Online Video Poker Games
Video poker combines the speed and privacy of slot
machines with some of the strategy decisions of traditional
poker. You probably already know that slot machine gambling
offers lousy odds and no strategy opportunities, but you might
not know that many video poker machines offer excellent payouts
and the chance for a smart gambler to raise the odds of winning.
That's why wagers at online video poker games have become
so popular in the past 20 years, as more books and Internet
sites have pointed out the good odds.
If you've heard a little bit about playing video poker, but you only have a small understanding of the game itself, this website is going to give you information on video poker rules, tips, and strategies. You'll be able to read about games like Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild, while you can study the basics of the game by study the terms of the game in our video poker glossary. New video poker players can learn about live casino gaming and opportunities to play video poker online. This latter form of gaming lets you play video poker free or manage a bankroll in a real gambling situation.
Video Poker Basics
The basic idea behind most video poker machines is you're given a 5-card hand, much like you would in Five Card Draw. Just like in 5-card draw, you have the option to keep the cards you were dealt or ask for a redraw. After this second set of cards, you must build a winning hand based on the payout rules of the machine you're playing. This is where electronic video poker diverges from live poker at a table full of other real players.
In Jacks or Better, you don't try to build a hand better than other players in the network. You don't even have to build a hand better than a virtual dealer, like you would in blackjack. To win money in Jacks or Better video poker, you'll have to build a hand of 2 Jacks or a hand that would beat a pair of Jacks in a regular game of poker. Of course, a pair of Jacks isn't going to pay off a whole lot, so you want to build hands better than a simple pair--a whole lot better. That's where strategy comes into video poker gaming, because you not only have to know which hands are better than others, but you also have to know when you should stop trying to build small hands and take a shot at a less likely, higher paying hand.
Video Poker Rules
This little description of electronic video poker should give you an idea for the basic rules of the game. If you've ever played poker around the kitchen table, you should have a pretty good idea of what the poker hands are. Since hand sizes and the hierarchy of cards are the major part of the rules of video poker, learning to play is more like re-learning to ride a bicycle than learning a whole game. A look at a description of the poker hands, the video poker pay table, a few tips on how to work the machine, and a quick tutorial on how to play is all you need to know.
Video Poker Online
Internet video poker players also have an advantage over standard online poker and blackjack players: online video poker is exactly the same as the live casino version. Because video poker is a solitary game in a brick-and-mortar casino, it's not as if you're missing out on the camaraderie, rivalry, or personal interaction that you would around the table at a live game of Texas Hold'em. That means you can stay in the privacy of your own home, grab a snack from the fridge, and play video poker with no disruption of your daily schedule for a drive out to the casino. You won't have to mess with cigarette smoke or idle conversation from the gambler down the aisle, while you won't have to deal with traffic and high gas prices to get to the casino in the first place.
Video Poker Free
Online video poker has one other big advantage over live gambling. Name any online video poker casino and you're almost certain to be able to play free versions of the game, to promote their games, teach potential new players who to use the gaming software, and sometimes to meet legal requirements of being a free online casino or "not for money" gambling site. The free online video poker games act as a good way to learn video poker, though people who enjoy online games can play the free video poker machines like they would any other free Internet video game. Beware that some free online casino games are rigged to make the game seem easier to players, in hopes they decide that gambling is easy and start putting real money on the line. Many virtual video poker machines that let you play at no charge are meant for instruction and enjoyment, not to drive customers to the paid version of the casino. Just know that you might not be as good as the free game makes you think.
How to Play Video Poker
Playing online is one way to play video poker, but don't let me discourage you from playing in a live casino environment. Every brick-and-mortar and web casino with video poker is going to have its different games, payout rates, and progressive jackpots. You should shop around and see what multiple sites and live gaming establishments have to offer. I'd suggest you play Deuces Wild, Jacks or Better, and even less games played less often, such as Joker Wild video poker, Bonus Video Poker, and All American video poker.
So read through this site and learn about playing video poker. That way, the next time you walk past slots row in the casino and you notice those gaming machines are actually video poker games, you can stop and play a few hands. You may have been walking past the best paying game in the casino all these years.