Becoming A Professional Video Poker Player: How To Achieve?

Playing casino games for fun or once in several months is just a kind of entertainment gamblers resort to when going to unwind a bit. But when you find this hobby as something more serious, especially when it comes to table games, you may desire to improve your skills to master one game you are interested in the most. For example, you can become a professional video poker player when learning not only the rules, but the strategies and useful skills as well. Sounds exciting? Then go ahead!

How to Become a Professional Video Poker Player

Is Video Poker Worth It?

Before you decide to devote your free time to mastering this entertainment, make sure that it’s the kind of casino games that fits you the best way. Though it’s hard to find something easier to play and more engaging than video poker is. And if you still hesitate, here is a list of its most obvious benefits.

Not just a game of luck.
Well, of course, it is still a matter of chance. But now it’s not just when you are launching the reels and waiting for a random result. To some extent, you can influence the outcome, so you hold the cards, according to the strategy you follow, and when the plan is right, your chances to win are higher. Though yes, certain knowledge and skills are required then.
Easy to Play.
It’s another reason for this game to be so popular. When playing other card games, the sessions can be a bit longer, and there are some more steps before you find out the result. But here everything is easier and quicker, so it takes less time to master this game.
Hunting for a jackpot.
The fans of slots will understand it, so these games are mostly equipped with a progressive jackpot feature. And as for this kind of table game, you are lucky to meet this feature again.
Only you vs a machine.
That’s another benefit of this entertainment: no dealers and other players you have to play with or against. Though it’s more fair about real-life casinos, so you can constantly meet this advantage just when playing online.

Remember: it’s not only a game of chance. It’s a skill game, and you can influence the outcome when following the right strategy.

Strategy Comes First

When you wonder how to become a professional video poker player, just remember one thing: this is a skill game, so the results are not as random as you could think. And you can influence the outcome when making the right decisions. As well as on the contrary. How to do that? Well, there are a whole lot of strategies for each type of this game. You can even download a printable chart. These charts are really easy to use: players start from the top of the list and watch what cards to hold and which ones to drop. The core of this approach is to try to keep the highest hands, so they are paid the best way.

How to Use Strategies

Let’s take a look at an example. You get 5 cards and see that there are several ways to develop your winning hand. For example, there is a pair of fives. Besides, you have several high cards and 4 cards of the same suit. So, what is the best strategy in this case?

The answer is here: the main aim of the game is to get the most well-paid combination, so you have to focus on the highest hands. And you have the seeds of one very profitable winning combination - 3 cards for Royal Flush. So you have to hold J, Q and K, while the fives should be dropped.

Instead of using a ready-made chart, you can also analyze what combinations are more profitable and decide which of your cards can form them. Though when the cards don’t make up any profitable hands at first, it’s quite difficult to decide. Then the strategies of any kind come in handy.

How Not to Lose Money

Of course, becoming a professional video poker player is a rather long way as well as a quite difficult one. So you will not only win, but lose as well. And in order to minimize the losses, meet several useful tips.

Find out the RTP

Whether you play at an online casino or visit a real-life establishment, make sure you know the machine’s RTP. It is the percent that will be given back to players. You won’t be paid exactly the same sum, of course, but the higher the RTP is, the bigger and more often is the machine’s payout. In comparison with other types of casino games, for example, slots, their RTP is usually 90-95%, while the payout of video poker comes up to 99%+. But still you have to find out whether the game you launch can boast the following parameters. So when it can’t, just select another title that will be more profitable.

And take into account that this system is working this way: when one player wins, another one has to lose. An extreme example of this is when you give your friend $10. Now the friend owns this amount, while you don’t. So remember that casino games are always a risk.

Learn Various Kinds of Video Poker

Video poker players are the ones who know exactly that the type of this game definitely influences the strategy. So you shouldn’t miss this fact. Take into account that there are several kinds:

Jacks or Better;
Deuces Wild;
Joker Poker;
Bonus Poker;
other types.

So when you are looking for a strategy or just play this game, remember that each detail matters. For example, deuces won’t be so desired in Jacks or Better, but can bring you profit when playing Deuces Wild.

One Step at a Time

As stated, there are different kinds of this game. And if you are a newcomer, the best way to get acquainted with this entertainment is to choose the easiest one. Most gamblers state that Jacks or Better is the right type for those who are going to enter the world of this game for the first time. And don’t try to use complicated tactics at once: just start with the basic strategy.

Practice a Lot

No doubt, the secret of how to be a good poker player video, as well as in any other area, is to practice a lot. And the approach to mastering video poker is exactly the same. You have to go on playing, check whether the strategies you use are really worthy. Besides, you can even develop a strategy of your own, according to your observations. Care about paying too much for these experiments? Then rest assured, so demo mode is the option most machines of online casinos support. Though yes, if you prefer playing on real machines, practicing really costs a fortune.

Pay attention: demo mode is the best way to practice for free. All the features of the online machine are exactly the same, so you fully understand how the game works.

Reading is the Key to Success

You can find various strategies and tips not only when visiting certain blogs or watching poker player documentary videos, so some books also can help you to improve your skills in this area. The authors of these works are mostly mathematicians and professional players who share their experience and explain the basic rules gamblers should follow. Well, here are the most popular books on the subject:

Dan Paymar - «Video Poker Optimum Play: The Strategies and Tactics of Advantage Play» of 2010;
«Million Dollar Video Poker» of 2003;
Linda Boyd - «The Video Poker Edge, Second Edition: How to Play Smart and Bet Right» of 2006;
Jean Scott and Victor Nachit - «Frugal Video Poker» of 2006.

Mostly, authors talk about mastering the game in real-life establishments, but still online gamblers can find something useful to apply in the virtual area.

Bonuses Are Never too Much

The other thing that can increase a video poker player edge is getting bonuses. Of course, it’s not exactly about the features of the game. But when you play at an online casino, you can count on additional perks. Just be aware: some promotions can be used when playing slots only. Besides, don’t forget about wagering.

My Hobby - Your Hobby

Isn’t it great when people are passionate about one thing and help each other to master it even better? That’s the club of players of casino video poker is always a good idea. Besides learning, gamblers can arrange various contests, and take part in tournaments. And as for just online gambling, you can take part in tournaments or find online communities to join.

Using the Tips

You can learn about various tips professional gamblers share with other players. For example, the following 5 video poker tips in a video can help to delve into the features of this game even more.

Over 100% EV - Is It Possible?

Perhaps, you’ve heard about the RTP, a percentage that is given back to players. While the difference is left at the casino as a house edge. But some professional players discuss not only the machines with high RTP, but the ones that can bring over 100% EV (expected value). Is that possible?

Well, as for the online casinos, you won’t meet any machine of this kind. Even most real-life casinos can’t boast of the software with so high RTP. Though they say that some of these famous machines can be found in Las Vegas and Nevada.

Is It a Problem?

Well, when you don’t find EV+ machines, it means that you don’t get a guarantee of winning all the time. But it’s a basic state for gambling: you take risks. And it doesn’t mean that you can’t win big, so due to the option of jackpots lucky players can grab huge prizes when playing just several games. So it’s mostly a problem of those who remember those old days of the Golden Age when the RTP was sometimes up to 103%.

Final Thoughts

Now it’s time to sum up and ask: can you be a professional video poker player? Well, when you practice enough, learn the strategy for each time of the game and find a machine with the necessary RTP (99%+), then why not? Of course, it’s still a matter of chance besides, and it’s rather difficult to state that making your living on playing this game could be a good idea. But as soon as playing video poker is your entertainment and you just want to improve your skills to play professionally, that’s a really achievable goal, though you’ll have to make an effort to get things done.

FAQ

Are there professional video poker players?

Of course, as well as in any other industry. Some of these players prefer to go unnoticed, while others write their own books with useful tips and strategies for players.

How to be a professional video poker player?

If you master this game, you can be called a professional player. So you have to understand the rules and the basic strategy, practice a lot, and even develop some tips of your own.

How can I practice to play this game better?

There are several ways to do that. First of all, you can go on playing for money, so it’s also a good practice. But the best way to upgrade your skills is, of course, playing for free.

Can I make my living playing video poker?

Well, as the Golden Age of video poker is now gone and you can hardly find the games with EV+, you can count just on a good game, not on a source of stable income.