Video Poker – trying this game for the first time

These days, there are so many new online casino games out there. If you are a novice online casino player or are tired of throwing your money away on slots, consider giving video poker a try. This game is not new to online casinos, but it offers poker players a different strategy and is not as intimidating as playing poker against other players may be. Where regular table poker games are good in the way that they are played against other players and not the house, video poker is good for players who do not want to play against other player’s abilities.

This article will go over some of the best ways to determine if this online casino game is for you. If this is the online casino game of your choosing, we will also be going over how to pick the right video poker game for you. After all, there is more to playing this game than a simple click of your mouse. Assuming you already understand the basics of poker in general – meaning hand ranks, this article will be the next step for you to take in becoming a good online casino video poker player.

First and foremost, table poker games and video poker games are not the same. Yes, hand ranking is the same, but that is where the similarities really end between the two. Remember, when playing video poker, you are playing against the machine/house not other players. It is just you against the machine. Not all video poker machines are the same either. Yes, there are different games, like Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild. But each machine, even if there is a bank of the same game in a row – they may have different payout schedules – even if they are the same game. So, there are a few things you need to understand before you jump right in to playing. Online casinos and land casinos alike will have different payout schedules for different machines.

This online casino game is perfect for players who know how to play poker, but do not feel as if they are ready or want to play against other actual players. Video poker is a game of skill, but it is intimidating than playing against other online casinos players. This game takes more thought than slots does, but video poker players have more control when playing this game. You just have to understand how to make the best decisions in this online casino game. Unfortunately, not making the correct decisions on how to play the hand itself and how to pick the right machine, are the most common misfortunes in this casino game.

Playing Video Poker

There are many different variations of video poker, most machines are based on the classic poker game of 5 card draw. Meaning, you are given 5 cards randomly from a deck of 52 cards (some video poker games use jokers, too). After you have been dealt your five random cards by the machine, you have a chance of improving you hand by drawing. You decide which cards you want to keep and are dealt replacement cards for the ones you throw away.

Remember, video poker and table poker games are strategically played in two totally different ways. In this game you are not playing based on any playing decisions made by other players and their respective hands. With video poker, your success at playing will come from the relativity of the payout schedule of the specific machine you are playing. The actual payout schedule is of major importance in video poker games. When you first go to play this game at online casinos, try the free practice games first. Known as flash sessions or free practice areas, you will want to play at casinos online that provide this feature. This will allow you to get familiar with the specific software used. You will be able to familiarize your self with the exactness in which the specific game you want to play is played. There is no reason why you should spend your hard earned money on figuring out any online casino game. Once you have found the casino that you want to play this game at, and have familiarized yourself with the software, you want to find the best pay tables you can.

Pay Tables

The most vital part of starting to play any video poker game is the pay table that comes with. Quite frankly, the pay table will take away any mystery the game has. The pay table is the key to understanding whether the game is worth your precious time or not. Different than slots, the pay table on your video poker machine is not about the flashy jackpots, it tells you how much a game pays you back if played perfectly.

First, and very important, you will see that the table is scaled according to how many coins or credits you play. Meaning, you may get twice the payoff for playing two coins as opposed to one coin and so on. Now, this does not change the odds of you getting a certain hand, it just determines our payout for certain hands you get. Pay tables will vary from game to game, machine to machine, and from online casino to online casino. Always make sure you read and understand the specific machine’s payout schedule first – before you wager anything. If you are a beginner, try Jacks or Better first. This is the most basic and classic of video poker games and the pay schedule is a cinch to understand. Once you feel you have the understanding of this video poker game, move on to some of the newer flashier games that have different rules.

Picking the best machines

Now that you know that the pay schedule on the machine is affected by each coin played, here are some tips that will be helpful to you when deciding which machines to play.

-          Read what’s in front of you. Casinos have no problems with setting payoffs on certain hands lower than the usual amount that they should be paid at. Such changes can be seen any where on the pay table, so look and read what is in front of you. There is no sense in playing a machine that pays you a tiny amount for a difficult to get winning hand.

-          Always be on the look out for cuts being made on the pay outs of common hands. Yes, huge pay outs from hitting the rare hands are very alluring, just do not forget that common hands are your bread and butter. You want to find a machine that pays what it should for common hands, too. Do not get caught up in playing a machine that only pays well for the rare hands, you will lose money chasing these pay outs, they are what they are – rare.

-          Unless you are a fantastic video poker player with a big bankroll, stay away from the new video poker games out there. Typically, these newer games have great pay outs for the rare hands and imaginative combos, but these are the games that substitute entertainment value for large pay outs for common hands. They are flashy and exciting and if you are out for entertainment with low pay outs, they are the games for you then.

-          Try not to judge a book by its cover in video poker. You will no doubt quickly stumble upon names like Double Bonus, Double Double Bonus and so on. Do not let the name fool you into thinking that they pay so much more. In fact, Double Double Bonus pays less than Double Bonus. It is all the side bets and bonuses that tear you away from getting paid for the hands you will no doubt be getting more commonly.

-          Finding the best video poker games may take some time, but this is time well spent. They are out there. From online casinos to online casino, video poker game pay outs vary. Look for full pay machines.

-          Even though selecting a machine that has the best pay schedules is important, you still need to know how to actually play the game first. Be sure you know the proper strategy for each game first. If you constantly make the worst decisions about which hands to try for and play, the payout schedule will not matter anyway.

So, now that you understand a few things about video poker and finding the best machines, here is a little sample of strategy for the two most common video poker games. Remember, video poker and regular table poker games are not played under the same strategies.

If you are going to play Jack or Better, here are a couple quick strategy tips you will want to know:

-          Never keep a kicker. A kicker is an extra high card along with a pair. Ditch it when playing this video poker game. It does nothing for you statistically.

-          Never try to draw to an inside straight, unless you are holding at least three high cards. Even four high cards are recommended. Understand here, J-Q-K-A is an inside straight. There is only one rank of card than can make the hand – a ten.

-          You will not want to keep 3 cards to a straight or flush – but you will want to keep 3 cards towards a straight flush in some circumstances when playing video poker at online casinos.

-          Strategy charts are important when playing this game. Follow them to the tee for best results. Do not go breaking up a full house or two pair because you are thirsty for a big payout from going all out to get 4 of a kind. It is not worth the risk.

If you are going to play Deuces Wild, here are few quick tips on this game’s strategy:

-          The only single card you will want to keep playing this video poker game is a 2. Do nothing on to that ace because it is a high card. When you play a video poker game with wild cards it just does not pay to hang on to that high card.

-          The only time you would ever consider throwing away a 2 in this game is if you are going for a natural royal flush. This will be such a rare instance, but it is worth mentioning because a natural royal will payoff much, much higher than one using a wild card does. Still, it is recommended to keep the 2. Getting the natural royal is such a massive pipe dream that it is just not worth the risk in the end.

-          With Deuces Wild, as a general rule of thumb, do not play any machine that pays less than 5 for 1 on 4 of a kind.

-          When playing Deuces Wild, 4 of a kind hands are your sustaining nourishment when it comes to winning hands. A 4 of a kind will account for close to 33% of your total return playing this video poker game. This fact should clarify certain strategy decisions you should make – like keeping a pair over a four card flush. Now, this also will explain to you why a lull in 4 of a kind can make your bankroll vaporize swiftly. On average 4 of a kind will show approximately every fifteen hands.

-          There you have it, a basic understanding and insight into this very fun casino game. Most all online casinos offer at less a couple video poker games that you can choose from. Most online gambling software companies include a new video poker game in their latest line ups, so be on the look out. Just remember, the flashier the video poker game, the more entertainment you will get out of it – and usually the less pay outs.

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