Video Poker
Find out why Video Poker is taking the online gaming world by storm. Unlike slots, there is a skill level involved and the house edge is relatively low. With Video Poker you can stand to win big if you play your cards right and if you know the basics of Poker, you can start to play right away. Below we explore the vast world of Video Poker including its most played variations, the basics of how to play such as placing a bet and doubling up. Additionally, we have compiled a comprehensive Video Poker glossary as an easy to use reference guide for those who are getting to know the game. As an extra resource, we also review a list of the best online casinos where you can put your Video Poker knowledge and skills to the test. For the A-Z on Video Poker, read on.
Video Poker – A Short but Successful Rise
Video Poker appeared on the casino floor in the 70’s and although it was at first slow to gain momentum, players soon began to understand and embrace the benefits of a game that combines skill, a relatively low house edge, the possibility of large wins and comparative player anonymity. Video Poker games are simple, accessible and the advent of online gaming has secured the position of video poker at both land and online casinos.
The success of online video poker arguably stems from the fact that the player has a great deal of control. Punters can select their game of choice, the amount to wager, and have a brilliant edge against the house when playing strategically.
The traditional game of Poker is the foundation of video poker and accordingly, five card draw card values also apply when determining the value of hand in video poker games. Video Poker machines closely resemble slot machines and are found on consoles the approximate size of a slot machine in land based casinos.
Although like in appearance, Video Poker machines should not be confused or compared with slots. Video Poker requires skill and strategy to yield winnings and success, implemented through thorough knowledge of probabilities and payout tables, whereas success at slots is entirely down to chance.
Extremely popular and renown for huge jackpot payouts, video poker machines are accountable for a considerable portion of land and online casino revenue.
Online Video Poker - Objectives and the How To’s of Basic Play
Online video Poker Play starts with a wager, i.e. a bet of 1 to 5 virtual coins or a ‘Max Bet’ and the virtual dealer in turn deals 5 cards to the player and displays them face-up on the screen. The player then chooses which cards to hold by clicking the corresponding hold buttons positioned on the console and then pressing a ‘Deal’ button to draw cards. The player is then given an opportunity to keep or discard one or more of the cards in exchange for a new card drawn from the same virtual deck.
After the draw, the machine evaluates the hand and executes a payout, should the hand match one of the winning hands in the posted pay schedule. Payout schedules readily appear on many online video poker consoles screens above the cards and winning hands flash on payouts tables to alert and notify the player of the payout amount issued to the corresponding hand.
Typically, video poker machine payouts start with a minimum hand of a pair of jacks. Other payout factors include how rare the hand is and what sort of return the casino chooses to offer. Some machines offer progressive jackpots for the royal flush and other rare hands, thereby enticing players to play more and to play more frequently.
Poker Hands and Card Values
Hand Name | Description |
---|---|
Royal Flush | The ten, jack, queen, king and ace of the same suit. In video poker, this hand has by far the highest payout, especially if the maximum number of credits is wagered. |
Straight Flush | A straight flush is comprised of any five cards of the same suit in sequence. E.g. the seven, eight, nine, ten, and jack of diamonds. A straight flush is the second most lucrative hand in video poker. |
Four of a Kind | Four cards of the same rank. E.g. four aces. |
Full House | Three cards of one rank and two of another, such as 3 fives and 2 queens. |
Straight | Any five cards in sequence but not of the same suit. |
Flush | Any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence. For example, the 2, 5, 8, 9 and the king of spades. |
Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same rank, such as three jacks. |
Two Pair | Two cards of one rank and two cards of a different rank. For example, 2 kings and 2 sixes. The fifth (unrelated) card is referred to as the ‘Kicker’. |
One Pair | Two cards of the same rank (value) and three unrelated cards. |
High pairs | Pairs which have a payoff value, such as a pair of jacks, queens, kings or aces in a game of Jacks or Better. Low pairs have no payout value by themselves. |
Five of a Kind | A special hand possible in video poker games which use wild cards, such as ‘Deuces Wild’. Five of a Kind is five cards of the same rank, made possible by the presence of one or more of the designated wild cards. |
Popular Variations of Video Poker – Guide to Differences, Exceptions and Pay Outs
The number of variations of video poker is definitely on the rise. Wild cards have been introduced, some games feature multiple decks, bonuses for four of a suit kind are common, and payoff tables may vary from one machine to another. Many Video poker variations are named after the games themselves - ‘Jacks or Better’ for example pays out if the player is dealt a pair of jacks or better. Below we discuss a list of video poker variations popular to both land and online gaming environments:
Full pay games
This term will appears in our discussion of variations, payouts and game strategy particular to each, therefore an explanation of full pay games is constructive before variations are listed.
Full pay video poker machines are games which offer the typical maximum payback percentage for that particular game type. Payback percentage conveys the long-term expected value of the player's wager as a percentage. A payback percentage of 99 percent, for example, designate that for each $100 wagered, in the long run, the player can expect to lose $1. Payback percentages on full-pay games are often close to or even in excess of 100%, assuming error-free perfect strategic play is followed.
Full-pay Jacks or Better, for instance, offers a payback percentage of 99.54% when played faultlessly and according to strategy. It must be remembered that winning the jackpot (royal flush) is also part of the long run plan for every variant. It is therefore of importance to note that players should not play a full pay video poker game and expect to win at every hand. Over the course of hundreds of hands, payback is less than 100%, meaning the player will experience some losses.
Casinos often place full pay machines beside other machines with pay schedules that offer less attractive payback percentages, leaving the guesswork of choosing the machine to the player.
Most full pay machines are configured with a pay schedule that is only full pay when the maximum number of credits is bet.
Jacks or Better
This particular variation is one of the highest profile forms of online video poker and thought to be the original as other variations have evolved there from. As the name suggests, the game pays out on a pair of jacks or better. Full pay Jacks or Better is also known as 9/6 Jacks or Better - the 9 refers to the payout for a full house and the 6 refers to the payout for a flush. Full pay Jacks or Better has a theoretical return of 99.5% when played with perfect strategy.
Tens or Better
The Tens or Better video poker variation pays out on one pair of tens or better, rather than a pair of Jacks or better. Because it payouts more often as opposed to a Jacks or Better game, payout amounts for all hands tend to be slightly lower.
Deuces Wild
A particularly popular variation, here the deuces count as wild card, meaning they can be used to substitute any other card to make a winning hand or to improve on an existing winning hand.
Bonus Poker
A video poker game variation based on Jacks or Better, which offers a higher payout percentage for four of a kind. The player is dealt five cards and can then choose which cards to keep or discard. New cards are dealt accordingly. The final hand must consist of a pair of Jacks or higher in order to win.
Double Bonus
Double bonus video poker variations are very similar to Jacks or Better games, however they offer bonus payouts for four of a kind of aces.
The game has multiple versions featuring different bonus payouts based on the four of a kind ranking.7
Double Double Bonus
Double Double Bonus video poker is a variation of Jacks or Better which offers bonus payoffs for different four of a kinds.
Double-Up Option
Increasingly, all video poker games including online video poker games and variations have started to feature a ‘Double-Up’ feature as an option on all wins. This is an additional bet offered on all payouts which involves five cards being dealt from the virtual deck face down. The house turn or draws the first card and the player must then choose from one of the remaining 4 cards. Should the player draw a card of higher value than that of the house, a payout of 1:1 ensues on the wager. After an initial ‘Double-Up’ bet win, the option is offered again and can continue until the player either declines to double up again or loses the bet. At this point, the game reverts to normal play.
Video Poker players should be aware that house edge depends on whether ties are classified house wins or result in a push. Should a tie result in a push, the game is fair with an expected value of 100%. Should ties be deemed house wins, the Double Up bet then has a house edge of 5.8%.
Placing or not placing the ‘Double-Up’ bet can be considered strategy in itself for all video poker games. Should the player be playing on a positive expectation game, the fair double up game, in theory reduces the overall expected return. Should the player be playing with a negative expectation of less than 100%, the ‘Double-Up’ bet could then in theory actually increase the overall expected return.
If played, however, the ‘Double-Up’ bet is by nature inherently risky as it is an additional wager, which can in turn be extended should the initial ‘Double-Up’ bet be successful. The result of placing the actual wager may have unstable effect the player’s bankroll.
Video Poker Strategy – What to Keep and What to Throw Away
The critical element of Video Poker Strategy applicable to all variations and games is simply to know which cards to hold on to and which to throw away. Payout tables are vital here and determine which decisions should be employed for each hand. There are 32 ways to play each hand but usually only one most advantageous strategy for each hand.
The most typical tactic is to familiarise oneself with all possible hand combinations from established strategy lists and to respond accordingly for that particular hand. Below is an example of one such strategy card/table for the Jacks or Better variation.
Hand Dealt | Discard |
---|---|
Royal flush | 0 |
Straight flush | 0 |
4 of a kind | 1 |
4-card royal | 1 |
Full house | 0 |
Flush | 0 |
3 of a kind | 2 |
Straight | 0 |
4-card straight flush | 1 |
Two pair | 1 |
Pair of jacks or better (high pair) | 3 |
3-card royal | 2 |
4-card flush | 1 |
10-J-Q-K: unsuited | 1 |
Pair of 10s or less (low pair) | 3 |
9-10-J-Q: unsuited | 1 |
8-9-10-J: unsuited | 1 |
9-J-Q suited | 2 |
9-10-J suited | 2 |
Four-card straight, open, no high cards | 1 |
Three-card straight flush, two gaps, two high cards | 2 |
J-Q-K-A: unsuited | 1 |
2-card royal | 3 |
Four-card straight, one gap, three high cards | 1 |
Three-card straight flush, two gaps, one high card | 2 |
Three-card straight flush, one gap, no high cards | 2 |
J-Q-K: unsuited | 2 |
Two high cards: unsuited (when you have three don't keep the ace) | 3 |
Two-card royal flush with 10 and no ace | 3 |
One high card | 4 |
Nothing (draw five cards) | 5 |
Basic Strategies for all Video Poker Games:
Basic guidelines applicable to all online video poker variations and part of any player’s practical approach:
- Only play full pay games such as Jacks or Better where return percentages are higher.
- Ensure you have sufficient bankroll to endure the highs and lows of game play. Keep in mind that losses are to be expected and longevity yields higher payouts in the form of eventual jackpots.
- Never retain a ‘Kicker’ - The highest unmatched card in a hand or attempt to bluff. These tactics are reserved for traditional poker and should never be applied to video poker games.
- If possible, find a progressive video poker game with a substantial jackpot and play correctly adhering to tried and tested strategy to gain every possible edge.
Video Poker Terminology
Ace-High
A hand consisting of an ace without a pair or better.
Aces Full
A full house with 3 aces and any pair.
Bankroll
The amount of money you have available to bet. Never play with a bigger bankroll than you can afford to lose!
Boat
Slang for a full house.
Bullet
Another term for an ace.
Bust
A totally worthless hand that didn't improve.
Court Card
a king, queen or jack
Cowboy
Another term for a king
Credits
in video poker, a credit is equal to a virtual coin. If you are playing a dollar game, each credit is worth a dollar, in a quarter game each credit is worth a quarter. To go for the maximum payout, you need to bet the maximum allowed number of credits per hand.
Deuce
a two.
Draw Poker
a poker game where you are dealt five cards, then may discard one or more of them to receive new cards in their place. Nearly all video poker games are varieties of draw poker
Face Card
a king, queen or jack.
Fill Up
build a full house.
Fishhooks
Another term for jacks.
Flat Top
A video poker machine with a set jackpot amount.
Flush
Any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence. For example, the 2, 5, 8, 9 and king of spades.
Four-Flush
four cards of the same suit, a fifth of the same suit will complete a flush.
Four Of A Kind
Four cards of the same rank (value), such as four aces.
Full House
Three cards of one value and two of another, such as 3 fives and 2 queens.
Full Pay Game
see Full Pay Machine.
Full Pay Machine
in video poker, a machine with the highest payback table. Sometimes known as a "9/6" machine because a Full Pay Machine in Jacks or Better video poker pays 9 credits for a full house and 6 credits for a flush.
Garbage Hand
worthless hand where none of the cards are worth holding.
Hand
the five cards you have.
High Card
the card in a hand with the greatest value.
High Pair
in Jacks or Better Video Poker, any pair that will payoff, i.e. a pair of jacks, queens, kings or aces.
House
the casino.
Inside Straight
four cards of a straight, missing an inside card. For example, a 3, 4, 6, and 7. A 5 is required to complete the straight.
Jacks Or Better
popular variety of video poker where a player must have at least a pair of jacks or higher to win the hand.
Joker
a special fifty-third card in a deck, used as a wild card (see Wild Card).
Kicker
The highest unmatched card in a hand.
Knave
another term for a jack.
Low Pay Machine
in video poker, a machine that doesn't offer the maximum payout. For example, an "8/5" machine (a machine that pays 8 credits for a full house and 5 for a flush), as opposed to a Full Pay "9/6" machine. Some machines have payouts as low as 6/5.
Odds
the probability of winning versus the probability of not winning.
one-gap
see Inside Straight.
Outside Straight
4 cards of consecutive values that will become a straight by drawing a card at either end of the sequence. For example, a 7, 8, 9, 10 would become a straight by drawing either a 6 or a jack.
Paint Card
a king, queen or jack.
Pair
two cards of the same rank (value).
Partial Pay Machine
see Low Pay Machine.
Pat Hand
a hand good enough that you hold all 5 cards as dealt and discard none.
Pay Table
see Payoff Schedule.
Payoff Schedule
on a Video Poker machine, a list or chart showing the winning combinations for that machine and the payback for each.
Picture Cards
king, queen and jack.
Pocket Rockets
A pair of aces.
Power Poker
a variety of video poker where you play several hands at once.
Progressive Video Poker
A variety of video poker with a constantly accumulating jackpot, paid out only for a specific combination of cards.
Rainbow
Three or four cards of different suits.
Rank
The value of a card (ten, king, etc.).
Royal Flush
a ten, jack, queen, king, and ace, all of the same suit. This is the highest ranking hand in video poker. Payouts for the Royal Flush are often higher if you play the maximum number of credits that hand.
Run
Another name for a straight.
Set
Another term for three of a kind.
Straight
Any five cards in sequence but not of the same suit.
Straight Flush
a straight flush is comprised of any five cards of the same suit in sequence with no gaps. For example, the seven, eight, nine, ten, and jack of diamonds. A straight flush is the second most lucrative hand in video poker.
Suited
cards of the same suit.
Three Flush
three cards of the same suit.
Three Of A Kind
three cards of the same rank, such as three jacks.
Trey
a three.
Two Flush
two cards of the same suit.
Two Pair
Two cards of one rank and two cards of a different rank and a "kicker". For example, 2 kings, 2 sixes and a jack.
Wild Card
a card that can substitute for any other card in the deck. Having a wild card increases the player's possibilities of forming a winning hand. In the popular Deuces Wild variety of video poker, all deuces (twos) are wild.
Online Video Poker – Tried and Tested Places to Play
EuroGrand Casino
Punters can expect nothing but the best when playing online video poker games at EuroGrand. The site has a stellar reputation for being a quality online gaming platform, combining high quality graphics with smooth reliable software and a 24/7 approach to customer service.
In the video poker department, players can sit down to an exceptional selection of games encompassing 13 variations, two of which are progressive and known for boasting beefed up jackpots - Aces and Faces, Deuces Wild, Jacks or Better, 10’s or Better and Joker Poker to name just a few.
A wealth of game selection in the language of your choice - Russian, French, Greek, Turkish, Spanish, Korean, Danish, Chinese, Arabic and German - it all adds to the ease and appeal of playing at EuroGrand.
32Vegas
32Vegas is fun, fresh and unintimidating - the prefect place for a new punter to put some basic video poker strategy to the test.
Graphics are bold, clear and attractive and as such, Video Poker novices and aficionados congregate at this site. All major video poker variations are on offer, including Aces and Faces, Jacks or Better and classic or four line Deuces Wild, all of which host the ‘Double-Up’ option.
In addition to quality graphics and responsible gaming measures, 32Vegas have really put their money where their mouth is concerning customer service. They invest in taking care of their players and knowing their stuff. The site is easy to navigate and user friendly, making info and advice readily accessible. Support is friendly and efficient and gives 32Vegas an edge as a top online video poker destination.
Prestige Casino
Not only is Prestige Casino a stylish and elegant place to play, this online gaming platform is justifiably on a pedestal for offering punters all the glam and sophistication of a high class casino in a well established and reliable online package.
All video poker machine bases are covered – 13 variations in total with two progressive and lavish jackpots on offer which reach well into the millions. Consoles are clear, classy and truly a pleasure to play.
Prestige software is available in a host of languages and is stable, secure and reliable, allowing for multi window functionality. Help guides are on offer for each video poker game, ensuring new players have instant assistance at all times – Prestige and practicality combined.