While it might not get the same press and fanfare as poker, video poker remains an enigma in casinos, including online casinos. The history of video poker is intriguing, with its roots dating back to the 1970s. A combination of slots and mainstream poker games like Stud poker, video poker continues to have a gaming category of its own, with new variants surfacing at iGaming sites.
Like any other casino game, learning the video poker ropes, calculating the odds, and understanding the most popular titles is essential for winnings. Consider this video poker guide your bible for getting the most out of this unique casino game genre.
Different Video Poker Variations: Deuces Wild, Jacks Or Better, More
While it might not offer as many diverse options as slots or poker, video poker has enough of a following dating back to the 1980s, and with essential variants like Aces and Eights to draw players into its gating web. Jacks or Better consistently ranks near the top of the options. With Jacks or Better, players strive to have a pair no lower than Jack cards, hence the title, Jacks or Better.
Deuces Wild also ranks high among video poker players. With Deuces Wild, all the cards with the number two, regardless of the suite, are the wild symbols, so players contend to have the highest hand with the choice of substituting other cards. As a result, Deuces Wild involves a lot of strategy and draws many traditional poker players.
Double Bonus Poker, in recent years, has grown so popular that it is near the top of Video poker variants. The appeal to Double Bonus Poker is receiving additional payouts for getting four-of-a-kin, with the highest payouts coming from aces. As a result of the high-risk odds, Double Bonus Poker and its personal variant, Double Double Bonus Poker, are geared for players who can afford higher stakes because the odds favor the house that they won’t get four-of-a-kind.
Joker Poker is another beloved video poker option similar to Deuces Wild. However, instead of the deuce cards acting wild, the jokers are the wild cards. Because there are only two jokers in a playing deck, players must devise different strategies to win the joker or not.
Other notable video poker games include Bonus Poker and Double Bonus Poker. Before playing your preferred video poker game, it’s always a wise bet to read about the rules and study strategy because video poker games operate differently and don’t always follow traditional poker conventions.
Essential Video Poker Terminology Every Casual Player Should Know
If you’re just looking to play some casual video poker hands, understanding the basic terminology is a good idea. For the most part, if you come from a regular poker background, you’ll automatically be familiar with terms like hand, deal, and hold. Other similar poker terms used by video poker are high card, flush, straight, and three-of-a-kind. But video poker offers multi-hand play, especially those among regular money and sweepstakes casino games. This means players can play several games at once, so they don’t have to wait for a new hand to begin.
Tips & Strategies For Beginning Video Poker Players
Of course, you can refer to this guide for tips on understanding video poker basics. In terms of games, another smart bet would be to begin with Jacks or Better because it involves little strategy. All you have to do to win is have a hand with a pair of Jacks or higher. Also, consider having a budget that you can afford to lose. That way, you can live to play another day and not develop a gambling addiction.
If you’re playing video poker online, there might be bonuses and promotions that you can use to pad your bankroll. Also, if the online or social casino provides it, you might play some practice rounds so you don’t have to risk any money while you get the hang of your preferred video poker games.
How To Calculate Video Poker Odds & Improve Your Chances Of Winning
To calculate video poker odds best, you must first understand how the different hands work and the winnings associated with them. For example, in Joker Poker, the odds aren’t typically high that you will win with a joker because there are only two joker cards in a hand. However, Jacks or Better or Deuces Wild offer more favorable odds because you have the chance of landing four Jacks, four Aces, and four Deuces.
