Video Poker

Is video poker any different?

If you sift down to the nuts and bolts of video poker, you will notice that very similar rules apply to conventional poker tables. If you look at the game’s structure, however, you’ll see that video poker games are quite closely related to slots machines. The same principal applies when betting on these games. You place your bet before you “spin” and a successful payout is determined by the initial bet.

Take care when you play

Video poker is quite simple. What you do first is place your bet. This bet should be determined by several factors. Firstly, are you playing for fun or do you want to win big? Secondly, are you gambling beyond your needs? If you are, it’s not the wisest option to use a credit card while gambling online. Rather gamble with funds that you have at your disposal so that in the event of losing, it was money that you already had. There are few things worse than falling into unnecessary debt.

Once you are comfortable with your bet, you click the mouse, or in the case of a land-based casino you will press the draw button. The great thing about video poker is that it is not a game based on luck alone. There is a certain amount of strategy and understanding of the game required if you want to do well.

After the first cards are dealt, you will have to decide which cards you want to keep and which cards you want to discard. After you have decided this, the machine will replace the cards. This is the final stage and if you have a winning hand, your winnings will be paid out according to the status of your cards.

If you already have a good grasp of poker, video poker will be a breeze for you. Even if you don’t, all you need to do is familiarize yourself with which combinations pay out the most. Once you know this, you will have a broad understanding of which cards to keep and which to discard. This is just a general overview of the game. You play twice and the computer plays twice. If however you win, most machines offer you the chance to double your money by picking a higher card than the machine.

The different types of video poker

Even though there are several variations of video poker available to you, they all operate on the same principal. The three main video poker games are Jacks or Better (the original video poker game), Deuces Wild and Jokers Wild. Most video poker games have a progressive jackpot attached to them. You can win this jackpot by getting a royal flush. The only real difference between video poker games in different online casinos is the theme. These themes go according to the casino’s umbrella brand.

Jacks or Better is just like normal poker, but you need to get a pair of Jacks or higher to be eligible for a winning hand. Jacks or Better offers the highest percentage payouts when it comes to video poker. Deuces Wild will pay out any winning hand that has three of a kind or better. In Jokers Wild, the Joker serves as the wild card. You probably worked this out from the name. There are two versions of this game. The most common version is Kings or Better, where you can be paid out for any winning combination from a pair of Kings or higher. The other version is One Pair which will pay you out on any pair combination.

What to expect with your bets

When you load up a video poker game, the first thing you will see is the playing screen. There will be a space open for your cards as well as an area set aside to show your payouts. Each game will also carry its own name. The next things you will notice are your playing buttons. These buttons will include your “Max Bet”, “One Bet”, “Deal” and the “Plus/Minus” button to up or downscale your bets. If the game is being played in dollars, with $1 being the minimum bet, then the “One Bet” button will equate to $1. The “Max Bet” button will up your bet to $5.

Once you’ve bet, what then?

Ok, so now you’ve decided what you want to bet. You’ll then click the “Deal” button and you’ll be given 5 cards. Once these cards have been dealt, you’ll see another series of buttons where you can either pick “Hold” or “Deal”. The “Hold” icon will appear underneath each card and you can then choose which cards you wish to keep and which to discard. If, however, your cards are a winning combination from your first deal, the winning cards will be held automatically.

Now that you’ve picked the cards you want to keep, you can then click the “Deal” button again and the cards which you chose not to hold will be replaced. The final hand is shown and your winnings will automatically be tallied according to how well your hand scored. Each combination pays out a different amount.

If you have a winning hand, you then have the opportunity to double your bet. This is in the form of a one-on-one with the machine. The casino will show you one upturned card and five cards that are shown face down. You have to pick one of those 5 cards and if that card is higher than the casino’s card, your winnings are doubled. In the case of a draw, you will also win. You can keep doing this and doubling your winnings until you decide to call it quits. If, however, you lose any of these challenges, everything including the initial bet will be forfeited.

Keep on playing

Once you’re comfortable with video poker, you can keep playing this game or move on to normal poker which is slightly more challenging. Video poker remains a very enjoyable game which combines luck and strategy.