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Introduction to Video Poker |
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Video poker is
one of the most popular games in the casino, both land based and online. The
game combines strategy, a low house edge, play is quick and easy, and some
games offer very exciting jackpots. |
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Video Poker
Basics
Video poker hands are ranked the same as in regular poker;
Royal Flush, straight flush, four-of-a-kind, full house, flush, straight,
three-of-a-kind, two pair, and one pair. The basic object of any video poker
game is to have a hand that consists of a pair of jacks or better (some wild
card games have a minimum winning hand.) Online casinos like
Titan Casino, offers basic Jack or
Better video poker as well as a large number of popular variants. |
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Betting Video poker allows you to wager one or more
units per games, each unit is called a coin in. Games with jackpots
usually require a minimum of five bets to win the jackpot. (In a .25 minimum
game, for example, you would need to wager a total of $1.25 per hand.)
To decide on how much to wager, look at the payout table.
On
even pay games, meaning games that pay a multiple based on the number of coins
in, consider a progressive strategy. Start with 2 coins and drop back to 1 coin
after a win. Add a unit after each win until you is playing the maximum number
of coins in. After a loss drop back to 2 units and start the progression over
again.
On jackpot games, you should consider playing the maximum number
of credits needed to be eligible for the jackpot, unless the jackpot is only
slightly better than previous line.
Picking your game Once
again the payout table is your key to deciding on which game to
play.
For Jacks or Better games you want to look at the payouts for a
full house and a flush. Look for games which pay 8 units for a full house and 5
units for a flush. These are known as 8/5 machines and have an
excellent payback of 97.3%.
Strategy Made
Hands Pair of Jacks or Better, or the minimum winning hand Keep
the winning cards and discard the rest.
Two Pair Discard
the unpaired card. If your game pays the same for two pair as for one pair, and
one pair is a winning made hand, discard the remaining cards in hopes of a
bigger payout.
Three of a Kind Discard the unmatched
cards.
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Photo Credit:
Quad Aces - Jacks or Better by Kvuo, CC BY-SA 3.0 via creative
commons. |
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Draws Draw to a flush only when you have four of the
suit. The same applies to straights; only draw if you have an open-ended
straight draw, meaning you need the cards on either end to complete the
straight. If you have an inside straight draw, meaning a card in the middle,
draw only if you do not have a Jack or another cards that will pay off if
paired. Playing Draws Draws are really where the action is
at in video poker. There are plenty of things to consider in every scenario but
there are some easy rules to keep in mind that will help you get the most out
of the cards in the long run.
In some scenarios, it can even be better
to break a high-valued made hand in order to play a draw for an even better
hand. This is the case for a straight or a flush that can become a royal flush
with the perfect card exchange. Four-card royal draw is the best hand to have
after a straight flush and a royal flush due to the significant increase in the
payout between a royal flush and a straight or a flush. With a hand
like K-Q-J-T-T you should throw away one of the tens and look draw for a
straight. You also have three cards, the King, Queen, and Jack, that will
result in a payoff if they pair. With a hand like Ac-Kc-Jc-6c-6d,
avoid the temptation to go for the Royal Flush. Discard the off-suit 6 and go
for the regular flush. You will also win with an Ace, King, or Jack
Titan Casino offers free play as well as real money games. This gives you
the perfect change to learn the game and the various strategies. |
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