Since the rules of video poker have been covered, you should learn all the different common types of the game. There is a lot of variety in video poker so it’s important to understand each one with the different rules and wild cards. If you know the standard poker hand rankings, that’s a good start. This how each of them differ beyond that.
Aces & Faces: most popular single-line video poker game. Four Aces or face cards is better than a Straight Flush when it comes to hand rankings. The smallest payout is a pair of Jacks.
Joker: uses a standard deck and one Joker for a total of 53 cards. The highest payouts include a Natural Royal Flush (no Joker), Five of Kind (including the Joker) and a Joker Royal Flush.
Double Joker: uses the same rules as Joker above but there are two Jokers used as wild cards.
Deuces Wild: each 2 is a wild card. Your odds of winning are greater, so the payouts begin at three of a kind instead of a pair.
Deuces & Joker: just like Deuces Wild but it includes a Joker. Each 2 and the Joker comprise five wild cards. Payouts start at three of a kind and the best payout is four deuces and a Joker. To note, four deuces is a better hand than a Wild Royal Flush with the Joker.
Jacks or Better: offers some of the best odds in video poker. You break even on a pair of face cards and move up from there. For multi-line games, bets can be from $0.05 to $100 per hand.
Tens or Better: same rules as Jacks or Better, but the payouts start at a pair of 10’s.
Progressives: the jackpot increases every hand like a slot machine. Players gamble on the same virtual machine and the pot starts over after every hit jackpot. These ones use 52 cards and several Jokers.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Trying out Video Poker
Video poker is basically an electronic version of your standard Five Card Draw game. You play against the dealer the best hand varies with each type of video poker game because the rankings differ slightly.
Video poker is a strategy game with better odds than slots or roulette. You have time to make a decision because it’s just you and the dealer (machine). It’s not like other poker games where the action falls on you from other players. Each game ranks the hands differently so know what kind of game you are getting into and read strategy sheets if you need to. Learn the wild cards for each game before playing and always try it out online for free if possible before playing for real money at a casino.
There are some strategy tips that work on all types of video poker games. Try not to discard your entire hand but there are instances when this is needed like if you have no face or high card. Outside straight draws and better than inside straight draws. Let’s say you have an inside straight draw of 2, 3, 5, 6. There are only four cards that can win in this scenario. Now, let’s say you have an outside straight draw of 3, 4, 5, 6. There are eight cards that can win in this example.
Always hold a pair rather than a single high card. Even if the pair is low, your odds for bigger payouts like three of a kind are better than starting over with a new hand. The only instance when you should discard a paying hand is if there is a possible Royal Flush, which is the highest payout in video poker. Avoid bonus games where you guess the color or suit of a card based on luck. Video poker is a strategy game so you should try to keep it that way. If you want a game based on blind luck, play slots.
Video poker is a strategy game with better odds than slots or roulette. You have time to make a decision because it’s just you and the dealer (machine). It’s not like other poker games where the action falls on you from other players. Each game ranks the hands differently so know what kind of game you are getting into and read strategy sheets if you need to. Learn the wild cards for each game before playing and always try it out online for free if possible before playing for real money at a casino.
There are some strategy tips that work on all types of video poker games. Try not to discard your entire hand but there are instances when this is needed like if you have no face or high card. Outside straight draws and better than inside straight draws. Let’s say you have an inside straight draw of 2, 3, 5, 6. There are only four cards that can win in this scenario. Now, let’s say you have an outside straight draw of 3, 4, 5, 6. There are eight cards that can win in this example.
Always hold a pair rather than a single high card. Even if the pair is low, your odds for bigger payouts like three of a kind are better than starting over with a new hand. The only instance when you should discard a paying hand is if there is a possible Royal Flush, which is the highest payout in video poker. Avoid bonus games where you guess the color or suit of a card based on luck. Video poker is a strategy game so you should try to keep it that way. If you want a game based on blind luck, play slots.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Five Poker Strategies to Master
When playing community poker games like Five Card Draw, you need to master some of the most common strategies associated with the game. Most of them are easy but some require a little more practice than others. You need to be able to read your opponents to be successful at poker and these moves will help you gain an advantage.
Aggressive play – poker move where you put down an opening bet or raise an opponent’s wager. Do this with a strong hand and don’t overuse it because your opponents will take notice and use it against you. It’s kind of like the boy who cried wolf and you will be labeled as a loose player.
Bluff – common move where you deceive others by betting with a bad hand. Your goal is to get other players out of the hand by betting big. The less players in the hand, the smaller the chance of high cards left in the hand.
Check-raise – risky move that pays off big if used right. You have a strong hand but don’t bet (check, which is a pass to the next player) hoping that other players will make the opening bet to start off that round of wagers. The check-raise is similar to a bluff or slow play. When the action comes back to you, you raise and confuse your opponents.
Protection play: opposite of a check-raise. Do this with a strong but vulnerable hand like a pair of Jacks when a flush or straight is possible on the board. It’s a safe move that protects your hand. Use the strategy by betting high early to scare off your opponents.
Slow play: the opposite of bluffing. This is another poker strategy to protect your hand. Unlike a protection play where you scare off opponents, you are aiming to keep opponents in the hand and increase the pot by slow playing. Start with a small wager to keep players with average cards in the hand. Players on the fringe will stay in just to see the cards. This gets them pot committed and then they are yours. You want to be perceived as weak and then strike when their guard is down.
Aggressive play – poker move where you put down an opening bet or raise an opponent’s wager. Do this with a strong hand and don’t overuse it because your opponents will take notice and use it against you. It’s kind of like the boy who cried wolf and you will be labeled as a loose player.
Bluff – common move where you deceive others by betting with a bad hand. Your goal is to get other players out of the hand by betting big. The less players in the hand, the smaller the chance of high cards left in the hand.
Check-raise – risky move that pays off big if used right. You have a strong hand but don’t bet (check, which is a pass to the next player) hoping that other players will make the opening bet to start off that round of wagers. The check-raise is similar to a bluff or slow play. When the action comes back to you, you raise and confuse your opponents.
Protection play: opposite of a check-raise. Do this with a strong but vulnerable hand like a pair of Jacks when a flush or straight is possible on the board. It’s a safe move that protects your hand. Use the strategy by betting high early to scare off your opponents.
Slow play: the opposite of bluffing. This is another poker strategy to protect your hand. Unlike a protection play where you scare off opponents, you are aiming to keep opponents in the hand and increase the pot by slow playing. Start with a small wager to keep players with average cards in the hand. Players on the fringe will stay in just to see the cards. This gets them pot committed and then they are yours. You want to be perceived as weak and then strike when their guard is down.
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