VIDEO POKER STRATEGY

Video poker is one of the newer games to hit the casino scene. The game was first introduced in the 1970s and has since become one of the most frequently played casino games in online casinos. Why? Well, video poker is among the few casino games that not only provide some of the best odds of all casino games but also give players the chance to influence the game’s outcome through strategy. 

Familiarity with poker hands will go a long way in video poker — having a sound strategy is key to reducing the game’s already low house edge. In fact, video poker games offer some of the lowest house edges of all casino games, and this edge can occasionally be levelled to the ground and turned in your favour! Playing against a computer rather than another punter also awards the game a few points.

Video poker is a fixed-odds game that combines slot elements with classic poker characteristics to create one unique casino game. If you’re interested in seeing how you can essentially beat video poker, continue reading to find out how to build the optimal strategy. 

VIDEO POKER BASIC RULES

Video poker players would find that playing video poker is a lot different than playing regular old poker. This is because video poker machines are much easier to become accustomed to than their traditional forefather. 

The fact that the rules and gameplay are super straightforward also helps. And the cherry on top is that even if you don’t manage to get a grip on the rules, online video poker machines detail everything you need to know about this gambling game, and they can be accessed at any time!

It is important to note, however, that different online video poker variants may come with varied rules and gameplay. This, in turn, will have an effect on your video poker strategy, but we’ll get into that a little later. Let’s take a look at the basic rules of video poker first:

• Video poker games use standard poker hands.
• Video poker players are dealt five cards at once at the beginning of every round.
• Players must select their bet value before the cards are dealt.
• Players can choose whether to hold or discard up to five cards. This choice can only be made once.
• The cards that have been discarded will be replaced in a single random draw.
• The value of your winnings will depend on the value of your bet/ the number of coins used.

If you want a more detailed explanation of the rules of video poker, be sure to check out our article on ‘How to play Video Poker’ for more information.

VIDEO POKER STRATEGY – HOW TO START?

The biggest mistake a player can make in a game of video poker is to play by simply guessing the outcome. With this approach, players are almost guaranteed a loss, which is why having an optimal video poker strategy is crucial. 

Forming the best video poker strategy isn’t as easy as you think, however. Devising video poker strategies involves taking several steps to improve your chances of winning:

• Pick a video poker machine to play.

Like all other casino games, video poker is not one without its variants, so there won’t be one optimal strategy for all video poker machines. We recommend sticking to one or two video poker games and devising the best strategy for those machines specifically.

• Find a strategy list.

Once you’ve chosen a video poker variant, the next step is to find a strategy list for that game. This strategy list would help you form your strategy, which would be set in motion the moment you place your first bet. Although it may be possible to beat video poker, you will need to adjust your strategy depending on the hand drawn at the time.  

Here are a few video poker tips that you might find on a strategy list. By simply knowing which cards to hold or discard can help boost your chances of winning:

• Always hold the four cards in highest-ranking combinations — royal flush, straight flush.
• Break up a flush or straight only when you have four cards that may build a royal flush.
• Break up a jacks or better to make way for a straight flush. 
• When you have two pairs, discard the fifth card to make way for a full house.
• Discard the remaining two cards in a three-of-a-kind hand to make way for higher pairs. 
• Keep a pair of low-valued cards instead of a single high card (jack, queen, king or ace).
• Review the expected loss.

What might also help is keeping an eye on your expected loss (average loss) during a game session, so you can enter the game with realistic expectations. To determine your average loss, all you have to do is multiply the house edge with the bet size and the number of rounds per hour. Alternatively, you can use one of the many average-loss calculators online.

• Practise first.

Before you set off on your video poker travels, we advise you to practise the game using virtual cash in the demo mode. This way, you can become familiar with the gameplay and all the game’s mechanics, and you can also put your strategy to the test without depleting your actual bankroll.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST STRATEGY FOR EACH VIDEO POKER VARIANT?

Because there are many different video poker online tables, naturally, each variant will come with its own specific strategy to use. It is important that you understand this before you play video poker, especially if you’re still starting out.

Video poker does come with a general basic strategy that describes what to do when you’re dealt specific hands, but since each video poker game comes with its own set of rules, there may be some variations in that basic strategy as well. 

Luckily for you, though, you don’t have to scour the internet to find the best strategy for each video poker game because we’ve listed a few of them here! Check out these strategies:

JACKS OR BETTER STRATEGY

Jacks or Better is one of the most common video poker games found online. It is often described as a super exciting game that actually gets its name from an age-old rule — the minimum winning hand can only be a pair of jacks or better.

Here is what to keep in mind when playing Jacks or Better:

• Be careful not to make a mistake when holding a four-of-a-kind, straight flush or royal flush, as it may cost you your entire hand. The same can be applied to a straight, three-of-a-kind, flush and full house.
• Discard the fifth card when holding four cards of a royal flush or straight flush combo.
• Always hold the following combinations: two pair, pair (jacks or better), three to a royal flush/ straight flush, four to a flush, low pair (10s or lower), two suited cards, suited J10, Q10, K10.
• If you hold two cards that are a jack or higher, always hold two lower cards.
• Discard all five cards if you do not form a winning hand.

DEUCES WILD STRATEGY

Most video poker players pick up a Jacks or Better game as their first video poker machine, but Deuces Wild takes entertainment to a whole other level. This casino game is often regarded as one of the best video poker machines one can play for the simple reason that all twos act as Wild cards. 

Just like in slot machines, these Wilds substitute for any other card in your hand. They also can appear in any hand, giving players the potential to form super strong video poker hands!

Here’s how this video poker game will affect your video poker strategy:

• If you hold four twos (deuces), discard the fifth card. If you hold three deuces, discard the fourth and fifth cards. If you have a pair of two deuces (four-of-a-kind), hold all cards.
•  Hold two deuces with two consecutive suited cards.
• Do not discard your cards with a full house.
• Discard the fifth card when holding a three-of-a-kind with deuces. Do the same when holding three royal flush cards and a deuce.
• Hold two deuces and three consecutive suited cards.
• Discard the fourth and fifth cards when holding two royal flush cards and a deuce.
• Discard your cards when only holding a deuce. 

Here’s a table to summarise:

JOKER WILD STRATEGY

Joker Wild is very similar to Deuces Wild, except for the fact that this video poker machine totally ups the ante. While Deuces Wild uses twos as Wild cards, Joker Wild uses the joker cards as Wilds instead! 

When playing Joker Wild, here are a few optimal decisions you can make for a chance to win money:

• Keep your cards if you hold a five-of-a-kind, straight flush, royal flush, full house, and flush.
• Discard your fifth card when holding a joker and a three-of-a-kind, or a joker and three cards to a royal flush.
• Keep a three-of-a-kind.
• Hold all cards above a three-of-a-kind.
• Use the max bet every time.

As with all poker gambling games, there are some hands that should be prioritised over others:

• Three cards to a straight flush plus the Wild card.
• A straight.
• A pair and a Wild Card
• Two suited high cards and a joker
• Two suited cards and a joker
• Three suited cards and a joker
• Four consecutive unsuited cards, including a Wild Card
• Discard the four remaining cards when only holding a joker.

DOUBLE BONUS POKER

This video poker game is similar to Jacks or Better, but it mixes in a special bonus that’ll make your gaming extra flavourful. Watch out; ace cards are coming in hot! If you earn four aces, you’ll be awarded a super tasty payout. Here’s how to play strategically:

• Keep a pair even if they’re low-valued.
• Keep a single high card.
• If you don’t have at least a pair, discard all the cards in your hand.
• Keep any three cards to a flush.
• Keep any four cards to a flush.

VIDEO POKER STRATEGY CHART

The benefit of playing video poker is that you can turn the odds in your favour and actually win, despite the in-built random number generator. So, why would you try and devise a video poker strategy?

Although video poker is one of those gambling games that can be potentially beaten, having video poker strategy charts in your tool kit is probably the best tip we can give you. Without a video poker strategy, you are essentially walking into your video poker sessions blind and putting your bankroll at risk. 

On top of that, strategy charts will help you become a better video poker player. You might end up in a situation where you receive a high pair and would like to keep the ball rolling. Or, you might receive a low-paying hand and would like to turn the odds around. 

Check out this strategy chart for Jacks or Better video poker:

Now take a look at this chart for Bonus Poker:

As you can see, different variants come with slightly different charts, so be sure to research the right chart for the machine that you play.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST VIDEO POKER STRATEGY CHART?

The strategy chart you use depends on the type of video poker gambling game you play and the type of hand you are dealt. Each video poker variant ranks specific hands differently, so the chart you use must match the variant you play. 

HOW TO USE VIDEO POKER STRATEGY CHARTS?

The way a strategy chart would work is, it will list the various possible hands you can be dealt in a game, with the best possible hand in the topmost position. It then continues to list ranked hands in order until it reaches the lowest ranked hand. These hands would be determined mathematically, so you don’t have to worry about the legitimacy of these rankings.

To use a strategy chart, all you have to do is look at the list and work your way down until you find your hand. The steps you take after that depends on what the chart would tell you to do — it’s that simple. Take this example:

Suppose you receive a hand consisting of a queen of clubs, a queen of spades, a five of spades, a four of spades and a seven of spades. Then, you go down the list of ranked hands on your strategy chart and find that the hand that matches the combination of cards you received is a high pair because of your pair of queens. The chart will then instruct you to discard your numbered cards and draw three new ones.

It is important to note that your hand may appear in other sections of the list, but you must only focus on the hand that ranks the highest. 

VIDEO POKER STRATEGY TIPS

Now that you know your way around a strategy chart, here are a few extra tips and tricks that you can use along your video poker gaming journey. There are many tips that can help you boost your knowledge of video poker. Here are a few of them:

FAMILIARISE YOURSELF WITH THE PAYTABLES.

Before you begin playing, we recommend that you give the paytables a quick looksie. You won’t need to memorise them, but they can give you an idea of which hands to aim for to earn the biggest payout possible, depending on the state of your hand. 

The straight flush pays better than a four-of-a-kind for example, but not as much as a royal flush hand. It’s little tricks like these that will help you adjust your strategy correctly and ultimately become a better video poker player.

ADJUST YOUR BET TO MAX OUT WIN POTENTIAL.

In general, video poker machines work with coins that translate to your bet value. Each machine allows you to place up to five coins, which is the maximum amount you can bet. The payout value of each hand is determined by the number of coins.

With a solid strategy, you might be able to beat video poker. So, if you’re confident in your strategy, you can place larger bets for a chance to win greater payouts. For example, a royal flush awards a payout of 250:1 with one coin and 800:1 with five coins. However, we advise you to have a good bankroll management strategy in place as well. 

USE POKER STRATEGY CHARTS TO BOOST YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

Poker strategy charts are kind of like cheat sheets that may help you make better decisions in your play, especially if you’re just starting out. As we’ve mentioned, these charts compile a list of every possible outcome and tell you how to go about them. 

Making more strategic decisions is key to beating video poker — going in blind is practically a one-way ticket to losing your bankroll. So, if you’re ever stuck, you can always refer to the charts.

ANALYSE THE ODDS

Besides checking and using strategy charts, analysing the odds on your own will also be super beneficial to your overall wagering method. Each hand combination offers its own unique payout, and naturally, better-ranking hands offer better payouts. 

Having an idea of the odds of each hand can help you make better decisions in the long run. For example, knowing a straight flush offers better odds than a straight can help you decide which cards to discard or keep to potentially make room for a higher-ranking combination. 

Different poker games may offer different odds, especially if they feature unique rules that alter the gameplay a little. It is essential to check the odds out before you begin betting.

CHECK THE HOUSE EDGE

Checking the house edge is probably one of the most important tips we can give you. ‘House edge’ is a term used to describe the mathematical advantage the game, and thus, the house has over the player as they bet over time. 

The percentage is an expression of the return the house is expected to receive and the loss of what you bet at the same time. So, statistically speaking, you are expected to earn more on tables that offer a lower house edge. 

In general, video poker offers one of the lowest house edges out of all online games at 0.46%. But you may notice a slightly different edge when playing Jacks or Better, Bonus Poker, Deuces Wild, etc.

PRACTISE IN THE DEMO MODE

Online casinos often include a demo version of the game for you to try and test the gameplay for free. The way it works is as you load up your favourite poker machine, you will find a large bankroll to play with. 

This bankroll is packed with virtual funds — a fake currency that only exists within the game. You can use these funds to try and test all the game has to offer, and don’t worry; you can expect the EXACT same gaming experience you’ll find when playing for real! 

The only bummer is that you won’t be able to collect any of the winnings you earn, but the demo mode is great for learning the ropes, testing out different strategies, and checking out the mechanics. Once you’ve learned all you can from the demo, simply switch to the real version for the chance to win actual cash.

SAFEGUARD YOUR FUNDS

Video poker is a super entertaining game, but safeguarding your funds needs to be your top priority. Having a game strategy is great for ensuring you don’t lose your cash so quickly, but a bankroll management strategy is the glue that’ll keep it all together.

As you play video poker or any game for that matter, it is important to set limits on your losses and even your wins. Winning is fun, and you might even tell yourself to try one more round when you hit a winning streak — but winning isn’t everything, and you’re never guaranteed to win every time, so quit while you’re ahead! 

A bankroll management strategy will also keep your gambling habits in check, ensuring you’re in for a totally safe experience. That said, if you ever need any additional help, you can always chat with one of our Customer Service representatives, who is available 24/7!

USE A BETTING SYSTEM

As you go along your gaming adventure, terms like ‘The Martingale strategy’ or ‘The James Bond method’ may pop up. These are what are known as betting systems. 

These techniques tell you how and when to bet to help you allocate your funds as efficiently as possible. These shouldn’t be confused with the strategy charts — betting systems do not describe what to do in a specific situation, rather how to go about wagering. 

There are many different techniques out there, and some may depend on the size of your bankroll, so not all are suitable for beginners. Similarly, some systems are more offensive and aggressive than others. That said, you can always test them out in the demo mode to see which one suits your bankroll best. 

Betting systems can be separated into three categories: flat betting, positive progression betting and negative progression betting. Flat betting simply involves placing a bet with the same value every time. Positive and negative betting imply increasing or decreasing your wager after you win or lose. Popular wagering methods include the Paroli system, Martingale, D’Alambert, James Bond, Fibonacci, Grand Martingale, etc. 

Be sure to do some research before you try out these systems for real. 

VIDEO POKER ODDS

Here’s a quick breakdown of the possible payouts you may earn on a typical table:

PLAY VIDEO POKER AT HOTSLOTS ONLINE CASINO

If you’re looking to play video poker online, look no further than HotSlots! Our casino offers some of the best video poker games on the market, so you can expect a gaming experience that is absolutely sizzling. 

If you’re looking for a specific video poker game like the iconic Joker Poker, trust and believe we have it in our collection. We also have other video poker games like Double Bonus Poker, Joker Wild video poker, Deuces Wild video poker, and Bonus Poker.

Do not hesitate to explore the rest of our catalogue. We’ve got fruit slot machines, live tables, progressive bonus machines featuring a progressive jackpot, first-person games, and so much more.