Strategies in Video Poker
Besides slots, video poker is one of the most popular games to play in a casino. These casino games are typically based on five-card draw poker, and unlike slot machines, they require an element of skill. The strategy also plays a role in beating video poker, and by learning the best approaches to take, you can sometimes turn the house edge in your favor.
How to Win at Video Poker
There are countless variations of video poker, but there is one thing that most machines have in common. Each is based on a standard five-card draw poker.
A basic game goes like this. The machine deals the player five cards from the deck. The player is then given the option to improve their hand by choosing which cards to continue holding and which to exchange for new cards. If the player chooses to exchange cards, the computer randomly selects new cards to replace them. The main concept of the game is to create a great hand by holding onto the best card and hoping to draw new cards that will improve your chances of winning.
Choosing the right machine is half the battle. Ideally, you want a game that offers a payout percentage as close to 100% as possible. This can be challenging but not impossible.
Unlike slot machines, video poker requires players to make decisions that impact the outcome of the game. Some players choose to implement strategies that help give them an edge.
Effective Video Poker Strategies
Video Poker success is all about knowing which cards to hold and which to toss back. However, certain strategies have been proven useful in increasing a player’s chance of winning. Here is a more in-depth look at some of these strategies.
1. Bet Maximum Credits
When playing video poker, be sure to always bet the maximum credits. This will give you the full value of the royal flush, which is generally 800-for-1. While you can choose to bet fewer credits, you will also gain fewer rewards, generally 250-for-1. Note that getting the royal flush won’t happen too frequently, but when it does come around, you can gain a bigger payout.
2. Review the Paytable
When you play a video poker machine, you will have the chance to review the paytable. The paytable provides information on the game’s expected return. To ensure you are choosing a machine that offers the best return, do your research. Like all casino games, there is always a house edge to consider.
For example, the average casino makes a profit of about 3% on each play on a video poker game. That means that the player should see an average return of 97%. Avoid video poker games that have returns of less than 96%, as there are many better options out there.
3. Jacks or Better Strategy
Each individual poker game has its own unique strategies. The Jacks or Better strategy is one of the most well-known and is fairly simple to master. For this strategy, the player would check his or her hand for a royal flush, 4 of a kind, or straight flush. If one of these is present, the player should keep the cards and collect their winnings.
If the player does not have any of those hands, the player should see if they have 4 cards to a royal flush. If so, keep the cards and attempt to get a royal. If a player does not have 4 cards to a royal flush, the player should check to see if they have another “made hand,” such as a flush, full house, straight, or 3 of a kind. If they do, the player should keep the cards and collect their winnings. If not, the player should check to see if they have 4 cards to a straight flush. If they do, then they should draw to the straight flush.
Next, the player should check to see if they have a paying hand, like 2 pairs or a pair of jacks or better. If a player does not have any of the hands listed above, they should attempt 3 cards to a royal flush and try to fill the flush. Continue this concept until you can achieve a winning hand.
4. Aces and Faces Strategy
If a video poker game has Aces and Faces and Bonus Poker, it’s best to play Aces and Faces as the return is slightly better. To play Aces and Faces, choose a denomination on the machine. At online casinos, the lowest denomination is usually nickel. However, you should always make the max bet. Once you’ve received your cards, choose the ones you’d like to keep and the ones you’d like to exchange.
For the Aces and Faces game, hold a full house, straight flush, royal flush, or 4 of a kind. Also, keep a straight, or a dealt flush unless you have a four-card royal flush. When this happens, go for the jackpot.
5. Deuces Wild Strategy
Deuces Wild is a popular video poker game that offers players the chance to gain an edge over the casino. The strategy for this game is fairly simple. If you have 4 deuces, keep them. If your hand presents 3 deuces, you also keep them in hopes of getting a royal flush. You’ll also keep them if you have only 2 deuces. In this instance, you’ll aim for a 4 of a kind or better, or possibly a straight or royal flush.
If you only have 1 deuce in your hand, you’ll need to go down a list of hands until you find one that works. Start with 4 of a kind or better, followed by 4 to a royal flush, 4 to a straight flush, full house, straight, flush, 3 of a kind, or 3 to a royal flush.
Using Video Poker Strategies
With video poker strategies, you want to think strategically and consider every possible hand you can get. It can take time to learn all the various strategies for video poker games, but the effort is worth it if you enjoy playing the game and want to increase your odds of winning.
