Video poker is a very popular casino game that combines both poker and slot machines to bring you an exciting version of poker that many people are eager to try out. Learning how to play video poker is simple, and in no time you will be playing the best games. Also known as ‘poker slots’, this game requires no interaction with a dealer or other players and can be played at your own pace.
This guide will provide you with all the information you will need to start playing, you will also learn tips and strategies to help you hit the win you are looking for.
As mentioned before, there are different video poker variations, but all of these games are played pretty much in the same way. We have created a simple step by step guide of the video poker process that will help you get started. Many of the best online casinos offer free video poker tutorials. These are a great way for you to get familiar with the game, the rules as well as the hand rankings.
If the casino you are playing at offers video poker for free in demo mode, as a beginner, we suggest you play in demo mode as many times as you like. This will allow you to get a good feel of the game. Once you are sure you understand the ins and outs, you can then start playing for real money.
Video poker is a popular electronic poker game that is based on the common five card draw poker. It is a single player game and is played with a standard deck of 52 cards at the best online casinos. The goal of the game is to create the strongest possible poker combination by holding or replacing the cards you were dealt. Players will wager a set number of coins and will be paid according to the strength of the hand they are able to create.
Unlike other poker games, you are not playing against other players, but rather you will win when you create a poker hand according to specific video poker tables.
Although there are many different video poker game variations that you can play at the best online poker casinos, all of these games operate with similar video poker rules. Below are the most important rules for players to remember when playing.
All video poker payouts are based on the five card draw poker hands, these rank as the following:
Online video poker pay tables are easily accessible and usually displayed listing the payout for each ranked hand. The payouts will vary, depending on the type of video poker game you are playing. A pay table shows how much your bet pays off when you hit a certain combination on a gambling machine. Imagine the video poker pay table as a grid. On the far left is a column displaying the possible hands, from best to worst. The row across the top displayed how many coins you bet. When you cross reference the rows and columns, you can see what the payout for your hand combination will be. For example, the best hand – a Royal Flush, will pay anything from 800x to 4,000x your stake. If you play at the maximum stake, you also have the chance of winning an advanced Royal Flush jackpot.
As we have said, each variant of video poker that is offered by online casinos may provide different payouts. The video poker payouts will always be a multiple of your base stake and will be displayed clearly in the pay table for you to see. Most pay tables will be displayed above the cards so you can refer to it at any time during your game.
We have taken a pay table from a popular video poker variant Jacks or Better. These payouts are coins, whose values are determined by the wager.
Most players know that a Royal Flush or another jackpot winning hand happens once in many deals as the stronger, higher-ranking hands in video poker are rarer than weaker combinations. It is true, at least for the most part. The exact odds of hitting a particular winning hand actually depends on the video poker variation you play. But in the most common variations, the odds are known, and players can use them in order to pick the best game or to make informed decisions.
We have created a table to show you the video poker odds of hitting a particular hand with the initial 5 cards you are dealt.
One great thing about video poker is that it gives the player the opportunity to maximize their chances of winning. The pay tables will also generally show the house edge of the game and the payback percentage. The payback percentage, also known as Return to Player (RTP), is a term which describes the percentage of wagered money paid back to the player over time. And this is one of the most important things to look for when determining whether a video poker machine will be a good choice to play or not.
The average Jacks or Better video poker game has an RTP of 99.54%, which means that for every $100 wagered, the player receives $99.54 as winnings. This percentage is average and calculated over a long period of time. The RTP is a theoretical return which can be expected only if the game is played accurately and with the maximum bet.
House edge, on the other hand, shows how much money the game will keep over time. It is one of the basics that every beginner should know about gambling – casino games are specifically designed to always give the casino the advantage. However, when it comes to video poker, the house does not always win. To put it simply, the house edge is just the opposite of the RTP. If you are playing a game with an RTP of 99.54%, the house edge on it will be 0.46%, one of the lowest among casino games. Generally, the house edge in video poker ranges from 5% to almost 0.5%. However, in some games, it is zero or even negative. Deuces Wild, for example, has an RTP of 100.76%, which means that the house edge is -0.76%.
Deciding what’s the best video poker game to play comes down to personal preference. There are a few different variations that are available. Let’s have a look at each of these variants individually.
This is probably the most common variant and great for players starting out. This game pays out on any hand that has a pair of jacks or better and is pretty straightforward. Jacks or Better is based on five card draw poker and uses a single deck of 52 playing cards. The payout percentage is 99.5%. The best hand is a Royal Flush and pays out 4,000 coins with a max bet of 5.
In this version of video poker, all 2’s are wild. This means that a 2 can substitute for any other card to help you make a better winning hand combination. It is important to note that in this version, a pair of Jacks isn’t a winning hand. The Deuces wild pay table begins with a Three of a Kind. When you manage to achieve a Royal Flush with the help of a wild card, it is known as a Deuces Royal Flush. This is the second-best hand after a normal Royal Flush.
This is a variation of Jacks or Better that offers a bonus payout for four Aces. Besides this, it is almost identical to Jacks or Better, but the payout percentage is 100.2%. There are also multiple different versions of bonus poker that exist.
This is another variant that is very similar to Jacks or Better, but has high payouts on four 7’s, Aces and 8’s. The payout percentage is 99.78% on the full pay version. The minimum of Jacks or Better is still the minimum payout for the game. The average video poker RTP for this variant is 99.26%
The biggest mistake that you can make in your quest to succeed in video poker is to attempt playing by just simply guessing.
You will lose a lot of money on a simple game that gives you a real shot at winning if you do not play carefully.
Remember, having the right skills and using an optimum video poker strategy will not only give you a higher chance of winning, but you will also enjoy the benefits that come with the satisfaction of doing your online gambling the right way.
Keep in mind that you are also able to thoroughly practice as much as you want on your computer before risking real money on a real video poker machine.
Many players always start by asking the question, “how to win at video poker?” While there is no way to ensure you win every time you play video poker, there are a few ways that you can give yourself the best chance of winning over time. Always make sure you are familiar with the rules of the game as well as the pay tables of each variant you are playing. Play video poker slots with the most advantageous RTP. We have created a list of the best video poker tips that will help you along the way and edge you closer to hitting the big win.
Handy Tip:
There are many different video poker variants and each of them has its own pay table and hand rankings. Make sure you are familiar with the pay table of the variant that you are playing, so you do not get confused or think you have a winning hand but in actual fact you do not.
Here are a few video poker tips for beginners as well those that need a refresher course on what you can do to ensure you have a smooth video poker experience as well as edge you closer to the win.
Play video poker online at some of the best online casinos. Many of the best casinos offer this game for free for you to try out and get a good feel of before playing for real money. There are a variety of different video poker games available at these casinos. Visit the casinos on our top list and try and create your best possible poker hand today.
BetMGM Poker
Get a 100% match of up to $1,000 + up to $75 in freeroll tickets
Borgata Poker
WSOP Poker
Get a 100% match of up to $1,000 + up to $100 in free play + up to$700 in freeroll tickets
Pokerstars
Get a 100% match of up to $600
Now you should have a good understanding of how to play video poker, you are familiar with the rules and different hand rankings you can get. It is now time to start playing for real. Make sure you keep an eye on the different possible hand rankings and in no time, you will be creating your winning hand combination. Enjoy playing video poker at the top online casinos for your convenience, sign up and receive great welcome bonuses. Play from your desktop or mobile device via the casino app for an on-the-go experience and start winning your video poker games today.
Yes, most of the top online casinos will allow you to play video poker for free. This way you are able to get a good feel and understanding of the game before you start betting real money.
You are playing against the house when playing video poker. Video poker is a computerized version of the five card draw game. So you are not playing against other players and no other players are involved at all.
Ultimately deciding which game is the best to play all comes down to personal preference. If you are a beginner, you may prefer to start off with Jacks or Better, as this is the most common variant of video poker played.
There is no way you can guarantee you will win any game of video poker you play, but you can incorporate various strategies into your gameplay that may increase your chances of coming out on top.
The two versions of the game are quite different. Video poker is also known as poker slots and is played alone against the computer/machine. Having a good knowledge of poker, such as recognizing what makes up a good hand, is beneficial for both versions.
