Video Poker Casino Game
When it comes to online gambling, video poker continues to be one of the most popular games. Learning the game and knowing how to craft a strategy will give you the best odds of winning. So that you too can be successful, here are a few things you should know about video poker.
Video Poker Overview
Video poker actually predates the internet, as it was introduced in land-based casinos during the 1970s. The earliest video poker machines were played something like slot machines and somewhat resembled television sets. These days, of course, you can play video poker on any mobile device right from the comfort of your own home. However, the basic strategies and game rules basically remain unchanged.
When gambling online, you’ll find that most video poker games follow a similar pattern. First, you will determine how many credits or “coins” you wish to play with (normally anywhere between one and five). Using a standard 52-card deck (or occasionally one with jokers added), the program will deal you five cards, and you will have to decide which ones to keep and which ones to discard. Keeping the rules and the pay table in mind, your goal is to make the best hand possible.
Those who enjoy solitude in gaming are often drawn to video poker, as are those wanting better odds. The house edge on most video poker games is somewhat lower than it is with slots, and if you employ the right strategy, you can close this gap even further.
It’s important to note that each game is slightly different. Therefore, you will want to become extremely familiar with how the video poker game is played and work at perfecting your strategy before playing for real money. Fortunately, there are a number of sites where you can play video poker for free in order to do just that.
Popular Video Poker Choices
There’s a nearly endless number of video poker choices; however, some of the most popular ones out there are:
Deuces Wild
As the name suggests, all deuces are wild cards, which gives you a better chance of coming up with a winning combination. Payouts are even higher if you are lucky enough to come up with a hand containing all four deuces. There are no jokers in this game, so it uses only a standard 52-card deck.
Jacks or Better
The goal in this game is to wind up with a hand that contains at least a pair of jacks or higher. There are some variations within this game, with different casinos paying out different amounts for hands containing either a full house or flush.
Double Bonus
This game is similar to Jacks or Better, but with a twist. You must still get at least a pair of jacks to win, but there are greater payouts involved for certain four-of-a-kind combinations. For example, if you get four aces, the payout will be higher than if you get four kings or four queens.
Double Double Bonus Poker
This one is similar to Double Bonus Poker, but has more winning bonus combinations and increased payouts. Double Double Bonus Poker has a higher variance, making the payouts larger but less frequent.
Joker’s Wild Poker
This game is played with a 53-card deck, with the extra card being a wild joker. You can use that wild joker in place of any other card to give yourself a winning combination. To win, you will need at least a pair of kings or better.
Pick ‘em Poker
With pick ‘em poker, you are only dealt two cards, to begin with. You cannot discard either of these two cards. Next, the dealer will give you two more cards, and you must choose which one of them to keep and which one to discard. After making your choice, you will then be dealt two more cards, and this will complete your hand.
In Conclusion
If you enjoy the thrill of casino games and want some control over the outcome, video poker is a great choice. Although high-stakes gamblers are often drawn to video poker, there is some flexibility in spending on online gaming sites. As such, you can enjoy video poker even if you do not have a great deal of money to play with. The nearly endless number of games means you never have to grow tired of the same old card game.
