Online Video Poker

Best Online Video Poker Sites 2024

What Is Online Video Poker?

Online video poker, which can be found in new and old casinos, combines poker and slot machine games. More precisely, it is electronic poker played using a slot screen. There are, therefore, some similarities between slot machines and video poker.

But you have to know that, like the poker game everyone knows, video poker is about opposing hands between the computer and the player. Here, the computer plays the role of dealer.

Concepts You Need to Know to Play Online Video Poker Better

As a beginner in casino video poker, you must know some concepts that will allow you to get by in this game. To better master them, we suggest you start with free online video poker. You should know that you will have an easier time in this game if you have some knowledge of poker. First, you will have to choose your machine. For this, you can choose between the Joker Wild and the Deuces Wild, game variants.

After this step, you must start the game by making a bet. You then have 5 cards given to you by the slot machine. Your goal will be to try to have a combination using the different cards offered. To do this, you have the choice: throw away, return, keep. As soon as you get rid of a card, you have another to replace it. During the second draw, if the hand happens to be higher than the one the machine has, you come out a winner; otherwise, you lose.

Also, there are some expressions you should know before playing video poker :

• Pair: Two cards with the same value.
• Three of a Kind: Three cards with the same value.
• Four of a Kind: Four cards with the same value (also known as “quads”).
• Straight Flush: A hand with five consecutive cards of the same suit.
• Royal Flush: A hand with the cards 10, J, Q, K, and A, all of the same suit.

Best Online Video Poker Games

There are several variations of online video poker. Each has its own specificities, and you must make a congruent choice to play well.

Jacks or Better

Jacks or Better video poker is the one most found in online casinos. It is also with this variant that it is ideal to start if you are a beginner. Here, the rules of poker are simply repeated. The player’s objective is to make the best combination, but trying to have at least a pair of jacks.

Tens or Better

The Tens or Better variant is similar to Jacks or Better. The difference here is that to win you need to have at least a pair of 10s as the name of this variant suggests.

Aces and Faces

Here, your combinations with aces and face cards will be highlighted. Thus, if you combine with the king, queen and jack, you will obtain significant gains. In addition, you must have a pair of jacks in this variation.

Joker poker

In the Joker poker variant, there is one more card bringing the total number of cards to 53. The role of the 53rd card is to make replacements for all the other cards, making your job easy. To win here, you will need a pair of kings.

Deuces Wild

Deuces Wild is one of the best video poker variations. In this variation, the four 2s represent jokers, which can easily replace the other cards, allowing you to make combinations more easily.

Real Money Video Poker Vs Free Online Video Poker

Should you choose between the two? The answer is no. However, what you need to do is combine them. Indeed, free online video poker is useful in that it allows you, if you are a beginner, to put into practice the different rules for playing this game. You can use the free version to have fun and master the rules. If you are already used to playing video poker, you can use the free version to try new variations.

You will play paid video poker at a real money online casino. Things will be easier for you since you have already acquired some mastery.

Online Video Poker Strategy

Here’s a basic Video Poker Strategy guide to help maximize your chances of winning:

Know Your Game Variant

• How It Works: Video poker has multiple variants like Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Double Bonus Poker. Each variant has different payout tables and optimal strategies, so familiarize yourself with your specific version.
• Why: Understanding the rules and payouts of your chosen game can help you make the best decisions to maximize your returns.

Understand the Pay Table

• How It Works: Each video poker machine has a pay table that shows the payouts for different hands. Look for “full-pay” machines, which offer the best payouts, especially in Jacks or Better (e.g., a 9/6 paytable where Full House pays 9 coins and Flush pays 6).
• Why: Machines with better pay tables have a lower house edge, increasing your potential returns over time.

Always Bet Maximum Coins

• How It Works: In most video poker games, the Royal Flush payout is significantly higher when you bet the maximum number of coins (usually 5). Betting less reduces the top payout drastically.
• Why: Betting max coins maximizes your potential payout on a Royal Flush, which is a critical part of video poker strategy for long-term success.

Basic Strategy for Jacks or Better

• If you have Four to a Royal Flush: Discard the fifth card and aim for the Royal Flush.
• If you have Four to a Straight Flush: Discard one card to try for a Straight Flush.
• If you have a Full House or better: Keep all cards.
• If you have Three of a Kind: Keep the three cards and discard the others.
• If you have Four to a Flush: Discard the fifth card and aim for the Flush.
• If you have a High Pair (Jacks or higher): Keep the pair and discard the other three cards.
• If you have Four to a Straight: Discard the fifth card only if the draw does not require breaking a higher-ranking hand.
• If you have a Low Pair (10s or lower): Keep the pair and discard the other three cards.

Deuces Wild Strategy

• Four Deuces: Hold all four deuces, as it’s the highest possible hand.
• Three Deuces: Discard two cards to aim for Five of a Kind or a Wild Royal Flush.
• Two Deuces: Keep the deuces and aim for a Four of a Kind, Straight Flush, or higher.
• One Deuce: Keep the deuce and aim for the highest-paying hand possible by holding any winning combination.
• No Deuces: Play similar to Jacks or Better, prioritizing hands like Royal Flushes, Straight Flushes, and Full Houses.

Double Bonus Poker Strategy

• Similar to Jacks or Better, but focus on high pairs and four-of-a-kind hands due to the higher payouts for four-of-a-kinds in this game.
• Four to a Royal Flush should be prioritized, even over a high pair.
• Aim for Four Aces, as these provide a significant payout boost in Double Bonus Poker.

Keep Low Pairs in Certain Situations

When dealt a low pair (2s through 10s) in games like Jacks or Better, keep the pair and discard the other three cards, unless you’re close to a Straight or Flush.

Avoid Discarding High Hands

Keep it intact if you’re dealt a hand that’s already a winner (such as a Straight, Flush, Full House, or Four of a Kind). Chasing a better hand usually decreases your expected value, especially if it requires discarding part of a strong hand.

Video Poker Glossary Terms

Here’s a Video Poker Glossary with essential terms to help players better understand the game:

• Action: The total amount of money wagered by a player over time. In video poker, this refers to the sum of all bets made.
• Bankroll: The total amount of money a player has set aside specifically for gambling purposes. Managing your bankroll is key to playing responsibly.
• Bet Max: An option to wager the maximum number of coins on a single hand, typically five coins. Betting max often unlocks the highest possible payouts, especially for a Royal Flush.
• Draw: The second phase of a video poker hand, where the player discards unwanted cards and receives replacements to complete their final hand.
• Deuces Wild: A popular video poker variant where all twos (deuces) act as wild cards, meaning they can substitute for any other card to form winning hands.
• Double Bonus Poker: A video poker variant with special bonuses for four-of-a-kind hands, particularly for Aces, which receive a higher payout than other quads.
• Face Card: Any card with a face (King, Queen, or Jack). In games like Jacks or Better, pairs of face cards or higher are necessary to qualify for a payout.
• Flush: A hand in which all five cards are of the same suit, regardless of numerical order. In most video poker games, a Flush pays more than a Straight.
• Full House: A hand consisting of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. For example, three Kings and two Jacks.
• Hand: The set of five cards dealt to the player in video poker. Players then decide which cards to hold and which to discard for the final outcome.
• Hold: The action of keeping specific cards in a video poker hand before the draw. Players select the cards they want to keep and replace the others.
• Jacks or Better: One of the most common video poker variants where a pair of Jacks or higher is the minimum winning hand.
• Kicker: A card that’s not part of the primary winning hand but may enhance the payout in certain poker games. In Double Bonus Poker, for example, having a “kicker” (e.g., an Ace) with four-of-a-kind Aces can boost payouts.
• Multi-Hand Video Poker: A version of video poker where players can play multiple hands simultaneously, often 3, 5, 10, 50, or even 100 hands per game.
• Natural Royal Flush: A Royal Flush achieved without any wild cards. This hand has the highest payout in most video poker games.
• Pay Table: The chart displayed on a video poker machine shows each possible hand’s payouts. Understanding the pay table is essential for making informed betting decisions.
• Progressive Jackpot: A jackpot increases incrementally with each wager until it is won. Some video poker machines offer progressive jackpots for achieving a specific hand, usually a Royal Flush with max coins bet.
• Push: When neither the player nor the house wins, resulting in a “tie.” In video poker, this generally doesn’t occur as each hand has a fixed payout.
• Quads: Another term for Four of a Kind, a hand with four cards of the same rank.
• Royal Flush: The highest hand in video poker, consisting of A, K, Q, J, and 10 of the same suit. It typically offers the highest payout, especially when playing max coins.
• Straight: A hand with five consecutive cards of any suit (e.g., 5-6-7-8-9). In most games, a Straight pays less than a Flush.
• Straight Flush: A hand with five consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 5-6-7-8-9 of hearts). It pays significantly more than a regular Straight and is among the highest-paying hands.
• Wild Card: A card representing any other card to help form a winning hand. Games like Deuces Wild have specific cards (like all twos) that act as wilds.
• Two Pair: A hand that contains two cards of one rank and two cards of another rank (e.g., two 7s and two Kings). In Jacks or Better, this is a paying hand.
• Variance: A measure of the risk involved in a particular video poker game. Games with higher variance (e.g., Deuces Wild) offer larger payouts but less frequent wins, while lower-variance games offer more consistent but smaller wins.

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