If you are fairly new to gambling then you might not be very familiar with all casino games. If you are interested in video poker but you are not sure if your knowledge of standard poker will be enough, you can continue reading. We will introduce you the rules of this wonderful game, which we are sure you will very much enjoy.
You can think of video poker as a variation of slot machines but with a much better chance of snagging a win. If you add the winning hands of classic poker to the randomness of slots, you will get a video poker game. Since it is not solely based on luck, however, this casino games is favorite to those who are on the lookout for good payouts and great winning odds.
You do not need to stress when hearing that video poker also incorporates the winning hands of classic poker. This game is much simpler and easy to play and you will have no issue to understand the rules of video poker. It should be noted that with the rise of virtual casinos and online video poker, there have been many variations to the game. Those may include rules slightly different to the ones of traditional video poker. Despite that, the objective of the game is always the same and even with a few adjustments to the gameplay, video poker is very easy to play.
In addition to the pretty simple rules of video poker, it is also a game that allows the use of strategy. If you learn how to play the game in the best way possible, you can definitely achieve great outcomes and enjoy a rather fruitful gambling experience. Nowadays, players have numerous options of video poker available online. This gives them the chance to choose the most rewarding one and dive into lucrative and entertaining casino adventures.
General Rules of Video Poker
If you are looking for an easy explanation of the rules of video poker, look no further. To be completely honest, there is nothing complicated about this casino game which is why many players enjoy making bets on it.
If you have ever played Five-card draw, then you will have no issue playing video poker since it is based on this simple poker variation. In Five-card draw, players are dealt 5 cards and they can choose to discard or keep either one of them in order to form a winning hand. If they decide to discard any card, they will have to replace it with another one from the deck.
Similar to the aforementioned poker variation, video poker machines deal players 5 random cards. While this sounds a lot like classic slots, you actually have better chances to win on video poker since the outcome of the game will actually be determined on the next deal of cards. Whether you are playing at a land-based casino or you have decided to play on video poker online, the rules of the games will be the same. After you have been dealt the 5 random cards, you will be allowed to discard some or all of them if you do not think your current hand will bring you a good payout.
If your second hand has formed a winning combination, you will receive a payout which will be determined on the rank of your hand and the size of the bet you have made. While there might be differences in the winning hands of different video poker variations, there are the general poker hands that will bring you a win. If your second hand at video poker is Royal Flush, Full House, Four-of-a-Kind, Flush, Straight Flush, Straight, Three-of-a-Kind, Two Pairs or Pair, you can expect a rather rewarding outcome. There are also some video poker options that incorporate wild cards which can help players to form winning hands easier and there is usually a different payout for those special hands.
When you are playing video poker online, often you have the option to play the game for fun. This will allow you to fully grasp the rules of the particular variant and start playing for real money whenever you feel confident enough. Whichever video poker version you decide to play, you will still be able to win by sticking to the essential rules of the game.
The Video Poker Machine
Video poker has started its journey from the land-based casino in Sin City. During the 70s it started catching the attention of slot fans and it quickly became favorite to many casino enthusiasts. While throughout the years, many video poker variants emerged on the scene, the two most popular have definitely been Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild.
If you are curious about the video poker machine and how it works, keep on reading. When you take a look at its design, you will notice that it resembles typical modern slot machines. This being said, since the game of video poker does require more decisions and action, compared to slots, the video poker machine does have additional buttons. This way the player can navigate his/her gameplay and either discard or keep cards.
If you take a look at the top of the video poker machine, you will notice that there is a cylindrical light which has two different colors. This part of the machine is often called “a candle” or “tower lights” and is usually white on the top and colored on its bottom part. The color on the bottom indicates the denomination of the bets you are allowed to make on the particular video poker machine. Usually, the color red is used for denominating nickles, yellow indicates quarters, blue is used for dollars and purple is typically used for higher values.
The Video Poker Machine Additional TipsMost of the times, these lights are turned off but if you press the button that says “Service”, the white part of the candle will light up. This will indicate the slot host who passes nearby that you need assistance. There might also be a time when one or both of the lights on top of the video poker machine are constantly blinking. If the white light is blinking, it simply means that the door of the machines was open and then closed and no one has played after that. This might be done for various reasons, including the maintenance of the machine. As soon as a player sits on the machines and makes a bet, the lights will stop blinking. If both of the lights of the candles start blinking slowly, this is great news as it indicates that the player expects a hand-pay, meaning the game has awarded a win above the threshold that is paid by the machine.
Usually, every video poker machine that offers just one type of game, has its name above the screen, covered by a piece of glass. Some of the older models of video poker machines might also show the payout for the specific game. Meanwhile, you will not usually see newer video poker machines to show a payout table above the screen since they usually offer several types of games.
Of course, one of the key parts of the video poker machine is the screen which shows the cards players are dealt, as well as other important details about the game. Typically, there are two types of video poker machines with a different position of the screen. The first one is known as an upright model and its playscreen is positioned right on one’s eyesight level and it pretty much resembles a computer screen. The other model of video poker machine is the table-top one and just as its name suggests, it looks like a table since the screen is parallel to the ground and players are looking downwards in order to follow the gameplay.
Paytables in Video Poker
Just like in any other casino game, the payout is also very important at video poker. Even if you are simply playing for fun, you still are recommended to pick a variant that promises the best payout. On older video poker machines where there is just a single type of game, the paytable can be seen on the playscreen. It should be noted that it is possible for two games to have the same name but still have different paytables. This is why it is important to check your options before you start playing.
However, if you are visiting a casino where the video poker machines are of the newer models which offer several games, you will not be able to see the paytable on the playscreen. In such cases, players must approach the machine, pick their denomination, which may be quarters, dollars, etc., and select the variant they would like to play. Only then, will you be able to see the paytable for the specific game you have selected. Do take into consideration that different denominations might also affect the payouts of the game.
If you are playing video poker online, you will also have the chance to see the paytable before making any bet. This will help you to decide whether the respective game is worth playing for real money. Knowing the paytable is crucial for players since proper payouts will guarantee them that they can enjoy a better outcome when they win.
Usually, the average profit that a casino enjoys on every video poker play is 3%. Respectively, the potential return that players can enjoy is estimated at 97%. This return to player percentage (RTP) is determined thanks to the paytable of the specific game. A better payout for a certain hand will indicate a higher RTP which ultimately will mean a better outcome for the winners.
While it is important to learn to use strategy if you wish to improve your winning chances on video poker, you should still combine your tactics with a game that offers good payouts. This will lead to the ultimate advantage and will bring you lucrative results.
Full-Pay and Short-Pay Video Poker
If you are not very familiar with the game of video poker, you might not be able to recognize whether a certain machine offers good payouts. What is more, the paytable for some variants may be different which can at times be confusing. As video poker started becoming very popular at both land-based and online casinos, there have been different variants of the game emerging everywhere. What you will often notice about various video poker games is that they might offer payouts different than the standard ones.
The games which offer the highest payouts for a certain video poker variant are known as full-pay. If you are on the lookout for lucrative results, you are advised to always look for full-pay variants. This way you can significantly improve your winning odds and even tilt the scales in your favor when using the right strategy.
The video poker options which offer lower payouts compared to the full-pay ones are known as short-pay variants. Since you will not see a casino, whether it is a land-based or a virtual one, promoting its games as full-pay or short-pay ones, it is up to the players to determine which game will provide the best payouts. This is why it is important to learn how to recognize a full-pay video poker game.
Since there are different video poker variants, each one of them has a particular full-pay version. In order to be able to find a machine or an online option which will give you the most lucrative results, you should be able to recognize which the full-pay variants of the different video poker games are.
Full-Pay and Short-Pay Video Poker Additional TipsLet us take one of the most popular video poker variations for example. If you wish to bet your money on full-pay Jacks or Better, you should play what is known as the 9/6 variant. Before you start betting money, take a look at the paytable, especially at the payouts for Full House and Flush. The bet for Full House should pay 9 to 1, while Flush should reward winners with a payout of 6 to 1. Combining the right kind of strategy with a 9/6 Jacks or Better will bring you very satisfying results whether you are playing online or at a brick-and-mortar casino. Meanwhile, if you see a paytable for the same game with Full House paying 8 to 1 and Flush paying 5 to 1, you have come across a short-pay variant of Jacks or Better and you should not expect the most generous payouts. It is also possible to see 8/6, 7/5 or 6/5 versions of Jacks or Better which obviously have even lower RTP.
Sometimes playing with a lower payout may not change the strategy that players are using. However, sometimes betting on a short-pay video poker game, may actually require players to change the strategy they are utilizing. This is why players are advised to bet on full-pay video poker options, if possible, and make use of the correct strategy.
While the strategy for Joker Wild is a bit trickier, if you master it then you are advised to look for a 5/7 variant of the game. This would mean that the payout for Full House must be 7 to 1, while Flush should pay 5 to 1.
There is also the option to play Double Bonus with an RTP of 100.2% which is, however, only possible to be achieved with an optimal strategy on a 10/7 variant. This would mean that the payout for Full House should be 10 to 1, while Flush should pay 7 to 1.
Tips for Beginners
If you wish to enjoy a video poker game which is both rewarding and exciting, you should know a few things. If you follow the tips we going to share with you, you will be able to quickly elevate from the level of a rookie to a casino expert who knows how to maximize his/her winnings.
While standard poker might be a bit intimidating, video poker is really not that intense. On top of that, it is a game that can easily bring those who are willing to learn great results. While it is not necessary to start applying these tips from the very beginning, you can definitely improve your gameplay with time by following the advice we have for you.
When you have finally found a video poker machine or online variant that offers the highest possible payout, there is only one way to fully appreciate the best reward. If you opt for making a maximum bet, you will be able to revel in huge payouts when hitting a winning combination. While the strongly desired Royal Flush or Four Aces are difficult to be achieved, when staking the maximum amount of coins, you have the biggest chance to land the highest payout the game is offering.
As it was mentioned earlier, it is very important to check the paytable of the game you are about to play. Whenever you have too many options, it is absolutely the best to pick the one that offers the full payout. This would drastically improve your chances of hitting huge payouts. In fact, when you use the right type of strategy and opt for a high paying video poker variant, you have some of the best odds of winning, compared with the ones that other casino games are offering.
Additional Tips for BeginnersOne of the best tips we have for you is to make a thorough research about the game you are about to play. Make sure that you are well aware of the rules of the game, the way it is played and how to pick the best possible option. Learning video poker strategies will also repay you in your future adventures. What is more, numerous virtual casinos will allow their members to play video poker just for fun without risking any of their real money. This would give players enough time to get used to a certain game and apply what they have previously learned. Once they are confident enough, players can make real-money bets and play video poker, the way it is supposed to be played.
Last but certainly not least, there is one tip that every video poker player should follow and that it managing one’s bankroll. This would mean that you should continue playing until it is fun and stop when things start getting out of control. Setting a budget and sticking to it is very important as it will allow you to manage your gambling and will help you avoid overspending. Even though using a strategy can definitely improve your winning chances, this does not change the fact that video poker is still a game of chance in a way and there is never a guaranteed outcome.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is nothing complicated about video poker and whichever variant of the game you choose to play, you can enjoy a fruitful outcome. Whether you have visited a land-based casino or you have opened an account at a gaming website, you will be able to enjoy different variants of this exciting game. The reason why many players find video poker entertaining is the fact that in addition to the pure luck, there is the opportunity to affect the final result by your own decisions.
While video poker incorporates the winning hands of typical poker, it is definitely a much easier game to understand and play successfully. Despite Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild being two of the most commonly played variants, there are definitely many other video poker options you can enjoy.
When choosing the video poker variation you would like to play, you should consider the payouts it offers since they will determine the RTP. The higher the RTP, the better your chances of winning are. Combining this with a great strategy and maximum bets can lead to a very lucrative and enjoyable video poker adventure.