|
  INTRO
Introduced in the 1970's, video poker is
an increasingly popular form of gambling. Played fast while involving
a combination of skill and luck, video poker attracts players by
providing hours of stimulating entertainment.
A typical video poker machine holds a strong resemblance to a regular
slot machine, and can be found in either a tabletop form or an
upright desktop unit.
The machines come in denominations of nickels, quarters, dollars
and sometimes five dollars. The majority of video poker games are
based on five-card draw poker. In five-card draw, players are originally
dealt five cards and can throw away any of them to try to improve
their hand. New cards are dealt to replace the discarded ones,
and the final five cards decide your fate.
GAME
PLAY
To initiate play, you decide on the number of coins you are going
to play and insert your money. Once you make your bet you push
the deal button. As your five cards are dealt you decide which
cards that you would like to keep by pushing the hold button associated
with that card.
After making your selections, double check to ensure that every
card you would like to keep has the word hold either above or below
it. You then press the deal button and every card that you have
chosen to discard (not hold) will be replaced with another card
from the deck.
Instead of beating an opponent's hand, you win when you hold any
of the five-card combinations listed in the hierarchy of winning
hands. If your resulting hand holds a winning combination you will
be credited according to the payout schedule on the face of the
machine.
As
with poker, video poker hands are valued based on their five-card
ranking. These rankings are detailed below, 1 being the highest
rank:
| Rank |
Hand
Name |
Description
of Hand |
|
1
|
Royal
Flush |
A,
K, Q, J, 10 all of same suit |
|
2
|
Straight
Flush |
Five
cards of the same suit in sequence |
|
3
|
4
of a Kind |
Four
cards of the same rank |
|
4
|
Full
House |
3
of a Kind and a Pair |
|
5
|
Flush |
Five
cards of the same suit |
|
6
|
Straight |
Five
cards in sequence |
|
7
|
3
of a Kind |
Three
cards of the same rank |
|
8
|
2
Pair |
Two
cards of one rank, plus two of another |
|
9
|
1
Pair |
Two
cards of the same rank |
The
minimum ranking hand that is required to win is different
for every game. Jacks or better was the original video poker
game, but now there are many more...
TYPES
OF MACHINES
Jacks or Better
This is a game of draw poker where the dealer will deal you five
original cards face up. At this point you should decide which cards
to keep and which ones to discard. Once you have decided and chosen
to deal again, the dealer will deal the replacement cards. Whether
you win or lose is determined by the rank of cards in your poker
hand. The minimum rank for a winning hand is one pair of jacks,
queens, kings or aces, hence the name jacks or better.
Joker's
Wild
This game is played with the standard 52-card deck, with a joker
thrown in as a wild card. This wild card can be used as a substitute
for any other card, or can be used to create a five of a kind.
The machine will automatically compute the best hand when a joker
is present, and it can be expected to show up about ten percent
of the time. Because of the added bonus of the wild card, the minimum
rank for a winning hand is two pair.
Deuces
Wild
The standard 52-card deck is used, with all deuces designated as
wild cards. Because of the added bonus of the four deuce wild cards,
the minimum rank for a winning hand is three of a kind.
King
of the Decks
In this game, five sets of the standard 52-card decks are used.
If you get five kings of clubs you will win the progressive jackpot.
Because of the added bonus of the increased number of potential
pairs, the minimum rank for a winning hand is two pair.
STRATEGY
While there are many different strategies involved with each machine,
there are a few points that should be followed for all:
| • |
Don't
hold four cards of an inside straight—an inside straight
is one where the potential straight can be completed only
one way. An outside straight is one that can be completed
in two ways and so is twice as likely to be successful. The
only exception to this rule is an ace-high straight. |
| • |
Don't
hold three cards of a straight except for K-Q-J |
| • |
Don't
hold three cards of a flush- do not hold three cards of the
same suit unless it is also a potential straight flush. |
| • |
Don't
hold a kicker with any pair or with three of a kind- a kicker is
a single high card (J,Q,K,A) that has the potential to turn
into a winning pair. The pair or three of a kind should always
be played and the kicker discarded.
|
hint:
The only way to truly beat a video poker machine is to
hit a
high-paying royal flush
hint: Always play the maximum number
of coins as this is the only way
to get a big payoff on a royal flush
Play Video Poker now.
Something you don't understand? Search through our glossary of gambling terms.
|
