Video poker is an interesting and rewarding game that has been with us since the 1980s. Although it offers higher expected returns than slots and most types of casino games, it does not enjoy as much popularity as that of slot machines and roulette, for instance. Experienced casino patrons know well, however, that video poker is probably their best bet on both the casino floor and in online casinos.
It is surprising how many people prefer chance-based games where the odds are stacked against them and the probability of making a profit is quite low. In comparison, video poker involves a lot of luck but it also requires a great deal of skill and it is precisely the need to have knowledge and skills that seem intimidating to beginners. But is video poker so difficult to play?
The answer is a resounding No, especially if we play video poker online where we have easy access to the rules and payouts, where we can practice before risking any real money, and where we can choose from dozens of video poker variations. The following article focuses on the online form of video poker – how it is played, what options we have, and what the essential tips for beginners should be.
Online Video Poker Software and Features
Video poker emerged as a computer-based game played on a video screen, which is why the online version does not differ much from the video poker machines found in land-based casinos. Online players, however, typically have a greater choice of video poker variations – in fact, there are over a hundred different titles that can be played in Internet-based casinos.
Additionally, they have the option to open each game in practice mode without having to bet real money. In contrast, brick-and-mortar establishments would never allow accessing their games without putting money first. The convenience of online video poker should also be pointed out – it can be played in different currencies, from players’ personal computers or mobile devices, without the need to visit an actual, land-based casino.
When it comes to the online video poker rules and software features, they are very similar to the ones we see on physical video poker machines. Overall, the game is played the same way no matter where you are but often, the online version is much more interactive and feature-rich than the games in land-based casinos.
Number of Coins and Coin Sizes
Deal/Draw and Other Buttons
Paytable
Gamble Feature
Number of Coins and Coin Sizes
Video poker is typically played with 1 to 5 coins that come in varied denominations. The number of coins is particularly important as it changes the payout for the different winning hands. Most notably, playing with maximum coins increases the potential reward for the top-paying hand in the game, Royal Flush. The coins are in many different denominations, usually from $0.10 to $5.00 or even more.
Deal/Draw and Other Buttons
The gaming controls are quite easy to understand with several main buttons that appear in every variation of video poker. They are usually located at the bottom of the screen, along with the boxes displaying the player’s current Balance, Total Bet, and Win. We may have the Bet One and Bet Max buttons for betting 1 and 5 coins, respectively. After players choose the size of their bet, they click on the Deal (or Draw) button.
Above these main buttons, five cards will appear and players can either hold or discard them. Clicking on a card keeps it for the second draw and players can hold as many cards as they wish, including all or none of them. Once they make their decision, they select the Deal/Draw button and the computer will automatically deal the new cards – all discarded cards will be replaced with new ones.
Paytable
Traditionally, the base game screen also includes the paytable, which is one of the most important things to look at when playing video poker. It is displayed above the 5 cards and lists all winning hands in descending order, starting from Royal Flush, the top-paying hand in this game. Next to each hand, we can see its respective payout for betting 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 coins. Some games also display the paytable on a separate screen but the same information will be included.
Players should pay attention to the payouts offered for the different hands. The first thing to notice is the payout for Royal Flush – as we have already mentioned, it increases when 5 coins are wagered. Usually, 1-coin Royal Flush pays 250 coins (250 times the coin size), the 2-coin play brings 500 coins, 3-coin play – 750 coins, and a 4-coin bet pays 1,000 coins. Using the same formula, we should be offered 1,250 coins on a 5-coin bet but the standard payout for a 5-coin Royal Flush is 4,000 coins.
Video poker players should also remember that the paytables may differ significantly across online casinos and game variations. All winning hands correspond to the standard poker hands we have in table poker, with the exception of Jacks or Better. This is a hand of two Jacks, two Queens, two Kings, or two Ace, hence the name Jacks or Better.
| Poker Hands | 1 coin | 2 coins | 3 coins | 4 coins | 5 coins |
| Royal Flush | 250 | 500 | 750 | 1 | 4 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 |
| Four of a Kind | 25 | 50 | 75 | 100 | 125 |
| Full House | 9 | 18 | 27 | 36 | 45 |
| Flush | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 |
| Straight | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
| Two Pair | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Gamble Feature
Many versions of video poker also have a Gamble feature that appears after each winning round. It is sometimes found as Double or Double Down. No matter how it is referred to as in a particular game, the Gamble button has the same function – it allows players to gamble their winnings from the current round.
The feature usually opens a second screen where players are presented with one face-up card, the computer’s card, and four cards face-down. They need to select one of the four options and if the card they pick is higher than the card of the computer, they win the Gamble feature and their winnings from the round are doubled. If their card is lower, they lose all their winnings. Some Gamble features also offer players to guess the color of a face-down card – once again, they either double or lose their winnings.
This feature may appear multiple times after a winning round and each time, players will be able to gamble the amount they have won. Of course, they can stop the feature and return to the main gaming screen by clicking the Collect button.
Playing Multi-Hand Video Poker
Multi-hand video poker is particularly popular among casino players who want to play through more rounds per hour. In these games, they can bet on up to 100 hands at once, which allows them to play at a faster pace. At the same time, multi-hand video poker is not recommended for beginners since they will be required to make significantly greater bets.
How Multi-Hand Video Works
Adjusting the Bet Size
Risks of Multi-Hand Video Poker
How Multi-Hand Video Works
Multi-hand video poker may seem complicated and quite intimidating but it works in a very straightforward way. It follows the same rules as its regular counterpart, it offers the same payouts and average return. However, it allows 3, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50 or even 100 hands to be played simultaneously. The game starts with a 5-card hand that is being dealt from a standard 52-card deck. Players need to choose which cards to hold and which cards to discard.
Once they click the Deal/Draw button, new cards are dealt to all the hands they bet on. Let’s assume we play with 10 hands – along with the 5 initial cards we are given, we have another 9 hands, each using its own 52-card deck. When we decide which cards we will keep, these cards will appear in the same positions in all 9 additional hands. Once the second set of cards is dealt, each hand will produce a different combination and we will receive a payout for each winning hand.
It is important to note that the cards in every hand we play are being dealt from an independent deck. This means that the odds and probabilities for each hand are the same. The number of hands we choose does not affect the house edge and the expected return in any way. There are, however, a few things players should pay closer attention to unless they wish to lose their entire bankroll within a few rounds.
Adjusting the Bet Size
Probably the most important thing to consider when opening a multi-hand video poker game is the size of one’s bets. The stake players have chosen at the beginning of the game will be multiplied to all hands they play with – the Total Bet box will show not only the number of coins and the respective coin denomination they have selected but all these will be applied by the number of hands wagered on.
If we use the same example above, we play 10 hands and choose the maximum number of coins – 5. The denomination we select is $0.10, which means we bet $0.50 per hand so our total bet will be $5.00 per round. If we decide to play 50 hands at the same time, we will then need to bet $25 and for 100 hands, our stake will go up to $50 per round.
If we choose a different coin size, however, the total bet could increase significantly – if we play 100 hands with 5 coins of $1 each, we will need to wager $500 on every round. As you can see, playing certain types of multi-hand video poker could be quite costly so players should carefully adjust the size of their bet before starting to play.
Risks of Multi-Hand Video Poker
Losing large amounts of money is a considerable risk associated with playing multi-hand video poker variations online. This is why such games should be played with caution – players should have a good understanding of the rules and they should be able to adjust their bets correctly based on their bankroll and their tolerance for risk. But there is another risk beyond the purely financial aspect of the game and it is linked with the theoretical return to player.
Some casino patrons who have little experience with video poker would be immediately attracted to the low house edge these types of games tend to offer. The regular, most common version, called Jacks or Better, offers a house edge of only 0.46%. In comparison, most casino games are played with a house edge of more than 2% and the only exception is blackjack, where the house has an advantage of around 0.5% or even less.
Playing multiple hands at once will not change the odds of the game and the house edge. What we can achieve by choosing a multi-hand over a single-hand version is that we will be able to reach the expected return much faster. If the house edge stands at 0.46%, theoretically, we can expect to lose $0.46 on a $100 bet we make but this is an average percentage that applies to thousands and even millions of hands being played.
We can end up winning $30 in an actual game session, however, and the more hands we play, the closer we get to the theoretical expectation. And while the house edge is, indeed, very low, it still suggests we are going to lose over time. Maybe rushing to achieve the return percentage is not that good after all.
What to Look for in a Video Poker Game
Compared to slots and other chance-based casino games, video poker is, indeed, a profitable and exciting alternative. The skill element makes it much more intriguing since each decision we make has a direct impact on the outcome of each round. Not all video poker variations are the same, however, and beginners need to take a few factors into account when searching for a good game of online video poker.
First of all, they need to make sure they play at a licensed, reliable casino where payments are quick and the customer support is helpful and available around the clock. Then, they need to make sure they have chosen the right video poker variation.
Full-Pay Games
Understanding Expected Return
Demo Mode
Mobile Compatibility
Full-Pay Games
One huge advantage of playing video poker online is that you can easily check the return percentages and paytables and compare them with other games on the Internet. Looking at the different payouts, players can easily notice that there are often differences between the many variants of video poker. The paytable we displayed above can be found in standard versions of Jacks or Better but many variants of it have lower payouts for the Full House and Flush hands.
The regular paytable shows that for these two winning hands players receive 9 and 6 times their stake, respectively. Such games are known as full-pay versions or 9/6 Jacks or Better. Some online casinos, however, offer Jacks or Better that pays 8 to 1 and 5 to 1 for Full House and Flush. Referred to as 8/5 Jacks or Better, this game will clearly offer a higher house edge. If the only difference is this, the house edge jumps to 2.70% and the Return to Player is 97.30% compared to an RTP of 99.54% for a full-pay Jacks or Better.
Understanding Expected Return
The next thing to consider is the expected return. Also referred to as expected value, payback percentage or return to player (RTP), it is the most important thing to look for in any form of gambling. It shows the percentage of stakes a game returns to players over the long term. It is a theoretical average and should not be applied to any real-life game session since such an expectation is true only for millions of game rounds.
However, it is generally used to demonstrate how a game will perform over time and whether playing it is worth it or not. Players should understand that, realistically, they are expected to lose – the house always wins in all casino games. This suggests that all games have an RTP of less than 100% – with optimal strategy, the standard Jacks or Better has an average return of 99.54%. So, most of the time, the game will perform to this RTP or very close to this percentage.
However, this does not mean that every round or game session will return this percentage. As we have explained above, the short-term returns from a real-life game session could be very different from the theoretical expectation. Overall, the higher RTP, the better.
Demo Mode
Players who are just starting with online video poker should also consider playing their preferred variation in demo mode. Almost all online casinos offer their games in this demo or fun play mode where players bet with virtual credits instead of real money. The rest of the game is the same as the original, real-money version, which is why demo play is a great option for beginners. They can practice as much as they want, trying different variants of video poker, perfecting the skills or testing a strategy.
Mobile Compatibility
In this age, mobile compatibility is also a necessary factor when it comes to online gambling. Most casinos on the web offer mobile versions of at least some of their games and before signing up and depositing funds, players should look at the operator’s mobile offering. The truth is that casinos typically focus on slots and only some of them would have a good selection of mobile-friendly video poker titles.
Players should also check whether the video poker games can be played directly in the browser of their device or they should be looking for a native app to download. Note that some casinos offer only apps for iPhone or for Android devices. The good thing is that such applications are usually available for free and do not require a lot of storage on your device.
Tips for Beginners
As we have already said, online video poker does not differ much from its land-based counterpart. The two are practically the same but there are a few advantages of online playing everyone should know. Those who lay video poker on the Internet can do research and choose the best casino and online variation. They can also use readily available strategy cards for every move they make and use a money management plan, which is nearly impossible once you are in a brick-and-mortar casino.
Use Optimal Strategy
Track Your Bankroll
Video Poker Dos and Don’ts
Use Optimal Strategy
Casino enthusiasts probably know well that winning can be guaranteed in gambling. Still, the use of optimal strategy in video poker increases the chances of reaching the theoretical RTP percentage. What encompasses a “strategy” in this game is simply a set of rules – what to do in every single situation, which cards to keep and which cards to discard, depending on the video poker variation you play.
Generally, players should stick to several major principles – they should never break combinations such as Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, and Two Pair. When having a Three of a Kind, they should keep it but discard the two other cards for the chance to form a better hand. In addition, not all winning hands should be kept and players should know what exceptions they can make. For example, it is always better to take a risk and break up a Straight or a Flush, if they hold four cards to a Royal Flush.
Track Your Bankroll
Money management is crucial whether you play video poker, slots, or blackjack. Novices should learn how to track their bankroll and use different tactics to make it last longer. This starts with determining the basic betting unit they will be wagering – dividing the bankroll into 100 units is a common strategy but beginners may want to have 1,000 units for their game session. In other words, players with a bankroll of $1,000 should bet no more than $1.00 per round.
This would allow them to absorb losses and continue playing for longer even after a losing streak. The idea is to manage your bankroll in such a way that no loss can be devastating. A rule of thumb many video poker players seem to follow is one that applies to all forms of gambling – never gamble more than you can afford to lose. But after all, those who have decided to play online video poker are probably trying to make a profit.
For this, they should choose those variations with the highest RTP and apply a perfect strategy when playing. Having a large bankroll compared to your basic betting unit is also very important, as is sticking to lower denominations while betting the maximum of coins on each round. Novices should also avoid progressive video poker and multi-hand variations and instead, go for slower-paced games with lower variance.
Video Poker Dos and Don’ts
Video poker may seem quite complicated at first but it is a wonderful game that can be learned by practically anyone. Even those players who have difficulty understanding the strategy can avoid making costly mistakes by knowing some simple dos and don’ts. Here are some of the most universal principles you should observe in any variation of online video poker:
- Do: Choose the best games and full-pay variations with the highest RTP.
- Don’t: Play low-value video poker variations – multi-hand games, progressive video poker, or games with paytables you have not looked at.
- Do: Bet the maximum number of coins.
- Don’t: Increase the coin denomination unless you can afford it.
- Do: Learn the optimal strategy for the video poker variation you play.
- Don’t: Play video poker without knowing the basic principles of proper strategy.
- Do: Have a bankroll management plan before you start playing video poker.
- Don’t: Play long game sessions and use your credit card for gambling to avoid huge losses.
- Do: Be prepared to incur significant losses since gambling is always associated with risk.
- Don’t: Think that a few Royal Flushes can eventually compensate for large losses.
