Video poker first made its entry in the casinos during the 1970s; today it’s one of the most popular forms of gambling both online and down the Vegas strip. For the player who like a game of skill, a low house edge, the possibility of large wins, and the anonymity of playing alone there is nothing else that can compare to video poker. In addition, you can also switch your bet from $0.25 to $5 a game without changing to another machine!
There are many variations of the game each with its own particular strategy but in general, the rules of video poker are simple; you play with 1 to 5 coins, the machine give you five cards, you choose which to hold and which to discard, the machine replaces your discards and pays you off according to the value of your hand.
A popular game amongst gamblers, this well-liked game combines elements of both slots and poker and gives the player a definite opportunity to win. Unlike roulette or slots that are dependant almost purely on ‘luck’, Video Poker is an effective blend of both luck and strategy. If you learn to use the best strategy and are blessed with luck along with it, there is nothing to stop you from doing very well. With so many different games, we could have written enough on the various strategies to fit a phone book. However, instead of boring you we’ll give you the concise version:
* New video poker players should master ‘Jacks or Better’ first. This variation has the easiest strategy to understand.
* 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 lucrative hands than an ace would.
* Always bet the maximum amount of coins on a progressive machine to get the bonus for royal flushes.
* If you are a novice player, play on the lowest denomination machine until your level of expertise rises.
* Never keep a single high card such as J, Q, K or A that has the potential to turn into a winning pair with any pair or three of a kind. By holding onto these, the player reduces his return by 5%.
* Take your time, especially if you’re playing multi-hand Video Poker. You will not hit on a better hand or have better results if you rush through your games. All rushing does is lead to reckless play and more losses. Instead you will allow more bang for your buck and ensure better play, therefore better results.
Finally, don’t forget to play at casinos that have good reputations, payment histories and find casinos that provide bonuses for video poker play. Previous Online Gambling Tips.