How to Play Video Poker

Your Playing Decisions Matter in Video Poker

Video poker is a popular fixed-odds game that borrows its rules from five-card draw, a simple variety of poker where players are dealt five cards and have the option to discard some of them to try and form one of the winning hands listed in the paytable. The game is broadly available across online and landbased casinos, and slightly resembles slots. Unlike slots, however, the playing decisions you make in video poker have a direct impact on your long-term odds of winning.

• Video Poker Machine
• Basic Rules
• How to Play Video Poker
• Variations of Video Poker
• Jacks or Better
• Deuces Wild
• Tens or Better
• Bonus Poker

Because of this, the gameplay in video poker is not restricted solely to hitting a button and passively waiting for the outcome. The game has many different variations, each with a unique paytable and a distinctive strategy to follow to reduce the house edge. This article introduces you to the gameplay and basic rules of video poker. Also included is information about four of the most popular variations you will encounter online, along with their hand ranking and paytables.

Basic Rules

How to Play Video Poker

Video Poker Variations

Bonus Poker

Video Poker Machine

Video poker machines share some similarities with slots as both have the same features – a drop bucket, a coin hopper, and a bill or coin acceptor. Despite these similarities, there are major differences between the two in terms of mechanism and gameplay. When playing video poker, players are provided with a lot more information on the screen than they are when spinning the reels of a slot machine.

The level of decision-making is another major difference between the two. With slots, all you must do is select your desired bet amount, hit the spin button, and hope for the best. This is not the case in video poker where your strategy and playing decisions can greatly influence your long-term winning odds. The paytable of a video poker machine is another important aspect to consider before playing. It contains a listing of the payouts for all winning hands. Any reductions in said payouts result in higher house edges and poorer winning chances for the player.

Basic Rules of Video Poker

Video poker has the same basic rules and fundamental principles as five-card draw poker. The possible hand combinations and their ranking also overlap between the two. Players initially get 5 cards, dealt in the same manner as in classic poker. After they receive the cards, they can either keep or discard each of them. The machine then replaces the selected discards, deals new cards in their places, and players get paid according to the paytable provided that they have formed a qualifying poker hand.

In general, standard video poker games use a single deck of 52 cards. However, it is possible to find a number of interesting variants such as Deuces Wild and Joker Poker where additional wild cards are also in play. Even though there are many similarities between classic poker and video poker, one of the major differences is that video poker offers a somewhat solitary experience as you face a machine instead of a table full of fellow gamblers. This improves your level of concentration and enables you to enjoy your gameplay without unnecessary distractions.

How to Play Video Poker

Video poker appeals to many players as it gives them the chance to put their skills and strategy knowledge to the test. Some variations also offer progressive jackpots, making it possible to win big while enjoying your favorite card game. Since the outcome of the game can be influenced by your decisions, it is possible to make a profit in the long term. The only casino games that offer such a valuable opportunity are those that require strategy and thus, players should know how to make the most of every situation while playing video poker.

To start a round, players should simply insert the number of coins they want to bet. Most video poker machines accept one to five coins, but the number can differ, depending on the particular variation. Some machines accept three or four coins, whereas others accept up to 100 coins. After players have inserted their desired number of coins, they are automatically dealt their first five cards. Most machines immediately notify players when they form a winning combination by beeping and displaying the type of hand.

At this point, players should decide which cards to keep and which ones to discard. After they make up their mind, they can simply select the relevant cards by pressing the Hold button. There is one Hold button for each card on the screen, conveniently located below it. If players change their mind and want to deselect a card, they can simply press the same Hold button again. In general, players should switch the available cards they were dealt in an attempt to get better ones which might result in a winning hand.

The cards are then compared to the winning combinations listed in the paytable. If the hand does not qualify for a payout, players lose their bet. Conversely, if they have managed to form a winning hand, they get paid depending on its strength and ranking in the paytable. It is worth mentioning that in cases where players have a winning hand, many video poker machines offer a playoff (gamble) round in which they have the opportunity to double their profits. Players can collect their payout if reluctant to participate in this additional round.

Video Poker Tips

Video Poker Basic Strategy

Video Poker Intermediate Strategy

Video Poker Advanced Strategy

Variations of Video Poker

Video poker is one of the most popular games and as such, it has many enticing variations that yield different house edges and winning odds. Some versions feature wild cards that improve your chances of forming a winning poker hand. Other variants offer special bonus payouts for certain hand combinations. Every variation has a distinctive paytable you should familiarize yourself with. Jacks or Better, Tens or Better, Deuces Wild, and Bonus Poker enjoy a particularly high popularity among video poker fans.

Jacks or Better

This is the most common variation of video poker you will come across at online casinos. Your objective is to obtain the highest-ranking hand, the Royal Flush. The lowest-ranking hand that pays out is a pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings or Aces.

Winning Combinations:

1. Jacks or BetterWhenever players get a pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings or Aces.
2. Two PairThis hand consists of two different pairs of cards of the same rank.
3. Three of a KindThis hand consists of three cards that have the same value.
4. StraightThis hand consists of five consecutive cards of different suits.
5. FlushThis hand consists of five cards of the same suit that are not consecutive.
6. Full HouseThis hand consists of three cards of the same rank and a pair.
7. Five of a KindThis hand consists of four cards of the same rank.
8. Straight FlushThis hand consists of five consecutive cards of the same suit.
9. Royal FlushThis is the strongest hand in poker. It consists of the five highest-value cards (Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten) of the same suit.

Deuces Wild

This is another very popular variant of video poker that attracts players with its interesting rules. As the name of the game suggests, the deuces play a crucial role since they can substitute any other card similarly to jokers. Deuces Wild resembles classic poker which makes it suitable for more traditional players.

Winning Combinations:

1. Three of a KindThis is the lowest winning hand that consists of three cards of the same rank.
2. StraightThe hand consists of five consecutive unsuited cards.
3. FlushThe hand consists of five cards of the same suit that are not consecutive.
4. Full HouseThis hand consists of three cards of the same rank and a pair.
5. Five of a KindThis hand consists of five cards of the same rank.
6. Straight FlushThis hand consists of five consecutive cards of the same suit.
7. Royal Flush without DeucesThis is the strongest hand in poker which consists of suited Jack, Queen, King, Ace and Ten.
8. Wild Royal FlushThis is a Royal Flush completed with the help of a wild card (deuce).
9. Four DeucesThis hand consists of two pairs of deuces and an extra card.

Tens or Better

Tens or Better is a famous variation of video poker that gets its name from the fact that the lowest paying hand is a pair of Tens, instead of a pair of Jacks. It is especially suitable for beginners, because the chances of getting a winning hand are higher. In this video poker variation, there are no wild cards and the payouts for a Full House and a Flush are lower.

Winning Combinations:

1. Tens or BetterOne pair pays out only if the cards in it are Tens or any of the higher-ranking ones.
2. Two PairThis hand consists of two different pairs of cards.
3. Three of a KindThis hand consists of three cards of the same rank. The other two cards are irrelevant.
4. StraightThis hand consists of five consecutive cards that have different suits.
5. FlushThis hand consists of five cards of the same suit that are not consecutive.
6. Full HouseThis hand consists of three cards of the same rank and a pair.
7. Four of a KindThis hand consists of four cards of the same rank.
8. Straight FlushThis hand consists of five consecutive cards of the same suit.
9. Royal FlushThis is the strongest hand in poker and consists of suited Ten, King, Jack, Queen and Ace.

Bonus Poker

This video poker variation is based on the popular Jacks or Better but offers higher “bonus” payouts for Four of a Kind. The lowest-ranking hand is a pair of Jacks and the most valuable hand is the Royal Flush. Bonus Poker has numerous variations depending on the different bonus payouts based on the exact composition of the Four of a Kind. The table below provides a payout schedule for Double Bonus Poker.

Winning Combinations:

1. Jacks or BetterOne pair pays out only if the cards in it are Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces.
2. Two PairThis hand consists of two different pairs of cards of the same rank.
3. Three of a KindThis hand consists of three cards of the same rank.
4. StraightThis hand consists of five consecutive cards of different suits.
5. FlushThis hand consists of five cards of the same suit that are not consecutive.
6. Full HouseThis hand consists of three cards of the same rank and a pair.
7. Four of a Kind- 5’s-KingThis hand consists of four cards of the same rank. The value of the cards should be at least 5 (all of the cards from 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jacks, Queen to King are acceptable).
8. Four of a Kind2’s, 3’s or 4’sThis hand consists of four cards of the same rank. The value of the cards should be from 2 to 4 (2, 3 or 4).

9. Straight FlushThis hand consists of five consecutive cards of the same suit.
10. Royal FlushThis hand consists of the five highest cards of the same suit.