Video Poker

Video Poker is fast and fun but it does require a lot on the part of the player. To play the game successfully you have to think! Unlike regular slot machines, video poker is an interactive machine game because the player chooses which cards to keep and which to discard. It’s based on five-card draw poker, which is relatively easy to learn and quick to understand. The player has a great amount of control in this game. He or she can pick what type of machine to play, what amount to wager, and have an excellent edge against the house when played correctly. As you have read in this newsletter previously, there are only five games that are considered “skilled”, (blackjack, poker, horse racing, sports betting and video poker). There are many people out there that make a living playing these “skill” games. On the other hand, it’s a fact that there are no professional craps, slot or roulette players any where in the world, since those games are all considered games of “chance.” So, if you play slots or are looking for a diversion from your regular game, video poker could be your game of choice.

To master the game requires two things on the part of the player. First, knowledge of which machines to play. Video poker machines vary greatly, even when sitting side by side. They might look the same, but the payout can be quite different. A Jacks or Better machine can vary from a low payout of 93% to a high of 99.5%, which can have a major impact on your win-rate. There are also Double Bonus machines that have payouts of over 100%. For example, Deuces Wild has payouts starting at 100.76%. The second thing you need to do is play perfect strategy. The playing strategy for Jacks or Better is different than Deuces Wild, which is different than Joker Wild. There are lots of books out there today that will give you the strategy for each of those different machines, plus you can find lots of help on the Internet. Knowledge is what makes winners. Find it, use it and you too will be a winner.