How To Play Video Poker

How to play video poker for beginners? The following article will provide you with complete information about poker and the simplest way to play poker.

Video poker is one of the most popular casino games played by gamblers all over the world. In physical casinos, you will play this game on a slot machine. Online video poker is the remote version of the game and uses a random number generator to display outputs in the slots.

This game is fairly easy to play, since there is no involvement of a dealer or other players. However, keeping beginners in mind, we have curated all the information you need to know about this entertaining game, including tips and tricks to increase your chances of winning. This detailed guide will help you ace your moves as you play poker in this unique format. 

Video Poker Gameplay Explained

The online video poker game uses a simulation of slot machines. It is based on a five-card draw and has fixed odds. You might think that is similar to other variants of slot games, however, there is one key difference – video poker strategy involves skill and not just luck alone. It has the following steps as you play:

1. During the game, you are dealt a hand of five cards from a 52-card deck (53 in case of jokers wild). 
2. You need to bet in advance about what the cards are going to be. This prediction is not precise but generic, for example, you can bet that the slots would be containing three of a kind, two pairs, flush, royal flush, straight flush, straight, etc. 
3. Once you have received the initial poker hand, you have the option to discard upto all five of your cards and get a replacement for them. You need to play smart when it comes to card replacement.
4. To increase your odds of winning, think about what bet you have made and which slots need new cards as replacement to get a favorable outcome for you. 

What is a Pay Table in Video Poker?

The pay table is one of the most important elements involved in poker casino games as it determines the payout you will receive. 

It is basically a table that lists the various bets such as flush, full house, four of a kind, three of a kind, jacks or better, etc. Next to the bets, the jackpot amount is written. 

The pay table usually varies from casino to casino, which is why you should never forget to study the pay table before making your bet.

Common Terms Used in Video Poker

To stay on top of the game, learn the meaning of the following terms used frequently in video poker:

• Royal Flush: When all five cards are of the same suit and include Ace-King-Queen-Jack-10.
• Straight Flush: All five cards are consecutive and belong to the same suit.
• Four of a Kind/Three of a Kind: Out of the five cards, four/three are of the same rank even though the suits are different.
• Full House: Contains three cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, no restriction on suits
• Flush: When all five cards are of the same suit, do not need to be consecutive.
• Straight: When five consecutive cards appear, belonging to different suits.
• Two Pairs: Two cards of the same rank and two more cards of another rank, suits do not matter.
• Pair of Jacks or Better: Out of the five cards, there are either two Jacks, two Queens, two Kings, or two Aces.

Types Of Video Poker Games

Similar to video poker machines in a real casino, online casinos also have different formats of gameplay. 

With respect to the type of payout, a video poker game can either be ‘full pay’ or ‘short pay’. These two classifications possess different  Return-To-Player or RTP. 

Full pay poker games have an average RTP of more than 99%. Some games could even have an RTP greater than 100%.

With respect to the gameplay, video poker players in Singapore have the following popular variants of the game to choose from:

• Jacks or Better: The minimum winning hand needed is a pair of jacks or a pair of high cards above the joker.
• Deuces Wild: Twos are wild, meaning that if they appear in a hand, then they can be substitutes for any other card.
• Bonus Poker: In this type of video poker, you receive a bonus if cards in your hand include four of a kind.
• Double Bonus: In this category, you receive a bigger bonus if your video poker slots include four aces.

READ MORE: Video Poker: Understanding the Poker Games Available

Which Video Poker Game has the Best Odds?

As long as you are equipped with the most powerful basic strategy of playing, you have the odds in your favor and you know how to win a game of poker.

You cannot control the first five cards dealt to you, but you can control which cards to hold and which to discard. Here are some tips to guide you and help make a smart decision:

• If you get three of a kind, hold them but discard the other two cards as you may get four of a kind or full house in the next go.
• If you have two pairs, discard the fifth card as you might get a full house if a favorable card turns up.
• Holding a low pair is more profitable than holding a single high card like King, Queen, Jack or Ace.
• Don’t hold a ‘kicker’ card when you are holding a pair of jacks or better, for example, an ace kicker card along with two kings. Just hold the pair and discard the remaining three.

Can You Make Money Playing Video Poker?

There are many trustworthy websites in Singapore, such as online casino singapore that let you earn real money by participating in online tournaments of video poker. 

On such reliable websites, not only do you get to enjoy a digitized version of table games from the comfort of your home, but also win various casino bonus. These online casinos truly bring Las Vegas to your home!

If you end fall in love with video poker, that’s great. But if you get bored, DON99 hosts many other fun card games like Blackjack,  Draw Poker, Texas Holdem Poker, and more. Get started today and make the max bet for max profit!