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Classic slot machines are well-known 'one-armed bandits' or their virtual analogues, and represent machines with several reels. To win a prize, you simply need to press the button and get three or five same symbols on different reels on a horizontal line. These machines are very simple, so it's easy to work out the odds of winning. When it comes to complex slot machines, there are other factors influencing probability, so it's impossible to work out the odds.
Strategy for fruit machines: calculating the odds
A key variable used to to calculate the odds of winning is the type of the fruit machine, the number of reels and the number of symbols on every reel. The strategy for playing these is very simple: if there're more symbols on the reel, your chances of winning decrease.
Theory into practice
Let’s use an example, where you have selected a classic fruit machine with three reels and twenty pictures on a reel for playing. To win, you need to roll same symbol on all three reels in a horizontal line. Let’s make an assumption, that each reel has one winning symbol (which is common for slot machines and makes all the calculations easier).
For this example, you can calculate the odds of winning as follows: multiply together the number of symbols on all three reels to determine the total number of combinations: 20x20x20=8,000. Hence the odds to win a prize are 1 in 8,000. To change it into percentages, we need to take out odds (1 in 8,000) and multiply by hundred percent = (1/8,000) x 100% = 0.125%
For classic slot machines with five reels and similar twenty symbols on each reel, odds would be as follows: total number of combinations = 20x20x20x20x20=3,200,000. Odds of winning are 1 in 3,200,000. The odds of winning in percentages are (1/3,200,000)x100%=0.0003125%
The strategy of playing on fruit machines is very simple: the player needs to select the ones with the highest chance of win. Because fruit machines were around for some time, you can just the calculated values – everything has been worked out long ago. The table below summarises these odds:
| Type of machine | Number of symbols | Number of all combinations | Odds of winning | Odds to win, % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three reels | 20 | 8000 | 1 к 8000 | 0.0125% |
| 22 | 10.648 | 1 к 10648 | 0.0093% | |
| 25 | 15.625 | 1 к 15625 | 0.0064% | |
| Five reels | 20 | 3.200.000 | 1 к 3200000 | 0.0003125% |
| 22 | 5.153.632 | 1 к 5153632 | 0.0000194% | |
| 25 | 9.765.625 | 1 к 9765625 | 0.00001025% |
Naked pulls strategy for slot machines
Naked pulls strategy is a common and simple strategy that could be used for playing on slotters. The idea is that after a number of non-winning, 'naked' pulls, the player needs to change the machine. The advantages and disadvantages of this strategy could be discussed at length, but you have to remember that it can not increase the probabilities in any way, and only works as cost control while playing.
How is the strategy used in practice? The player sets the maximum rounds he can spin without winning, after which he would leave the machine, and try playing the next one. The losses do not need to be consecutive, although a series of ten losses in ten minutes would make any player consider changing the machine. The main rule of 'naked pull' strategy is that the maximum number of losses should be between seven and fifteen at most. So, even if a player had a lot of wins, and even large wins at the same fruit machine, they still change. If the vening has been in profit though, you are better off using the 'keep your profits' rule – or, in simple terms, run with your money.
