VIDEO POKER

Video poker works very much the same way as a slot machine, except that the player sees random cards rather than silly pictures.  The first slot machine, invented in 1891, was actually based on this idea.

Video poker is also a hybrid between slot machines and five-card draw poker.  The player wins if his cards make a strong poker hand.  The game is based on simple five-card draw poker.  The Video Poker machine deals the player his first five cards.  The player then has the option to discard some of his cards for new ones to improve his hand.  Many games allow players to play numerous hands simultaneously, as many as a hundred!

The primary matter the player must remember is to play video poker with as many credits as possible, which can significantly increase a player’s winnings on a strong hand. 

The poker hands listed below are in order from lowest to highest.

A pair is two cards of the same rank, such as two kings. Video poker differs from standard poker since any pair lower than jacks do not pay out.  A pair of jacks or better usually pays even money (1 to 1).

A "two pair" hand has two matched pairs, such as eights and sixes.  Two pairs lower than jacks are still a winning hand. A “two-pair” hand usually pays 2 to 1.

A "three of a kind" contains any three cards of the same rank, such as three nines.  A “three of a kind” hand usually pays 3 to 1.

A "straight" is five cards in sequential order, such as 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.  A "straight" hand usually pays 4 to 1.

A "flush" is all of the cards having the same suit, such as clubs or hearts, without regard for sequential order.  A "flush" hand usually pays 6 to 1.

A "full house" has both a pair and a three of a kind in the same hand.  A "full house" hand usually pays 9 to 1.

A "four of a kind" is four cards of the same rank, such as four sevens.  A "four of a kind" hand usually pays 25 to 1.

A "straight flush" is five cards in sequential order and all cards of the same suit.  A "straight flush" hand usually pays 50 to 1.

A "royal flush" is the highest straight flush: 10, J, Q, K, and A, the best hand in poker

A "royal flush" also has the highest payout, at least 250 to 1.

Video poker games have several variants.

All variants use the classic five-card draw game. The lone modification comes from the sum of money that various hands pay out.

• Jacks or Better
  The name pertains to the rule that most games do not pay out for a hand lower than a pair of jacks.

• Tens or Better
  Some rare machines will pay out on a pair of tens.

• Deuces Wild
  An exciting variation on the classic game, Deuces Wild will permit a player to handle any two as a wild card that can represent any other card, which can help players make better hands.  The lowest winning hand in this game is three of a kind.

  In Deuces Wild, the game makes it possible for a player to have a positive theoretical return, which means that the house edge can be negative, though for a very small percentage.  Very few casino games allow players a positive edge.

• Bonus Poker
  Bonus poker doubles the payout for "four of a kind".

• The "Double Bonus" game gives another bonus for a "four of a kind" with an Ace as the fifth card.

• The "Double Double Bonus" game gives even bigger payouts for a "four of a kind" with four aces and a 2, 3 or 4 as the fifth card.  This game also gives a higher bonus on four twos, four threes or four fours with an ace.