About the program
Features
- The program represents a fully featured simulator of Pickem video poker.
The model of user interface has been taken from Bally's Game Maker
multigame touch screen machine but it is not a direct copy.
- The prorgam calculates expected values of hands to find the best choice
for each hand and track player's accuracy. The method used here is simulating all
possible combinations of two last cards. The program includes also possibility to use combinatory
analysis but it is not used because simulation seems to be very well fast
enough for any computer that is capable to run the program.
- Warn and coach modes. In coach mode expected values and the best choice are
always told to a player before making the choice; when warn mode is set,
the player is told after making the choice if it was a wrong one.
- Detailed analysis screens for hand and player statistics.
Running the program
The program requires Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator version 4.0 or later
and java plugin 1.3 to run. If you don't have java plugin installed you are directed
to Sun Microsystems java plugin installation page first when you follow the game link
in front page. Follow the installing instructions and you will be able to run
the program after installation and possible reboot of your computer.
The program itself will be automatically started when you click the game link
in front page if you have the correct version of java plugin installed.
Playing Instructions
The game should be easy enough to be played without any external instructions.
However, here is a short description how to use it.
- Starting round - Press Deal button in lower right corner of the screen.
- Setting the bet - Press Bet max for maximum bet or Bet one
to raise it by one. Pressing Bet one when the bet is set to
maximum causes bet to get back to one credit again.
-
Setting the mode - Warn mode is set as a default. Mode can be changed from
Settings->Mode.
-
Credits - Player gets 1000 credits in the beginning. Set credits option in
Settings menu
doesn't work yet but I can activate it if someone really thinks it's needed.
-
Hand analysis - Selecting Analyze->Analyze current hand gives analysis
for current hand. The analysis for original hand is still available when
other of stacks is already chosen. This allows player to check the selection
afterwards. Any hand can be selected for analysis from the menu Analyze->Analyze
other hand.
-
Player statistics - Detailed statistics of playing time, accuracy of play
and wins is available from Analyze->Analyze play.
Bug reports
Bug reports can be sent to the author: [email protected].
Future versions
There are some features that I didn't find usefull enought to be included in
the game. These include especially possibility to modify pay table and calculate
expected value for it. I don't know about versions with higher payouts and if
there are ripoff versions they should be avoided, as well as playing with lower
bet when it reduces payouts of best hands. If I'll see such features usefull I
may include them in later versions.
Because I made the game just for myself and it's not tested the professional
way it may include some bugs. I will fix them when I get informed of them
if I find it necessary.
If you think it should run in some other browser and know how to make it, feel
free to mail me the applet tag for it.
Buying the game
Feel free to mail me if you would like to buy the application version of the game
(can be run standalone without a browser). I can mail it you for a small fee if you
know how to run java programs; the game itself is just one jar package of about 150 kB.
I can also make a distribution package for those not familiar with java programs
if there is some demand for it but propably there is no use or demand for it.
Support
There is no support available for the applet and I take no response of anything.
If you can't get it running - sorry. However, the game is written in pure java and should
therefore be totally safe to use in any computer and operating system.
Marko Orasaari [email protected]