Video Poker Advanced Strategy
Video Poker Advanced Strategy
Video poker is one of the very few online casino games that can actually be mastered. Of course there is no one best way to learn the game, but reading and studying is probably the easiest. If you know a lot about video poker and feel that you are an expert, or at least an intermediate, this article is for you.
To truly master something you need to not only do research and read guides, but also get a fair amount of hands-on experience. So, it is recommended that you play video poker regularly to keep your skills up. Of course you could argue that skill has nothing to do with video poker and that it's all luck, but that's usually not the case. Expert video poker players know that the game is all about statistics, and if you learn those statistics, and more importantly learn how to use them, you can consistently do well. So keep those skills fresh and play about once a week. It shouldn't be too much of a chore, if you know what I mean!
Anyone can read a guide and follow simple instructions, but it takes a powerful mind to master something. Memorization is key if you plan to consistently perform well with video poker. It is recommended that you first memorize the pay table for the game you are playing (found below), and also that you know the difference between the specific variation you are playing and normal video poker (jacks or better). Once you've played enough you will probably memorize the pay tables without even trying, but if you know for a fact that your memory is not the strongest, you should take a few minutes each day to read over the table.
Jacks or Better pay table (9/6 aka full pay):
Hand: 1 Coin: 2 Coins: 3 Coins: 4 Coins: 5 Coins:
Royal Flush 250 500 750 1000 4000
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
Pair 1 2 3 4 5
Once you have the above pay table memorized, you will at least have a basic knowledge of hand values. Pay tables change from variation to variation, but the order/value of hands never changes, meaning that a royal flush will always be the best hand, followed by a straight flush, four of a kind, etc.
Of course there are certain variations (especially ones with wild cards) that introduce new hands/new paying combinations, which is why you need to know all you can about a variation before you even start playing. It is recommended that you look up the pay table for the specific game you are playing and at least take a look at it before you begin.
Whenever you start playing video poker through a casino that's new to you, you should always pay attention to the payouts. The pay table found above is for full-pay jacks or better, but there are many different payout levels. It would be wise to check the payout level before starting to play, but you can also just pay attention as you begin to play and figure it out. You should know that a lot of casinos don't exactly advertise their less-than-perfect payout tables, so you might have to do some digging. On the other hand, the casinos with good payout tables (full-pay) often do advertise that fact, so they're usually easy to find.
A lot of mastering the game involves tedious and boring tasks such as memorization, but you should never forget that video poker is, and always should be, a form of entertainment. You should always enjoy yourself while playing, and if you don't, it's time to find a new hobby!
Now you have enough knowledge about video poker strategies and you may want to play this game for free or for real money. You can practise video poker for free on our site and when you feel confident in your skills you can start playing with real money. On this page we have listed some of the best online casinos for video poker players where you will receive maximum bonus for your initial deposit, high quality customer support services and fast pay outs. If you have any issues with some of the casinos listed here, just send us an e-mail and we will do our best to resolve it!
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