How to Play Video Poker

Video poker is just similar enough to classic Texas Hold’em or Omaha to be recognizable, but there are a few key things to be aware of when learning how to play video poker.

Video poker has seen its popularity surge in recent years, thanks to the ease with which you can play, its anonymity, and the prospect of winning big without having to interact with other players.

Follow our expert guide to ensure you know how to play video poker and give yourself the best chance at being successful in this exciting and accessible game.

What is Video Poker?

In essence, video poker games are those played on a computerized console, similar to a slot machine. These machines are common in real life poker rooms and at top online poker sites.

Video poker is based on three-card or five-card draw poker, using a deck of 52 cards. It can be described as a cross between a traditional slot machine and poker, the key difference being video poker requires some strategy.

Slot machines rely on simple chance – just press the button and hope for the best – whereas video poker requires an element of skill.

This skill is introduced by letting the player decide which cards to discard after being dealt an initial hand. Whatever cards replace these determine whether a player wins or not.

Other key distinctions are that video poker is played without human interaction, as it is essentially the player against the computer. You should also note that video poker is faster-paced, requires less skill than the standard form of the game, and the chances of success are higher.

Now you know what video poker is, it’s time to learn how to play video poker successfully.

Step 1: Select a Video Poker Game

There are a selection of popular games that you can choose from, such as Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, or Joker’s Wild. As a beginner you’ll want to try a few different games out for yourself to see which suits you best.

Step 2: Choose a Pay Table

One major attraction of playing video poker games is that you can see the financial return you can expect from each type of game. This means you can compare games to see which provides the best value. For example, one game might offer (in return for a bet of one coin) 10 coins for a full house, eight for a flush and five for a straight.

Step 3: Place a Bet

You’ve analyzed the pay tables and selected a video poker game – now it’s time to place a bet to get started. You can choose how many coins to bet – but bear in mind what your returns could be by looking at the pay table before plunging in. Each bet is good for one round.

Step 4: Start Playing

The final step is simply to start playing. Hit the deal button to be given your first five-card hand (or three-card hand in some cases). Choose which cards to discard before pressing the button again – the cards you receive in return now make your hand. With any luck, you will have won – check the pay table and odds to see what you can expect to be awarded, and await the machine’s almost instant payout.

Video Poker Winning Hands

Video poker games are almost identical to traditional poker games with respect to hand rankings. Although some rules differ depending on which game you choose to play, they generally follow the same rankings so you can rely on this poker cheat sheet if you aren’t 100% sure of the value of a given hand.

A lot of video poker games use the ‘Jacks or Better’ rule as the first hand which pays out. This means the lowest winning hand is one that features a pair made up of jacks or higher.

Types of Video Poker Bets

In video poker games, after depositing your money you get to decide how much of your stake you’d like to wager. This can go from one coin all the way up to five coins, which may even include your whole stake. A word of caution: be wary of your bankroll so as not to run out of money quickly!

Video Poker Pay Table

Each type of video poker game has a different system of payouts which staggers the payout odds, this ranges from the much-coveted Royal Flush all the way down to a pair. Although there are many different games to choose from, the odds are similar for all.

The pay table below shows the payouts you’d generally expect from a video poker game depending on the amount you bet.

Hand	1 Coin	2 Coins	3 Coins	4 Coins	5 Coins
Royal Flush	250	500	750	1,000	4,000
Straight Flush	50	100	150	200	250
Four of a Kind	25	50	75	100	125
Full House	9	18	27	36	45
Flush	6	12	18	24	30
Straight	4	8	12	16	20
Three of a Kind	3	6	9	12	15
Two Pair	2	4	6	8	10
Jacks or Better	1	2	3	4	5

As you can see, video poker games are very attractive as there is the opportunity to hit huge odds on strong hands.

How Video Poker Differs to Poker

You're Not Playing Against Other Players

Knowing how to play video poker is different to knowing how to play Texas Hold’em. This is largely because video poker does not involve playing against other players. Forget the mind games, strategy and trying to read your opponents, video poker is computerized and none of these skills are necessary.

No Betting Rounds

Another way in which video poker vastly differs from customary poker is that there are no betting rounds. Video poker rules are that the player only has to bet once: at the very start of the round. Once the cards are dealt, your only other action is to decide which cards to keep and discard – no betting, raising, calling, folding or checking is required.

Different Strategy

As you’re not trying to pick up on your opponent’s signals, or use betting tactics, the strategies in video poker games are different. Basic video poker strategy is to manage your bankroll and not stake your pot carelessly, take time to learn the game and remember that patience is a virtue.

Arguably the most important strategy in video poker is knowing whether to discard your cards or hold on to them – which is much different to standard poker.

No Bluffing

No opponents and no betting rounds means no bluffing. There is no option to try and bluff in video poker as you are essentially playing against the computer. Use the energy saved from not having to bluff to try and calculate your odds instead.

Fixed Payouts

Once your bet is made at the start, and you know the pay table for the game, the payout for each hand cannot be changed. Choosing a game after looking at the odds on offer means knowing exactly how much you’ll be paid for each winning hand, and this can’t change in-game.

How Video Poker Differs from Video Slots

Although both video poker and video slots are typically played in the same way, on a computerized machine, there are some key differences between them.

Slots are Completely Random

Modern slot machines use technology known as a random number generator to ensure that the outcome of each spin is completely random. Although a video poker machine can use the same technology, fewer combinations can be made than their slot machine equivalents.

Video Poker Offers Higher Payouts

Video poker games offer some of the highest odds in casino and online gambling. As explained previously, the pay table for each game staggers the payout odds in relation to how valuable the hand is.

But you need to bear in mind that the house always always wins and the the house’s profit – known as the house edge – can range from 3% of turnover to around 0.5%.

Choose a game that offers a low house edge expected return, like 0.5%. House edge is calculated over hundreds of hands, but the edge can differ based on the decisions a player makes – better play results in smaller house edge, and vice versa.

Strategy Plays a Part in Video Poker

In most cases, slots involve pressing a button and hoping for the best. Knowing how to play video poker means knowing how to use an element of video poker strategy.

Video poker allows players to influence the outcome instead of relying solely on chance. Knowledge of the odds and the poker hand rankings will help you to make these informed decisions.

Types of Video Poker

There are different games to choose from when delving into the world of video poker and things change regularly. New indie game, Balatro, has taken everyone by surprise recently.

Even when new games emerge, though, knowing how to win across all of the variants of video poker games will stand you in good stead.

Deuces Wild

One of the most important things to note about Deuces Wild video poker is that it offers one of the best return rates for players of all the video poker games you can choose from. This game’s return to player (RTP) is usually around the 97-99% mark.

Another feature unique to the game is that any card can be substituted for a deuce, transforming them into wild cards which can be used to help form high-ranking card combinations.

Bonus Deuces Wild

Bonus Deuces Wild video poker games are played in much the same way as Deuces Wild, with the added prospect of being able to make a five-of-a-kind hand combination.

This is done by combining several deuces and using them as wild cards. There are also special bonus payouts offered on certain hands, making this another popular video poker game.

Double Bonus Poker

Very similar to Jacks or Better video poker, Double Bonus puts emphasis on four-of-a-kind hands, offering bigger bonuses and payouts on this hand over any others.

It also returns higher odds than other games such as Jacks or Better, making it an attractive proposition for players.

Jacks or Better

If you know how to play five-card draw, you’ll pick up Jacks or Better easily. The two are very similar only Jacks or Better offers the the added benefit of earning an extra point for each pair of jacks or higher you receive.

The lowest ranked hand that can win is a pair of jacks, with lower pairs such as 10s not allowed to be used to win a payout.

Although Jacks or Better offers a relatively low return, it remains one of the most popular video poker games available to play.

Joker's Wild

In Joker’s Wild video poker, the game uses a deck of 53 cards: the standard deck of cards plus a joker.

The joker acts as a wildcard in this popular game, meaning that it can be used as any card to help make any winning hand. Although it doesn’t offer the best odds, the chances of winning are increased due to its unique rules.

Let it Ride Poker

Setting itself apart from other video poker games, Let it Ride can involve up to seven players at one time, although you don’t directly interact with them during the game.

You attempt to make your best five-card hand using three cards dealt to you face up, and two that are dealt face down, and can be used by anyone in the game (community cards).

The crucial decision is whether to ‘let it ride’ and trust your cards, or withdraw your cards and bet before all is revealed and the winner is crowned.

Video Poker Strategy for Beginners

Now you know how to play video poker, you’ve chosen a game, and studied the pay table. Next, it’s time to learn some video poker strategy to give yourself the best chance at success.

Be Patient

Take your time to learn the ins and outs of each different type of video poker game. As we’ve outlined above, in some games the deuces are wild, in some the lowest winning hand combination is a pair of jacks, and in others you’re aiming for a four of a kind.

Be patient when learning how to play the different variations and don’t become frustrated if it takes a while to pick up all of the rules.

Manage your Bankroll

When playing video poker the temptation is to bet big stakes early on, with just a press of a button. The games are so fast-paced, you can easily get carried away and drain your pot quickly.

Keep an eye on your balance, don’t rush into betting, and don’t be seduced by the huge payouts on offer – remember, they are huge odds for a reason – those high winning hand combos don’t come around often!

Be Careful What You Wish For

If you’re dealt a pair, or the elements of a straight or flush draw – don’t be quick to throw them away!

Having a good starter hand and holding onto it instead of discarding cards and chasing the dream is a sure-fire way to make losses in video poker. Going after the big hands could leave you empty-handed.

A key video poker strategy is to hold on to a low pair. Doing so is better than holding on to a high card, as it offers a statistically better chance of winning.

Where to Play Video Poker

Due to their popularity, video poker games are available both online and at in-person casinos. There are dedicated apps for video poker, and many of the best online casinos offer variations of the game.

If you prefer playing in a casino environment, video poker games can be found on casino floors all over the world. Similar-looking to slot machines, these computerized consoles can’t be missed.

Conclusion

That’s it. There’s nothing more left to cover. It’s time to choose a video poker game, get dealt in, and start refining your strategy for this unique poker variant.

How to Play Video Poker – Basic Video Poker Strategy & Guide

What is Video Poker?