Video Poker Strategy Guide
In order to increase your chances of winning huge payoffs, including the jackpot when you catch a royal flush, it’s essential that you know exactly what to do before you make a wager on a video poker game. After all, this is a game of skill. So, if you want to enjoy the high odds of winning while playing video poker, you should first be willing to expand your knowledge and learn the various strategies and important details needed to do well in this game. If you’re heading toward this direction, then feel free to use this video poker guide.
- Free Video Poker Strategy Guide
- Video Poker Strategy Guides
- What Is The Best Strategy For Video Poker
- Video Poker Strategy 8 5
In this video poker guide, you will be introduced to different poker hands, to the basic steps of playing, and to some useful tips to help you increase your bankroll.
Get to know the poker hands
Listed below are links for video poker strategy charts. You can print them out and take them with you to the casino so you know how to properly play your hand in any given situation. Please Note - These charts are in a PDF format and you will need to use Acrobat Reader to print them out. In online casino video poker, just as in a game of 5 Card Draw, players aim to get the strongest hand by choosing whether to draw different cards or hold onto the ones that they already have. Developed by Jean Scott and Jim Wolf Frugal Video Poker may be the most comprehensive video poker tool there is. 54 games are pre-loaded into the software and the option to customize the games plus the ability to generate strategy cards for any game makes it a must have. VP Strategy Master (RRP $29.95).
It’s like video poker on training wheels – and there’s no shame in it. Plenty of the best players today started out with a handy guide by their side. Know Which Cards to Keep. This is the basis of your strategy when playing video poker online.
In video poker, players must aim to form a hand in order to win. A hand basically means a combination of five cards that follow a hand ranking system. For a quick video poker guide, here are all the poker hands ranked from highest to lowest:
- Royal flush—ace, king, queen, jack, 10 of the same suit
- Straight flush—five cards of the same suit arranged consecutively
- Four of a kind—four cards that are of the same rank
- Full house—three cards of the same rank plus two cards of another same rank
- Flush—five cards that have the same suit, regardless of sequence
- Straight—five cards in consecutive order, regardless of suit
- Three of a kind—three cards that are of the same rank with two unmatched cards
- Two pair—two cards of the same rank plus two more cards of another same rank
- Jacks or better—a pair of jack, queen, king, or ace
Each of these hands corresponds to certain payoffs as shown on the pay tables of various video poker games. Of course, the royal flush will score you the jackpot when you play the maximum bet of 5 coins.
Get started with video poker
Whether you’re playing on a video poker machine or on a downloaded casino, it’s easy to start a round of video poker.
- Choose the kind of video poker you want to play.
- Make a wager. If you want a chance to win the jackpot, then play the maximum bet. Normally, this amounts to 5 coins.
- Once dealt with five cards, carefully choose the cards you want to be replaced. If you’re already dealt with a hand, then hold.
That’s how easy it is to begin playing video poker. The important step here is finding out which cards you should discard. Once you have mastered it, there’s no doubt that your chances of winning payoffs will increase.
Get comfortable with tips
- If you’re not yet confident with your poker skills, then you might want to play video poker games that have a lower maximum bet to avoid losing money.
- Know the basic strategies to transform your cards into a hand of royal flush.
- Play the different variations of Jacks or Better Video Poker to find which one you will enjoy the most in terms of payoffs and fun.
- If you’re a skilled player, it’s all right to play video poker machines that offer lower pay tables. After all, you will have high chances of winning when you’re equipped with the right strategies.
- Don’t play video poker in casinos that have super attractive pay tables if you’re a first-time player who still lacks enough skills. You will likely end up losing more.
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Free Video Poker Strategy Guide
Video poker is played the same way as five card poker, but there are no opponents to bet against. Instead of competing against other players, your goal in video poker is simply to get the best five card hand possible. Payouts are based on the strength of your hand.
Even though you are not required to outplay any opponents, video poker still involves a bit of strategy. Your main focus will be determining which cards should be held or discarded to give you the best chance of the highest payout. The amount you bet is also a factor, as payout rates vary based on the number of credits wagered.
Video Poker Rules
There are several variations of video poker, but they all follow the same basic set of rules.
Players start by inserting one or more credits into the machine of their choice. The payout rates are predetermined and dependent on the number of credits bet. Playing with more credits is more expensive, but also raises the payouts.
Once the bet is placed, the machine deals five cards at random. There is one round of discarding where you can hold as many cards as you like and discard the rest. You will then be dealt new cards to replace the ones that were discarded.
Your five cards after the drawing new cards is your final hand. Every game has a specific pay table that determines how much will be paid out based on the strength of your five card poker hand. The most common version of video poker at casinos and online gambling sites is Jacks or Better, and the pay table usually looks like this:
As the name implies, the casino only pays out for a pair of jacks or higher in this version of video poker. Players who have a pair of tens or lower will not win any money. This is important to keep in mind when deciding which cards to hold or discard, and is the basis for Jack or Better video poker strategy.
Poker Hand Hierarchy
No matter what version of video poker you play, the possible hands do not change. The table below provides a description of five card poker hands with an example of each one. The hands are listed from best to worst.
Video Poker Strategy
Strategy in video poker focuses on which cards to keep and which to discard. Video poker strategy can seem a little complicated at first, but once you learn the basic principles it is relatively straightforward.
The optimal strategy varies based on which version of video poker you play, so we will stick with the most popular version Jacks or Better.
Jacks or Better Strategy
A major one is the peace of mind they offer. Each one is properly licensed and regulated; they are subject to a strict code of conduct and are liable for financial penalties, or even criminal punishment, if they do not adhere to the necessary standards.
If you would like to read more about how the United Kingdom regulates online gambling, make sure to read our full article on their laws and regulation. The article goes into detail about both the Gambling Act of 2005 and 2014.
The discarding strategy for Jacks or Better poker involves looking at your initial five card hand to see if you have been dealt any of the following. You should progress through this list from top to bottom. If you do not have the first item, move to the next. If you progress through all 15 and do not have any, discard all five cards. Keep the following:
1.Video Poker Strategy Guides
Following the list above will give you the best chance of winning in Jacks or Better video poker. The list is based on mathematically calculated probabilities and is the same for both land based machines and those played at online casino gambling sites.
Universal Strategy
While your choices during the game ultimately affect the outcome, there are some important factors to consider before you even start. First off, not all video poker machines pay out the same. The best video poker machine is the one with the highest payouts, so you should compare the payout rates for various hands.
What Is The Best Strategy For Video Poker
If you play live video poker, finding the best machine is as easy as taking a lap around the casino. On the other hand, payouts in online video poker vary from site to site so it is important to compare gambling sites before diving in. Fortunately, we have done the work for you and indentified the best video poker sites on the internet.
Video Poker Strategy 8 5
When looking at video poker payouts you likely noticed the 5 credit payout for a royal flush. This is not just an incremental increase, but a large payout that actually eliminates the house edge and gives players a slight advantage. While royal flushes are extremely rare, this does make it most cost-effective to play with five credits if you can afford the expense.
Additional Casino Games
Online casinos offer hundreds of games and each one comes with its own set of rules and unique strategy. Learn how to play many popular gambling games and find helpful game strategy through the links below.