How to Play Video Poker: Introduction
Learning how to play video poker online and in land-based casinos in the proper way is fundamentally important for your success as a player. The right video poker strategy and expert tips will massively increase your chances of winning so we at How To Bet took care of preparing a detailed guide for all of you. With so much information to share, you should be ready for a deep dive in the details in order to get the most out of your play.
In this guide on how to play video poker, you’ll learn how the game is set up and how it is played. You’ll also get a crash course in approaching the game with a winning video poker strategy so that you increase your chances of winning from the very beginning. All you need to know about online video poker will be laid out for you, as will the info on the video poker odds and video poker payouts.
That’s not all though. Some of the most useful winning video poker tips will also be made available for you to take advantage of. And a list of the top video poker app and website operators with their best promo and bonus offers straight out of our superb online casino index page will get you off on the right foot.
We can also tell you that video poker has one of the smallest house edges in the casino. So, if you play your cards right, you can give yourself a great chance of having a winning session. If that sounds like an attractive deal, read on and learn how to play video poker so that you can get involved.
Let’s not waste anymore of your precious time and go on to win some money!
Playing Video Poker: The Format
There is no one type of video poker. Instead, there are different variants and game variations out there that you can choose from. Fortunately, all video poker games are played to a similar set of rules, because they're loosely based on Five Card Draw poker. They also use the same traditional table poker hand rankings. In other words, if you know how to play one video poker game, you won't find it difficult to pick up the others.
In the majority of video poker games, a bet is placed and the player is dealt five starting cards. The player then looks at those cards to see what hand he has or what hand he has a chance of making. He can then choose to discard as few or as many cards as he wants. Discarded cards are replaced with new ones and the five-card hand is assessed automatically.
If the final five-card hand is a winner, then the corresponding prize for that hand will be paid. The better the hand, the bigger the payout. Of course, if the final hand isn't a winner then no prize will be paid and the bet will lose.
As you can see, the basic procedure is very straightforward, so we'll now look at how it applies to two of the most popular video poker games around - Jacks or Better and Joker's Wild.
Video Poker Jacks or Better
The video poker Jacks or Better game is the most common around, and consequently, the most popular. This game uses a standard deck of 52 playing cards and plays exactly like the outline above. However, as the name of the game suggests, you must have a pair of Jacks or better for your bet to win.
The video poker payouts here are made according to a predetermined pay table, and a typical one is illustrated below. Bear in mind that payouts only apply to the highest hand value you are holding. So, if you have four of a kind, you will not get paid for three of a kind as well, even though, technically, you have it in your hand.
Jacks or Better Typical Pay Table
| Hand | Payout |
| Royal Flush | 250x (4000x bonus with max coins paid) |
| Straight Flush | 50x |
| Four of a Kind | 25x |
| Full House | 6x to 9x |
| Flush | 5x or 6x |
| Straight | 4x |
| Three of a Kind | 3x |
| Two Pair | 2x |
| Pair of Kings or Better | 1x |
Jacks or Better Video Poker Strategy
There are countless books that have been written on Jacks or Better video poker strategy, and you will probably want to take a look at a few of them, especially if you intend to play this game regularly. In the meantime, here are a few key strategies that could help you to get off to a winning start.
- If you have been dealt four to a Straight or a Flush, hold all four cards and draw one.
- If you have been dealt three to a Royal Flush, hold those three cards and draw two.
- When you have been dealt any Pair, you should hold the pair and draw three cards.
- Hold any three cards to a Straight Flush.
- If you have none of the above, hold any cards that are higher than the Jack inclusive.
- If you have none of the above, bin them all, draw five new cards and hope for the best.
Joker's Wild
The Joker's Wild video poker game uses 53 playing cards in total - a standard 52 card deck plus one Joker. The Joker serves as a 'wild card', which means that it can substitute for any other card in the deck. For example, if you have 4-4-4-3 and the Joker, you would be paid for Four-of-a-Kind, as that's the best hand that could be made.
You should note that the presence of the Joker in the deck makes winning hands easier to achieve, so you will usually need a pair of Kings or better to win. The Joker also makes it possible to create a whole new hand, namely the Five-of-a-Kind. The full pay table for a typical Joker's Wild game would look something like this:
Joker's Wild Typical Pay Table
| Hand | Payout |
| Royal Flush (without joker) | 250x (4000x bonus with max coins paid) |
| Five of a Kind | 200x |
| Royal Flush | (with joker) 100x |
| Straight Flush | 40x or 50x |
| Four of a Kind | 15x to 20x |
| Full House | 5x to 8x |
| Flush | 5x |
| Straight | 3x |
| Three of a Kind | 2x |
| Two Pair | 1x |
| Pair of Kings or Better | 1x |
Joker's Wild Video Poker Strategy
Because Joker's Wild is very similar to Jacks or Better, the video poker strategy tips given earlier can also be applied to this game. However, you might also want to add the following strategies too:
- Hold on to all Three-of-a-Kind hands and higher, especially if holding a Joker.
- Keep all four cards that lead to a big paying hand.
- Hold on to three cards that lead to a big paying hand, if you are holding a Joker.
More Video Poker Variations
Now that you know how to play video poker versions like Jacks or Better and Joker's Wild, you can start exploring plenty of other variants. Some of the most popular are:
- Deuces Wild
- Tens or Better
- Bonus Poker
- Joker Poker
- Double Bonus Poker
Video Poker Tips
After knowing some bits of the best video poker strategy for the most common games, now’s the time to expand your arsenal with useful video poker tips. They will increase your chances of winning significantly so take advantage of them as often as possible.
- Benefit from bonus & promo offers: They will give you extra ammunition in a game with a very low house edge.
- Manage your bankroll: Budget for hundreds of bets and don’t put all your eggs in one basket as bad luck could be just around the corner.
- Go for the progressive bonus machines: Try those with some kind of progressive jackpot attached to them.
- Take advantage of the loyalty program: Accumulate points as you play, especially at high payout machines and you will see your overall bankroll in a much better shape.
- Pace yourself: When you are testing the optimal video poker strategy, high speed playing can make you miss important details. Don’t worry, you’ll be way faster in the future.
- Avoid machines with lower payout percentages.
When you’re thinking of how to win at video poker, always go back to our expert advice. All the aforementioned video poker tips were tested multiple times and the results are stunning. Now go to an app or website offering the best video poker odds, combined with the most appealing bonuses and promotions, and try online your newly acquired skills.
Video Poker Odds
Everyone knows that the stronger hands happen less frequently compared to the weaker. The matter of fact though is that the video poker odds of hitting a higher ranking hand are dependent on the specific kind of game you are playing. The good news is that the probabilities with the most popular video poker games are well known. We at How To Bet will show you these initial odds so that you can decide how to play in the most informed manner possible.
Initial Video Poker Odds
Here are the initial video poker odds. Keep in mind that they will change significantly after the player chooses which cards to hold and which cards to discard, but there are too many options to list here.
| Hand | Odds |
| Royal Flush | 649,740 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 72,193 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind | 4,165 to 1 |
| Full House | 694 to 1 |
| Flush | 509 to 1 |
| Straight | 255 to 1 |
| Three of a kind | 47 to 1 |
| Two Pairs | 21 to 1 |
| Pair J, Q, K or A | 7.69 to 1 |
| Any Pair | 2.37 to 1 |
Video Poker Payouts
Some good news for you if you’re in this game for the winning feeling. The video poker payouts percentage in an average game is 96% or higher. (Frauds like these two men got to 100% by using technological tricks.) This is better in comparison with an average slot machine game (95% or lower).
It would be really hard to find a game with a video poker payouts percentage lower than 90%, while with slots it’s not that difficult to discover games with payback percentages ranging between 75%-80%. So go to your video poker online casino and start winning right away!
Where to Play Video Poker Online
That, in a nutshell, is how to play video poker. So the next question is where to play. Well, you certainly aren't short of options. Almost all casinos offer at least one and in many cases multiple video poker online variants, and some will give you scores of different games to choose from. They have produced excellent video poker app mobile options and also absolutely outstanding website options for each and every fan of the game, so don’t hesitate to use them.
Take a look at the games available at the casinos which operate in your own state and form part of the online gambling USA picture. Try them all to see which ones you like playing the most. Some recommended online casinos that you might like to start with are highlighted below.
