Video poker is an exciting poker-type game that is played on a slots-like machine. It is a more fast-paced game than table poker and it is played against the machine; not against other players. There are many different variations of video poker and some online casinos offer a wide range of these games. It is important to learn the specific rules of how to play video poker for the variation you are playing as your video poker strategy will be affected by them.
How to Play Video Poker and Basic Strategies
The actions you take in a game of video poker will affect the outcome of the game. For this reason, video poker strategy can be used to reduce the house edge and improve your chances of winning. The aim of video poker is to achieve the best five card poker hand possible.
In general, hands rank, from highest to lowest, as follows: royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, pair. Some variations of the game may include wild cards.
Others will not pay out for any pair, but only, for example, for a pair of Jacks or better. It is important to understand the rules of the variation you are playing so you can hold or discard the relevant cards.
It is also important to learn basic strategy which dictates which cards to hold that will help you improve your hand. These tips include always holding cards that make up part of a royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, three of a kind or two pair. Strategy will also dictate when to break a paying combination in the hopes of drawing a better paying hand and when to hold onto the combination you currently have.
Basic Video Poker Rules
To begin a game of video poker you will need to choose a machine. Make sure to choose a machine playing a variation of the game you are familiar with. Also make sure that the machine is appropriate for your bankroll. Then, place your bet and click on deal. You will be dealt five playing cards face up. Choose which, if any of the cards you want to hold and discard the rest. The discarded cards will be replaced with new cards to form a new five card poker hand. This is the hand that will be ranked and you will be paid out for any winnings according to the paytable on the screen. Many online casinos offer multi-hand versions of the game and you can find 4, 10, 25, 50 or even 100 hand games. In these games, you will be dealt multiple hands and the cards you choose to hold will be held across all the hands. New cards will then be dealt to all the hands and all the hands will be ranked and paid out.
