Most users of online casinos prefer video poker as one of the most exciting games of chance that can bring real fun to the player. It differs from ordinary poker and has some particular features that are worth being explored in detail. For those who wish to mix up entertainment with potential winnings, real money video poker offers a combination of entertainment and reward that is just ideal.
What is Video Poker?
To play video poker, you should be familiar with at least the fundamentals of ordinary poker. Similar to the real game, the player is dealt five randomly selected cards by the machine and then must decide what actions to take in order to win.
Although general poker information is needed, real and virtual poker differences should be noted. The most notable difference is that the competition is not between individuals but between the player and the computer. That is, there is no need to hide feelings, interpret others' motives, bluff, or mislead anyone.
Key Features of Video Poker
The following are the main features of video poker:
- Players can move at their own pace, without having to adapt to others. Since there are no opponents, nothing interrupts the concentration on the game.
- No bluffing or deception is required—acting skill is irrelevant here. Words like raising, checking, or bluffing have no place.
- There is a set cost per hand. You can lose at most what you bet, unlike the standard poker where stakes can rise significantly.
- The Ace is no good card—three Aces are equivalent to three fives.
- Video poker can be played at any part of the day without waiting for other players to show up.
- No working out of the plan of an opponent since you are playing against a payout table, not other people.
- The Royal Flush carries very high value in video poker and most likely has a jackpot with it, thus qualifying it as a goldmine.
- If a player has a good hand, he will win all the time, provided that it is a winning hand. In live poker, even a full house can lose to a straight flush.
Why Video Poker?
One of the most strong arguments for why individuals are drawn to video poker is that it has an extremely low house edge. All one needs to do is learn the basic strategy—neither has to be a pro. It's great for relaxing and taking home substantial awards.
Common Types of Video Poker
Both internet and brick-and-mortar casinos offer a wide range of video poker games. They differ in their complexity and ease of play as well as return from low to high. Over a hundred types exist, but most are variations of the classic versions like 9/6 Jacks or Better or Deuces Wild. The major difference between them is the payout tables, which have a huge effect on the return-to-player (RTP) percentage.
Some video poker machines have wild cards—jokers, deuces, or otherwise designated cards that can be used to substitute in order to complete winning hands. Some versions offer greater payouts for specific hands, like four eights.
Jacks or Better
This is the simplest version of video poker and a popular one among beginners. In 9/6, it has a decent RTP of 99.54%. The only significant disadvantage is lower payouts. If a player ends up with Jacks or better, they win an amount equal to their wager.
Most full-pay versions have an extra bonus double-up feature, where players can select four face-down cards to defeat the dealer's face-up card to double the winnings.
Deuces Wild
The most common version is a standard 52-card deck with all four twos being wild cards. Three of a kind is the lowest-paying hand, and four deuces is the second-best hand after the Royal Flush.
Wild cards increase your chances of winning, but casinos adjust for this, so the RTP isn’t as consistently high. Still, with optimal play and max bets, the game can offer a return of up to 100.76%.
Tens or Better
Similar to Jacks or Better, with the lowest winning hand being a pair of tens to enhance the chances of a win. The paytable consists of lesser and more frequent wins with full payment for flushes and full houses.
There is a double-or-nothing bonus feature and an RTP of about 99.13%, depending on the payout structure.
Bonus Poker
Based on Jacks or Better, Bonus Poker has better rewards for four-of-a-kind combinations. Two Jacks is the lowest-paying hand.
- Four Aces = 80 coins/1-coin bet
- Four 2s, 3s, or 4s = 40 coins
- Four 5s to Kings = 25 coins
The 8/5 full-pay version has an RTP of 99.17% and is the novice's version due to the relatively simple strategy.
Other versions like Double Bonus Poker (10/7) offer still better RTPs of even 100.17% by giving bonus rewards for all hands of four-of-a-kind.
Aces and Faces
This variation uses a 52-card deck and pays out from a hand of Jacks. It offers higher payouts for four Aces and face cards (Jack, Queen, King). The 8/5 version offers a 99.26% RTP, while other versions with a 7/6 or 7/5 ratio drop the RTP to 99.2% and 99.1% respectively. The 6/5 version drops down to about 97%, offering a higher house edge.
Joker Poker
Joker Poker is suitable to both beginners and veteran players. It uses 53 cards—one extra card from a standard deck plus a Joker, who acts as a wild card.
Winning hands start at a higher level than other video poker games. The player has to build combinations with the Joker. As there are better possibilities of achieving a winning hand, the game is most wanted, particularly the 7/5 payout version.
