This guide is a definitive collection of tips, overviews, and explanations for those who want to learn everything about online video poker. We have included everything, from different versions of the game and a glossary to the best online casinos where you can play the games for free or real money. See what our experts have to say about these ranked and reviewed websites.
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Video poker is a popular casino game that combines elements of traditional poker and slot machines. While it bears many similarities to slots, it is a distinct genre and one that has a higher return to the player. The condition is to use the optimal strategy, something that can be achieved by using the standard chart. The goal is to make the best possible hand, with video poker being an interactive game where players decide what to keep and what to discard.
This game is played on a video screen that displays the player's cards and allows them to make their betting decisions. The game begins with the placing of a bet and the potential winnings are indissolubly linked to the amount wagered. Once the bet is placed, players are dealt five cards and they decide how many they keep and how many they discard. The best case scenario is to make a royal flush or a straight flush, which paid the best, according to the pay table.
The stronger the hand, the lower the odds of making it, so punters are advised to balance their decisions based on their bankroll and expectations. There are numerous variations of video poker, each with its own set of rules and payout rates. Some of the most popular video poker games include Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Double Bonus Poker. There are minor strategy deviations for each game, but overall the rules are similar, so the learning curve is smooth.
Skilled players who use optimal strategies can have a significant edge over the house. However, it is important to remember that video poker, like all forms of gambling, ultimately depends on luck. That’s why it is essential to exercise proper bankroll management and only bet what you can afford to lose.
Unlike many casino games, who often have origins going back to ancient times, Video Poker only came to the market in the 1970's, although poker itself has been around in some for around 2-300 years.
The idea for Video Poker came from Si Redd, an employee of Bally Technologies in the USA, in the mid-1970s. He tried to get the company to produce his game but they were not interested, so Redd struck out on his own, starting the Sircoma company. This business is known today as International Gaming Technologies, or IGT and is still one of the biggest casino game developers in existence.
It took some time for Video Poker to get established, but by the middle of the 80s a new generation of people, who were used to computer games, were more accepting of the concept of playing a game on a video screen and it began to take off, particularly in Las Vegas casinos.
The original Video Poker games were based on Draw Poker, with a two pair hand being the lowest winning combination possible, but is quickly became overtaken by Jacks or Better which requires the player to get at least two Jacks from the cards to get a win. Jacks or Better is still the most widely played Video Poker game.
The arrival of online casinos in the 1990's has really given Video Poker a natural home, where gamers can play from the comfort of their living rooms. Almost all online casinos now feature at least one Video Poker title, or usually several of them, and it now ranks alongside roulette and blackjack for popularity.
The terminology associated with Video Poker is unsurprisingly a mix of older Poker terms plus some new ones specifically for the computerized versions.
Action: The value of the bet placed by the player.
Bet Max: The biggest bet size possible per hand, normally a five coin bet.
Discard: The card, or cards that the player does not wish to keep after they are initially dealt out.
Flush: A five card hand with all cards belonging to one suit.
Four of a Kind: A hand where four cards are of equal value.
Full House: A hand made up of a three of a kind, plus a pair.
Hand: The first five cards dealt by the machine to the player.
Hold: The card, or cards that are retained by the player after they are dealt out by the machine.
Jackpot: The biggest win, which is usually paid out for getting a royal flush hand.
Pair: Two equal value cards, such as two Queens, or two 7's.
Pay Back: The return on their wagers that a player can expect over a number of games.
Payout: The amount paid out for a single winning hand.
Pay Table: A chart displayed on the screen showing how much is paid out for each hand value.
Royal Flush: A hand consisting of a 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace from the same suit. This is the best possible poker hand to get.
Straight: Any hand consisting of five consecutive cards, but not including the Ace.
Straight Flush: A hand where the cards making up a straight are all from the same suit.
Winning Hand: Any combination of cards that are of a high enough value to get a payout.
Video Poker is a fairly simple game to learn, certainly when compared with other poker games. With the exception of Joker Poker, where the deck includes the Jokers, the games use a standard deck of 52 cards. To start playing a round of Video Poker, the player must first make a bet of their chosen value and then click the 'Deal' button. The machine will then deal five random cards. The player tries to make the best possible poker hand by either holding or discarding as many of the cards as they wish. Discarded ones are then automatically replaced to give the player a final poker hand, with payouts based on this result.
Hands are given the same ranking in Video poker as for most poker games, but the payouts can vary depending on which type is being played. These are the rankings, starting with the best - Royal Flush; Straight Flush; Four of a Kind; Full House; Flush; Straight; Three of a Kind; Two Pair; One Pair of Jacks or Better.
The house edge in Video Poker games can vary from as little as 0.5% up to around 3% depending on where you are, and what type of game is being played. All are single player games, where it is just you against the machine.
Video Poker is a game with few rules, and correspondingly few options to use any form of strategy. The only decisions to make are which cards to keep and which cards to replace, but this basic strategy, mainly designed for Jacks or Better should be followed.
Straight Flush: If you get a straight flush, hold all of the cards as you could win a big prize. A royal flush is very rare, but not unheard of and will pay out even more.
Four of a Kind: Hold all the cards, as this hand won't be improved by discarding the one card that doesn't match the rest. This is the third best possible combination.
Full House: Hold all the cards, as again, getting rid of the two that don't match can't actually improve this hand.
Flush: Hold all the cards, as you cannot better it by discarding any.
Straight: Hold all the cards, as you cannot better it by discarding any.
Three of a Kind: Hold the three cards of equal value and replace the remaining two cards.
Two Pairs: Hold the two pairs and replace the remaining card.
Jacks or Better: Hold the two Jacks and replace the other three.
Additionally, any cards apart from Jack, Queen, King or Ace should be discarded if the initial ones dealt out do not give you a winning hand.
Here are some useful tactics designed to help new Video Poker players improve their game.
Once you know the basics you need to expand your horizons and these are the tips you should consider to maximize your winnings.
Get familiar with the rules of the game and try video poker for free in demo format.
There are numerous variations of video poker and you should try several before settling for one.
Proper bankroll management is vital in any game of chance, including a high-paying one like poker.
We want you to enjoy a smooth experience with video poker and that’s why we have assembled a list of five steps that will guide you early on.
Research goes a long way and you should play video poker at licensed and regulated casinos.
Register for an account with the online casino to gain access to real and virtual currency games.
Deposit funds into your account via traditional payment methods or cryptocurrencies.
Take it one step at a time and try one again before taking a leap of faith with another for real money.
Experiment with different games in demo format before your deposit and switch to real money.
It can be quite a challenge to master the optimal strategy, but once you do it you will be more successful. This will give you enough time to get familiar with the key video poker terms, such as the ones we have included in our glossary.
Video Poker TerminologyThe basics for players seeking popular versions of video poker
A casino game that uses a 52-card deck and comes in many flavors such as Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Joker's Wild. This is available at most online casinos.
A video poker game that just as the name indicates, pays out higher rewards for four-of-a-kind Aces. It is a popular version of the classic that can be found in many operators.
A version of a video poker game with a high return to the player that pays out extra rewards for getting four-of-a-kind Aces or Eights. It uses the standard rules of the classic game.
A fast-paced poker game that challenges players to make quick decisions in a limited time. It is ideal for veterans and players who enjoy action-packed games.
A video poker game that will pay significantly more for players who make a four-of-a-kind hand with deuces. It is also a popular version of the game that can be found in many casinos.
A variation of video poker that offers the best rewards to players who are lucky enough to make a four-of-a-kind hand.
A type of video poker game that uses two joker cards in the deck. In addition to the standard winning combinations players can use them to create more winning hands.
A classic video poker game where players need to get a pair of Jacks or better to win. It is the most common version of all video poker games, and nearly all casinos offer it.
A video poker game similar to Jacks or Better, where players are supposed to get at least a pair of pants to qualify. It is a simple and fun game to play at all stakes.
A video poker game where all the Deuces are special since they play the role of wild cards. This means that they can substitute other cards to create winning combinations.
A video poker game that rewards players for getting a combination of Aces and face cards. It is a game that blackjack enthusiasts will surely appreciate whether they play for free or real money.
A high-paying version of a video poker game that offers extra bonuses for certain winning hands. The extra payments complement the standard ones which can be found in the payout chart.
This exciting version of video poker uses a joker card as a wild card. It is a powerful card since it can be used to substitute other cards and create winning hands.
This version of the game is ideal for veterans and high rollers because of its enhanced payouts. Straight flushes and four-of-a-kind are the ones capable of triggering these massive payouts.
This version of video poker requires players to choose to hold or discard cards in order to create the best possible poker hand. It has the rules slightly tweaked compared to the classic game.
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If the optimal strategy is used, you can aspire for a return to the player of more than 99%, which is a lot.
You should compare a video poker chart to use the optimal strategy, which is simple and universal.
Video poker is prevalent at online casinos and you can find thousands of licensed operators.
The Royal flush and a straight flush pay the best, but weaker hands also deliver our payment.
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