Video poker has been around in one form or another since the seventies and in that time the game has gathered quite a cult following. The process of video poker is very simple and anyone who is familiar with the rules of poker is able to pick up the game almost immediately.
The appeal comes from a number of different directions, but one of the main reasons has to be the low house edge that is involved. In fact, at just 0.46% in favour of the house there are few other games that have a lower edge than video poker. On top of that, the game allows you to win big from a relatively small stake and also to play more or less anonymously, if that’s your thing.
So if you are the mysterious type and you like the look of the odds then read on.
Video Poker Bonuses 513f4h
Video Poker fans will know that their favourite game is often excluded whilst playing with a bonus, or it comes with a ridiculous wagering requirement if it is allowed. We’ve trawled through hundreds of online casinos to find you the best bonuses which can be used to play video poker.
Please note, the ‘double’ or ‘gamble’ feature of video poker usually does not count towards the wagering requirements of an online casino bonus. Some video poker games may be excluded from play or have different playthrough requirements – make sure you check what games are allowed before playing. If in doubt, ask the casino’s customer team.
{module Casino Video Poker Bonus List}
How to play Video Poker 1i921
The aim of the game in video poker is to make the best 5-card hand possible. The hand rankings are exactly the same as any other game of poker and are ranked in the following way from the weakest hand to the strongest and with the payout in brackets:
- Pair (jacks or better) (x1)
- Two pair (x2)
- Three of a kind (x3)
- Straight (x4)
- Flush (x6)
- Full house (x9)
- Four of a kind (x25)
- Straight flush (x50)
- Royal flush (x250)
The hand you can create from your 5 cards will dictate the payout that’s on offer. For example, typically you would get double your stake when you make a pair, but if you made a straight flush you would get 50x your stake.
Most Video Poker machines will pay out a handsome bonus when you make a Royal Flush. Obviously, this hand will already pay out the most (usually around 250 times your stake), but the added bonus can add as much as 4000 times your stake, making it highly lucrative indeed. This is not guaranteed, however.
Step 1 – Familiarise yourself with the rankings 5h501e
We have listed the hand rankings above, but it’s imperative that you either know them off by heart or can access them immediately when actually playing video poker.
These rankings are what all of your decisions will be made on. Not knowing the hand ranking could mean that you drop certain cards when you should really keep them, resulting in you losing out on a potential net win.
Study those rankings.
Step 2 – Choose your game 5u6v2i
Whilst Video Poker has a very simple layout, there are actually a lot of different variations of the game.
These variations may be subtle in concept, but not knowing which game you are playing and the rules involved for that format of Video Poker could once again prove to be a very costly result.
Have a look through the variations and after you have tried a few you will no doubt discover a favourite.
Step 3 – Choose your stake 34i5g
When sat down at your video poker machine you will have the ability to choose the stake that you want to bet for each hand.
As you can imagine, stakes limits for each machine can vary massively so make sure you’re comfortable with the game that you are playing.
Take into consideration how this would affect your bankroll on a losing streak as it has to last you through the harsh times.
Step 4 – Start spinning 165xi
Now you are set to play and it’s here where you need to start getting those cards spinning.
Simply click the Deal button and your first 5 cards will appear on screen.
This is where having excellent knowledge of the rankings will pay off.
Step 5 – Drop or not 3h6w4n
The next step allows you to hold or discard all of your cards.
For example, you may have 3 clubs and 2 diamonds in your hand, so you decide that you want to chase that flush. You can discard the 2 diamonds and then you will get 2 new cards.
After this has been done your hand will pay out according to the new cards you received.
Step 6 – Collect your winnings 2r6945
At this point, if any of your cards make up a combination of winning poker hands then you will be paid according to the pay table for that game.
If your cards do not make up a winning hand then you lose your stake.
Then you start again with a new hand.
Hints and Tips 2n2k37
Play for Maximum Coins Where Possible 6z4s1e
A lot of video poker machines will come complete with jackpots that can only be earned when playing for the maximum number of coins on that machine.
If possible, you want to be playing as often as you can at the maximum coin level which will give you the opportunity to hit any jackpots should they arise.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to play for hundreds of pounds/dollars for each spin, as there are a lot of low stakes machines that max out at a much lower amount.
Use Perfect Strategy 1114q
With video poker it is possible to play the perfect strategy for each scenario that you come across. As you are playing with a shuffled deck of 52 cards each time, you will be able to work out the percentages/chances of hitting the cards you need to improve.
For example, below is a common strategy that can be found when playing the Jacks or Better video poker game. The hands indicate cards you should keep from your 5 and then discard the rest.
- Four of a kind, straight flush, royal flush
- 4 to a royal flush
- Full house, Flush, Straight, Three of a kind
- Four to a straight flush
- Two pair
- High pair (jacks or better)
- Three to a royal flush
- Four to a flush
- Low pair
- Four to an outside straight
- Two suited high cards
- Three to a straight flush
- Two unsuited high cards
- Suited J-T, Q-T, or K-T
- One high card
- Discard everything
Check Paytables 3i6zg
As with all casino games, the price that can be paid out between different video poker games can range massively from casino to casino. Make sure that you check the paytables on offer before starting to play.
If you find that they are particularly poor then just save your money and move on. If you are unsure, then check off the list at the top of this article.