Video Poker Strategy

Poker requires strategy before you ever begin playing. You need to research the game you want to play as far as poker goes. Most who play poker have a special game they like and will not vary. That is because there are several strategies out there and they differ from game to game. Video poker may not be played at a table against other players, but it is important that you have some type of strategy. First of all the computer is the house and it has the advantage over anyone playing the video poker game. You can't lower the house edge that the machine has, no matter how you play. That is out of your control as the machine is based on a random computer program. The strategies will help you in some way though.

There are many video poker game varieties. This means you should really understand one of the types out there before you ever play. You can start off by learning the poker rules to five card draw as that is what most video poker machines are based on. You also need to learn the pay tables for the video poker games. You want to choose a machine that allows for the better payouts when you hit on a hand, even when that hand is a pair of jacks or better. The different casinos offer changed pay tables and sometimes different odds. Some of the machines actually have multiple decks rather than a single deck making it even harder to win. So know the machine you will be playing on. That way you know where you can perhaps beat it because of a weakness.

After you learn about the different games you can choose the one you want to play. Most stick with jacks or better or a variation of, so that you can still win with a pair of something in the face card level. Those that you need two pair or a three of a kind are going to be hard to beat. You need to manipulate the offerings as much as you can in order to win. If you don't win on the first machine you choose in that variation, you can try a different machine or go back to the drawing board.

Jacks or Better or five card draw are the best games in video poker for learners. You get to learn about the different options while still making a bit of money playing.

Before you begin you need to choose a machine that will allow you to play the bet you want. In other words playing for a dollar when you want to play for five cents is silly. There are games online and in casinos for small wagers. As long as you bet the max coins in the machines you will still get the best payouts according to the pay tables. The pay tables are based on how much you wager as well as the odds of getting that particular hand. To get the best jackpot make sure you wager the right amount. This can be on the nickel machines with a progressive jackpot or on a dollar machine. It just depends on you. You should never bet the minimum even if you are not playing for the jackpot. Stay at least a couple coins above that for the better pay day. The machines are going to be random, so keep that in mind for the payouts as well.

After the machine is picked and you set the ground rules for how you are going to play and how much you want to spend on the machines that day, you are ready to start. You will place the bet and then the machine will give you the five cards. This is where strategy can really help you out.

You need to know what cards you are going to keep and what cards you are going to discard. In other words you need to know the hands you can have and still get winnings as well as your chance of getting the best hand. Then you discard the cards that can make that chance happen. For example if you have an ace, king, jack, ten, and five you would discard the five and keep the other four. You have a potential of a royal flush. On the other hand if you have 3,3, 10, jack, 5 you would want to keep the pair of threes and try for a three of a kind, four of a kind, or even two pair. The possibility of getting those hands outweighs the possibility of getting some type of straight or flush.

We are going to look at Jacks or Better and Deuces wild below because these are the two most common games you can find on the internet and in casinos. They are also the better pay out machines because of the hands required to win. In Deuces wild you have the 2's that are going to be wild cards. Jokers Wild is a variation of this in which the joker is the wild card. It is also very popular so we will allow for some tips in that area as well.

These tips are towards beginners rather than players who really know poker, so some things could be a little simplistic for you.

Jacks or Better

• If you have a Royal Flush, Straight, Four of a Kind, or Full house you should keep that hand.
  
  
• If you have four cards towards a Royal flush draw one card to get the fifth that you need.
  
  
• If you have four cards for a straight flush replace one card.
  
  
• Three of a kind or three cards to the above hands you should draw two cards.
  
  
• If you have two pair or four cards to a flush draw one card.
  
  
• With a pair or two high cards such as jack, king, queen, or ace draw three cards.
  
  
• If you have five unrelated cards draw four to the high card.
  

Deuces Wild

• Again if you have a high winning hand, hold it and don't draw. It is a paying hand.
  
  
• For four cards to a straight or royal flush draw one card
  
  
• Draw two if you have three cards for a royal flush
  
  
• With two pair discard one pair and draw three cards for a better hand.
  
  
• If you have the four card deuce royal draw one card. Do so for the straight as well.
  
  
• If you have a winning hand with the deuce hold it.
  
  
• If you have three deuces trade out the other two cards.
  
  
• If you have only deuces keep them and trade the rest.
  

Jokers Wild

• In this game the king and ace cards are the only high cards, so that means you need at least a pair of kings are better to win.
  
  
• If you have the joker you should never discard that card.
  
  
• An inside straight is not a good hand to have, so discard it.
  
  
• Straight flushes will have a better pay than other options such as the Jacks or Better game.