A winning video poker strategy
Video poker has become something of a phenomenon at online casinos, with the game bringing together two of the most exciting gambling games.
It seamlessly combines slots and poker to provide players with an immersive gameplay experience that offers hours and hours of fun.
Read on as we take a closer look at video poker games and suggest the best strategy to follow to secure regular winning returns.
Introducing video poker
Video poker dates back to 1979 when the company that subsequently became International Game Technology (IGT) introduced the first patented game.
Entitled Fortune 1 Draw Poker, the game was fairly primitive from an aesthetic perspective but quickly inspired more advanced innovations.
IGT were at the forefront of the sector, and their release of Game King multi-game video poker in 1981 was undoubtedly a major breakthrough.
Fast forward to today and video poker is now firmly established as an integral part of the online casino scene.
Video poker game variants
There are several different variants of video poker, and new versions have continued to be added into the mix over the past few years.
The most common version is Jacks or Better, which requires players to have least one pair of Jacks in their hand start winning.
Joker Poker, Deuces Wild, Aces & Eights and Double Bonus Poker are amongst the other most popular variants of video poker.
All of the games feature the traditional poker winning hands, with the elusive Royal Flush delivering the biggest jackpots online.
How to win at online video poker
While luck plays a part in video poker, there are strategies that players can employ to significantly improve their chances of making a profit on the game.
Although these can vary dependent on which version of the game you play, they generally centre around five key moves. These are as follows:
- If your hand includes four to a straight or a flush – hold all four.
- If your hand includes three to a royal flush – hold.
- If you receive any pair – hold them and draw three new cards.
- If you have three cards to a straight flush – hold.
- If you don’t have any of the above, hold any jacks and any cards higher than a jack.
There are various strategy charts available on the internet which can be downloaded to assist you as you play video poker.
These list the different card combinations and detail which cards you should hold or discard in each specific circumstance.
By following the recommendations, employing video poker strategy can significantly reduce the house’s edge and boost your chances of scooping the jackpot.
