The Ultimate Guide to Video Poker Strategy: From Basics to Expert Play

If you ask what is the best game to play at a casino, most veteran gamblers will respond with blackjack, as with the use of optimal strategy, a move chart, you can lower the house edge to 0.5%, facing almost even odds. However, something that most casual game of chance lovers never become wise to is that specific video poker games, such as Deuces Wild, supply equal if not better winning chances with correct strategies applied than blackjack. The trouble is that this gaming genre often gets neglected, and people just never learn of its unique appeal and the benefits it brings for players who investigate and learn video poker strategies.

The story of video poker started in the 1970s when CRT display machines were slowly becoming mainstays on casino floors. In the early 1960s, electromechanical slots made it onto the gaming landscape, and at the tail end of the 1970s, SIRCOMA, or Si Redd’s Coin Machines, which later morphed into IGT (International Game Technology), debuted Draw Poker, what many consider to be the first established and decently-played video poker machine. In the 1980s, devices from this game category started to pick up steam in Las Vegas, as sector product developers started leveraging microprocessor technology. In the middle of that decade, Jacks or Better blew up, elevating this game genre, which many people found as a sweet spot between slots and table poker in a casino setting.

In the online sphere, video poker is not a super popular choice, but some variants for remote play can deliver a positive RTP under given conditions. They pull in gamblers in the know with their terrific odds and hybrid gameplay. Hence, that is why we are excited to tell you all about video poker here, which, in our eyes, is one of the most intriguing and rewarding games in the casino realm, offline and online.

Understanding the Core Gameplay of Video Poker

For the most part, experienced Vegas gamblers will say that video poker is a category of gaming products that attracts math-minded individuals and retirees. The general belief is that not a lot of young gamblers are flocking to titles from this genre, and while that may be true, it is something that we see changing, as this is low-pressure card gambling fun, with no dealer and no table talk. It is you, just staring at a screen, looking for decent payouts on gameplay which is about as fair as casino operators are willing to offer.

In short, in most video poker titles, the goal is to build the best five-card poker hand possible. You do that via a mix of luck and calculated choices. Hence, these games are iterations of five-card draw, also called Cantredraw, which many call the simplest poker variant out there.

The Video Poker Machine & Interface

At physical gaming venues, most video poker machines look like ATMs with oversized displays. They also have an old-school interface that lacks flair or any exciting visual elements. They typically display your current hand, the paytable, and buttons for actions like “Deal,” “Draw,” and “Hold.” The key elements here are the Deal/Draw Buttons, which initiate the game or replace discarded cards. The Hold one permit you to keep distinct cards dealt to you. You can usually find this option located beneath each card, and clicking it allows you to tell the software that is a card you wish to hold onto.

We are sure that some will find the interfaces of most video poker options available online and offline a bit crude-looking, but they should be intuitive enough for anyone familiar with five-card draw, and those new to this game should be able to pick up things fairly quickly.

Five-Card Draw: The Basic Game Structure

What is five-card draw for video poker? Well, it is essentially a stripped-down version of classic poker gameplay made to fit one player. It traditionally gets enjoyed with a standard French fifty-two-card deck, which may or may not have jokers. That depends on the variant chosen.

You initiate a game round in most games from this category by placing a bet and pressing the “Deal” button. After you do that, the software deals you with your five cards. Then, you get to evaluate your given hand and decide which cards you will keep, hold onto, and which you will discard. Hitting Draw replaces the discards with fresh ones.

So, there is no bluffing here and no opponents. It is just you versus the game’s paytable.

Hold & Draw Decisions

The hold and draw phase we already explained, and what stage in the gameplay comes into play in video poker, and it is the part where you get to implement strategy. That is, aside from the betting phase. Your aim in video poker is to maximize the potential of your final hand. You do that by trying to make informed decisions regarding what cards to keep and which to discard.

Hence, if you have gotten a pair, you might choose to hold it and ask for three new cards from the other three that do not really help you, in hopes of improving to three of a kind or better. Therefore, things are pretty simple here when you think about it, even if you are unfamiliar with video poker, there is nothing complex about the base gameplay.

Payouts & Winning Hands

In video poker, the payouts are determined by the strength of your final hand. The games use standard poker hand rankings, following the usual order, starting with Royal Flush as the strongest hand, and then going down the ladder as such – Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, Pair, and High Card.

The paytable outlines the payout for each hand. Now, it is vital to understand that each game will have its paytable, but each one will award prizes, following the outlined highest to lowest hand rankings, with the High Card or Pair providing the most modest rewards.

Decoding Paytables: Know How to Read Tables for Optimal Strategy

As noted above, the paytable in all video poker options dictates the payouts for each hand. But be aware that it also influences the return to player (RTP). To be able to know how to play and make the best decisions available, you must understand the one for your chosen game. Again, please be wary that these tables vary by variation. Consequently, it is vital for you to review them before playing.

Understanding the Paytable Display

Paytables in most video poker games are typically displayed prominently on the screen, usually above the cards. For the most part, they are grid structures that list the various hand rankings alongside each bet level’s corresponding payout.

These tables will vary slightly, but they generally follow a similar format. Still, you must keep in mind that these tables aren’t universal. For instance, in Jacks or Better games, payouts can start at a pair of jacks, while in Deuces Wild ones, you need three-of-a-kind combos. That is the case on account of the wild twos in play and their ability to juice up hand probabilities.

Hand Rankings & Associated Payouts

Video poker uses standard poker hand rankings. Thus, the Royal Flush is the strongest hand, and as we are sure you already know, it consists of a ten, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace of the same suit. It can pay 4,000 coins for a 5-coin bet.

A Straight Flush, five same-suit consecutive cards, traditionally pays around 250 coins for a 5-coin stake. Four of a kind generally pays around 125 coins for a 5-coin bet. These can be called the high-ranking hands.

A Full House is a hand featuring three same-rank cards and a pair, paying 9 coins for a 1-coin wager. A Flush is five same-suit cards, but not in sequence. In a 9/6 Jacks or Better, this hand customarily pays 6 coins for a 1-coin bet. A Straight, five consecutive mixed-suit cards, typically pays 4 coins for a 1-coin wager. Three of a kind usually pays a 3-coin prize for a 1-coin bet. These are the medium-ranking hands.

The low-ranking hands include two-pair and one-pair hands. Two separate pairs produce 2-coin payouts for a 1-coin wager, and a pair of Jacks or better in Jacks or Better games supplies a 1-coin reward for a 1-coin bet.

A high card typically pays nothing in most games. Yet, in some gaming products from this category, you can get some sort of a modest reward for it.

Identifying Full Paytables

These offer the highest possible payouts. Such games are not easy to find, as they result in the highest RTP, and that does not suit operators.

The Impact of Paytables on Expected Value

The paytable also directly affects the EV (Expected Value), which is the average amount you can expect to win/lose per hand over time. For example, in a 9/6 Jacks or Better game, when played with optimal strategy, the EV is positive, thanks to the high payouts for full houses and flushes. In an 8/5 version, the EV is lower on account of the reduced payouts.

Optimal Strategy: Maximizing Your Expected Value

Choosing holds and draws to maximize expected value is something that must get based on math, not what your gut is telling you. Your instinct does not factor in probabilities. It is what you think will happen via held beliefs and biases.

Decision-Making Based on the Initial Hand

It is wise to always hold a pair of jacks and to ditch low pairs. We would also tell you to, as a rule of thumb, keep four to a royal or straight flush over lesser hands while trying to balance payout size against draw probability.

The Importance of Strategy Charts

Without a doubt, playing with a strategy chart next to you, if you are experienced with a given video poker title is the way to go. Different ones exist out there tailored to their specific game. What do they do? They list optimal moves for every hand. For instance, in Jacks or Better, they prioritize a four-card flush over a low pair. In Deuces Wild, they tell you how to leverage wild twos for four of a kind or better.

Common Video Poker Game Variations

Online and offline, you can find different video poker versions, each bringing unique strategic challenges. Below, we dive into giving a brief rundown of four popular variants, once we rank as the most-played ones.

Jacks or Better

If you ask hard-core casino gamblers, we are sure that a decent majority will state the previously cited, Jacks or Better, is the cornerstone of video poker. Winning in this variant, as we discussed before, starts at a pair of jacks or better. Lower pairs don’t count.

We also touched on its history in the intro, and optimal play here entails holding any winning hand (jacks or better up to a royal flush) and chasing four to a royal flush over a high pair.

Deuces Wild

Deuces Wild is a worthy contender to Jacks or Better. There are no two ways about that. Here, all four twos act as wilds. For those who are unaware of what this term means, it is a different way to say joker, or a card that can substitute for any card to form the best hand. Wild cards here transform the game, as, for example, a pair plus and a two in a Deuces Wild game becomes a three of a kind combo.

Deuces Wild got introduced in the 1980s as this genre grew, with its popularity first surging in Nevada casinos. For its gameplay, the standard tactic is to hold any three of a kind or better. Look to leverage the twos – they’re this game’s heart.

Bonus Poker

Bonus Poker is a famed variant that builds on Jacks or Better. It maintains many of the same rules as Jacks or Better, adding bonus payouts for four-of-a-kind hands. These rewards vary by rank—higher for aces, decent for twos to fours, and solid for fives to kings.

From what we know of the history of this version, it emerged in the 1990s introduced by IGT. As far as strategy goes here, bonuses nudge strategy toward quads. Break a full house for four aces if the odds align. Hold three to four aces over a flush draw, and keep two aces over other pairs. Otherwise, stick to Jacks or Better basics.

Double Bonus

Double Bonus cranks up the Bonus Poker version, supplying even larger four-of-a-kind payouts. So, it retains the Jacks or Better framework but doubles down on quad rewards, slashing smaller payouts like two pairs to balance the math. IGT brought Double Bonus machines to market in the late 1990s, looking to cater to gamblers who wanted bigger thrills for video poker gameplay.

Big quad payouts demand bold moves. Break a flush for four aces, hold three to four twos to fours over a full house, and prioritize two aces or twos to fours over straights.

Managing Risk & Variance: Playing the Long Game

Even though we mentioned the importance of strategy in video poker, chance is still the foundation of game outcomes in all titles from this category. Accordingly, to do well in these products, you must accept their result variance and implement bankroll discipline. Let us break down these things and more here.

Understanding Variance

Variance measures result-swings in short-term play. High variance means bigger outcome fluctuations, while low variance means steadier, smaller payouts. Please accept that losing streaks are normal. They will happen even with perfect strategy use. Variance ensures unpredictability.

The Importance of Bankroll Management

You can try to shield yourself against the chaos of variance through bankroll management, which is setting a budget for your video poker gaming fun. That is money you can afford to lose without stress.

Bankroll management also means knowing when to walk away and not doing irresponsible stuff like doubling down on a cold streak. Remember, discipline trumps desperation. Look to figure out base stakes and use time and loss limit settings.

In all forms of gambling, the move to make is to play the long game. In the short term, losses will come, even in full-pay Deuces Wild (100.76% RTP). So, patience is key, and accept that short-term losses don’t mean you’re failing. Casino gambling is not a sprint.

Long-Term Gameplay Strategies

Do not play without variant-specific charts. Practice using free simulators to memorize all the moves for faster play. Hunt for full-pay machines and online games if they are around. Play max coins on lower denominations to stretch your bankroll, quit after doubling your session budget, and set a loss limit that is within your session limit.

Lastly, always look to gamble for fun, not survival. Take breaks and avoid chasing losses. Nothing good can come of aggressive play for recouping losses.

Related Concepts: Connecting Video Poker to Bigger Ideas

Let us have a peek into a bit of math concepts that shape video poker. These can be handy to know if you can understand them and learn how to appropriately implement them in your gameplay on all available options from this category.

Probability Theory

Of course, video poker is all about the odds of what cards you can get. Every draw has a chance. A royal flush, theoretically, occurs in one in every six hundred and fifty thousand hands from scratch. Now, if you’ve got a Ten, Jack, Queen, King, the odds of you getting a Royal Flush is one in forty-seven. Four cards to a flush? You’ve got a 19% chance. Hence, it is easy to see how knowing the probabilities of specific hands landing can help decide your moves.

Statistics & House Return

An RTP of 99.54% in video poker means that for $100 in wagers, the game should pay back $99.54 as rewards. But know that this is what should eventually happen. Short-term luck can mess with these built-in long-term odds. Still, tracking wins and losses can aid you in tweaking your gameplay and managing expectations.

Expected Value (EV) Calculation

EV turns guesses into smart choices. In Jacks or Better, holding a pair of jacks gives you one coin – so the EV is one here. What about four cards to a flush (like two-five-nine-Queen of all spades)? There’s a 19% chance of you getting six coins and an 81% chance of nothing. Total EV = 1.15 coins, which is better than the pair, so hold it. You can use various calculators online to figure out the EV or just ask your favorite AI service to do this for you.

Cool Video Poker Games to Try

Here, we tell you about three of the most enjoyed online video poker products.

Evolution Video Poker Live

This is a novel pick from streaming gaming giant Evolution that came out in 2023 and blends live dealer and RNG-based gameplay. It offers five variations: Jacks or Better, Bonus Poker, Tens or Better, Deuces Wild, and Double Double Bonus Poker. Each of these games has different RTPs. 99.54% for Jacks or Better, 97.96% for Tens or Better, 98.91% for Deuces Wild, 99.17% is the RTP for Bonus Poker, and it is 98.98% for Double Double Bonus Poker.

Aces & Eights

This is a Games Global creation with an RTP of 99.09%, low variance, a betting range that moves from $1.25 to $25, and a max payout of x4,000. It has a heavy old-school Vegas machine vibe with what some people will surely call an outdated visual style. That should not be shocking as it came out in 2015.

All Aces Poker

One of the oldest active online video poker titles. It got released in 2001 and is still on hand in many Internet casino lobbies, where it is a favorite because of its 99.92% RTP.

Conclusion: Playing Video Poker with Knowledge & Confidence

Video poker is a rare game category in the casino gaming sphere where, in some situations, you can get an advantage over the operator offering the game. For video poker play, like in blackjack, you can use a move chart to maximize your winning chances, which is something that gives newbies a proven strategy that will, no doubt, improve their results. Just make sure that you are using a chart for your specific variant.

Additionally, betting max coins whenever possible is essential, as it unlocks the highest payout for a royal flush. The same principles that are valid for responsible play in any casino game also apply here, meaning setting session limits, adjusting bet sizes based on your risk tolerance, avoiding chasing losses, etc., will help you maintain control and extend your playtime.

Also, use quality promotions viable for video poker and practice in demo mode to refine your tactics without incurring any financial risk.

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