Video Poker Tips — Smart Ways to Play
Video poker is a stripped-down version of online poker, based on five-card draw. Although simple, video poker is a game of both chance and strategy! Played against an algorithm, video poker is much like playing an online slot; players set their wager, and the cards are drawn automatically. The objective is to form the best five-card poker hand, according to the paytable. Players can hold cards and replace the rest in hopes of building a stronger hand — this level of control is precisely what injects strategy into the game! Let’s have a look at video poker tips and pointers to help you master the ins and outs of this casino game.
#1 — Review The Paytable And Set Your Wager
The first thing you want to do is review the paytable, which breaks down all possible poker hands and their respective payouts. In most video poker games, all poker hands and their payouts will be displayed directly on the screen. The wager is set by clicking on ‘Bet’; however, some video poker games also require the player to select the number of coins they’d like to bet, much like in an online slot. This is usually done by clicking directly on the paytable, and increasing the number of coins will increase the wager.
While you can bet 1-4 coins per hand, the only way to qualify for the best video poker payouts is through a five-coin wager. For example, in Jacks or Better, players can go from winning 1,000 coins on a four-coin bet to 4,000 coins on a five-coin bet for a royal flush. The number of coins wagered also impacts the house edge: betting five coins per hand significantly reduces the advantage. This doesn’t apply to every game; some video poker games, like Jacks or Better Jackpot, do not have the option to adjust the number of wagered coins at all.
#2 — Understand The House Edge
In video poker, the house edge is typically expressed as the Return To Player percentage (RTP). The RTP is the percentage of wagers that the game is expected to pay back to players in the long run. If a game has an RTP of 99%, which signifies a house edge of 1%, it means that for every €100 wagered, players can expect an average return of €99 over time. The higher the RTP, the better it is for the player. Since video poker involves strategy, the house edge can be reduced and, in some games, can be tipped into the player’s favour!
#3 — Consider the Odds
The next tip is to review the probability for different hands to appear in a video poker game. For example, you might have a jack and two spades on a Jacks or Better machine. If you hold the jack and replace the four remaining cards, the odds of you drawing another jack are significantly higher than drawing three more spades for a flush. Even though the payout for a pair of jacks is considerably lower, it is strategically more advantageous to opt for this hand and making a small return. On the other hand, if you had four spades, it would be wiser to discard the jack and hope for a flush.
Whenever you are faced with the choice to hold or discard, always consider the likelihood of obtaining a better hand — assess the best hands and see how close your initial cards are to achieving them. High-paying hands are not always the best choice, as the odds of hitting a straight or better are almost always under 2%. It is equally important to consider your initial hand’s value in terms of how many winning hands it can potentially form and their respective payouts. Fortunately, many video poker paytables will display the odds (as a percentage) of obtaining each hand with the given cards.
#4 — Take The Automatic Wins
Video poker is packed with strategy, as every decision the player makes has a direct impact on the house edge and, in turn, the payouts. If you are new to video poker or poker in general, one tip is to take automatic wins. If you have two queens in your initial hand, make sure to hold on to them since a payout is guaranteed, albeit small. A small win is better than no win at all, and a hand like this also carries a respectable chance of building into a three or four of a kind.
#5 — Avoid Doubling
Some video poker games offer the option to increase your winnings through an additional gamble. This feature works similarly to a Card Gamble in online slots: players can click on 'Double' for a chance to double their win on any winning hand. When the gamble is started, a hand of five cards will be displayed, one of which is face up. The player’s goal is to select one of the face-down cards; if that card is of a higher value than the face-up card, the player doubles their win. There is nothing you can do to predict the hole cards’ value, as each hand is randomly generated. This gamble can continue until the player collects their winnings or guesses incorrectly. In the case of an incorrect guess, all winnings (including the triggering win) will be lost; thus, it is recommended for video poker players to avoid doubling.
#6 — Learn The Rules
Video poker games are quite similar to one another in terms of gameplay, but the rules, payouts and hands may vary significantly. For example, in Double Double Bonus Poker, payouts are doubled for some four of a kind hands. Additionally, the game offers a bonus payout for quad aces, twos, threes and fours if the fifth card (the kicker) is also a low card (ace, two, three and four).
You may also come across Wild cards, which can substitute for any other card, in games like Deuces Wild and Bonus Deuces Wild Poker. While this feature is favourable to the player, the lowest-ranking hand is three of a kind, as opposed to Jacks or Better and two pair in most video poker games. Regardless of which game you choose to play, always read the rules before you get started!
#7 — Manage Your Bankroll
Managing your bankroll is integral to playing poker online. Poker is a game that is easy to play but inherently difficult to master, so make sure to always keep an eye on your wagers.
Set aside a dedicated budget and treat video poker as a form of entertainment.
Don’t wager what you cannot afford to lose.
Don’t expect to make a profit. Even if the RTP looks favourable, it is important to understand that this percentage is an average obtained over the course of thousands of hands. In the short term, anything can happen — losses are inevitable.
If available, play through the demo mode first. Many video poker games offer a free-to-play version of the game with a virtual bankroll. You may need to register and verify your account, but demos are an excellent way to learn the game without putting your cash on the line.
#8 — Game Responsibly
Last but certainly not least, please play responsibly. Always keep a limit on how much of your bankroll you're willing to spend, be mindful of the time you dedicate to gambling and never chase losses. Although video poker is a game of strategy, its most significant element is chance. As with gambling as a whole, there is no sure-fire video poker strategy to winning and no guarantee that the wins will even out with the losses.
Online gambling is meant to be a form of entertainment; if you are losing that sense of fun when playing video poker, consider using our Responsible Gaming tools to help you set limits on deposits, wagers, losses and session duration.
