Video poker is a poker type game where the strategy that you employ can improve your odds in the game and reduce the house edge. It is a game of skill and understanding the rules of the variation you choose to play, as well as understanding the odds and house edge for the game will help you improve your outcome.
Understanding Video Poker Odds
Within a specific game of video poker, different machines offer different odds. If you choose your machine wisely, you can improve your outcome in the game by improving your odds. In the popular game of Jacks or Better you may find 9/6, 8/5 or 7/5 machines. A 9/6 machine means that the game will pay out 9 coins for a full house and 6 coins for a flush. This can be compared to a 7/5 machine that will only pay out 7 coins for a full house and 5 for a flush. Simply understanding how the machines pay out will give you a significant advantage when you play.
Understanding the House Edge on Specific Hands
Specific hands in video poker offer different house edges. By understanding the odds of achieving a hand and their house edge, you will be able to make more educated decisions on which hands to aim for. This will help you choose which cards to discard and which to hold.
The video poker odds of being dealt a specific original hand look as follows:
- Royal Flush 1 in 665,000
- Straight Flush 1 in 73,000
- Four of a Kind 1 in 4,200
- Full House 1 in 700
- Flush 1 in 500
- Straight 1 in 250
- Three of a Kind 1 in 50
- Two Pair 1 in 21
- High Pair 1 in 8
- Low Pair 1 in 3
- No Pair 1 in 2
The payout table for the different variations of the game differs. It is important to familiarize yourself with the payout table for the game you are playing and combine that knowledge with the understanding of these odds above as this will help you improve your strategy in the game and increase your chances of winning.
House Edge in the Games
Choosing a game according to house edge is just as important. For example, when playing full pay, optimal strategy, Jacks or Better has a house edge of 0.46%, while full pay, optimal strategy for Deuces Wild has a house edge of -0.75% (in other words, a player advantage).
