Video Poker for Winners Review: A Deep Dive into the Ultimate Training Tool

For any serious video poker player, the gap between knowing the rules and playing perfect strategy is wide. Even a small deviation on a single hold decision can cost hundreds of dollars of expected value over a year of play. Training software is one of the few ways to close that gap outside a live casino floor. Video Poker for Winners (often called VPFW) has been a staple in the strategy community for decades. This review looks at what it offers, where it falls short, and how it fits into a US player’s practice routine. We base our analysis on the official product page (https://www.videopokerforwinners.com), Bob Dancer’s published strategy articles, and direct usage of version 2.5.12.

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What Is Video Poker for Winners?

Video Poker for Winners is a desktop-based training and analysis tool originally developed by Bob Dancer and released in the early 2000s. According to the official documentation, the software supports over 40 common video poker variants — Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Double Bonus, Double Double Bonus, and many others — with adjustable pay tables, speed, and feedback settings. The program logs every hand, calculates the correct hold for each deal, and shows the player’s actual choice versus the optimal choice. Over time, it builds a detailed performance report broken down by hand type and error cost.

The software is distributed as a direct download for Windows. No online subscription is required, and there is no mobile version. The purchase is a one-time fee (currently $49.95 for the standard edition, according to the official site), with updates released periodically. Bob Dancer himself has stated in his blog that the strategy engine is based on full combinatorial calculations, not approximations.

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Key Features and How They Work

The core training loop is straightforward: a hand is dealt, the player selects which cards to hold, and the draw is simulated. After each hand, VPFW displays the correct hold (based on the best possible expected value) and compares it to the player’s choice. The software also calculates the error cost in units, which is the amount of expected value lost by the mistake.

The following table compares the core features of VPFW against two common alternatives — WinPoker and a typical free online trainer:

Feature	VPFW	WinPoker	Free Online Trainer (VideoPoker.com)
Game variants	40+	30+	10–15
Custom pay tables	Yes (full editor)	Yes (limited)	No
Error cost in units	Per hand and session	Per hand only	Not shown
Speed training mode	Yes (adjustable timer)	No	No
Session history export	Yes (text file)	Yes (proprietary)	No

The pay table editor is particularly useful for players who want to practice on a specific machine they have scouted at a local casino. By entering the exact pay table, the training becomes directly relevant to that machine’s return. The official VPFW documentation includes a tutorial on how to create custom pay tables for rare machines like the 9/7/5 Double Bonus at the Palms.

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Strengths That Stand Out

The most important strength of VPFW is its accuracy. The strategy engine is based on the same combinatorial calculations used by professional players to determine optimal play. For popular games like 9/6 Jacks or Better, 9/6 Double Double Bonus, and full-pay Deuces Wild, the strategies are authoritative. The software does not rely on simplified charts or approximations; it computes the correct hold for every possible deal.

The error tracking is equally valuable. Rather than simply telling a player they made a mistake, VPFW shows the exact cost in units. Over a session, players can see whether their errors are concentrated on a few high-penalty hands or spread across many small ones. This data helps a player prioritize which strategy exceptions to work on next. For example, a player who finds that 80% of their total error cost comes from misplaying 3-card straight flush draws knows exactly where to focus study time.

The software also includes a speed training mode that forces the player to make a decision within a few seconds, mimicking the pace of a real casino game. This is a feature that many free online trainers lack. According to Bob Dancer’s own training recommendations, practicing at 75% of the speed of a real machine is the fastest way to build muscle memory.

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Limitations and Considerations

Video Poker for Winners is a mature product, and that maturity comes with some trade-offs. The interface looks dated, with a Windows XP-era design. Buttons and menus are functional but not polished. New players accustomed to modern mobile apps may find the learning curve steeper than expected.

There is no mobile version and no cloud sync. Practice sessions are stored locally on one computer. A player who wants to practice at home and then on a laptop must transfer the save files manually, which is not intuitive. The official site does not provide a sync utility.

The price is another consideration. The one-time fee is $49.95 for the standard edition, plus an optional $9.95 for the strategy guide add-on. That is a modest investment compared to potential losses from poor play, but it is not free. Free alternatives exist, including web-based trainers, but they rarely offer the same depth of error analysis or custom pay table support. The official VPFW site also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, but the refund policy is not clearly stated on the purchase page.

The software does not provide video or audio lessons. It is a pure practice tool, not a tutorial. A player who is still learning basic strategy for a game like Jacks or Better would be better served by a strategy guide or a simpler trainer first. The official site does offer a separate strategy guide book (PDF) for $9.95, but it is not integrated into the software.

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How It Compares to Other Training Tools

The main alternative to VPFW is WinPoker, another long-standing desktop program. WinPoker has a similar feature set, but its interface is slightly more modern, and it includes a teacher mode that explains why a particular hold is optimal. For players who want more explanation, WinPoker may be a better fit. However, WinPoker costs $59.95 and does not offer a speed training mode.

Free online trainers, such as those on VideoPoker.com or the Wizard of Odds site, are good for quick practice but lack the detailed error tracking and session log that serious players need. They also do not allow custom pay tables. The Wizard of Odds trainer, for example, only supports 9/6 Jacks or Better and 9/6 Double Double Bonus.

Mobile apps like Video Poker Trainer for iOS and Android are convenient for casual practice, but they rarely include the full range of game variants, and their strategy engines are often simplified. The most popular iOS app, Video Poker Trainer by Ron Works, only supports 10 variants and does not provide error cost in units.

For a player preparing for a specific casino trip, VPFW remains the best choice if they want to drill exact pay tables and track progress over weeks. The official site provides a list of pay tables for 50+ real casino machines, which can be imported directly into the software.

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Who Should Buy It?

Video Poker for Winners is best suited for a player who already knows the basic strategy for at least one video poker variant and wants to eliminate costly errors. It is also valuable for anyone who tracks their play and wants to see if their practice is paying off in lower error rates.

It is less ideal for a beginner who has never played a hand of video poker, or for a player who prefers to learn through video tutorials and interactive guides. It is also not the right choice for someone who practices exclusively on a tablet or phone.

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Checklist Before You Buy

If you are considering VPFW, run through this checklist to see if it matches your needs:

• [ ] Do you know the basic strategy for at least one video poker game from memory?
• [ ] Do you have a Windows PC available for practice sessions?
• [ ] Are you willing to spend time learning the interface rather than playing immediately?
• [ ] Do you want to practice with specific pay tables that you have seen in a real casino?
• [ ] Does tracking error cost in units matter to your improvement goals?

If you answered yes to most of these, Video Poker for Winners is likely a solid investment. If you answered no, consider starting with a free online trainer (like the one at https://www.videopoker.com/trainer) or a strategy book (such as Bob Dancer’s “Video Poker for Winners” book) before spending money on desktop software.

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Final Caveat

No software can replace live play experience. The pressure of a real casino environment, the noise, the speed of the machine, and the need to manage your bankroll in real time are not fully simulated. Use VPFW as a tool to sharpen your decisions, but always verify your results against actual play. The official VPFW site includes a forum where users share session logs and strategy tips, which can help you stay accountable.

If you decide to purchase, do so directly from the official site to avoid counterfeit copies. The software is not available on Steam or any app store. A one-time investment of $49.95 could save you hundreds of dollars in mistakes over the next year.