Strategies in Video Poker
Alongside slots, video poker is one of the casino's most popular games. Most versions use five-card draw poker as their foundation, but unlike slot machines, they ask the player to make skill-based choices. Those decisions matter: learning sound approaches may sometimes reduce the house edge and, depending on the paytable and play, can potentially put it in the player's favour.
How to Win at Video Poker
Video poker has countless variations, yet one thing links most machines: each is built around standard five-card draw poker.
A typical round begins when the machine deals the player five cards. The player then decides which cards to hold and which to exchange in an attempt to improve the hand. When cards are exchanged, the computer randomly selects new cards to fill those positions. The central idea is to retain the strongest cards available while drawing replacements that could improve the player's chance of winning.
Choosing an appropriate machine is half the battle. Ideally, look for a game with a payout percentage as close to 100% as possible. Finding one can be difficult, although it is not impossible.
Unlike a slot machine, video poker asks players to make choices that affect the result. Some players therefore use structured strategies intended to give their decisions a potential edge.
Effective Video Poker Strategies
Video poker depends on recognising which cards to retain and which to return. Certain approaches are regarded as useful for improving a player's chance of winning, although none removes the game's inherent risk. The strategies below explain these choices in greater detail.
1. Bet Maximum Credits
When playing video poker, the usual recommendation is to bet the maximum credits. According to this guidance, doing so provides the full royal-flush value, generally 800-for-1. A player can stake fewer credits, but the resulting reward is generally only 250-for-1. A royal flush is uncommon, yet the maximum-credit option offers the larger stated payout when one appears.
2. Review the Paytable
A video poker machine lets you inspect its paytable before playing. This table shows information about the game's expected return, so research it carefully when comparing machines. As with all casino games, video poker still has a house edge that must be taken into account.
As an example, an average casino makes about 3% profit on each video poker play. On that basis, the player would see an average return of 97%. It recommends avoiding games returning less than 96%, since other available options may be more favourable.
3. Jacks or Better Strategy
Every poker variant has its own decision rules, and the Jacks or Better strategy is among the best known and easiest to learn. Start by checking for a royal flush, 4 of a kind, or straight flush. If one of these hands is present, keep those cards rather than replacing them and take the applicable winnings.
If none of those hands is available, check for 4 cards to a royal flush. Keep them and draw in pursuit of the royal. Without 4 cards to a royal flush, look for another “made hand,” such as a flush, full house, straight, or 3 of a kind. Keep that hand if present. Otherwise, check for 4 cards to a straight flush and draw towards it when available.
Next, look for a paying hand, including 2 pairs or a pair of jacks or better. If none of the hands above is present, try 3 cards to a royal flush and aim to complete the flush. Continue working through this selection principle until you reach a hand that pays.
4. Aces and Faces Strategy
When a video poker machine offers Aces and Faces as well as Bonus Poker, the guidance here favours Aces and Faces because its return is slightly better. Select a denomination on the machine. At online casinos, the lowest denomination is usually nickel. The recommendation is still to make the max bet, then decide which dealt cards to retain and which to exchange.
In Aces and Faces, hold a full house, straight flush, royal flush, or 4 of a kind. Also retain a straight or a dealt flush, unless the hand contains a four-card royal flush. In that situation, draw in pursuit of the jackpot.
5. Deuces Wild Strategy
Deuces Wild is a popular video poker variation in which the right decisions may provide an edge over the casino. The basic approach is straightforward: keep 4 deuces. If the hand contains 3 deuces, keep them in the hope of completing a royal flush. Keep them with only 2 deuces as well; then the aim is 4 of a kind or better, or potentially a straight or royal flush.
With only 1 deuce in the hand, work down the list until you find a suitable holding. The order begins with 4 of a kind or better, followed by 4 to a royal flush, 4 to a straight flush, full house, straight, flush, 3 of a kind, or 3 to a royal flush.
Using Video Poker Strategies
Using video poker strategies means considering the hand in front of you and the possible results of every hold decision. Learning the different approaches can take time, but the effort may be worthwhile for players who enjoy the game and want to improve their odds. No strategy guarantees a win or removes the house edge.
