How to Play Video Poker

Video Poker slots are a fun game, but require skill to play correctly and this is the advantage over other slot games which require no skill at all.

You have the potential to maximize your gains by being able to put the odds in your favor, making it a more involving lucrative playing experience.

Let's look at the basics of video poker slots and how to maximize your winning potential.

How to play the game

Video Poker slots are derived from draw poker and has the same rules, except that you are not playing against any other players, just the machine.

The machine deals five cards.

The player has the option to, take up to five new cards if they wish.

The player keeps the cards they want to keep by pressing the "hold" button for the individual card shown.

When the player has decided is made they hit the "deal" button, and the cards discarded are replaced.

The result of the game is determined by the outcome after the final hand is completed.
How much you win is indicated on the pay table on the front of the video poker slot machine.

Video poker slots tend to have better graphics and more effects than other online slots, making it a more pleasing game to play.

The Pay Table

The advantage of video poker slots have over other slot machines is that the return of the game can be calculated by reading the pay table.

Most video poker games use the combinations of hands that can be made from a 52-card deck.

The number of combinations that can be made means the payout can be calculated by what the payout table pays out for winning hands.

There are 2,598,960 possible hands from a 52-card deck.

The computer chip in a video poker slot machine is set to simulate the probabilities of drawing any of these combinations.

Because this is a set probability, the casino adjusts the pay table of the online machines to produce the house edge.

By knowing how to read a pay table, you can pick a machine with the best return and best odds of success. The payouts for all video poker slot machines are the same except for the payout on the flush, full house, or royal flush.

Here is a typical comparison of payouts on a Jacks-or-Better, which is the most popular video poker machine.

Payback                                     Payback with Strategy
 9 for a full house     6 for a flush          99.5%
 8 for a full house     5 for a flush          97.4%
 7 for a full house     5 for a flush          96.3%
 6 for a full house     5 for a flush          95.2%

A 9 / 6 will generally hit the royal flush once for each 40,000 hands. The 8 / 5 odds once for each 45,000 hands etc – So try and play 9 / 6 machines only.

Play Maximum Coins

If you bet five coins, all winning hands are paid out by a factor of five, except for the royal flush.

This is a bonus amount given as an incentive to play maximum coins. Any player who plays less than maximum coins on video poker slots will contribute to a royal flush that will be won by other players, so play maximum coins to increase your winnings.

Play With a Strategy

In video poker, your odds are improved if you play with a strategy and there are strategies free on the net for all of the major games.
Take Your Time

Take your time, with video poker slot machines there in no hurry and you don't get more money for playing quicker.

The above is a quick guide to the world of video poker machines and the tips above will see ensure you have a good time and the potential to earn big winnings.