Video Poker Strategies
Along with slots, video poker is one of the casino's most popular games. Most versions are based on five-card draw poker, but unlike slot machines, they require players to make skill-based choices. Those decisions matter: sound play may sometimes lower the house edge and, depending on the paytable and decisions, potentially give the player an advantage.
How to Win at Video Poker
Video poker comes in countless variations, but most machines share one feature: they are based on standard five-card draw poker.
A typical round starts with the machine dealing the player five cards. The player chooses which cards to hold and which to exchange in an effort to improve the hand. For exchanged cards, the computer randomly deals replacements. The key is to keep the strongest cards available and draw replacements that could improve the player's chance of winning.
Choosing the right machine is half the battle. Ideally, find a game with a payout percentage as close to 100% as possible. That can be difficult, but it is not impossible.
Unlike a slot machine, video poker gives players choices that affect the result. Some players use structured strategies to try to gain an edge through their decisions.
Effective Video Poker Strategies
Video poker is about recognizing which cards to keep and which to discard. Some approaches are considered helpful for improving a player's chances, though none eliminates the game's inherent risk. The strategies below explain these decisions in more detail.
1. Bet Maximum Credits
The usual advice when playing video poker is to bet the maximum credits. According to this guidance, doing so gives access to the full royal-flush payout, generally 800-for-1. You can wager fewer credits, but the payout is usually only 250-for-1. A royal flush is rare, but betting the maximum offers the higher stated payout if one lands.
2. Check the Paytable
You can review a video poker machine's paytable before playing. It provides information about the game's expected return, so check it carefully when comparing machines. As with all casino games, video poker has a house edge to consider.
For example, an average casino earns about 3% on each video poker play. On that basis, the player would receive an average return of 97%. The guidance recommends avoiding games with returns below 96%, as other options may be more favourable.
3. Jacks or Better Strategy
Each poker variant has its own decision-making guidelines, and Jacks or Better is one of the best known and easiest to learn. First, check for a royal flush, 4 of a kind or straight flush. If you have one of these hands, keep those cards rather than replacing them and collect the applicable winnings.
If you do not have one of those hands, check for 4 cards to a royal flush. Keep them and draw for the royal. If you do not have 4 cards to a royal flush, look for another “made hand”, such as a flush, full house, straight or 3 of a kind. Keep it if you have one. Otherwise, check for 4 cards to a straight flush and draw towards it if available.
Next, check for a paying hand, such as 2 pairs or a pair of jacks or better. If you have none of the hands listed above, try holding 3 cards to a royal flush and aim to complete it. Continue applying this selection principle until you find a paying hand.
4. Aces and Faces Strategy
If a video poker machine offers Aces and Faces alongside Bonus Poker, this guidance favours Aces and Faces because its return is slightly higher. Choose a denomination on the machine. At online casinos, the lowest denomination is usually a nickel. The recommendation is still to bet the maximum, then choose which dealt cards to keep and which to exchange.
In Aces and Faces, keep a full house, straight flush, royal flush or 4 of a kind. Keep a straight or a dealt flush too, unless you have a four-card royal flush. In that case, draw for the jackpot.
5. Deuces Wild Strategy
Deuces Wild is a popular video poker variation where the right decisions may give you an edge over the casino. The basic approach is simple: keep 4 deuces. If you have 3 deuces, keep them in the hope of making a royal flush. Keep 2 deuces as well; then aim for 4 of a kind or better, or potentially a straight or royal flush.
If you have just 1 deuce, work down the list until you find a suitable set of cards to keep. The order starts with 4 of a kind or better, then 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 assessing your hand and the possible outcomes of each decision about which cards to hold. Learning different approaches can take time, but may be worthwhile if you enjoy the game and want to improve your odds. No strategy guarantees a win or removes the house edge.
