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The ultimate guide to video poker

Video poker is a fairly new invention, but almost everyone has heard of it. However, not all casino visitors know the rules of video poker. That is why Trusted Casino decided to fix this and create a complete guide that will answer most of the questions of novice players.

The history of video poker

Americans started playing regular offline poker in the early 1800s. The exact date and time of the first game of poker is unknown, but writer Jonathan Greene wrote of watching riverboat play on the Mississippi in the 1830s.

Mechanical poker machines appeared in salons at the end of the 19th century. It was then a primitive game where players tried to catch the best combination possible in exchange for beer or cigars. Charles Fey invented the advanced slot machine in 1895 when he created the first slot called Liberty Bell. This revolutionary machine will be the mainstay of the video poker machines that will appear eight decades later.

Video poker machines were invented in the mid-1970s as an alternative to table games such as poker, baccarat, blackjack, and roulette. The idea was that the slot machines allowed learning the rules of the game in a relaxed environment without worrying about other players.

The reasons to play video poker

Video poker is the obvious choice of wise gamblers for many reasons:

  • Playing video poker is as easy as playing slots.
  • Unlike a slot machine, a player can control the gaming process. You can choose how many and which cards to save before drawing to your final hand.
  • You play video poker alone – there is no need in interacting with other gamblers. You will not be distracted by any extraneous sounds — neither people coughing nor conversations are no longer a hindrance to you.
  • For every 100 dollars played through a slot machine, the casino will keep between six and 20 dollars. While it does not happen at an even pace, over the long haul and depending on the machine, you will lose six to 20 dollars for every 100 dollars you play through a slot machine. Video poker games are quite different. They have a much lower house edge.

How to play video poker?

The basic information

As with anything we do in life, certain inherent basics are necessary to improve your skills quickly. This section will give you all you need to completely comprehend how to play video poker and get to know the basic strategy.

Video poker play is comparatively straightforward. The play has connections to other casino games, but it is more complicated than playing pokies. To correctly play a slot, you just bet a proper amount to maximize your return. There is nothing else to do. While it may be true that some slots have a button to quickly stop the spinning and go to the final result, pressing this button does not change the outcome; it only helps you lose your money a bit faster.

The rules of video poker

Based on Five-Card Draw poker, video poker has identical rules but you are playing alone and your opponent is AI and not a real person.

The video poker session is quite simple: the machine deals you five cards, and you have the option of drawing up to five new ones. You press the “hold” button for those cards you want to keep, and then press the “deal” button, and your discarded cards will be replaced with new ones. The payout depends on your final hand, and you will win based on the paytable posted on the screen or in front of the video poker machine.

Basic poker hand rankings apply:

  • Pair (typically of Jacks or better).
  • Two pair.
  • Three of a kind.
  • Straight (a hand that contains five cards of sequential rank, not all of the same suit).
  • Flush ( a hand that contains five cards all of the same suit, not all of sequential rank).
  • Full house ( a hand that contains three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank, such as 4♣ 4♠ 4♦ 5♣ 5♥).
  • Four of a kind (contains four cards of one rank and one card of another rank, such as 7♣ 7♠ 7♦ 7♥ Q♥ ).
  • Straight flush contains five cards of sequential rank, all of the same suit.
  • Royal flush (A Royal Flush in poker is a hand made up of a sequence of suited cards ranging from Ten to Ace).

Some video poker games have additional paid hands such as four deuces or five of a kind (as in Deuces Wild). Additionally, some games may not pay for a pair or even two pair (such as Deuces Wild).

Betting rules

One of the most significant things to study after learning how to play video poker is the betting routine. Whether it is a casino table game or a machine, unless you practice a fitting betting routine, you have a chance of not maximizing your return. 

Here are the key moments you should remember:

  1. If your goal is to gain the maximum profit from your video poker play, then you must bet the maximum number of credits on each hand.
  2. Select the proper denomination, to make your bankroll last longer.
  3. Discipline is the key to a good gambling experience.
  4. Only bring to the casino what you can afford to lose.
  5. Only bet the money you bring with you to the casino.