. Cheers

 

Hitting RF's is just matter of volume of play. Our team got one or two a day on average with each individual probably averaging 1 per 40 hours of play. I got far more than that since I played at Ludacris speed...

 

My second year of working for the team I hit 68 RF on single line VP for the year. Sadly this was for wage. It ended up being the most in a year for my whole career. LOL. Those are the breaks...

 

Okay, thanks, guys.

 

Curious...what is your hand speed and how many hours a week did you play?

If you're non-pro you probably play at around 500 hands per hour, so you'd expect one RF about every 80 hours...

On deuces is much less as the cycle is LONGER. 45,511 hands vs 32,212 so kick it up to at least 100 hours with breaks and such.

 

ERRATA: I went and double checked and I got that number wrong. It was NOT 68 RF in one year.

IT WAS 48.

Sorry it's been 31 years. I had to go double check my old records.

The 68 number was Straight Flushes playing for SF progressives in Tahoe. I got them juxtaposed... In three days I hit the SF 14 times in a row every time in stiff professional competition it got up. Earned me the nickname "Snaper".

 

I was playing at least 8-10 hands an hour so probably right around where you were talking. I never played full time but I’d say I’ve played at least 1,000 hours in my lifetime maybe more. No RF.