Video Poker Strategy: Simple How to Play Guide for Winning

Many people enjoy playing Video Poker because it offers them a chance to win money. While the odds of winning are not great, they are still better than most games in the casino. In order to increase your chances of winning, it is important to use strategies when playing video poker. Chances of winning video poker can be increased by following the right video poker strategy or a guide.

Importance of Strategies for Video Poker

Video poker is one of the most popular casino games. There are many different ways to win at video poker, but the most important thing is to have a good strategy. Without a good strategy, you will likely lose money in the long run. Video poker strategy plays a very important role in increasing your winning chances, in addition to giving you more fun in playing video poker games. It is seen that players who have been using basic strategy do not win much, and hence many times, they lose interest in playing this game. By using advanced strategies, you can give yourself more chances to win the game and also provide more fun than ever before.

How to Win at Video Poker

The best way to improve your chances of winning is to learn how to play the game and to practice your skills. There are also a number of strategies that you can use to increase your chances of winning. It is very important that you understand that video poker strategy is based on basic moves. The basic strategy suggests making maximum use of each card, and by doing so, you will boost the chances of winning the game. You can increase your win by increasing the number of card combinations available for winning a game and also by increasing the size of any particular winning combination.

Tips for Video Poker Strategy

A strategy works even better when you know how to implement it correctly. Blindly following said moves will not get you the desired results. You need to be creative about video poker strategies. Here are a few tips that you need to follow for the best results with video poker strategies:

  • Use max bet. Using the max bet option will help you to unlock the true potential of the game. Imagine if you win the prize, you will enjoy a massive amount. This simple tip can help you to win big with video poker.
  • Prefer low pairs. You can use low pairs for a lower value of the payout. This will help you to enjoy the best video poker strategy for yourself.
  • Do not draw more cards. Video poker strategy suggests that you should keep hands that are already strong and not indulge in drawing extra cards. More cards will make you lose, so it is better to play tight.
  • Use the wild card for a high-value hand. Using the wildcard for high-value hands will help you to win big prizes. This is one of the best video poker strategies which can be applied to these machines to win a big amount of money.

Rules to Play Video Poker Like a Pro

Playing any poker game may seem challenging in the beginning, but you will master the gameplay after some time. It is better to follow the moves that can help you to maximise the chances of your win. The following moves in video poker can help you to play like a professional player:

  • Always keep a maximum of three poker hands in your memory.
  • Always push all cards to the payoff window with the same hold.
  • Avoid drawing more cards when you are in a winning hand.
  • Never throw away a winning hand when you are holding only one card.
  • Play according to the paytable to get maximum rewards from your video poker game.
  • Never substitute hands, and do not discard any hand that you have won because of an immediate winning card or for an even higher one that will win and be paid out at some stage in the future, but not right now.

Strategies to Win Video Poker Game

There are different strategies that work for most variants of video poker. Once you are familiar with the basic rules of the game, following these strategies will be easier. Let’s start with the video poker strategies that might work for you.

Video Poker Basic Strategy

The basic strategy of video poker is to keep the highest-ranking hand and discard the lower ones. In addition, you need to keep in mind that discarding a pair of jacks or better may not be the best move because you might hit the higher value cards like two pairs. To play video poker using a basic strategy, you should remember these moves:

  1. Discard pairs or anything else lower than it.
  2. Draw only if your hand consists of four cards, and the fifth card will make it a winner.
  3. Always draw more cards when you have four cards, and none of them is a winner, and the next card will make it a winner.
  4. Do not split any pair until you get three of them.
  5. You can split the Jacks and Better if you hit a third.
  6. After you double up, you should not discard any of the winning cards.
  7. Always keep your hand if your hand is still a winning one at showdown, and do not discard it.

Video Poker Basic Strategy for Joker Wild Video Poker

This strategy is recommended for those who play with Jokers at the Joker Wild Video Poker variant. A basic strategy for these machines will work best for you if you keep these features in mind:

  1. Draw only when you have an ace, six, or joker in your hand. Do not discard even when there are no winners among the five cards that have been drawn so far.
  2. Do not discard a pair because the next hand will be good.
  3. Do not discard a pair if you do not have three of them, and you need to keep one in your hand.
  4. Always draw more cards when you have four winning cards, and none of them are pairs or better.
  5. Always use a wild card when holding four winning cards.
  6. After you hit six, always hold it instead of discarding it because every time you discard it, chances are that the next hand will be better than yours, so this is a waste of your money.

Strategy for Aces and Faces

One of the most important strategies is to remember Ace and Face cards. These hands are considered the best hands in games that are played with these cards. Remember that if you have a pair of an ace, it will be more worth it than any other hand at the video poker game. When playing video poker, an ace and face should be kept even after a flush is made unless your hand consists of all five cards. When facing a flush, discard everything but for two pairs or better. This is because the chances are that the next card may make it a flush or a straight, making you lose big. In this case, discard the other three cards in your hand and draw new ones from the deck instead of discarding them.

  • Hold both cards if you get a pair without considering the value.
  • Discard whichever card you have to and go for the royal flush.
  • Keep four cards to a flush.
  • Don’t lose the winning hand unless it is for the royal flush.

Play the Progressive Jackpot Video Poker Machines

A progressive jackpot is among the biggest and most generous ones, out of which you can win amazing prizes. It is recommended to use this strategy while playing video poker or any other game. For playing Progressive Jackpot Video Poker, you should keep the following tips and tricks in mind:

  1. Always play with maximum bet because more money means more chances for you to win big.
  2. Try to play a hand that has only one card and discards as many cards as you have. This will help you to unlock the true potential of the game.
  3. Do not build on your hand because you can get a busted hand and lose everything.
  4. Always use the wildcards for the cards that you are holding in your hand. This will help you to unlock the true potential of the game.
  5. When you are holding a pair or two, use a wild card only if it is a face card or an ace, no matter what rank they are. If they are both jacks, use them as well because they will make it a better hand than yours.
  6. If possible, do not discard any winning cards because it will give more chances to win more prizes at Progressive Jackpot Video Poker games.

Basic Terms to Know about Video Poker

Here are some basic terms that every player must know who wants to enjoy video poker:

  • Bankroll: This is the amount of money that you can afford to lose while playing video poker. You should always play with a bankroll, and it is recommended to plan out your sessions and the amount that you are willing to spend during each session in the casino.
  • Sessions: This is a period of time for playing video poker or any other casino game in the casino. You can decide how long you want to play in one sitting, but remember, this strategy will only work if you can actually follow it.
  • House Edge: This is the percentage of your money that you are going to lose as a house. This will vary from one casino to another and from one game to another.
  • Pay Table: This is the table of all combinations with their value that are given for a particular game. The player can see how much he/she can win when they get specific combinations on a paytable in order to maximise their chances of winning the jackpot.
  • Wild Card: This is a card that can replace any other card in the deck. Every time you draw a new deal, you must decide whether you want to use the wildcard for your hand or not.

Internet Slots FAQ’s

Is there a trick for video poker?

There are strategies that will give you the probability of winning with a chance of losing the same amount as you win, so it is a good strategy to follow in order to increase the chances of your winning.

Is video poker based on luck or skill?

It is based on both. It is a combination of luck, probability, and strategy all at the same time. This is why you should follow the above-given strategies for every game that you will play in order to increase your chances of winning.

Why do people play video poker?

People enjoy playing video poker because it offers an opportunity to win big prizes from just a small bet. You can win huge jackpots with even smaller investments in these games, which makes these games more interesting for players who want to get higher returns from their bets than what they could get from the other casino games.

Are video poker machines rigged?

No, they are not rigged. There are certain ways of playing video poker machines that could give you the advantage on certain hands, but this is only if you know how to master the basic strategy of how to play these games.