Video Poker Rules Explained
Video poker is becoming a very popular game at the casinos. Played on a computerized slot machine, video poker is based on the poker version of five-card draw poker.
The rules to video poker are not much different than playing a hand of poker in real life with other players at the card table. The real difference is playing video poker can be played online or in a casino on a slot machine where other card games can not.
How to play Video Poker
Once you place your bet on the slot machine you need to press the deal button to generate a deal. Usually you will be dealt ten cards at once, but some video poker games will deal you five cards, then you press deal again and then will be dealt the remaining cards. You may throw away as many cards as you see fit and hold the cards you want to keep. Once you press the deal or draw button again the cards you discarded are then replaced with new cards. Hopefully there will be a winning hand. Most of the time a pair of jacks constitutes a winning hand.
Different types of Video Poker
Most video poker games stay within different versions of five card draw poker. However, Jacks or Better is the most popular variant of video poker due to the odds of the payout is higher than most other versions of video poker. Since Jacks or Better is the best payout we will go over the rules of the game to give you an idea of how fun video poker could be.
Jacks or Better Hand Ranks
Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J and 10 of the same suit. It’s the highest-paying hand in pokerStraight Flush: Five consecutive cards in the same suit
Four of a Kind: A hand with four cards of the same value
Full House: Three cards of one value, and two cards of another value
Flush: Any five cards of the same suit, in no particular order.
Straight: Any five consecutive cards not in the same suit.
Three of a Kind - Three cards of the same value
Two Pair: A hand containing two pairs
Pair of Jacks or Better: A pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings or Aces makes up the lowest paying hand.
There are many other video poker games available to play, below is listed a few variations.
All American: Based on Jacks or Better but the focus is on flushes, straights and straight flush
Tens or Better: Minimum pay is a pair of tens rather than jacks
Deuces Wild: Two’s are wild and can be substituted for any other card to make a winning hand
There are many variations of Jacks or Better some even being a progressive jackpot.
With so many different card games out there, most land based and online casinos are trying hard to get them on a slot machine. Many people like to play card games and video poker is one of the fastest growing slot machines out there while real card tables seem to be depleting in the land casinos. There are many other poker tips out there to play video poker, but the best is relax, take your time, know your hand and have fun!
