Video Poker Tips
Video poker is a game of skill as well as luck. Although there is a certain amount of risk involved, as there is in playing table poker, a player’s skill can make all the difference between winning and losing. So here are some tips and strategies on how to get the most out of your game when playing Video Poker.
- For novice players, you should place your bet on the lowest denomination machine until you gain enough experience and knowledge so that your level of expertise increases.
- Because you are playing against a machine, there is no time limit, so take your time to study every hand to ensure you make the right decision.
- Some players don't realize the ace is not the most important card in the deck, but the Jack is. Holding the Jack over the ace gives you more opportunities of making more profitable hands than an ace would.
- It is not recommended to draw to an inside straight (where you have four cards and need one in the middle to fill a straight). But if you have an open-ended straight (you have four consecutive cards and only need one at either end to fill a straight) then take a shot at making the straight.
- Always keep any pair as opposed to holding a high card (10 through Ace). Many players might discard a pair of two's and keep one or more high cards, but a better strategy would be to try for three of a kind as you have better odds.
- Don't be afraid to draw five cards if you have a bad hand (one that doesn't have a least one high card).
- Always hold paying hands, unless the hand has the potential of becoming a Royal Flush. As this is the highest paying hand at video poker, all smaller earnings should be risked if at least four cards are lined up to form a Royal Flush.
- Don’t risk your winnings in the High Card Showdown Bonus. Playing the high card showdown is a perilous practice as it is based strictly on luck. The chance of losing is much higher than doubling your winnings, so players who are experiencing high losses should not be tempted for a possible quick win!
Quick tips
- Never draw 5 cards if you have a Jack or better.
- Never break a straight to draw to a flush.
- Never hold a kicker (a high value card to be used along with a pair) when holding a pair. Holding a kicker to any pair reduces your return by 5%.
- Never draw 4 cards if you can draw 3 to a royal flush.
- Never break a flush even if you can draw one to a straight flush BUT
- Always break a flush to draw to a Royal Flush.
- Make sure you understand the pay table for each game you play.
- It’s a good idea to limit yourself to playing just a few variations of video poker, in order to get to know the games thoroughly. Two of the most popular are Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild.
The 200 Coin strategy
This is a popular strategy whereby players gamble in 200 coin sessions in order to maximize the chances of hitting a high paying hand, such as a Straight Flush or Royal Flush. The idea behind the strategy is to maximize the playing time, and consequently the number of hands, thus a player is more likely to hit a Royal Flush, which according to statistical odds, should hit once every 40,000 hands!
This strategy does however require a larger bankroll, especially if you are playing in a larger coin size. For example, if you are wagering $1 at a time, you will need a $200 bankroll.
However, every time a player wins a hand, on the next hand he or she should bet a single coin plus the winnings from the previous hand. If the hand wins again, the player should keep betting in the same manner. Once a multiple coin wager loses, the player should default back to a single coin per wager, unless of course another win takes place.
The following tips and strategies are useful at individual Video Poker machines
Jacks or Better
When playing Jacks or Better, it is advisable to always hold the following cards, but discarding all others:
- A potential straight flush, meaning there is at least three cards of the same suit not separated by more than five card values from high to low card.
- A potential royal flush, meaning there is at least three individual face cards 10 or Ace of the same suit.
- A potential flush, meaning there are at least four cards of the same suit.
- All low pairs (10 and below) - in hopes of hitting a three of a kind.
- A potential straight, meaning there are at least four consecutive cards not separated by more than five card values from high to low card.
- All high cards (10 through Ace) of the same suit, or any two high cards of dissimilar suit, or any lone high card.
- Jack, Queen and/or King of dissimilar suits as well as a suited 10 with a Jack, Queen or King.
Deuces Wild
Always hold all deuces and hold the following hands, discarding all others:
- A four card potential royal flush, even if the hand is already a smaller win, such as a high pair.
- A three card potential royal flush, meaning there are no other inherent winning hands and at least three cards (10 through Ace) of the same suit.
- A potential straight flush, meaning there is at least three cards of the same suit not separated by more than five card values from high to low card.
- A potential flush, meaning there are at least four cards of the same suit.
- A potential straight, meaning there are at least four consecutive cards not separated by more than five card values from high to low card.
- Any Pair as well as any two suited cards ranging from 10 through King.
Jokers Wild (Kings or Better)
Always hold all Jokers and hold the following hands if the Joker is in the hand:
- A four card potential royal flush, even if the hand is already a smaller win, such as a high pair.
- A three card potential royal flush
- All three of a kinds
- A potential high straight flush that includes four consecutive cards of the same suit with at least a King or an Ace.
- A potential three-card straight flush, meaning three cards of the same suit are not separated by more than five card values from high to low card.
- Any High Pair ( King or Ace)
- A potential flush, meaning there are at least four cards of the same suit (excluding Kings and Aces)
- A potential straight, meaning there are at least four consecutive cards not separated by more than five card values from high to low card.
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