Video Poker
Beginner's Guide
What is Video Poker?
Video Poker is a strategic casino game that combines the excitement of poker with the convenience of slot machines. Unlike pure luck games, Video Poker involves skill and decision-making - you can actually improve your odds by making smart choices about which cards to keep and which to discard.
The game follows traditional poker hand rankings, and you have the opportunity to replace cards to form the best possible 5-card poker hand. This makes it one of the best casino games for players who want some control over their destiny!
How It Works
Game Flow
Place Your Bet: Choose your wager amount
Get Initial Hand: Receive 5 random cards
Make Decisions: Choose which cards to keep or discard
Get Replacement Cards: Receive new cards for those you discarded
Final Evaluation: Get paid based on your final poker hand
Strategic Element
Unlike slots or roulette, your decisions matter in Video Poker. Choosing the right cards to keep can dramatically improve your expected return, making this a game of skill as well as luck.
Poker Hand Rankings & Payouts
From lowest to highest paying hands:
1. Jacks or Better (1x payout)
Hand: A pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces
Example: J♠ J♥ 7♣ 4♦ 2♠
Strategy: Break even - get your bet back
Frequency: ~21% of hands
2. Two Pair (2x payout)
Hand: Two different pairs
Example: K♠ K♦ 8♣ 8♥ 3♠
Payout: Double your bet
Frequency: ~13% of hands
3. Three of a Kind (3x payout)
Hand: Three cards of the same rank
Example: 9♠ 9♦ 9♣ A♥ 5♠
Payout: Triple your bet
Frequency: ~7% of hands
4. Straight (5x payout)
Hand: Five consecutive cards (any suits)
Example: 5♠ 6♦ 7♣ 8♥ 9♠
Special: Ace can be high (A-K-Q-J-10) or low (A-2-3-4-5)
Frequency: ~1% of hands
5. Flush (6x payout)
Hand: Five cards of the same suit
Example: K♠ 9♠ 7♠ 4♠ 2♠
Payout: 6x your bet
Frequency: ~0.2% of hands
6. Full House (8x payout)
Hand: Three of a kind + a pair
Example: Q♠ Q♦ Q♣ 7♥ 7♠
Payout: 8x your bet
Frequency: ~0.14% of hands
7. Four of a Kind (30x payout)
Hand: Four cards of the same rank
Example: 8♠ 8♦ 8♣ 8♥ K♠
Payout: 30x your bet
Frequency: ~0.024% of hands
8. Straight Flush (50x payout)
Hand: Five consecutive cards of the same suit
Example: 6♠ 7♠ 8♠ 9♠ 10♠
Payout: 50x your bet
Frequency: ~0.0015% of hands
9. Royal Flush (100x payout)
Hand: A-K-Q-J-10 all of the same suit
Example: A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠
Payout: 100x your bet (JACKPOT!)
Frequency: ~0.00015% of hands
Sample Game Scenarios
Example 1: Smart Hold Strategy
Initial Hand: A♠ A♦ K♣ 8♥ 3♠ Decision: Hold the pair of Aces, discard K♣ 8♥ 3♠ Replacement Cards: A♣ 7♦ 5♠ Final Hand: A♠ A♦ A♣ 7♦ 5♠ (Three of a Kind) Result: 3x payout - $30 from a $10 bet
Example 2: Chasing the Big Hand
Initial Hand: 9♠ 10♠ J♠ Q♣ 2♦ Decision: Hold 9♠ 10♠ J♠, discard Q♣ 2♦ (going for straight flush) Replacement Cards: K♠ 8♠ Final Hand: 8♠ 9♠ 10♠ J♠ K♠ (Straight Flush!) Result: 50x payout - $500 from a $10 bet!
Example 3: Conservative Play
Initial Hand: J♥ J♠ 4♣ 9♦ K♠ Decision: Hold J♥ J♠, discard 4♣ 9♦ K♠ Replacement Cards: 7♦ 2♣ 5♥ Final Hand: J♥ J♠ 7♦ 2♣ 5♥ (Jacks or Better) Result: 1x payout - $10 from a $10 bet (break even)
Example 4: The Bad Beat
Initial Hand: 2♠ 7♦ 9♣ J♥ K♠ (no pairs, no draws) Decision: Hold K♠ J♥, discard 2♠ 7♦ 9♣ Replacement Cards: 3♦ 8♣ 4♥ Final Hand: 3♦ 4♥ 8♣ J♥ K♠ (no winning combination) Result: 0x payout - lose $10 bet
Basic Strategy Guide
High Priority Holds
Always keep these hands:
Royal Flush draw (4 cards to royal)
Straight Flush draw (4 cards to straight flush)
Four of a Kind
Full House
Flush
Straight
Three of a Kind
Medium Priority Holds
Consider keeping:
High pairs (Jacks, Queens, Kings, Aces)
Four cards to a flush
Four cards to a straight (open-ended)
Two pair
Low Priority Holds
Sometimes keep:
Low pairs (2s through 10s) - only if no better options
Three cards to a straight flush
High cards (J, Q, K, A) when you have nothing else
Never Hold
Single low cards (2-10 unless part of a draw)
Disconnected cards with no potential
Decision-Making Examples
Scenario 1: A♠ K♠ Q♠ 7♦ 3♣
Options:
Hold A♠ K♠ Q♠ (3 to royal flush) ✅ BEST
Hold A♠ K♠ (high cards)
Hold nothing and draw 5 new cards
Scenario 2: 8♠ 8♦ A♣ K♥ Q♠
Options:
Hold 8♠ 8♦ (low pair) ✅ BEST
Hold A♣ K♥ Q♠ (high cards)
The pair, even though low, has better expected value
Scenario 3: 9♠ 10♦ J♣ Q♥ A♠
Options:
Hold 9♠ 10♦ J♣ Q♥ (4 to straight) ✅ BEST
Hold A♠ (high card)
The straight draw has much better potential
Bankroll Management
Conservative Approach
Bet Size: 2-5% of total bankroll per hand
Strategy: Focus on making optimal basic strategy decisions
Goal: Steady gameplay with occasional bigger wins
Expected: Slow, grinding action with good bankroll preservation
Moderate Approach
Bet Size: 5-8% of bankroll per hand
Strategy: Optimal play with some calculated risks on big draws
Goal: Balance of excitement and longevity
Expected: Reasonable variance with potential for significant wins
Aggressive Approach
Bet Size: 10%+ of bankroll per hand
Strategy: Go for big hands, take risks on royal flush draws
Goal: Hit big or go home quickly
Expected: High variance, boom or bust sessions
Understanding Return to Player (RTP)
With Perfect Play
Theoretical RTP: ~99.5% (varies by exact pay table)
House Edge: ~0.5%
Meaning: Best odds in the casino when played correctly
With Poor Play
RTP can drop to: 85-90%
House Edge increases to: 10-15%
Meaning: Bad decisions dramatically hurt your odds
The Skill Factor
Video Poker rewards knowledge and good decision-making more than any other casino game. Learning proper strategy can improve your RTP by 10-15%!
Common Beginner Mistakes
Holding Too Many Cards
Mistake: Keeping 4 random cards hoping for a miracle
Reality: Usually better to hold fewer cards and improve your draw odds
Solution: Focus on hands with real potential
Breaking Up Winning Hands
Mistake: Discarding from a paying hand to chase a bigger one
Reality: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
Solution: Only break up winners for very strong draws
Ignoring Basic Strategy
Mistake: Playing by "gut feeling" instead of mathematics
Reality: Every decision has an optimal mathematical choice
Solution: Study and practice basic strategy charts
Poor Bankroll Management
Mistake: Betting too much per hand relative to bankroll
Reality: Video Poker has variance - you need staying power
Solution: Size bets appropriately for extended play
Tips for Success
Learn Basic Strategy
Study which hands to hold in different situations
Practice with free games before playing for money
Use strategy cards or apps when starting out
Understand the Pay Table
Different casinos may offer different payouts
Always check what each hand pays before playing
Look for the best pay tables available
Manage Your Bankroll
Set aside money specifically for Video Poker
Don't bet more than you can afford to lose
Take breaks when you're winning or losing significantly
Stay Disciplined
Don't chase losses with bigger bets
Stick to optimal strategy even when it feels wrong
Accept that variance is part of the game
The Bottom Line
Video Poker is unique among casino games because skill matters. While you can't control which cards you're dealt, you can control which ones you keep, and good decision-making significantly improves your odds of winning.
Perfect for: Players who enjoy poker, want some control over their destiny, and are willing to learn optimal strategy to get the best possible odds.
Remember: Video Poker offers some of the best odds in the casino, but only if you play correctly. Poor strategy can turn a good game into a bad one, while optimal play gives you nearly even odds against the house.
Key insight: This is a marathon, not a sprint. Success in Video Poker comes from making good decisions consistently over time, not from getting lucky on individual hands. The players who do best are those who learn the strategy, manage their bankroll well, and understand that short-term variance is just part of the game.
Ready to deal yourself in? Learn the basics, start small, and remember - in Video Poker, good decisions pay off in the long run!
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