Video Poker Introduction
Introduction to Video Poker
Ever since its creation in the 1970's, video poker has been wildly popular. Whether you are a seasoned gambler or a bumbling novice, you can always have some fun playing it. Video poker, unlike most casino games, is largely based on skill. It's one of the few games that you can truly "master", without relying on dumb luck. And, unlike normal poker, video poker gives only a very small edge to the house, so you have a very good chance of walking away with a large amount of cash.
Video poker is fairly simple. You bet, the machine "deals" 5 cards, and then you are proceed to discard up to 3 cards of your choice. Next, the machine will deal you replacements for your discards, and will then pay out money according to the current value of your hand. It's important to understand that you won't be playing against the dealer and other participants like a normal game of poker. If you are dealt a full house, you win a predetermined amount of money that is set specifically for that combination of cards, regardless of what the other players (if there are any) are dealt.
If you are wondering about the legitimacy of video poker, you should find comfort in the fact that it's all completely random. The cards you are dealt are chosen using a random number generator, or RGN. Your replacement cards are also selected randomly, and there is no virtual "card peaking" so to speak. In other words, if you are dealt a jack, 9, 3, 5, and queen, and choose to discard the 3 and 9, you will still get the same cards that you would have if you had discarded the jack and queen. These generators are truly random, so there really is no house advantage. Some games give the house a slight advantage, but it's much lower than the house gets in real poker. If you take the time to truly learn and master video poker, then you can easily win 99% of the time. It's one of those few games that you can actually become skilled at, and it's easy to follow a specific strategy.
Video poker is great because you can pick it up at any time, and leave at any time. Nobody is denying that poker night with a few buddies is fun, but it can be a pain to schedule such an event, especially with the busy life that most Americans lead. With video poker, you can play literally at any time.
Video poker is a game for 2 types of people: those who just want to have a good time every once in a while, and those who want to take the time to learn the game, and bank! Video poker isn't hard, so virtually anyone can pick it up and have some fun, and it's also not that hard to master. If you learn and follow a specific, strict strategy, video poker ceases to be "gambling".
Some people call video poker the "thinking man's slot machine". This label is true, but it is important to understand the similarities and differences between the two games. First and foremost is the difference in payouts. Slot machines (or video slots) are programmed to payout a specific amount of all the money that comes in (it's generally 83%-97%), meaning the house can never loose, even if someone wins a jackpot - over time, the house will always win their money back.
The payouts on slot machines are completely random, so there really is no way to be "good" at slots - it's 100% luck. With video poker, you can actually predict the probability of certain hands using mathematics and statistics, so you can actually win almost all the time. Of course you are not going to win every hand, but, statistically, if you follow a specific strategy, you can literally always walk away with more money than you came with - you just need to give it time. Playing slots consists of pulling a lever and watching a bunch of icons spin around aimlessly. Playing video poker, on the other hand, requires skill and knowledge.
Video poker is a fun, exiting, and often quite profitable game for everyone. Whether you're looking to fool around and "get your feet wet", or you're looking for a long-term hobby, I encourage you to try video poker.
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