There are many reasons why so many video poker fans choose Pick ‘Em Poker as their favorite game. It offers one of the simplest gameplay experiences, and players have no trouble mastering the right strategy. Because Pick ‘Em Poker has low variance, players can enjoy one of the best payback percentages among video poker variants. With an RTP of 99.95%, it is easy to see why so many players favor Pick ‘Em Poker betting.
It is one of the newer variants of video poker and it is rather popular at brick-and-mortar casinos. That said, you will also find it at most gaming websites where players can play for real money.
Of course, in order to enjoy rewarding outcomes, players must know which Pick ‘Em variations offer the most tempting paybacks. This way, they can maximize their winning chances by combining the best payouts with the right strategy.
Playing Pick ‘Em Poker
There is nothing complicated about the gameplay of Pick ‘Em Poker. You play with a standard 52-card deck and there are no wild cards. Many players consider this variation the easiest video poker game to play.
First choose the size of the bet you would like to make. Like most other video poker games, you can bet up to 5 coins on Pick ‘Em Poker. The optimal payback percentage is calculated when players make the maximum bet. If you want to improve your chances of a profitable session, stick to betting 5 coins; doing so lets you collect a significantly larger payout if you hit a Royal Flush.
On the left side of the play screen, you will see two cards, while on the right side there will be two piles of cards. You must choose one of the two piles based on its top card. Below each pile are two hidden cards. By selecting a pile, you create a hand made up of the two dealt cards plus the three cards in the chosen pile. If you land a winning hand, you are paid according to the paytable and credited with the appropriate amount.
Pick ‘Em Poker Additional TipsUnlike typical video poker machines, in Pick ‘Em Poker you do not need to decide which cards to hold or discard. This simplicity makes the game easy to play. Anyone who understands basic poker hands can enjoy Pick ‘Em Poker. Moreover, because there are no cards to hold or discard, the strategy is much easier to master. The only challenging part is choosing between the two piles, since you cannot predict the value or suit of the hidden cards.
While Pick ‘Em Poker may be rare at land-based casinos, it is easy to find online. The good news is that online players can also come across the full-pay version of Pick ‘Em Poker at some virtual casinos. This means they can play with an expected return of 99.95%, giving them a significant advantage.
Pick’em Poker Gameplay
Paytable and Payback Percentage on Pick ‘Em Poker
Just like other video poker games, it is important to play the Pick ‘Em Poker version that offers the best payouts. For this game, the most lucrative variant pays 18 to 1 for a Full House and 11 to 1 for a Straight. If you learn the right strategy, you can enjoy an RTP of 99.95%.
The paytable for the full-pay version of Pick ‘Em Poker looks like this:
| Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 1,200 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 239.8 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind | 120 to 1 |
| Full House | 18 to 1 |
| Flush | 15 to 1 |
| Straight | 11 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 5 to 1 |
| Two Pair | 3 to 1 |
| 9s or Better 2 to 1 |
Online players, however, may have to look high and low to find a full-pay version of Pick ‘Em Poker. Although some variations offer a generous payout of 2,000 to 1 for a Royal Flush, you should examine the rest of the paytable, as the payout for a Straight may drop to only 10 to 1. This immediately gives the house a bigger advantage and the RTP becomes 99.69%. Some variants even lower the payout for a Full House to 15 to 1, which, combined with a Straight that pays 10 to 1, reduces the potential return to only 98.74%.
| Hand | Probability of Obtaining the Hand | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 0.0003% | 0.34% |
| Straight Flush | 0.0026% | 0.62% |
| Four of a Kind | 0.00424% | 5.08% |
| Full House | 0.24% | 4.24% |
| Flush | 0.32% | 4.78% |
| Straight | 0.51% | 5.57% |
| Three of a Kind | 3% | 15% |
| Two Pair | 6.21% | 18.63% |
| Nines or Better | 22.84% | 45.68% |
| Losing hand | 66.85% | 66.85% |
| Total: | 99.95% | |
Paytable and Payback Percentage Additional TipsAlthough Pick ‘Em Poker is a video poker variation, its paytable differs in several ways. As you can see, there are no hands that pay even money, which means that even the lowest-paying combination provides a solid return. Instead of needing Jacks or better to get paid, you receive a payout for 9s or better. This increases players’ chances of winning and makes this variation an excellent betting choice.
Pick ‘Em Poker Strategy
If you want to improve your video poker experience, you must know how to use the right strategy. Because Pick ‘Em is played differently from standard video poker, it requires its own approach. That said, mastering Pick ‘Em Poker is much easier than memorizing the complex charts used for other variations. The game presents fewer tricky situations where you are unsure how to proceed.
The hand rankings in Pick ‘Em Poker are as follows:
- Three of a Kind
- 10, Jack, and Queen of the same suit
- 10, Jack, and King of the same suit; 10, Queen, and King of the same suit; or Jack, Queen, and King of the same suit
- High Pair (9s or Better)
- Open Straight Flush
- Straight Flush with one gap (2 to Q)
- Straight Flush with two gaps (two or three high-ranked cards)
- Flush (three high cards)
- 9, 10, and Jack or 10, Jack, and Queen
- Straight Flush with two gaps (one high-ranked card)
- Flush (two high-ranked cards)
- Low Pair (8 or lower)
- Straight Flush with two gaps (no high-ranked cards)
- Straight with one gap (three high-ranked cards)
While it is not the highest-paying hand, Three of a Kind is probably the most important hand in Pick ‘Em Poker. It is the only hand that players can sometimes form immediately, despite the limited choices available. In addition, the chance of improving your hand with the two hidden cards in the chosen pile is estimated at about 3.9%.
Players can also incorporate several moves into their gameplay to improve their winning odds and enjoy more lucrative outcomes. While it may seem difficult to base your decision solely on the four face-up cards, after a few hands you will notice that Pick ‘Em Poker is actually much easier to play than other video poker variations.
Pick ‘Em Poker Strategy Additional TipsSince players need only pick from two card piles, the basic strategy chart is easy to apply. Remember that the best immediate hand you can form is Three of a Kind, and it may also lead to even better hands. You are also advised to always bet 5 coins, as this guarantees the best possible reward. For example, if you make the maximum bet, a Three of a Kind pays 25 credits.
If you follow the strategy chart for Pick ‘Em Poker, you will quickly determine which of the two piles can help you form a stronger hand. For instance, if you already have a three-card Straight Flush, the best move is to keep this hand rather than chasing another one. When you hold high pairs, it is better to stick with the pile that preserves that pair instead of selecting the one that offers Three to a Straight Flush.
If the two piles on the right side of the play screen give you the option to form either a Straight Flush with no gaps or one with a single gap, choose the pile that secures the hand with no gaps. However, if both piles create the same number of gaps, pick the one that contains the higher-value card.
Another situation worth noting is the choice between a Straight Flush and low pairs. In this case, it is always better to pick the option that leads to a Straight Flush, as low pairs do not result in a payout. This advice changes when you have a Straight Flush with no high-ranked cards and two gaps. In that scenario, selecting the pile that forms a low pair is the better move.
When you are holding a Flush that consists of two high-ranked cards, you are advised to keep this hand. Remember that you should value high-ranked cards over Flushes. While a Royal Flush offers the highest payout, if one pile holds an Ace it is usually better to pick the stack that can help you land a high pair.
Once you understand the hand rankings in Pick ‘Em Poker, you will usually have no trouble choosing between the two piles the game offers. That is what makes the strategy easy to understand and apply.
Conclusion
If you are overwhelmed by the lengthy strategy charts for most video poker games, you should try something simpler. Many players enjoy Pick ‘Em Poker because it is considered the easiest video poker variation to play. Moreover, the strategy needed to improve your odds is straightforward.
Pick ‘Em Poker is very simple, eliminating the need to decide which cards to hold or discard. Instead, you simply choose a pile to complete the two cards you were randomly dealt. It is definitely a game that will appeal to many casino enthusiasts as it combines numerous positive features.
In addition to being easy to play, Pick ‘Em Poker also offers very good chances to score massive wins. If you find a variant that provides full payouts for winning hands and you use perfect strategy, the expected return will be 99.95%. As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to play Pick ‘Em Poker, and many land-based and online players appreciate the unique charms of this video poker variation.