How to Play Video Poker
Video poker is one of the most popular online casino games, and it has attracted millions of players over the years. It’s a twist on the traditional card game, and its gameplay is more in line with slots. It’s a game of chance, but you do have some control over the outcome as you have the choice of holding cards.
In this guide, we’ll give a detailed explanation of how to play video poker, along with a description of some of the games you’ll find here at Casino.com. You will soon be ready to start playing some awesome video poker titles.
Origins of Video Poker
Video poker dates back years, way before the online poker boom of the 2000s. It was invented in the 1970s for personal computers but became popular at casinos in the 1980s. It is now a mainstay on the casino floors of gambling houses around the world and can be found alongside slot games.
Video poker is based on a five-card draw. Players press deal to receive five random cards in view. They then choose to hold anywhere between none and all five of these cards before pressing the deal again. The game pays out to winning hands based on a pay table displayed on the machine.
Video poker grew in popularity in land-based casinos, but it has recently become a staple of online casinos as well. Developers in the Internet gambling scene have come up with innovative ways to improve the game and keep it up to date with other modern offerings like slots.
How to Play Video Poker
There are a few things you need to know before you start playing video poker. Firstly, there are different hand values, each with varying odds of appearing. In the list below, you’ll see the various hands listed from highest value to lowest. The highest value hands are the least likely to appear and the lowest value hands are the most likely.
Hand Values
- Royal Flush (10, jack, queen, king, ace of the same suit)
- Straight Flush (five running cards of the same suit)
- Four of a Kind (four cards of the same value)
- Full House (three of a kind and a pair combined)
- Flush (five cards of the same suit)
- Straight (five cards running in numerical order)
- Three of a Kind (three cards of the same value)
- Two Pair (two sets of two cards of the same value)
- Pair (two cards of the same value)
Playing the Game
Playing the game is simple if you follow the steps below:
- Choose the video poker game that you want to play
- Choose your stake
- Press deal to receive your starting hand
- Hold the cards that you want to keep and deal again
- See if you have a winning hand
- Any winnings will be instantly credited
Secondly, while video poker comes down to chance, you can still use a strategy when selecting which cards to hold. You need to be able to identify draws that could lead to winning hands. For example, if you have a two, three, four, and a five, you should hold these as you only need an ace or six, to make a straight.
If you get a good hand on your first deal, you need to remember to hold all the cards. For example, if you receive a straight or a flush initially, you should hold everything because it would be hard to improve on these hands.
Picking the Right Game
There are various video poker games that you can choose from. These all have slightly different rules, so it’s a good idea to read up on them before you start playing. Here are a few of the titles you can choose from here at Casino.com:
- Deuces Wild – All the two cards are wilds
- Mega Jacks – Gives you a chance to win a progressive jackpot
- Aces and Faces – Aces and face cards (jack, queen or king) return higher payouts for four-of-a-kind than usual
- 10s or Better – You need to hit at least a pair of 10s to win a payout
- Jacks or Better – You need to hit at least a pair of jacks to win a payout
- Joker Poker – There are two wild joker cards in each deck
These games all come with diverse features because they’re designed to attract players with varying interests. Nearly all of them offer a special feature that adds a bit of excitement to traditional poker gameplay.
Before you play any of these games, you should study some video poker charts to see what the odds of hitting certain hands are. This will give you a good idea of the chances of landing these, which can influence your decision on the types of cards to hold each time.
Summary
It’s nearly time for you to start enjoying some games of video poker. Read the summary below before you get started:
- Pick a game that suits your personality
- Read the game rules first and study video poker charts
- Use a video poker strategy when you play
- Choose a stake and play within your budget
- Have fun and remember that these are games of chance
We hope that this guide has been helpful. Please remember to gamble responsibly and that these games are for people over the age of 18.
Source: casino.com
