Video Poker for Winners: A Critical Research Evaluation – What the Desktop Trainer Does and Doesn’t Do

The difference between a 0.5% error rate and a 0.2% error rate in video poker can shift a player from break-even to a modest long-term profit. Eliminating that last fraction of mistakes is what Video Poker for Winners (VPW) was designed to do. Created by Bob Dancer in the late 1990s and still sold through his official site, this Windows-only desktop tool has been a reference for serious players for over two decades.

This evaluation is not a recommendation. It is a research-based look at where VPW delivers real value, where its age shows, and what a player should verify before spending money. The information comes from the official product page, archived forum discussions (e.g., VegasMessageBoard, Wizard of Vegas), and user reports. No trial version was available during research, and the current price is not listed on the main page – a factor discussed later.

What VPW Actually Does: Features Confirmed by Research

VPW is a training and analysis program that runs on Windows 7 through 11. Its core functions are:

• Paytable analysis: Enter any pay schedule – standard or non-standard – and VPW returns exact expected return, variance, and hand frequency.
• Optimal strategy generation: The software produces a full ranked list of holds for every starting hand, including penalty-card adjustments.
• Deal simulation: Hands are dealt, and the player’s hold decisions are scored against optimal play. Errors are tracked per hand and cumulatively.
• Custom drills: Users can isolate specific hand types (e.g., low pair vs. 4 to a flush) and run timed or untimed practice.

The program covers dozens of variants: Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Double Bonus, Double Double Bonus, Pick’em Poker, Triple Bonus, Triple Double Bonus, and many more. The paytable library includes rare paytables that are hard to find in free online trainers.

Accuracy and Penalty Cards: The Real Advantage

The most important feature is the strategy generator’s handling of penalty cards. Free online trainers often use simplified rule sets that ignore penalty-card effects, which can cost a player roughly 0.05% to 0.1% in expected return on certain games. VPW computes the full-cycle optimal hold, meaning it accounts for the cards removed from the deck. For a player grinding 9/6 Jacks or Better at hundreds of hands per hour, that difference adds up.

The software also allows you to import a paytable directly from a casino floor. If you encounter a machine with a non-standard schedule – say, a 9/5 Jacks or Better with a 400-coin royal flush – you can type in the numbers and get a tailored strategy instantly. No generic strategy card can do that.

Where the Software Falls Short

VPW has three concrete limitations that a buyer should know before purchasing.

Platform lock-in. The software is Windows-only. It does not run natively on macOS, Linux, or any mobile OS. The developer recommends virtualization software (Parallels, Boot Camp, or a Windows VM) for Mac users, which adds cost and complexity. If your primary device is a tablet or smartphone, VPW is not usable.

Outdated interface. The visual design, font choices, and menu layout have not been refreshed since the early 2000s. The drill mode is functional but buried under a menu path that is not immediately obvious. A new user may need to read the help file to find it. The program does not include a hand-history replayer or video analysis – you must rely on screenshots or exported text logs.

No trial and opaque pricing. The official product page (bobdancer.com/software/video-poker-for-winners/) does not list a price. Based on user reports from 2022–2024, the one-time fee has ranged from $50 to $75. There is no trial version. A buyer must commit blind or rely on third-party video walkthroughs (e.g., YouTube) to see the interface. The return policy is also not clearly stated on the site.

Comparison with Free Alternatives

To help decide whether VPW is worth the investment, here is a side-by-side comparison with the most common free video poker trainers:

Feature	VPW (Desktop)	Free Online Trainers (e.g., Wizard of Odds, VideoPoker.com)
Platform	Windows only	Any device with a browser
Paytable analysis	Full, exact, with penalty cards	Partial or simplified; some variants missing
Drill customization	Per hand type, timed, repeatable	Limited or no drill mode
Mobile support	None	Often works on mobile browsers
Cost	One-time fee (est. $50–$75)	Free (with ads) or freemium subscription
Strategy accuracy	Optimal with penalty cards	Usually optimal but may omit penalty-card effects
Rare game paytables	Extensive library	Often limited to common games
Offline use	Yes (no internet needed)	Usually requires internet

For a casual player who plays a few hours a month, the free trainers are sufficient. For a Windows user who is trying to reduce error rates below 0.5% and needs to practice specific hands, VPW offers a clear advantage.

What Has Not Been Verified

During this research evaluation, several points could not be confirmed directly:

• The exact current price and any available discounts (e.g., for previous purchasers).
• The frequency of updates – the software has not seen a major version change in several years, but it still installs and runs on Windows 10/11 according to user reports.
• The official support response time – no support ticket was tested.
• Whether the software works on Windows 11 ARM via emulation.

These gaps matter because a buyer should not assume continued compatibility or support. If you are on a newer Windows installation, check user forums for recent installation reports before purchasing.

Practical Next Steps for the Reader

If you are considering VPW, take these steps before buying:

Visit the official product page at bobdancer.com/software/video-poker-for-winners/ and confirm the current price and system requirements.
2. Search YouTube for “Video Poker for Winners walkthrough” – several videos show the interface and drill mode.
3. If you use a Mac, verify that your virtualization software (Parallels, VMware, or Boot Camp) supports Windows 10/11 and that VPW launches without issues.
4. Decide whether the penalty-card drill and custom paytable import are worth the cost for your specific game mix. If you only play 9/6 Jacks or Better, a free trainer may be enough.

This evaluation is based on publicly available information as of early 2025. No software is a substitute for bankroll management, machine selection, and disciplined play. Use VPW as a tool to tighten your decisions, not as a promise of profits.