How to Play Video Poker

Video poker games are some of the few timeless classics that have endured decades of casino innovation. These simple games appeared in land-based casinos, offering straightforward gameplay based on popular poker. Unlike early slot machines (and most modern slots), this game allows players to control the gameplay to an extent, which means that the house edge can be minimized by optimal action. .

These games combine the best elements of slots and poker and are relatively easy to pick up. Check out Xgtiger Casino for video poker.

What Is A Video Poker Machine?

Before we get into the juicy details on how to play video poker, let’s break down what it actually is.

When novice video poker players fire up a video poker machine for the first time, they will quickly notice that this casino game bears some resemblance to poker and slot machines. This game shows a similar resemblance to slot games, in fact, that many players also refer to poker tables as poker slots.

Video poker is based on five-card draw poker, but it is also a game with fixed odds; sound familiar? It also features a random number generator that shuffles the cards and is played completely solo — no live dealers in sight!

Besides sporting some iconic slot elements, video poker machines also boast some unique features of their own. Unlike slots, players are given the ability to make their own choices when playing video poker. This implies that players can shift the odds in their favor and ultimately gain control over the outcome of their poker hand, which is also supported by the game’s low edge.

To put the cherry on top, this game is one of the only casino games that is possible to beat — with proper strategy. However, this will also depend on several factors, but we will discuss that later.

How To Play Video Poker And Win

The process of playing video poker is straightforward — if you know how to play slots, you know how to play video poker. Most important is your familiarity with the different poker hand ranks, but you will feel at ease even if you are a new player; Video poker machines almost always feature an in-game panel where the rankings are prominently displayed.

Without further ado, here is a step-by-step guide on how to play video poker:

Choose your bet size

The first step is to choose how much you want to bet before you start playing online video poker. The game uses coins, which can also be called credits. Most video poker tables accept up to five coins or credits. Basically, you will be able to choose the value of your coins, but note that individual games may have different minimum and maximum bets.

In most poker games, the displayed payout table will adjust the payouts according to your chosen bet, so you can see exactly how likely you are to win.

Put down the first cards

Once you have selected the bet size, you need to press the ‘Deal’ button to receive your first five cards. Sometimes, your cards will be dealt one at a time, face down, before all five cards are dealt at once. Other games may deal with them.

Hold your cards

The next step is to choose which cards you want to hold, meaning you can keep them for the next round (which, in most cases, is free). The way you determine which cards you want to hold can vary from game to game; usually, you can click on the cards or press the ‘Hold’ button. Unselected cards are discarded and replaced with new, randomly drawn cards — you’ll always have a hand made up of five cards.

Handling gives video poker a very low house edge compared to all other online games. You must know how to recognize the potential of a hand and which cards to keep or discard. Make the right call, and you may have a chance to significantly improve your hand and win.

Second Card is drawn

After you have chosen which cards to hold, you can press the ‘Draw’ button to get new cards. These five cards are your final hand — you will not be able to hold and discard cards after this draw.

Results and payouts

Your payout depends on the strength of your last hand. Fortunately, all possible hands and payouts are immediately displayed on the game’s payout table. Note that payouts may vary or offer bonus wins for joker hands (and yes, there are video poker games that use jokers), so be sure to check the game rules before you play

Video Poker Rules 

Video poker is a pretty basic game, so the rules are pretty easy to follow. That said, when you play online video poker, you can access the rules at any time. So, even if you don’t remember the rules, you have no problem giving your brain a quick refresher. Note that, since several different variants of video poker are available online, the rules may vary — although not by much. Check out some common ones:

• Each game uses standard table poker hands.
• Players are dealt five cards.
• Players can choose to hold or discard all five cards.
• Any cards discarded will be replaced in a random draw.
• Payout percentages vary with bet amount/number of coins played.

Types of Video Poker Games

There are many different variants of video poker, so it can be difficult to choose which one you want to play. In general, you will find that all variants of video poker are quite similar to each other, so your experience will not differ much.

Because of this, you can use a basic strategy when playing poker. Know the probability of landing each hand and optimize your gameplay decisions accordingly. It’s useless to hold a king in the hope of the elusive royal flush, but holding a pair of 10s can put you in the running for a three-of-a-kind. Don’t forget that you can also practice with fake money, as some video poker tables offer a free demo mode.

Check out some of our absolute favorites:

Jacks or Better Video Poker

Jacks or Better is a very exciting game and is also one of the most common online poker tables found in online casinos. Jacks or Better video poker gets its name from a rule embedded in the game for ages. Players who give Jacks or Better a spin can only earn a pair of jacks or better as the lowest winning hand.

Deuces Wild

Deuces Wild is often considered a more exciting video poker game than Jacks or Better, as it takes your play to a whole new level. In this variation of video poker, both serve as Wild cards, which can be substituted for any other card in your hand AND can appear in any hand. If you want to give the classic game a fun twist, Deuces Wild is your proverbial man, as it not only ups the ante but also gives players the chance to create extra important winning hands!

Bonus Poker

If Deuces Wild is a little too hot but you still want to try something new, Bonus Poker offers a happy middle ground. This game is similar to Jacks or Better, but it’s sprinkled with a special bonus that will spice up your play — any time you hit a four-of-a-kind, you’ll be awarded a bonus payout!

Double Bonus Poker

Double Bonus Poker is also quite similar to Jacks or Better, but you may want to watch out for ace cards. You will be awarded a huge win in this game when you get all four aces!

Video Poker Hands

Different hands pay, and the total varies from one game to another. The paytable on the best video poker machines will give you that information, usually displayed directly on the main game interface.

Here are all the hands you can do:

• Royal Flush — A, K, Q, J, and 10 of the same suit.
• Straight Flush — Five cards in sequence and of the same suit.
• Four of a kind — Four cards of the same value.
• Full house — A three of a kind and a pair.
• Flush — Five cards of the same suit.
• Straight — Any five cards in a sequence.
• Three of a kind — Three cards of the same rank and two unrelated cards.
• Two pairs — Two pairs and a kicker.
• Jacks or better— This hand is unique to select tables, offering a payout for hands with a pair of jacks, queens, kings or aces.

Video Poker Strategy

One of the main selling points of video poker is that, with the right strategy, you can actually win. There are a few different things you can do to develop a proper strategy, and it all depends on the hand being drawn at the time, but here are a few things to keep in mind when developing a video poker strategy :

• Holds four cards that form high-ranking combinations.
• Discard the remaining two cards in a three-of-a-kind to make room for higher-ranking hands.
• If you make two pairs, discard the fifth card to make room for a full house.
• Only discard the flush or straight when you have four cards that could form a royal flush.
• Always bust a jacks or better hand to generate a straight flush potential.
• Keep a low pair instead of a single high card.

Tips How To Win In Video Poker

Aside from developing a good strategy, there are a few other tips you can add to your toolkit that can help you land a win.

Look At The Paytable

It is highly recommended that you check the paytable before you start betting. You don’t need to memorize how each poker hand pays, but the paytable will give you an idea of which hands to pick if you’re looking to win the biggest payout possible. Of course, your payout will depend on the state of your hand, but it’s good to know which hands will work for — the royal flush, straight flush, four-of-a-kind, and full house are top-paying hands.

Boost Winnings By Placing Bets

Many online tips will tell you to use all five coins when betting. This is because, by using the maximum number of coins, you will be able to win the highest amount for the royal flush, which usually gives a payout of 800:1 compared to 250:1 for lower bets. However, it is important that you keep some strategy charts handy and have a proper bankroll management system.

Use a Strategy Chart

Strategy charts serve as a guide to help you make better decisions on keeping or discarding cards. They compiled a list of every single result in a game. Making smarter decisions in the end will increase your chances of winning instead of going blind and treating poker as a guessing game. Even if you know a little more than most other players, it’s still a good idea to keep these charts handy in case the time comes when you get stuck.

Play Table With Good Luck

No matter what online game you play, the house always has some edge. But, some tables offer better odds of winning than others. Before you sit down and insert your coins, immediately check the odds to see if your chosen poker table offers a good chance of winning. Playing at tables with better odds is also a very good step for beginners who are new to the gameplay and still need to build their bankroll.

Practice In Demo Mode

The beauty of playing at online casinos is that most online poker tables have a demo mode. The demo is a free-to-play version of the game that offers the same gaming experience you would expect to find when playing for real. The only difference is that, in demo mode, you play with fake money rather than your actual bankroll. So, you get the full experience without leaving a dent in your cache! The only bummer is that you won’t be able to collect any of the winnings you earn, but you can always switch to the full-pay version once you’ve completely milked the demo for all it’s worth.

Conclusion

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