How to Play Video Poker

Video poker is a fun and interactive game that combines the best parts of poker and slot machines, and one of the best things about it is that learning how to play takes no time at all. In this guide we’ll be walking you through how playing video poker online works, looking at some of the different variants, and showing you what makes a winning hand.

Hands for Winning at Video Poker

Royal Flush

• A – K – Q – J – 10

• A, K, Q, J, and 10 all of the same suit

Straight Flush

• Q – J – 10 – 9 – 8

• Five cards in sequence and all of the same suit

Four of a Kind

• J – J – J – J – 3

• Four cards of the same rank

Full House

• J – J – 5 – 5 – 5

• Three of a kind, plus a pair

Flush

• J – 10 – 4 – 6 – 3

• Five cards of the same suit

Straight

• 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10

• Five cards in sequence (ace can be high or low)

Three of a Kind

• 7 – 7 – 7 – 9 – 3

• Three cards of the same rank

Two Pair

• K – K – 2 – 6 – 6

• Two cards of one rank and two cards of another rank

Jacks or Better

• J – J – 2 – 7 – 4

• A pair of jacks, queens, kings or aces

Our Top Five Tips

We’ve played more hands of online and mobile video poker than we can count, so we’re happy to offer up some of our top tips for beginners (and a refresher course for the rest of you).

1. Know the ranking system for the variant you’re playing, otherwise you might end up chasing a hand that won’t even pay out!

2. Use the maximum number of coins to get the full value for a royal flush, usually 800 for 1 vs. 250 for 1 with lower bets.

3. Check paytables before playing as this might affect whether you, for example, throw away a second pair to chase a better hand or not.

4. Play a variant that offers better odds, even if you need to practice it a bit first, as you should end up making less of a dent in your bankroll over time.

5. Stay alert! If you play when you’re tired, or after one too many beers, you could end up making a critical mistake that costs you a royal flush.

What is the Difference Between Video Poker and Poker?

If you’re looking for differences between video poker and standard poker, there’s no shortage of them to be found. The first, and most obvious, is that video poker is played against the computer rather than a dealer or other players. This means that there’s no requirement to ‘read’ opponents or discern tells.

There’s also no need to worry about putting together a great hand only to have another player beat it with something even better. In video poker, unlike in games such as Texas hold ‘em or Three Card Poker, your hand is the only one that matters. A relief for any players who’ve encountered one too many bad beats!

There are those who would say that video poker is ‘easier’ than poker, but that’s not to say that learning the correct strategy for multiple video poker variants doesn’t require some skill. One thing we will say is that it’s a great way for new players to get used to building and identifying winning poker hands without needing a big bankroll.

We would also say that video poker is more accessible than playing poker in a brick and mortar gambling venue, or even standard online poker. There’s no need to find other players to pit your skills against and, because you’re on your own, you can play video poker hands as quickly or slowly as you choose.

Different Video Poker Variants

Depending on the casino you’re playing at, you could very well expect to find a large number of different video poker variants available. Some casinos have tens of different types of video poker on offer, all based around the same core gameplay.

Generally, the differences between variants tend to be minor. While you’ll no doubt end up finding a favorite in due course, be aware that some variations have much better payout percentages than others!

Jacks or Better

Probably the most common variant, and great for newbies, this pays out on any hand that has a pair of jacks or better. Has a payout percentage of 99.5%.

Deuces Wild

As the name suggests, all 2s that appear are wild. This means, however, that the lowest paying hand is three of a kind. The full-pay version has a payout percentage of 100.8%.

Double Bonus Poker

This variation of Jacks or Better offers a bonus payout for four aces. Other than that it’s virtually identical, except for its payout percentage of 100.2%.

Aces and Eights

This is another variant that’s very similar to Jacks or Better, but has high payouts on four 7s, aces or 8s. It has a payout percentage of 99.78% on the full-pay version.

Are You Ready to Play?

Now you’ve brushed up on the rules and have a thorough understanding of the game, it’s time to start playing for real! Keep an eye on which card combinations are worth the most, and you’ll be winning your first round in no time. For more information on video poker online, be sure to check out our other guides as well!

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