An Introduction to Video Poker Basics
Video poker has been around since the 1970’s and has quickly become popular over the years. There are hundreds of variations of video poker available online and offline although the desire to play online video poker has increased recently. Ultimately, video poker is a game that brings together three types of casino gambling games: poker, slot machines and tables games. This is one reason why it is loved so much by online gamblers.
Various Types of Video Poker
The two most common types of video poker are Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild. Each have their set of rules and winning strategies. However, other variations include anything from Joker Poker and Sevens Wild Poker to Double Bonus Poker and All American Video Poker. Some video poker games offer wild cards and special bonuses while others are more traditional and do not offer these perks.
How to Play Video Poker
Video poker is based on regular five-card draw poker. The rules are pretty much the same. The primary difference is that instead of playing against players, you are playing against a computer.
Once the first bet has been placed, the video poker slot machine will deal the player five cards, which appear on the screen. The player can then choose to “hold” as many as five cards. The cards that want to be retained should be held and the rest of the cards will be discarded.
Once the decision has been made on the cards to “hold” and the card to “discard,” the player will press “deal.” The cards that were selected to be discarded will be replaced by brand new cards from the deck.
Basically, the game (or hand) is over. The player will either win or lose and winnings will be based upon the initial bet and the ranking system of the winning combinations, which is shown on the video poker pay table.
General Video Poker Playing Tips
• One thing to remember in video poker is that you are ONLY up against the computer and not other players. This means that the hand of another player playing video poker has nothing to do with your hand or whether you win or lose.
• Make sure to choose a video poker machine that has a full payout and the highest percentage of payouts.
• If you receive a winning hand, hold it. Don’t discard the cards to try for a higher hand. The only reason to do this is if you are one card away from a Royal Flush.