video poker

How to Play
Video poker is like a virtual five card draw game. If you play each hand correctly and choose the right machines, you can lower the casino's edge to less than 3% (or make it even or lower in some cases).

A video poker machine is similar to a slot machine. A player puts coins in the slots and pulls the handle or presses the deal button. Five cards are shown on the screen. The player plays these five cards just like regular five card draw. They can keep all, some, or none of the cards shown. After choosing which card(s) to keep (if any), the player presses the hold or keep button for the card(s) they want to keep. Finally, they press the deal or draw button to receive the new cards. The object of the game is to get the best hand possible. See the rank of hands for more information about poker hands.

Video poker can be a relatively cheap game (25 cents - you can play up to five coins at one time making it $1.25) and it requires skill (unlike regular slot machines). In the majority of casinos, there are two types of video poker machines - machines that pay with a minimum of jacks or better (at least a pair of jacks) or two pair. Some machines play with a joker as a wildcard and some with a duece (two). The most popular machine is the ones that pay with jacks or better.

Which Machines to Play
When looking for the best type of machine, choose one that pay with jacks or better as (rather than two pair). Some casinos pay on tens or better (which is even better for the player). Next, look at the payout schedule. On a non-progressive machine (one that does not pay a jackpot when the player hits a royal flush), make sure it has at least a 4000 coin payout for a five coin royal flush. Also, make sure it pays nine coins for a one coin full house and six coins for a flush (these machines are known as 9-6 machines).

If you are playing a progressive machine (one that pays a running jackpot on a royal flush), the normal full house flush payout for one coin is 8-5. The payout for a royal flush continually grows - play machines that pay at least $2200 for a royal flush.

How to Play Your Hands
Here are some tips on how to play your video poker hands:

Never keep a kicker (high card that is not involved in a pair or better). If you have a pair or trips (three of a kind), do not keep a kicker.
Don't discard all five cards if you have one or two cards higher than a ten and the machine pays off on pairs of J, Q, K, or Ace.
Be aggressive in trying for the royal flush. Draw one card to a royal flush even if you have to break up a straight, pair, or flush. You should always draw two cards to a royal flush with two exceptions - if you have a pair of jacks or better, or you need one card for a straight flush.
Always draw one card for a straight flush even if it means breaking up a pair.
Always draw one card for a flush except if you hold a pair, it's better to draw three to the pair (on machines that pay on pairs). If you are playing on a machine that does not pay off on pairs, then always draw to the flush.
Draw one card for a straight if the card you need is for an open ended straight (a straight than can be made on either end - for example, 4,5,6,7 can be made with a 3 or 8 - a 4,5,7,8 can only be made with a 6).
Always draw three cards to a small pair - don't keep the kicker!
Do not draw one card to an inside straight (a straight that can only be made with one card - for example, 4,5,7,8 can only be made with a 6). You're better off holding your high card or cards and drawing three or four cards.
Never break up a full house or four of a kind.
If you are dealt five odd cards, keep four card straights and flushes, keep two cards (or more) for a royal flush, and if you have none of the above, keep one jack or higher and discard the rest.

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