INTRODUCTION TO VIDEO POKER
The difference between regular poker and video poker are that the bets are usually smaller and you only play against yourself. Video poker is great fun online because there are a wide variety of types of games and rules. Some versions of video poker include wild cards while others are more challenging and only pay out on pairs of 10’s or higher.
HOW TO PLAY VIDEO POKER
In Poker the Royal Flush is the top hand, the same is true in Video Poker. Because you are playing against the house the odds are going to be more in their favour and not yours but it is possible to control the outcome as in other games like roulette and blackjack.
The most popular version of Video Poker is ‘Jacks or Better’ and is great for beginners. The goal of the game is simple, to beat the dealer’s hand. As always bets and payouts depend on the hand you hold and how much you wagered.
You can choose to play video poker in single hand, five-hand, ten-hand and even up to 100 hands! As always it’s best to take a look at the payout table and choose the game you want to play that offers you the best odds.
In Video Poker players need to decide how much they are willing to bet. Once the hand is dealt players also need to decide on the possible outcome of your hand with different combinations of the cards you hold. If you have a weak hand we recommend discarding only up to four cards maximum, three if possible, and keep the two cards you feel will have a higher likelihood of producing a winning hand.
Sometimes in Video poker players are allowed to double up on their win. This means that when you get a winning hand you are offered the chance to double your money by playing in the double up bonus round. Five cards will appear on the screen and the first card will turn over. You will then be asked to pick one of the four remaining cards. If it is higher than the first card turned, you double your winnings. Most video poker games will allow you to double up your winnings up to five times!
Below we’ve listed the most common winning combinations:
| Name | Description |
| Jacks or Better | A pair only counts if its Jacks or higher, any lower pair does not pay |
| Kings or Better | Only pair with a king or high pay |
| Two Pair | Any 2 sets of pairs will pay |
| Three of a Kind | Any three cards of the same value will pay |
| Four of a Kind | Any four cards of the same value will pay |
| Five of a Kind | Any four cards of the same value plus a wild card will pay |
| Straight | Any 5 consecutive value cards, not of the same suit |
| Flush | Any 5 non consecutive cards of the same suit |
| Straight Flush | 5 consecutive cards of the same suit |
| Royal Flush | 5 consecutive cards, starting with 10 of the same suit |
| Wild Royal Flush | The same as a Royal flush except that it contains a wild card |
There are also a number of online casinos who offer progressive jackpots to rare combinations such as royal flushes, so look for these for some extra fun!
Jacks of Better is the version of video poker upon which all other variations are based. The game is played with a 52-card deck, with no wild cards. The objective of the game is to obtain a minimum hand of a pair of Jacks before you can win even money. Because there are so few steps between the deal and the draw, there are no set strategies that will guarantee a win. Video Poker strategies are limited to singular tips, which apply to all forms of the game:
- Jacks are powerful cards. Not only are they the lowest possible winning pair; but Jacks also provide more chances of making a profitable hand. Because of its ranking, you would be wiser to keep a Jack than an Ace when playing Video Poker.
- Do not draw inside straights, which are straights that require a card in the middle of the hand to win. An example of an inside straight would be 5 6 8 9 A, because you need a 7 to complete the hand. Instead, aim for open-ended straights, which are incomplete hands in which you need a card at the beginning or the end.
- If it comes down to choosing between a pair and a high card, always hold the pair. This prevents you from throwing away a good hand and increasing the odds of you earning a 3-of-a-kind.
- Finally, do not throw away cards if they are a part of any paying hand. Unless throwing away a valuable card means you can gain a Royal Flush, hold on to anything that may result in a way.
VIDEO POKER
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Play this game at the following casinos: |
5Casinos recommendation
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