Ines | January 4, 2021 | Updated on: January 29th, 2021
Online video poker is one of the most popular casino games. Thus a lot of players are interested in video poker tips and tricks to help win more games.
If you are looking for a way to improve your chances of winning at video poker, read our guide below. You will find out about the best video poker tips and tricks. We have also listed some popular online casinos where you can test our tips and see if they can help your video poker game.
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Video Poker Tips to Win
Know the Game You Want to Play
There are many variations of video poker machines, including Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Tens or Better, and Aces and Faces. While every variation uses standard poker hands as a baseline for winning hand, each has minor differences.
Although most variations will not differ much from others, you still need to know how the game you are playing works. That way, you know how to play the game better and are unlikely to make stupid mistakes due to inexperience.
It goes without saying that knowing the difference between all the games helps you avoid unnecessary losses, which brings us to our next point.
Play Video Poker for Free
The best way to improve your video poker skills is to practice as much as you can. You can do this by playing the casino game for free. This is the benefit of playing video poker on the internet. There are casino sites that allow you to play the game for free before committing real money.
Even though video poker is mostly a game based on luck, your gaming experience can still help you improve your outcomes in real games. After all, you will have solid experience of how games and how the rules work. So, you are less likely to make stupid decisions based on user inexperience.
Don’t Give Up Winning Hands
Many beginner video poker players make the mistake of trying to go for straights and flushes instead of sticking with an already winning hand. They’ll give up a pair to go for a hand that pays out more on the pay table.
It is important to remember that in video poker, you are not playing to beat other players. Any combination of hands featured on the pay table pays out. So, if you give up two pairs in the hopes of getting something better, you are actively giving up on a winning hand to get a better winning hand.
If you keep doing this, you will soon find that you have no money left to play with. This is especially true when you consider you have something like a 1 in 8,000 chance of getting a Royal Flush in any video poker game.
Bet Maximum Coins
When playing video poker for real money, you stake real cash to win real money back. You will also want to walk away with the most money possible. The easiest way to stand a chance of winning a bigger payout is if you bet the maximum number of coins. You will earn the full value of the bets you make, especially if you hit a royal flush.
Focus on Jacks or Better
If your focus is winning big, you may want to stick to playing Jacks or Better. Games with a wild card tend to have pay tables with lower payouts for higher poker hands because these games are slightly easier to win.
As such, if you want to focus on getting the most winnings possible while playing video poker, we recommend playing games such as Jacks or Better, which does not feature a wild. Thus, it pays out more because the house edge in the game is slightly higher. You are less likely to make winning combinations without the wild.
Check the Game’s Pay Table
Since there are so many video poker variations, each game has its own pay table due to the minor difference in rules. Studying a pay table will help you understand the game rules and decide on moves based on the cards you are dealt.
With the guidance of the pay table, you will know the value of all the game’s hands. You will also know the best course of action for your current hand to create a new hand. Remember, never give up a winning hand to try and get a better hand.
Familiarize Yourself with a Video Poker Strategy
While a pay table makes you aware of which hands you should be going for, applying video poker strategy will help you decide what to do with the cards you are dealt. Basic strategy also varies based on the video poker strategy you are playing.
However, once you have learnt the ins and outs the game you are playing and familiarized yourself with the variation basic strategy, you will be ready to play the game. You will likely see an increase in wins after you start using basic strategy.
Find Video Poker Games with Progressive Jackpots
Some video poker slot machine games feature progressive jackpots. These games allow you to win a big jackpot, which has been accumulated via a network of connected casinos offering the same game.
However, before choosing a progressive jackpot video poker game, check the pay table to determine how likely you are to hit the jackpot and overall expected return. Understand that you are less likely to win progressive jackpot games than standard games due to games with bigger jackpots being highly volatile.
You need to consider this factor when choosing a game to play. You can either choose to play low volatile games with smaller jackpots for a greater chance of winning. You can also choose to play high volatile games with massive jackpots and a low chance of winning.
You could also split the difference for games that are halfway between both areas. Whatever suits your fancy really.
Learn How to Manage Your Bankroll
Before you make your first deposit at an online casino, make sure you are familiar with bankroll management. You should set aside an amount of cash to gamble that you can afford to lose. If you deplete your bankroll, you need to be able to walk away and meet defeat.
You should only deposit into your account when you have enough money to do so. Remember you should never gamble with money that is meant to pay for important bills, such as your rent, electricity, and so on.
Similarly, you should also be setting winning limits. A winning limit may sound strange, but it safeguards you from spending all of your winnings on gambling. So, what many players do is set a limit they will automatically cash out to ensure that they keep some profits from the game session.
If you find yourself struggling with any of these ideas, you probably shouldn’t be gambling. Especially if you are playing with money, you are meant to be spending on your bills.
Tips for Playing Video Poker: Conclusion
These easy to follow casino video poker tips can help you maximize your chances of winning. With our video poker tips, you won’t become an expert at playing the game, but you will be a reasonable player.
Finally, it is important to remember that there is no way to ensure that you win every video poker play. The tips outlined above are meant to help you put yourself in the best position of winning. However, if you expect them to lead to glorious wins every time you play the game, you are in for a rude surprise.
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