Video Poker Guide - Rules, Types & Strategies

The common name for a fixed-odds game based on the five-card draw is "video poker." Video Poker is a game of chance in which the player gets five cards and then must make a winning hand. According to pay tables, hands are assigned payouts based on their rarity, the game variation, and the operator's choice. The minimum hand on a typical pay table is a pair of jacks, which pays even money. The remaining hand combinations in video poker are identical to those at the poker table.

What is Video Poker, and How Does it Work?

Video Poker is a casino game that is now primarily played on a computer or any mobile device. First, video poker games were available at land-based casinos. Then, they began to emerge at a larger scale around the mid-1970s when combining a television-like monitor with a solid-state CPU became economically feasible. The first models appeared around the same time as the first personal computers, though they were primitive by today's standards.

Many video poker fans are playing this game at online casinos, such as Brazino777. In addition, the site offers many versions developed by world-known iGaming providers such as Playtech, Microgaming, iSoftBet, Habanero, etc.

How does Video Poker works?

Video Poker is a type of poker game played with a 52-card deck. There are wide different varieties of Video Poker games, but they all follow the same basic rules:

The player places a bet and chooses how much money he or she wants to bet per hand. Then a card is dealt face up from the deck. This will be the first card used in building your hand. You can hold (keep) this card or discard it and draw another from the remaining cards. Once you've made all your choices, press "deal" or close out each hand.

The goal is for you to get hands containing winning combinations (like 4-of-a-kinds), which pay out according to predetermined pay tables. You can expect varying amounts based on whether you play inside or outside bets, which side wins if there's more than one pair involved in a said winning combination (e.g., three queens versus three kings).

Video Poker Machine vs Online Video Poker

Video Poker, a popular game found both in the form of Video Poker Machines in land-based casinos and as Online Video Poker, offers players an engaging blend of poker strategy and slot-style play. Despite sharing the same fundamental principles, typically based on five-card draw poker, there are notable differences between these two formats.

Video Poker Machines

Located in land-based casinos, these machines offer a tangible experience. Players can physically interact with the machine, which some find more satisfying.

While the variety depends on the casino, these machines often feature popular variants like Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Bonus Poker.

Video poker machines in casinos often have structured payout tables. Bonus poker offers might be less frequent but can include casino-specific promotions and jackpots.

Playing on a physical machine in a casino can be more social, allowing interaction with other players and casino staff.

Online Video Poker games

One of the biggest advantages of online video poker is its accessibility. Players can enjoy the game from anywhere with internet access, using a computer or mobile device.

Free Video Poker Options: Many online platforms offer free video poker, allowing players to practice and play without risking real money. This is an excellent way for beginners to learn the game.

Online video poker often comes with various bonus offers, including welcome bonuses, deposit bonuses, and loyalty rewards. These can significantly enhance the playing experience and provide additional value.

Online platforms often have a wider range of video poker variants available, catering to different preferences and strategies.

Both video poker machines and online video poker offer unique experiences. The choice between them depends on personal preferences regarding convenience, game variety, social aspects, and bonus opportunities. Both platforms provide a fun and strategic gaming experience based on the traditional draw poker game.

The 3 Most Popular Video Poker Games

The most played video poker games include Double Bonus Poker, All American Poker, Deuces Wild, Joker Poker, and Tens or Better.

In the following list, we gathered the most popular titles in one place developed by different providers:

All American Poker- Habanero

All American Poker is very similar to Jacks or Better. The main difference between these two is the payouts for specific hand combinations. The game does not contain any wild cards. Winning combinations include pairs of Jacks, Queens, Kings, and Aces, two pairs, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, and royal flush.

1. 98.1 percent RTP
2. Minimum bet: 0.2$
3. Maximum bet: 100$
4. Royal Flush pays out 4000:1

EGT's Jacks or Better

Jacks or Better uses a single deck of cards. This game features four progressive jackpot amounts during randomly occurring progressive bonus rounds. A card suit represents each mystery jackpot level (clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades). In addition, bets made by the players contribute to the jackpot.

1. Gambling option: Players can double their winnings by correctly predicting the card's color.
2. Betting range: $1 to $10.
3. Top Prize: 8,000$

Deuces Wild MH- Play' n Go

Deuces Wild Multihand is better than single-hand video poker because you can simultaneously play up to 100 hands. Deuces Wild MH requires you to place a bet before you can begin playing. You must decide how much money you want to stake and how many coins (1–5) you wish to use. Along with multiple hands, the game also offers features that let you boost or multiply your winnings. The game features The Wild Card and the Gamble option- a guessing game that increases your winnings.

1. RTP: 94.97%
2. Minimum bet: 0.25$
3. Maximum bet: 25$
4. Maximum payout: 4,000$

Play Video Poker: A Step-by-Step Guide

You'll need a stable internet connection and any modern desktop or mobile device to play video poker. After that, you must find an online casino of your liking and go to the Video poker section. On most casino websites, you wont even need to register an account to play Video poker games for Free. But if you want to play for real money, depositing your players account to start winning at Video poker is a must. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to play Video poker:

1. Deposit money at your favorite online casino.
2. Place your bet on a Video Poker game of your liking.
3. Hit the deal button to receive your opening poker hand.
4. A five-card poker hand is dealt to the player, who then has one chance to decide which cards they want to keep and discard, drawing new cards.
5. Get new cards from the same "Virtual deck" of cards.
6. Prizes are distributed following the paytable.
7. Withdraw your wins.

Types of Video Poker

There are many types of video poker. For example, you can play a game where all the cards are replaced by jacks or better. You can also play a game with only tens and face cards with no other suits. Many variations of these games exist, but here's a quick rundown on some of the most popular ones:

Tens or Better

This is one of the most common forms of video poker. After you place your bet, you will be dealt a five-card hand. It would be best if you chose which to keep and which to discard from this list. Ideally, you want to keep any combination and discard any cards that aren't useful to you. When this occurs, you will be dealt additional cards to replace those you discarded, and this will be your final hand. You will be paid if your hand contains a pair of 10s or higher.

Tens or higher is the bare minimum for a payout. So, for example, a hand of 10-10-2-5-J or Q-K-4-7-Q will qualify, whereas A-3-9-7-9 will not.

Deuces Wild

In Deuces Wild, a video poker player's hand must contain at least three of a kind for a payout. The game starts when you are dealt five cards and choose which to keep before discarding and replacing the others. You are then compensated based on the strength of your hand.

All of the basic poker rules apply here, and the maximum win is 4000$ for a Natural Royal Flush.

1. All Deuces are wild cards in this game, played with a standard deck.

Joker Poker

In a Joker Poker game, the minimum qualifying hand is a Pair of Kings or Better, with an even-money payout. The traditional poker hand hierarchy is used in Joker Poker, and the better the hand, the higher the payout.

1. When betting five coins, the highest payout in Joker Poker is 5,000$ for a Natural Royal Flush.

Aces and Faces

In this version, all Aces are treated as Face cards. This means that getting an ace in your first five cards is worth more points than any other card! In addition, you can play with two jokers instead of one who makes things even more exciting. Many players enjoy this video poker variation because it pays out 80 to 1 for four Aces and 40 to 1 for four of a kind consisting of Jacks, Queens, or Kings. The theoretical RTP of Aces and Faces is 99.26%.

Bonus Poker

This type is similar to Tens or Better but has a bonus if you get four aces. Compared to Deuces Wild and Joker Poker, the payouts are doubled. You might not win every time, but when you hit on those big hands, you can expect a 4000:1 payout!

Video Poker Strategy

Basic Strategy

There are a few basic strategies for video poker, but the one you should always use is called "basic strategy."This means that you should always play the highest paying hand available. So, for example, if you have four cards of the same suit (like all four threes) and one card with no suit (like a king), then you would choose to hold onto your four threes instead of holding onto your single king because it has more value (in this case, two times as much).

Optimal Strategy

This is similar to basic strategy, except it considers how likely each possible combination will occur and ranks them accordingly. This makes sense because some hands may not be widespread but still have high payouts.

The House Edge

This is the probability of winning based on your current hand. It's calculated by dividing your total hand strength by 52 cards in a deck of cards and multiplying by 100. You should fold if this number is over 50 percent for all possible combinations.

Video Poker: Terminology

Video poker has many terms and expressions, some of which are as follows:

1. Full Pay: The video poker game with the highest payout and high RTP.
2. Low Pay: Describes video poker games with a higher house edge and a lower RTP.
3. Royal Flush: Best hand possible.
4. Power Poker: The most profitable poker strategy.
5. Multi-Play: This function enables players to play more than one hand simultaneously.
6. Hold: When a player decides to hold onto their hand of cards.
7. "Auto Hold": When enabled, the game automatically decides which cards to hold.
8. Coin Denomination: Refers to the coin size or card value in a video poker game.
9. Flush: Five cards of the same suit in hand.
10. Discard: Cards discarded after the initial deal.
11. Draw: After you have chosen which cards to keep and which to discard, the second deal of cards.
12. Hand: A hand is the five cards (or fewer) dealt on the screen.

Conclusion

Video poker is an entertaining game, and many different types of video poker are available online. You can play this game 24/7 for free or for real money with any modern device online. In either case, you must know how to play video poker before you start playing because it will help keep you from losing money.