Understanding Video Poker

Playing video poker online is fun and enjoyable, but it can be tricky to get into the swing of things if you’re new to online gambling and casinos in general. But, fear not because whilst it can initially be tricky to learn the ropes, once you understand the games of video poker – it really is a piece of cake.

Video Poker Basics

Video poker is essentially a strategy game with an element of luck, but also an element of skill involved. This has put the game in a league of its own, and it is neither like slots or poker.

Basic Strategy

Essentially, playing Video Poker is a game vs. the computer, you are given five cards and you have to make the most of them. Do you keep an ace or muck it? It’s up to you, but whatever you decide, if you can develop a basic strategy then video poker is the game for you.
Basic strategy varies per game, and one of the first things you need to know before you start is what cards to keep and which ones to ‘muck’ or throw away. Once you’ve mastered this part of the game, it really is just a case of holding out for the jackpot.

Variations of Video Poker

There are many variations of video poker now making the rounds around the Internet. With so many different versions now out there, sometimes it is confusing to know just what’s what when you log into a casino and start to play. However, luckily most versions are based on one or two main variants of the game.

Wild Card

Wild card was an innovation that transformed video poker into the fast-paced game that it is today. Essentially, in this variation, a specific card becomes known as the ‘Wild Card’. What this means is that the wild card can be substituted for any
card at all, so if you have four aces and a wild card, you actually have five.

Jacks or Better

Jacks or better is also a highly popular form of video poker because it offers good odds and a range of options. These days, many casinos use it as their progressive jackpot game and as a result it is gaining steady popularity. Amongst this genre there are numerous rule sets, each with differing house edges.

As you can see, the game of video poker is actually really straight forward. It’s by no means simple but it can be played by everyone with just a little practice.

However, one of the most important things before you begin playing is to know just exactly what you’re playing with. It can be altogether too easy to lose $100 or even $500 because you got carried away with the game.

Even though there’s no cash involved, it’s still real money. Be careful and know your limits so you can dominate video poker, instead of letting it dominate you.