Video Poker Guide
Poker is one of the most popular games offered in many casinos and there are many variations of the game ranging from video poker to table poker and slots contests. There are many considerations to make when looking to play video poker in online gambling sites.
As one of the oldest games, virtually all casinos offer poker and all of them claim to have the best provision of the game. In order to increase your chances of winning, it is important to learn the game and how it is played.
Here is a detailed descriptive guide on video poker, how it is played, variations of available game and a couple of top casinos that present the best platform to play and win.
About video poker
Video poker has been available in casinos for a long time and can be traced back to 1970s. Some online games present slot machines and designs that are similar to video poker but merely front-end lottery.
Video poker involves a computer-like monitor connected to a central processing unit. The game is based on a 5-card draw poker played on a computerized console that resembles a slot machine. There are several variations of this type of poker and each variation has specific algorithms that govern betting and winning.
How to play
Playing video poker is very easy and this is one of the main reasons why this game is a favorite to many. To play, you must first insert money or a bar-coded paper with credit details. Once the money has been inserted in the machine, the play begins with placing bets. You can place a bet on one or more credits followed by pressing a “deal” button.
The player is then given five cards after dealing and has the opportunity to discard one or more cards replacing them with new ones. There is a restriction on the number of times players can replace cards. After the draw is over, the machine checks available cards and verifies whether the hands match any winning combination which is often posted on the pay table.
The machine then pays out a specific amount to players whose hands match winning combinations. The amount paid depends on a number of factors including how the hands are, the game variation played and decisions made by the game operator. A quintessential video poker game starts with a pair of jacks.
All other hands are similar to table poker and may include the following;
• Two pair hands
• Flush (a set of five similar hands)
• Straight (a set of five different hands)
• Three of a kind
• Four of a kind and
• Royal flush (a set of ten similar hands)
Other playing machines offer progressive jackpot video poker which basically involves placing bets several times and using more coins for a chance to win hefty jackpots. Depending on the site, video poker players can win up to $1,000,000 in jackpot contests among free spins and bonuses.
Video poker variations
As usual, video poker games come in different variations and players need to choose a particular game before dealing. Some of the common variations available in modern casinos include;
• Deuces wild- Wild cards is one of the popular varieties of playing video poker and involves certain dominating cards. In deuces wild, a two (deuces) serves as the wild card although players may choose any particular card and set it for the wild status in other wild card games. The twos are wild replacements that can be discarded for better hands. The payoff given to four of a kind is often a third of the total payback and the four of a kind set appears approximately every fifteen hands.
• Jokers wild – This is basically a wild card variation of video poker where jokers are added as wilds and replaced for stronger cards. It also provides for five-of-a-kind wining hand.
• Pay schedule modification – These are adjectival games (bonus, double, triple) where a specific set of cards pay out enhanced amounts as specified in gaming algorithm.
• Multiplayer poker – In this game, the player begins with a specific base hand and all other additional cards are drawn from a different set of cards with the base hand. This game is often presented in triple-play, five-play and ten-play. Fifty-play and hundred-play are also very popular.
• Full pay poker – This was a very popular variant of video poker when it was first introduced to the market. It is still common today and game variants that attract a low payout were referred to as short pay.
• Jacks or better – Also known as draw poker, this is the most common variant of video poker where payoff starts at a full pair of jacks. The full pay jack or better variant is sometimes referred to as 9/6 because the payout for flush is 6 times the bet and that of full house is 9 times. Other kinds include 9/5 jacks or better, 8/6. 8/5, 7/5 and 6/5 jacks or better.
There are many other variations of video poker including tens or better, all American, double poker, bonus poker, double-double bonus and progressive jackpots.
Top video poker sites
Finding online casino sites to play video poker games should not be a daunting task as there are many in the market. However, each site offers a unique experience and some are better suited to serve than others. Some of the best video poker casino sites include;
Vegas Paradise – As one of the most reputable gambling casino, Vegas paradise offers up to $200 deposit bonus, free spins and various opportunities for winning.
They have many poker games, a swift navigation, ergonomic interface and fair odds.
Jackpot City – This site offers exceptional convenience with access to hundreds of poker games and hefty bonuses of up to $1,600.
They also accept several deposit/withdrawal options and have vigilant customer support frameworks.
Leo Vegas – This is yet another popular casino with fully optimized PC and mobile platforms. They offer 150% deposit bonus with 180 free spins and additional bonuses of up to €700.
The site uses friendly interface, accepts various payment methods and provides numerous casino games including video pokies.
Conclusion
Playing video poker in online casinos is quite easy and presents several opportunities to win big profits. It is important to choose reliable sites such as those mentioned above. These games are very popular and have clearly defined rules that govern winning.
Progressive plays and jackpot slots can attract incredibly huge amounts plus bonuses which is why all gambling sites strive to provide the best video poker experience.
