Video poker is a simplified version of poker played on the Internet, using a five-card draw. It is an easy game, but one of chance as well as strategy! When playing against an algorithm, it's similar to online slots. Players place their bets, and the cards are shuffled automatically. The objective is to create the highest possible poker hand of five cards according to the paytable. Players can hold certain cards and return others, trying to improve their hand—so much control and strategy are built into the game! If a new player, safe video poker sites that provide honest play and guaranteed returns should be a requirement. Let's talk about some tips and strategies to help you master video poker in Bolivia.
1. Check the Paytable and Make Your Bet
The first thing to do is check the paytable, which contains all possible poker hands and their corresponding payouts. In most video poker games, the paytable is displayed on the screen itself. Bets are made by clicking the "Bet" button. Certain video poker games also require you to select the number of coins you wish to bet, similar to online slots. This is typically accomplished by clicking on the paytable, and the number of coins increased raises the bet.
Although you can bet 1–4 coins per hand, you can only receive the maximum payoffs in video poker by betting five coins. For example, in Jacks or Better, the player can increase his return from 1,000 coins for a 4-coin bet to 4,000 coins for a 5-coin bet for a royal flush. The coins wager also affect the house edge: a 5-coin bet lowers the house advantage significantly. This is not true for all games; some video poker games, like Jacks or Better Jackpot, have no modifications to the number of coins bet.
2. Learn the House Edge
The house edge in video poker is usually expressed as the Return to Player (RTP) percentage. RTP is the ratio of money wagered that the game will pay back to players in the long term. For instance, if a casino game has an RTP of 99%, then there is a 1% house edge and the players can expect to receive 99 euros out of every 100 euros they bet on average. The higher the RTP, the better it is for the player. Since video poker is a game of strategy, the house edge can be reduced and in some games, even reversed in the player's favor!
3. Consider the Odds
Then consider what are the odds of different hands to be made in video poker. As an example, suppose you have a Jack and two spades at a Jacks or Better machine. Holding onto the Jack and discarding the other four cards makes you worse off for a third Jack compared to taking in three more spades for a flush. Although the win for a pair of Jacks is smaller, tactically it is more advantageous to hold on to the Jack and attempt a small win. But if you have four spades, it is more advantageous to release the Jack and attempt a flush.
With every decision that you're making—to hold on or to release—always compute the chances of having a higher hand. Evaluate the best possible combinations and how near your initial cards are to forming them. High-value hands are not always the best choice because probabilities of drawing a straight or higher are almost always under 2%. It is also useful to evaluate the initial value of your hand in terms of how many successful combinations it can form and their corresponding rewards. Luckily, the majority of video poker paytables have the odds (in percentage) of winning each combination with the given cards.
4. Take Automatic Wins
Video poker is full of strategy, and each decision you make has a direct impact on the house edge and, consequently, the payout. If you are a beginner in video poker or even poker in general, one good tip is to take automatic wins. If your initial hand is a pair of Queens, be sure to hold them since the payout is certain, albeit small. A small win is always better than none.
5. Refrain from Doubling Up
Certain video poker games allow the doubling of winnings in an added game. It operates on a similar basis to the Card Gamble on slots online: there is an opportunity to click on "Double" for the ability to double wins on any hand that is won. At the beginning of the gamble, one face-down and four face-up cards are dealt, forming a five-card hand. The player must pick one of the cards that is face-down. If the card drawn is greater in value than the hidden card, then the player doubles his winnings. There is no means of identifying the values of the hidden cards because a random set for each is set. This task can be operated continually until such a time that either the player gets it right or otherwise. When this is a matter of incorrect guessing, then winnings (including initial winnings) will be forfeited.
6. Learn the Rules
Video poker games look very much alike when it comes to gameplay, but rules, rewards, and combinations can vary quite considerably. For example, in Double Double Bonus Poker, some four-of-a-kind combinations have doubled payouts. Moreover, the game offers a bonus reward for four Aces, Deuces, Threes, and Fours when the fifth card (the kicker) is the same low card (Ace, Two, Three, or Four).
You can also discover Wild cards, which are substitutes for any other card, in Deuces Wild and Bonus Deuces Wild Poker. While this is a player-friendly feature, the lowest winning hand is a three-of-a-kind, compared to Jacks or Better and two pairs in most video poker games. Regardless of what game you choose, always check the rules first!
7. Manage Your Bankroll
Managing your bankroll is an integral part of playing online poker. Poker is a game that's easy to play but hard to master, so keep a close eye on your bets.
- Set aside a dedicated budget and treat video poker as a form of entertainment.
- Don't wager more than you can afford to lose.
- Don't believe profits. No matter how good the RTP may look, remember that this is an average figure calculated over a thousand hands. Anything can happen in the short term—there will be losses.
- If possible, start with demo mode play. Many video poker games offer a free mode with a simulated bankroll. You may need to register and activate your account, but demo play is a great way to learn a new game without spending money.
8. Play Responsibly
Finally, last but not least, play responsibly. Always play within your limits, watch your time spent at the machines, and never attempt to chase your losses. Video poker is a game of strategy, but chance is its most crucial factor. Like with every type of gambling, there's no foolproof method of winning, and no guarantee that you will win more than you lose.
Internet gambling is entertainment. If you lose the excitement of video poker play, use our Responsible Gaming tools to set limits on deposits, bets, losses, and session time.