When you play online slots, there isn’t much place for you to strategize other than deciding on your bet size or possibly purchasing bonus features if available.
You just place your bet, push the game and hope for the best. For example, a casino will always have a better edge on slot machine games than on video poker games, which may affect your choice of which casino game to play.
If you choose to play poker, you should know that video poker is different from regular poker played at a land-based or online casino. The most significant difference is that it’s played on a machine without an opponent, so you rely on your instincts, knowledge of the game, and a bit of luck to win.
This is where a solid video poker strategy comes in handy. When you have a strategy to follow, you can more easily set up your game and make decisions about your cards and next steps. But what strategy do you use and how do you implement it? Read BetSo88 Online Casino’s Video Poker Strategy Guide to find out!
Why do you need a video poker strategy?
It is true that poker, like other casino games, is a game of chance, but it is also a game of skill and strategy that you can perfect through study and practice. Video poker was one of the first games to appear in online casinos, providing players with ample time to develop strategies or adjust their strategies to suit the online environment.
Using strategy in video poker is crucial to improving your chances of winning. When you have a clear strategy, you will succeed if things go your way. Of course, you first need to understand all the rules of the game and the strength of the cards you hold so you know how to control them and what to play.
Choosing the right strategy for your game will depend on the game variant you choose and the cards you get at the beginning of the game.
What is the best strategy for video poker?
Video poker should not be a guessing game and our advice is that you learn as much as you can before you start playing. It’s not too complicated, but it takes time and, of course, practice to understand all the combinations and what to do with the cards you’re dealt. So, what is the best strategy for video poker?
The answer is notoriously: it depends. There may not be a best strategy for video poker that applies to every game variant, but it depends on the preferred play style and the cards you are dealt in the first hand.
Learn about video poker paytables
Video poker machines have their own paytables that are displayed in front of you when you select the machine you want to play on, slot machines also have paytables, and video poker paytables are similar, showing you which poker hand wins on each hand. How much money can you win with cards.
The paytable starts with the highest value wins and works up to the lowest paying cards. Video poker machines have different pay tables, so you should look for machines that offer better odds, as this is especially important in the long run.
Learn about poker hand rankings
You need to know what a poker hand combination is and its value in the game of poker. The best poker hand you can possibly get is the Royal Flush, you need A, K, Q, J, and 10, all of the same suit, to get this hand. To be honest, this is an extremely rare hand, but it always trumps all other hands.
Another rare but very valuable card is the straight flush. In this hand, you will be dealt five cards of the same suit in order, no matter what they are. Only the Royal Flush can beat the Royal Flush, so you can see why it’s such a valuable hand.
The Four of a Kind is also a highly ranked poker hand because it cannot be improved upon, nor can a Full House, Flush, or Straight.
Using the Video Poker Strategy Chart
Strategy charts are a great tool for beginners, designed to help you understand your hand and tell you which cards you should keep and which ones you should replace. Like a paytable, a chart usually starts with the best, highest-paying hands and works through all the other potential combinations and options.
A video poker strategy chart can tell you if your hand has room for improvement and suggest how many cards you should replace to really try to improve your hand.
This chart lists the names of the starting hands (so you should know them when you start playing, or at least have a reminder next to you) and gives how far they can improve if you switch cards and get cards The idea of a hand of cards.
Know when to break high pairs
Whether or not to break an overpair is a difficult decision, especially for someone new to video poker. Every video poker strategy guide will tell you to keep overpairs when there are no other useful cards in your hand, it’s a no-brainer. But what do you do when the situation is a little more complicated?
Let’s say you hold an overpair and your other hands show the potential to form a straight flush or even a royal flush. If your strategy is to win as many hands as possible, and you don’t necessarily want to risk getting as high a win as possible, then you shouldn’t break high pairs even if there is a chance of winning a royal flush.
If your calculations tell you that you can win bigger based on your cards, you might consider taking the risk.
A high pair is actually a medium strength hand and in most cases you should keep it and try to improve your hand by replacing the other three cards. Our advice is to only consider breaking an overpair if your other hands show great potential for bigger wins.
Understand the role of RTP
Video poker has a higher RTP than most slot machines, especially since it requires some game knowledge, skill, and strategy to play. When you are looking for a machine to play video poker on, be sure to check the RTP shown on the paytable.
The higher the RTP, the better, especially over time. Lower payouts on the paytable also mean the game has a lower RTP and you should probably find better options.
Most Popular Best Variant Video Poker Strategies
Depending on the video poker variant you choose to play, strategies may differ, and depending on the variant you choose, you can find the best video poker strategy. The most popular variant is Jacks or Better, but Deuces Wild is also one of the player favorites.
Let’s see which strategies work for each of the most popular video poker variants:
- Jacks or Better Strategy
- Deuces Wild Strategy
- A and Face Video Poker Strategy
Tips to Remember When Playing Video Poker
Here are our recommendations on what to do when playing video poker:
- Make sure you understand the rules and hand rankings: Consider practicing the demo game first to make sure you understand all the information you need about the game.
- Check if the casino offers bonuses and promotions: Casinos offer welcome bonuses to new players, but casinos also offer other promotions to loyal players.
- Find the machine with the best paytable: Check the paytable before choosing a machine to play on.
- Use the Video Poker Strategy Chart: Use the strategy chart to help you decide how to handle your hands.
- Take your time with your decisions: Take your time when deciding which cards to replace.
- Be careful with your money: Just like any other casino game, make sure you gamble responsibly and don’t spend more than you can afford.
These are some basic tips we have for your next video poker game, unleash your creativity at Betso88 online casino and good luck!
Video Poker FAQ
❓What does RTP mean?
RTP is the percentage of money invested that a player can expect to get back from a casino game over an extended period of time. This is a percentage calculated by the game provider based on game mechanics and other factors.
❓Can you cheat in video poker?
It is illegal for casinos to have non-random (Class III) video poker machines and they risk losing their gambling license if they cheat, so they are less likely to resort to cheating.
❓What is the best way to learn video poker game strategy?
The easiest and fastest way to practice playing video poker is to find demo mode at a safe online casino.
❓Is playing video poker the same as playing table poker?
In video poker, you simply try to get the winning hand published in the paytable from the five cards initially dealt, so video poker strategy is different from table poker.
