Video Poker Rules

Video poker is a form of the game of poker and as such is a game of ability but it also includes an element of luck.  The hints that follow are intended to assist you in winning at video poker by improving your poker playing ability to just about those of a professional player.

Play only equipment that offers full payback – the ones that will payback all of the tokens wagered.  If the payback rate is not posted then pick the machine the pays the most whenever you hold a flush or a full house.  The better the return then the higher that machine returns.

All machines have a listing of the payout schedule and the highest number of tokens that may be wagered (the maximum quantity is typically five).  It is a sensible option to always play the highest quantity of coins so that you are eligible for the bonus payout for a royal flush.  Further make sure that the machine takes all of your coins prior to playing – just in case you attain the jackpot, you need to be certain five coins were bet.

Don’t fail to remember you are using a computer in video poker; the machine is set to pay out whenever a participant holds one of the listed hands.  At the casino, many video poker machines are set to pay out up to 100% when made use of at the expert level.  This is able to  be done as most of the players that utilize the machines do not play anywhere close to the expert level required.

Resist the temptation to hold on to high ranking kicker cards to make use of along with a pair.   This approach works when playing against individuals at poker places, but when playing video poker you have just missed a chance to acquire a better card to use to build a successful hand.

Completing an inside straight (a player has four cards but is missing one in the centre required to make a straight) is difficult so it best not to attempt it.  Finishing an open-ended straight (you have four of the five consecutive playing cards required to finish the straight but need one more card and it may be at either end) is a much easier task and should be attempted.

A player who is  given a low ranking pair along with an individual high value card should keep the two of a kind and get rid of the high value card.  Loads of individuals would discard a low value two of a kind (say twos) and retain a high valued card (such as an Ace); however this isn’t the best way to play this set of cards.  A players probability of completing three of a kind are better than attempting to match up the high valued card.

Always hold any high valued pair instead of attempting to use a three-card royal flush, a four-card flush or a four-card open straight.  Attempt to make three of a kind, because the worst you can do is to recover your bet.

Keep a low ranking pair instead of a four-card open end straight.  The low value pair is more valuable than going for the straight and should be kept.

Any three-card royal should be retained over a low valued pair, a four-card open end straight or a four-card flush.  The bonus payout for a royal flush makes it a smarter bet.

When given a worthless set of playing cards (a hand that has not even one high valued card) it’s a good move to draw a totally new set of cards.