Video poker
Video poker has its place among the most popular casino games in the world. Since it hit the casino floors in the 1970s, this game has established itself as the industry leader.
Some circles call it the poker slots, probably due to the similarity in features with the slot machines. What, however, differentiates video poker and slot machines is the element of skill.
Unlike other games, video poker is also popular due to the low profits it delivers to the casino while still offering chances to players to strike it rich.
You already know that the house always has an advantage. While this may be true, video poker is different whether you are playing the deuces wild, jacks, or better other variations.
Once you acquire the right skills, strategy, knowledge, and lady luck on your side, you can beat the video poker machines hands down.
Playing against the machine and not another player is one factor that makes the video poker machine easy to beat. A player always has almost 5 times more chances of winning the jackpot, making the game even more inviting.
If you are still stuck on the traditional slot machines, consider moving to video poker and explore the beauty of it.
But don’t jump ship blindly; it is vital that you first learn the rules and strategies that will transform you into a pro video poker player.
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Card values
| HAND | DESCRIPTION | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit | 800 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | Five cards of the same suit in numerical order | 50 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind | Four cards of the same rank | 25 to 1 |
| Full House | Three of a kind plus a pair | 9 to 1 |
| Flush | Five cards of the same suit | 6 to 1 |
| Straight | Five cards in numerical order, not necessarily of the same suit | 4 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same rank | 3 to 1 |
| Two Pair | Two sets of two cards of the same rank | 2 to 1 |
| Jack’s or Better | A pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces | 1 to 1 |
| Other Hands | No qualifying hand | 0 |
Video Poker rules
Video poker is easy to learn and understand. It comes in a wide selection of variations, but one rule is always constant; the five-card draw. It utilizes a 52 card deck that is randomly shuffled.
Once you make a bet and hit the deal button, you are randomly allocated 5 cards by the machine.
You then determine the cards to hold on to and which cards to get rid of. You hold on to the cards by tapping the chosen card’s pictures on the screen.
After making your pick, press the ‘draw’ button so the machine can replace the cards you got rid of.
In this fascinating game, ending up with a poker hand such as a straight, 2 pairs, flush or royal flush guarantees a win. The amount won per hand is always influenced by:
- Your hand’s poker value
- The machine’s posted paytable
If winning is the ultimate goal, you must know which of the 5 dealt cards you should hold on to or discard. A correct decision will significantly boost your chances of hitting it rich with the jackpot.
Basic strategy
It will be a terrible mistake to play against the video poker machine by guessing; it the quickest way to lose money.
It is even more frustrating to lose real money in a game that offers you a real and apparent opportunity to win.
Combining the right skills with the best video poker-playing strategy enhances your winning chances and gives you access to the best players’ reserved computers.
If you are a beginner, ensure that you first do rigorous practice before committing real money to the game.
Choose the right paytable
Video poker is the only one of its kind that displays the expected return before playing. Ensure you research beforehand to establish which video poker machines offer the best paytables.
For instance, the house edge is typically set at only 3% on each play of a video poker game. This means that if the casino’s cut is 3%, the player is entitled to a 97% return, which changes based on the paytables.
Always compare different machines and their paytables to ensure you only play on one with the highest returns.
For example, you boost your chances of winning against the machine if you select a game with a 99.54% return than if you choose one with a 97.29% profit.
The house edge is only 0.47% on the 99.54% machine and 2.71% on the other machine. The 99.54% is closer to a full play, making it a better option.
Generally, a good machine will offer a better yield. If winning good money is your motivation, always avoid machines that provide low paytables.
Strategy sharts
Utilizing the strategy charts is the easiest way to brush your video poker skills as you play the game.
The charts usually rank which hands to hold on to according to their importance.
Let’s say you are playing Jack or better. With 4 cards to a flush in your hands and a low pair, you should consider retaining the 4 cards to a flush because this hand has a higher rank on the strategy chart.
Strategy charts are ideal for beginners because all they need is to compare hands on the charts to make decisions.
Don’t forget the bonuses
Always target the right promotions because they ramp-up your chances of beating the machines with the free money they offer, allowing you to play more games.
Do not ignore the bonuses. If they are not available, always use the live chat option to enquire if a bonus is available. Some online casino websites are so bad that it’s hard to notice the promotions or the running bonuses.
So, don’t hesitate to request a bonus if you need it. Of course, you need it!
Video Poker training tools
Video poker is fun to play, but it does not pinpoint the mistakes you make while playing. Training software notifies you of errors to steer clear of in the future and offers better results than watching video tutorials. It enables you to play as you find out what right or wrong you are doing.
For instance, if you are randomly allocated As, Ad, Kh, Qs, 2s in a 9 / 6 Jacks or Better and you retain Kh, Ad, and As, the trainer notifies you that you ought only to retain the Ad and As in such a scenario.
Using the trainer enables you to play correctly every time. With enough practice, using the right strategy will become automatic. You may purchase a program or use the video poker trainers available on the internet.
Whether you want to play Deuces world or Jack or better, numerous video poker options give players endless opportunities to win big in jackpot proportions.