|
|
|
|
Computer Times
Editors' Choice Game BVS Video Poker 2.0 Reviewed by Terry Kibiloski
BVS Video Poker 2.0 for Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista (Retail $19.95), from BVS Development Corporation, is the absolute best video poker gambling machine simulation software we have tested to date. As an avid video poker player, who has played in over 100 casinos, I can assure you that the creators of this product did their homework and truly understand the game of video poker. Except for having your computer actually pay you off when you win, it is difficult to think of how this software could be improved because it seems to have it all. BVS Video Poker 2.0 includes 39 different varieties of video poker games, to match the most popular games you will find in the casinos across the country; has customizable pay tables for each game variation; has three play options (Normal, AutoHold, and AutoPlay); provides statistics and progress graphs on your play; points out your mistakes and will analyze your current hand or any hand of your choosing; lets you choose to have sound, set the double up feature, and show your expected return and expected value for each hand; includes a very good Help feature that will also provide winning strategy; and allows you to change denomination, background, card sets, and card backs, even using one of your own photos for the card back, which I did below, choosing a photo of me in my gambling attire at the casino on the Queen Mary 2 during a transatlantic crossing.
As soon as you begin the program, it becomes obvious that this software has been around for several years and has benefitted from many enhancements. The screens are crisp and clear and truly mimic the actual video poker machines found in casinos, allowing you to select and play with either the touch of a mouse or by using keys on your keyboard.
Our favorite feature of BVS Video Poker 2.0 is that it lets you customize the pay tables for each game variation. As most seasoned video poker players know, each game variation does not have the same pay table, even within the same casino. I have found that the video poker games at the casino bars generally have the worst pay tables, and lower denomination video poker games generally have worse pay tables than higher denomination games, even on the same machine. For example, on the same video poker machine, on Bonus Poker, it is common to see 4 Aces only pay 250 if you are playing the maximum ($1.25) on the quarter denomination, yet pay 400 if you are playing maximum ($2.50) on the fifty cent denomination. It is also common to see the 400 payoff on certain floor machines yet only see a 250 payoff for the same game at a video poker machine at the bar. Thus, if you are serious about having the best odds when playing video poker, it is important to check the pay tables at various video poker machines within the same casino. Also, check the payoffs for full houses and flushes, which tend to be the two winning hands that casinos vary a lot between machines when they wish to keep more money for the house. Since casinos can change the pay tables whenever they choose, the customizable pay tables in BVS Video Poker 2.0 let you play the exact same odds on your computer as those currently used in your favorite casino. Then, by utilizing the “mistakes” feature, hand analysis, statistics and progress graphs on your play, you will be able to learn how to achieve perfect play, which can give you a distinct winning advantage on those video poker machines that are “guaranteed” to pay back higher than 100% for perfect play. Now let’s look at the details of BVS Video Poker 2.0. The 39 different varieties of video poker games include Aces and Eights, Aces and Jacks, All American Poker, Bonus Deuces, Bonus Poker, Bonus Poker Deluxe, Classic Deuces, Deuces Deluxe, Deuces Joker, Double Bonus Jackpot, Double Bonus Plus Poker, Double Deuces, Double Double Jackpot, Double Joker Poker 8/5, Double Joker Poker 9/5, Double Bonus Poker, Double Double Bonus Poker, Five Joker Poker, Four Joker Poker, Jacks or Better (8/5), Jacks or Better (9/5), Joker Wild - Kings or Better, Joker Wild - Two Aces and Better, Joker Wild - Two Pairs and Better, Kings or Better, Loose Deuces 15/8, Loose Deuces 17/10, Nevada Bonus Poker, Odyssey Deuces, Power House Poker, Sam's Town Bonus Deuces, Seven Wild Poker, Super Aces 7/5, Super Aces 8/5, Tens or Better, Triple Double Bonus 9/6, Triple Double Bonus 9/7, and Triple Pay.
For each of these game, you can customize the pay tables to match those at your favorite casino.
The three modes include Normal, where you do all the playing, AutoHold (shown below), where the computer holds your best choice automatically, and AutoPlay, where the computer holds your best choice and then draws the cards automatically, which lets you learn by watching the computer play.
The statistics feature provides a useful tracking tool for your overall expertise on each game variation. Notice that the screenshot below shows the tracking for Bonus Poker only. This way you can practice different game variations and track progress on each of them separately.
If you’d rather view charts, the progress graph will show you how your play (green) compares to perfect play (red). Notice that the graphs are also specific to a particular game variation. In this case, we chose Jacks or Better 9/6 and “All Time” for the period of time for showing the graph. You could also choose to show the graph for just this session, this day, last week, or the past 30 days. Both the statistics and the progress charts can be tracked for multiple players.
A great feature is the one that alerts you to your mistakes, as shown below. It shows the original hand, your play, and the computer suggested play. This is a great learning tool, especially for beginners.
If you wish, you can get a comprehensive hand analysis that will keep the statistician inside you very happy.
If you tend to get hands at the casino that never seem to show up on your computer, you can even analyze these hands by choosing the cards you wish to have BVS Video Poker 2.0 analyze for you.
If you set the double up feature, after each winning hand, the double up screen will appear, asking you if you wish to double up to double your win.
If you choose to double up, you will be presented with five cards (as shown below), with one of the cards face up. Your job is to choose one of the face down cards and hope that it beats the face up card. If it does, your win is doubled. You can keep on trying to double up your win until you lose, in which case you lose it all. While I would not recommend this double up strategy during actual play (because it is based on pure luck rather than strategy), it is fun to play with on your home computer.
The first Options screen lets you choose to have sound, show your expected return and expected value for each hand; choose your denomination, and even control the error settings.
Depending upon your error settings, you will have Serious Strategy Errors pop up to alert you to an error in your play by showing you the best expected return from the current hand and your expected return based upon your choices of cards to be held for the draw. If you are not sure of your error, you can click on Analyze Hand for more details.
If you would like a different background, you have lots of options from which to choose.
You can easily change card sets to a host of different designs.
You can also change card backs to a variety of designs, or use your own photo file for card backs, as shown at the beginning of this review.
BVS Video Poker 2.0 has a very good Help feature that will also help you develop a winning strategy.
As you can see, BVS Video Poker 2.0, is an incredible software simulation of casino video poker that is great for tutoring beginners and intermediate players, while helping experts keep their skills fine tuned. If you would like to take a test drive before you buy, you can download a free trial (6.4MB), and then later purchase the full version at http://www.bvspoker.com/. Registered users can download BVS Video Poker Plus Pack with 71 additional backgrounds, 12 additional card sets, and 30 additional card backs. Whether you are a beginner who is just learning video poker, an intermediate player who wants to have more winning hands, or a seasoned video poker player who has played for decades, BVS Video Poker 2.0 should meet all of your needs and expectations. NOTE: If you have any winning video poker tips you would like to share with others, e-mail them to comptimes@aol.com with the subject line VIDEO POKER TIPS and we will add them to the end of this review to help other players take home additional winnings. J
|
|
Send mail to
comptimes@aol.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
