Video Poker Rules And Strategy: How To Start Playing This Game And What Tips Can Help

As the range of table games is impressing with various kinds of entertainment gamblers can try out, video poker is not an exception. Yes, it’s not as great as blackjack or poker, so this kind isn’t so popular at real-life casinos (if only it’s not a slot-machine located there), but still the audience of the game’s fans is growing daily. So you can also join them by reading about the game, learning tips for playing video poker and even more things about the game. Let’s get started!

The Origin of the Game

Actually, this game is not so modern. Of course, not as old as roulette or classic casino entertainment, but still with 50+ years of experience. So the first video poker games had been appearing in the 1970s, as soon as a TV-monitor was available to be combined with any processing units. Yes, these models were not as popular and equipped as the ones we can see today, but the story of this game starts right here. And today you can find loads of online kinds besides.

Interesting to know: a huge fame to this direction has been brought by SIRCOMA that has introduced Draw Poker in 1979.

Rules of Video Poker: how to Start Playing

Before learning video poker strategy, pay attention to the basic things that make up this game: so let’s take a look at its rules.

In fact, it’s a good blend of two famous casino games - slots and poker. But you don’t have to rely just on your luck (so yes, you make a decision and the outcome depends on your actions as well) and you don’t have to learn poker strategy in detail. So it’s right a kind of the «golden mean».

That’s what the game is like.

You are dealt 5 cards.
Then you can hold or discard any or all of your cards.
When you look at your first 5 cards, you have to decide what combinations to make up (perhaps, you see the cards that can bring you one or two pairs or even royal flush).
All the cards you don’t hold will be displaced and now it’s time to sum up the results (according to the poker hand rankings).

Poker Hand Rankings

As a video poker strategy guide is connected to the rules of classic poker, right its combinations are the winning ones. So you’ll have to get one of them.

Royal Flush	It’s the primary combination, so your task is to get 10, J, Q, K and K (make sure that all these cards are just of one suit, though the suit in fact doesn’t matter).
Straight Flush	You also have to get 5 cards of one suit and of the consistent order, but now you don’t have to focus on certain card faces, so you can collect even ♦7, ♦8, ♦9, ♦10, ♦J.
Four of a Kind	In fact, it’s what it says on a tin - you have to get 4 cards of the same value. For example, K♣, K♦, K♥, K♠.
Full House	You’ll get 3 cards of one rank and 2 cards of another rank. Like ♥Q, ♦Q, ♠Q and ♥7, ♦7.
Flush	It’s when you get all 5 cards of one suit. Like 2♦, 5♦, 7♦, J♦, Q♦. As you can see, the order doesn’t matter now.
Straight	It’s like Straight Flush, but now your suit doesn’t matter. It will be like ♣7, ♦8, ♥9, ♦10, ♠J.
Three of a Kind	Yes, you get just 3 cards of the same rank and that’s it: 2♦, 5♦, 7♥, 7♦, 7♣.
Two Pairs	Your task is to get two pairs of any rank. For instance, ♦8, ♦8, ♥J, ♥J, ♣9.
Pair	It’s like the previous option, but now you will be gathering only one pair.
High Card	When no other combinations work, another trick can do: you can use a high card of your 5 cards. Like J in ♣2, ♦5, ♥7, ♦9, ♠J.

Variations of the Game

As video poker online is such a popular thing, you can meet various variations of this game. In general, they won’t be different a lot, so all the basic rules are still in. But sometimes unusual details can take place.

Jacks or Better

In fact, Jacks or Better video poker game is a classic kind we have already described. And you can get 1x payout for a Pair of Jacks or Better. As for the payout for the other combinations, they are 2x-250x (but remember to check this info at the casino you are going to play at).

Triple Bonus Video Poker

As for Triple Triple bonus video poker strategy, it’s a kind of a card game that has classic rules, but still differs a bit. Gamblers in this game are offered payouts for four aces, four 2s through 4s, and four 5s through kings.

Double Bonus

Besides the classic combinations, there are 3 extra ones:

A-A-A-A;
2-2-2-2, 3-3-3-3, 4-4-4-4;
Four of a Kind 5s-Ks.

Deuces Wild

It’s a great feature that casino fans will understand, so Wild symbols are usually common to the slot-machines. The fact that the deuces become Wild means that they can substitute any cards that your winning combination misses.

Tips to Improve Your Gaming Skills

Of course, you will hardly meet hidden secrets of video poker, but when you understand how it works and don’t mind learning the details, you can easily master the game.

And the main tip for gamblers all over the world is to practice as much as possible (and remember that it’s a game of luck as well). So you can apply to various ways of practicing and here are some of them.

The World Series of Poker video game is the one that can help you enjoy the game as much as you want and on any gadget.
Visiting a real or online casino is also an option.
Besides, you can start practicing with friends or even do it yourself just by getting a deck of cards.
You can also try out any multi hand video poker app, so it’s also the thing to try.

Various strategies also take place, but remember that they can minimize the house edge when you understand exactly all the game’s details and still they don’t guarantee 100% winnings.

FAQ: Learn More About the Game

Now it’s time to learn about video poker casinos offer a bit more, so here comes a FAQ to learn about the questions gamblers need and find out the answers.

How to play video poker?

You just get 5 cards, hold the necessary ones, change the cards you don’t find useful for your combination and look at the results: when you have any poker hands, you win. If you want to improve your skills and become an advanced player, poker training videos can also help a lot.

Can I meet progressive video poker machines?

Yes, the machines of this kind are also available. So players can hunt not only for the strong combinations, but for the jackpot as well.

Where to play the game?

Loads of options are available. You can open any online casino, download an app on your phone or PC, play with friends or even practice yourself by playing with a deck of cards at home.