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Video Poker Basics
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Introduction
Video poker made its entry to the casino in the seventies; and is today one of the most popular forms of gambling. For the player who likes a game of skill, a low house edge, the possibility of large wins, and the anonymity of playing alone there is nothing else that can compare to video poker. The rules of video poker are simple; you play 1 to 5 coins, the machine give you five cards, you choose which to hold and which to discard, the machine replaces your discards and pays you off according to the value of your hand.
There's a saying that the casino always has the upper hand. However, video poker offers a unique chance to flip the script. By selecting pay tables that are most favorable and adhering to optimal play strategies, a player can gain a slight edge. Some payout structures, even if they seem to favor the machine overall, can yield returns exceeding 100% when considering promotions, cashback, and complimentary offers.
Rules
Here are the basic rules for playing standard video poker:
- Most video poker variations utilize a regular deck of 52 playing cards. Notably, joker wild versions will incorporate jokers into the mix.
- Once you place a bet and hit the 'deal' button, five cards are drawn randomly from the deck and presented to the player.
- The player then decides which cards to keep and which ones to discard.
- The game will replace the discarded cards with new, randomly selected cards from the remaining deck.
- Payouts are based on the poker hand's value in relation to the established pay table.
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Playing Strategy
Conventional video poker:
- 9-6 Jacks or Better simple strategy (99.46%)
- Intermediate strategy for 9-6 Jacks or Better (99.52%)
- 9-6 Jacks or Better optimal strategy (99.54%)
- 9/5 Jacks or Better (98.44%)
- 8/6 Jacks or Better (98.39%)
- Intermediate strategy for 'Not So Ugly Ducks' (Deuces Wild)
- Simple strategy for Full-Pay Deuces Wild (100.71%)
- Optimal strategy for Full-Pay Deuces Wild (100.76%)
- 20-12-9 Deuces Wild (98.94%)
- 9/4/4 Bonus Deuces (99.45%)
- 13/4/3 Bonus Deuces (98.80%)
- 8/5 Bonus Poker basic strategy
- 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe (99.64%)
- 10/7 Double Bonus basic strategy (100.17%)
- 9/7/5 Double Bonus basic strategy (99.11%)
- 10/6 Double Double Bonus (100.07%)
- 9/6 Double Double Bonus (98.98%)
- Optimal strategy for 8/5 Super Aces Bonus Poker (99.94%)
Quick Quads strategies:
- 9/6 Jacks or Better Quick Quads
- 8/5 Bonus Poker Quick Quads
- 9/7 Double Bonus Quick Quads
- 9/6 Double Double Bonus Quick Quads
- 8/5 Triple Bonus Quick Quads
Ultimate X strategies:
Ultimate X Bonus Streak strategies:
Online Video Poker Casino Bonuses View All
Return Tables
- 2 Ways Royal
- 2nd Chance Royal
- 3-Way Action
- 4-5 Bonus Poker
- Ace & Deuce Bonus Poker
- Ace Invaders
- Ace on the Deal
- ACE$ Bonus Poker
- Aces and Eights
- Aces and Faces
- Acey Deucey Poker
- All Aces Video Poker
- All American
- American Poker
- Anything's Wild Video Poker
- Atomic Fever
- Barnyard Poker
- Big City 4s
- Big Split Poker
- Big Times Draw Poker
- Big Win Poker
- Black Jack Bonus Poker
- Bonus Deuces Wild
- Bonus Poker
- Bonus Poker Deluxe
- Bonus Poker Plus
- Bonus Royals Video Poker
- Bonus Video Poker
- Build a Wheel Poker
- Chase The Royal
- Color Match Royals
- Deal or No Deal Poker
- Deuce on the Deal
- Deuces and Joker Wild
- Deuces Wild
- Deuces Wild Double Double Bonus
- Dice Fever
- Double Aces and Faces
- Double Big Wheel Poker
- Double Bonus
- Double Bonus Deuces Wild
- Double Bonus Poker Plus
- Double Deuces
- Double Double Aces & Faces
- Double Double Bonus
- Double Double Bonus Poker Plus
- Double Double Jackpot
- Double Draw Aces
- Double Draw Poker
- Double Jackpot Poker
- Double Joker
- Double Pay Poker/Deal Draw Poker
- Double Super Times Pay
- Draw 6 Poker
- Draw Poker with Dream Card
- Draw Poker with Match Card
- Dream Card Poker
- Dual Action Poker
- Extra Action Poker
- Extra Draw Frenzy
- Extreme X Poker
- Face Card Frenzy
- Faces n\" Deuces
- Fast Fours
- Fever Aces
- Fire Poker
- Five Aces Poker
- Five Joker Poker
- Flex Change Poker
- Flip & Pay Poker
- Flush Fever
- Flush Fever - Nevada Variant
- Fortune X Poker
- Full House Bonus Poker
- Full House Plus Wheel Poker
- Going for Fours
- Good Times Pay
- Haywire Poker
- Hot Roll Poker
- Hyper Bonus Poker
- Jackpot Poker
- Jacks or Better
- Joker Poker (Kings or better)
- Joker Poker (two pair or better)
- Joker Wild (aces or better)
- Keno Draw Poker
- Look Ahead Poker
- Loose Deuces
- Lucky 8\"s Wheel Poker
- Lucky Quads Wheel Poker
- Lucky Stud Draw Poker
- Lucky Suit
- Lucky Suit Poker
- Magic Deal
- Major Multipliers
- Match Card Video Poker
- Max Action
- Max Out Poker
- Movin' On Up Poker
- Moving Multipliers
- Multi-Hand Ultimate 4 of a Kind Bonus
- Multi-Streak Poker
- Multi-Strike Poker 16X
- Multi-Strike Video Poker
- Multipliers Rising Poker
- Mystery Bonus
- Nevada Bonus Poker
- No Risk Double Up
- Number Bonus
- One-Eyed Jacks
- Pay the Aces Video Poker
- Peek and Play Poker
- Pick 'em Poker
- Pick a Multiplier Poker
- Poppin' Multipliers Poker
- Power Quads
- Power Stacks Poker
- Powerhouse Poker
- Pyramid Bonus Poker
- Pyramid Poker
- Quick Quads
- Rack 'Em Up Poker
- Red Black Double Double Bonus Poker
- Reversible Royals
- Royal Aces Bonus Poker
- Royal Bonus Poker
- Royal Court
- Royal Deal Poker
- Royal Draw
- Royal Hunt Poker
- Sequential Royal
- Sevens and Joker Wild
- Sevens Wild
- Shockwave
- Sneak Peek Video Poker
- Spin Fever
- Spin Poker
- Split Card Poker
- Stack 'em High Poker
- Stack 'em Poker
- Stack the Deck Poker
- Straight Flush Bonus
- Stud Choice Poker
- Suit Yourself
- Super Aces Bonus
- Super Bonus Deuces Wild
- Super Double Bonus
- Super Double Double Bonus Poker
- Super Draw 6 Poker
- Super Draw Poker
- Super Hand Poker
- Super Hot Roll
- Super Look Ahead Poker
- Super Peek and Play
- Super Times Pay
- Super Times Pay Super Stacks
- Super Triple Bonus
- Super Video Hold \"Em
- Tens or Better
- Three Card Draw Poker
- Trade Up Poker
- Triple Bonus
- Triple Bonus Poker Plus
- Triple Deuces Wild - Odds
- Triple Double Bonus Poker
- Triple Play Keno Draw Poker
- Triple Triple Bonus Video Poker
- Triple Trouble
- Turbo Poker
- Turbo Video Poker
- Ultimate 4 of a Kind Bonus Poker
- Ultimate Aces Poker
- Ultimate X -- Multi-Line
- Ultimate X (single line)
- Ultimate X Gold
- Ultimate X Poker Bonus Streak
- Ultimate X Wheel Poker
- Ultra Bonus Poker
- Video Hold \"Em
- Video Poker with Replacement
- Wheel of Fortune Poker
- Wheel Poker
- Wheel Poker Deluxe
- Wheel Poker with Quick Quads
- White Hot Aces
- Wild! Wild! Wild!
- Winning Streak Poker
- Without Wheels Video Poker
- World Poker Tour Multi-Strike Super Video Hold 'Em
- World Series of Poker
- Xtra Card
Are you struggling to locate the specific game or pay table you want?
Video Poker Help Starts Here also carries lots of return tables.
Cheat Sheets
You can check these documents for just the pay tables and returns of popular games:
- Video Poker Cheat Sheet — version 1 . HTML format. Includes Triple Bonus Poker Plus and returns rounded to two decimal places.
- Video Poker Cheat Sheet — version 1 . One PDF page. Excludes Triple Bonus Poker Plus. Returns rounded to one decimal place.
- Video Poker Cheat Sheet — version 2 . Five PDF pages. Includes Triple Bonus Poker Plus and returns rounded to two decimal places.
Play for Fun
Practice over a dozen video poker variations on my revamped video poker game, available in both formats. single-hand andmulti-play .
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Five-Card Hand Calculator
My free video poker analyzer This will help you determine the best strategy for playing any hand against various pay tables for the majority of video poker games.
Game Return Calculator
My video poker analyzer It will also quickly compute the return rates for nearly any video poker game.
Strategy Maker
I'm very proud to offer the only free video poker strategy maker . Input any common game and its pay table, and the calculator will produce an almost optimal strategy. For example, here is the result for 9-6 Jacks or Better .
Miscellaneous Advice and Comments
- Always opt to play the maximum number of coins. I have never come across a machine that didn't award extra bonuses for the highest hand when five coins are played. If you find playing five coins uncomfortable, consider switching to a smaller denomination.
- Cards are drawn randomly, ensuring a fair game experience. There's no hidden mechanism within the machine that influences its payout status. Stay vigilant to avoid misconceptions about the machines being 'tight' or 'loose'. Pull Tabs , which are not real video poker games.
- A royal flush can appear at any moment without any increase in likelihood. Machines do not become 'overdue' for a big payout; such theories, including that machines tighten up before a royal flush, are unfounded.
- Utilize a slot club card whenever possible, as most machines offer this option. It can provide free rewards while playing, potentially shifting the odds in your favor.
- When inserting your slot club card, ensure that the game is reading it correctly. Periodically check to confirm that the connection remains intact.
- Investigate which locations feature the most favorable machines. My top recommendation is the subscription-based VP Insider site, which costs $20 for the first three months and $15 for any subsequent three months. For a free alternative, I'd suggest checking out VP Free .
- Some games provide a double-up option. This feature, coupled with bets in craps, represents the only wagers that come without a house edge. Whether you should engage with the double-up bet depends on your gaming goals. If you prefer minimal risk and extended game time, opting out would be wise. For those playing a game with a 100%+ return, it's best to pass on it. Conversely, if you're seeking high variance, then accepting the double-up bet could be advantageous. However, how far you should take it depends on your individual risk and reward assessments.
- Tipping in video poker and other games often sparks discussion. A fair guideline is to tip between 0.5% to 1.0% on any jackpot that requires a hand pay. Generally, the smaller the jackpot, the higher the percentage should be. In cases where frequent hand pays occur, like with the $5 10-play, tipping only on substantial wins or at the session's conclusion is acceptable. If you've had a rough loss, it's understandable if you choose not to tip.
Video Poker in San Diego
In November 2008, I conducted a survey of video poker offerings in 11 casinos. San Diego County .
Video Poker in Macau
For an in-depth look at the video poker landscape in Macau, please refer to my associated website, Wizard of Macau .
Analyzing the Expected Values of Bonuses in Video Poker
Internet casinos often provide matching bonuses for your deposits. Conversely, cashing out may require fulfilling a lengthy wagering obligation. My page on Bonus Expected Values in Video Poker displays your chances of meeting the wagering requirements and estimates what you might have left afterward.
Taxable Return from Video Poker
Starting in 2018, many more players may find their wins reported on a W2G form subject to tax due to an increase in the standard deduction, preventing many from itemizing and thus disallowing loss deductions. On my page, I illustrate the percentage of your video poker wins that could exceed $1,200. Taxable Return from Video Poker .
Video Poker Speed Records
The Wizard of Odds maintains world records for the fastest video poker players, with distinct records for playing a single machine versus two simultaneously. For detailed information and videos, please visit Video Poker Speed Records .
Top Software for Video Poker (35)
single-hand
- and for a clearer understanding of how video poker works.
- multi-play Five-Card Hand Calculator
- My free video poker analyzer