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People throughout history have always imagined what society would be like in a hundred years. The most common predictions were that humans could fly and that manual labor would be eliminated by machines. We have not only made these two dreams a reality, at least in part, but we have also surpassed the wildest imaginations with the help of groundbreaking technology. A perfect example of this is the digitalization of almost everything around us, including poker.
The world of video poker used to be limited by the boundaries of pubs, bars, shady smoke-filled rooms, and underground establishments. These have been done away with by various solutions and a digital revolution. You can now enjoy the best video poker games at enormous online casinos that never fail to awe and entertain. Said casinos are buzzing with activity as thousands of punters play hundreds of different games, including numerous video poker ones. The epitome of said action is when a large win is landed, and the entire venue lights up like a flare!
They say that you cannot reinvent the wheel, which is especially true of poker. The basic components of this game have stayed the same during its online transition. The major difference is that video poker is focused on a slot machine with a 05-card draw. This basic format has been elevated and innovated in the form of countless variants that boast various themes, features, bonuses, and exciting prizes.
Those among you that love solitude and silence will especially appreciate video poker, as it does not require a crowd. This single-player focus also removes the pressure of onlookers and fellow punters, which is appreciated by both novices and veterans. The latter remain entertained thanks to numerous video poker variants such as Deuces Wild, Jacks or Better, and Joker's Wild. Note that all of these are entirely random, thanks to amazing RNG technology. Moreover, you will find that their RTP or return to player is quite generous at most sites.
Join us in this exciting guide and see the pros and cons of video poker, its history, its variants, its jargon, and how it can elevate your next gaming session to never-before-seen heights. Make the most of your video poker gaming with tips, strategies, a FAQ section, and online casino recommendations that you can find in this detailed guide!
Inspecting the history of Video Poker is not just very interesting but very exciting as well. Video Poker encompasses both the old and new in gambling, it is a mix of the old traditional game that is poker with the technology of slot machines which became electronic in the 70's, bringing computerization to gambling.
The invention of Video Poker is attributed to Si Redd, an employee of Bally Technologies who proposed the idea to the executives of the company in the mid 70's. Luckily, when his proposition was rejected, he did not despair; he went on to form a new company by the name of Sircoma – which is nowadays known as IGT (International Game Technology).
Video Poker came in the right time: The 80's were bustling with inventions bringing the technology of Video to full force, and the very idea of computerized poker excited the imagination of Vegas gamblers and entrepreneurs alike.
In the beginning, Video Poker was a very basic game based on Draw Poker where Two Pair was the lowest hand. In due time the variation of Jacks or Better became Video Poker's most popular type – in Jacks or Better, as its name implies, players need to have a pair of Jacks or Better in their hand in order to win. Like many other casino games, the emergence of online casinos and online gambling brought popularity to Video Poker which can be played by many people today without even having to leave their houses.
Many new and old terms are tied to Video Poker, monumentalizing the beautiful mix out of which this game was crafted.
Action:?A player's total amount of wagers in a specific game.
Bet Max: The maximum bet a player can make in a game, usually five coins for a hand.
Discard:?A card or cards the player chooses to ditch after his first deal.
Flush:?Hands of five same-suit cards.
Four of a Kind:?Hands with four cards of the same value.
Full House:?Hands with three-of-a-kind cards and one pair.
Hand: The name of the five cards with which the machine deals the player.
Jackpot:?This is the highest payout players can receive. Usually, the Royal Flush grants these.
Pair:?Two cards sharing the same value, like two 2h or two jacks.
Pay Back:?Data based on millions of hands that estimate the payout percentage of the game.
Pay Table:?This is a list of payouts on the screen that shows how much the player will win in different hand scenarios.
Royal Flush:?This is the hand everyone wants both in Video and regular Poker, the highest possible. It consists of an Ace high flush of the same suit.
Straight:?Five consecutive numbers of any suit.
Straight Flush:?This is straight where all the cards are of the same suit.
Winning Hand:?This is a hand that gives you a payout.
Except for Joker Wild, all forms of Video Poker are played with a regular 52-card deck. The operation of a standard Video Poker game is very simple. Players make a wager and then carry on to hit the "deal." Then they are dealt five cards and are given the traditional choices; they can hold their hand or discard as many cards as they like; then, the discarded cards are replaced. What the player is left with after these choices is what he will win (or lose).
The ranking of cards in Video Poker is in the same order as in regular Poker, but payouts differ. The standard order is Royal Flush – Straight Flush – Four of a Kind – Full House – Flush – Straight – Three of a Kind – Two Pair – One Pair of Jacks or Better. Video Poker games don't have one defined House advantage and these can vary from 97% to 99.5% - it is always the player versus the machine, and there's always either the option of winning or losing.
Video Poker is a simple game with fairly simple rules. Therefore, simple strategies can be employed to maximize winning chances. After players are dealt five cards, they must choose which cards to hold and which to discard. Below are listed the different hands you can be dealt and what you should do about them. As you will see, it is advisable to hold most hands, but there are other options. Remember not to discard Jacks, Queens, Kings and Aces.
Straight Flush:?This is a very strong hand you should hold; you have some good chances at getting a jackpot with this one.
Four of a Kind:?Players should also stick to their hand when a Four of a Kind comes up. There's no way of improving this hand by discarding anything.
Full House:?Stick with the cards; you cannot improve the hand by discarding.
Flush:?Hold your hand, as there is no way to improve.
Straight:?Also, no way of improving – stick to your hands.
Three of a Kind:?Stick with your three of a kind and discard the remaining.
Two Pairs:?Stick with the two pairs. You can try discarding the fifth card so you will have a shot at a Full House.
Jacks or Better:?Hold your pair and discard all other three cards in the hand.
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Now that you are familiar with the pure basics of video poker and see why it is so exciting to punters from all walks of life, it is time to pick up a few handy tips that will allow you to go from zero to hero.
Punters often find getting started with online gambling to be incredibly daunting, but that does not have to be the case. You can begin your online gaming journey in just a few easy steps. Check out the following rundown to learn more.
There is nothing worse than diving into a game that you are not familiar with. This will only result in losses and an unpleasant gaming session. Make the most of your next video poker session by first studying the ins and outs of video poker. Check out the rules, dive into game variants, and see which casinos boast the features that you are after.
Picking a casino might seem like a straightforward google search with minimum input, but it is actually incredibly important. Make sure that you pursue licensed and regulated casinos, whose selection of games and bonuses will keep you entertained for countless hours to come.
Now that you have a casino selected, it is time to have a gander at the game library and pick your favorite video poker variant. Note that titles differ in minimum stakes and payouts, so keep these in mind when selecting your next casino game.
While free video poker games are amazing for boosting your confidence, they do not provide the thrills of real money video poker. We recommend that you dive into real money video poker with the use of small bets. Note that you can find the minimum betting requirements in the terms and conditions of your chosen game.
This is where things get incredibly exciting. Payout or pay tables show you how much each hand's rankings will rake in. Being familiar with this information will aid in your decision-making process. Note that you can find this information in the details section of your chosen game.
Getting used to online video poker's terms and jargon can be a real doozy, but it is definitely worth it. Knowing the terms behind online video poker gives you phenomenal insight and allows you to maximize your gaming session. Check out our handy glossary of video poker terms, and speak like a pro in no time!
Video Poker GlossaryThere are countless video poker variants out there, with the most popular being:
Classic Video Poker This online version of everyone’s favorite five-card draw game is the purest form of video poker that you will find online. It is based on a slot machine that you can enjoy from the comfort of your computer or laptop.
All Aces This game variant is very similar to Jacks or better, with the main difference being the payouts. Video poker has larger payouts for four-of-a-kind and smaller payouts for various other hands.
Aces and Eights Aces and Eights pit you against the dealer, with the latter receiving five cards. Note that the player is allowed to discard unneeded cards. This variant is also heavily reliant on Jacks or Better. However, it offers higher payouts for various four-of-a-kind combos.
High-Speed Poker Kick your poker gaming into a higher gear with high-speed poker. Compete against the dealer in an entirely new manner with exciting betting rounds such as the ante bet, the play bet, and the bonus bet. Note that the latter is optional. While the software is designed to stimulate quick rounds, it might be too overwhelming for some punters.
Bonus Deuces Wild Those of you that enjoy Deuces Wild will love its offshoot, Bonus Deuces Wild. Your chance of landing a winning hand is larger, and there are additional payouts for five-of-a-kind hands and royal flush hands that boast a wild card. Note that lower-value hands, such as the flush and the straight, have smaller payouts.
Double Double Bonus Poker Take your poker game to the next level with the addition of the ‘Jacks or Better’ concept. Note that this title has different payouts and that four-of-a-kind hands get a bonus payout.
Double Joker This title elevates the humble Joker Poker video poker game. The focus is based on two wild joker cards that can be switched out for different cards in order to forge a winning combo. Note that this variant has all the bells and whistles of conventional video poker.
Jacks or Better Everyone who has partaken in online video poker has at least heard of Jacks or Better. This title boasts conventional poker rules and is often the basis of other poker variants. Players are given five cards and allowed to replace some of them. Note that you require a pair of jacks to be eligible for a payout.
Tens or Better This title uses Jacks or Better as its baseline and has similar rules to other poker variants. However, you need a pair of tens to be eligible for payouts.
Deuces Wild You will find this variant of video poker in numerous online venues. Its catch is that every single two is wild. Said wild cards can be substituted for other cards with the goal of forming a better hand. While this game is more beginner-friendly, it has lower payouts.
Aces and Faces Experience the comfort of classic video poker rules with the riveting features of other video poker variants. Note that the main difference are the available payouts.
Bonus Poker This version of poker is quite akin to Jacks or Better in the sense that the lowest-paying combination is a pair of jacks. Things get really exciting when you realize that you can snag numerous bonuses for various four-of-a-kind hands.
Joker’s Wild This video poker trickster has the joker card as its centerpiece. The latter is a wild card that can replace other cards and form a winning hand. This substitution opens up countless possibilities.
All American Take the idea of Jacks or Better to the next level with this riveting variant. While the basic formula remains the same, the payouts for hands such as flushes, straights, and straight flushes are much higher. Note that payouts for full houses and two pairs are lower.
Poker Pursuit This version of poker is akin to high-stakes poker, especially in the ante/raise stages. Winnings are relatively easy to come by. Check out the associated paytable to see what each winning combination gets you.
SuperJax This online video poker variant sports standard video poker rules. However, the action is ramped up by an additional card called SuperJax. The latter opens the door to progressive jackpots if you manage to land four jacks and it.
Mega Jacks Take Jacks or Better into orbit with Mega Jacks. This game variant provides progressive jackpots without involving wild cards. Note that it only pays out a progressive jackpot if a royal flush is landed while the maximum number of coins is bet.
Louisiana Double Poker This 53-card version is incredibly unique, as the double card is not wild, but it does double your winnings if it is part of a winning combination. The lowest winning combination is a pair of jacks, and the highest is a royal flush.
2-Ways Royal Jacks or Better has apparently inspired the entire video poker industry, as even this version is based on it. Note that this game variant has two royal flush combinations, which are a high and a low royal flush.
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This is a unique phrase that refers to a hand that cannot be improved. A perfect example would be a royal flush that cannot be surpassed by any other hand.
You definitely can! There is nothing stopping you from using conventional poker strategies in video poker, as video poker is just a digital version of the original. The fact that the rules are the same allows you to use the same strategies.
This is a machine that gives you the best possible payouts. Note that the RTP is close to an astonishing 100%.
Yes, it certainly is. There are numerous online casino sites that boast free video poker games. These offer you a great way to experience poker without risking a dime. Note that the free variants are usually replicas of originals, so you need not worry about their accuracy.
Whenever you are playing casino games of any kind, you have to remember one thing; they are based largely on luck. You cannot win the game with skill or strategy. However, you can use them to improve your performance and maximize your bankroll.
Yes, they do. You can expect hand rankings to be exactly the same in both environments. Note that there is usually a hand ranking chart associated with every video poker game, so you can see what kind of payout each hand can snag.
Yes, it is. The best way to check the legitimacy of any casino game is by looking at the venue itself. The latter should be fully licensed and regulated by the best institutions around. This oversight from both government bodies and third-party agencies guarantees a safe and secure gaming experience. Remember to never trust an unverified casino, as these are often exploitative and rogue.
You do not actually need any software to play video poker games, as you can enjoy them via your favorite browser. However, certain online casinos offer downloadable software in the form of launchers and dedicated apps that give you access to various games, including video poker.
The selection of video poker games that you will run into is vast and exciting. You can expect everything from classics such as Jacks or Better to the latest and greatest video poker masterpieces. Remember that they are quite similar in structure, with the main differences being in the payouts.
Get rid of pesky dress codes, traveling, and annoying crowds of casino patrons by simply taking your gaming online. With online poker, you get to enjoy your favorite casino game from the comfort of your home, all while wearing your favorite PJs and enjoying your favorite beverage.
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