Video Poker Strategy Guide (Odds , Betting, & Game Variants)

What is Video Poker Strategy and Should You Use It?

In 2024 casinos, video poker strategies are the techniques and decisions a player makes to increase their chances of winning. Unlike slots, video poker games offer players the chance to use their skills to win by influencing the game's outcome. Utilizing the best video poker strategy and knowing when to hold or discard cards can significantly impact your win rate. Implementing these strategies is essential for anyone serious about winning, as it turns random play into a game of skill and strategy. Whether you're aiming for a royal flush or simply looking to improve your win rate, mastering video poker strategy cards featured in this tutorial is a critical step towards optimizing your winnings and enhancing your gaming experience.

Video Poker Basic Strategy Tips to Follow

Mastering the game begins with grasping the fundamentals and building a solid foundation on video poker basic strategy. This not only enhances your chances of winning but also ensures a superb gaming experience. To begin with, find out which video poker games have the best odds and hone your skills to increase your chances of winning. You will also need to plan how much you can splurge on wagers without feeling a pinch. Below are explanations of how to use essential tips that cater to both beginners and seasoned players aiming to refine their approach and maximize winning potential.

• Set a Budget: Always decide on a gaming budget before you start playing. This ensures that you play within your means and protects you from the risks of gambling more than you can afford to lose.
• Play at a Casino with a Good Bonus: Look for casinos that offer generous matching deposit and reload bonuses that allow you to play a variety of games. By so doing, you can stretch your bankroll to cover more games and have extra opportunities to become a winner.
• Check the Rules: Familiarize yourself with the game's rules and the paytable of the specific variant you choose. That way, you can spend more on games with the best video poker odds.
• Use Strategy Charts: Video poker strategy charts offer a roadmap for decision-making in various game scenarios. Relying on these can significantly improve your chances of winning.
• Play the Games with the Best Odds: Some games offer better odds than others. Seek out games like Jacks or Better or Deuces Wild for more favourable odds.
• Have Fun: Remember, the ultimate goal of wagering online is to play for fun rather than chasing profits. So, keep your gaming experience pleasurable by sticking to your budget and taking breaks when needed.

Understanding Odds and RTP

At the heart of video poker strategy lies a deep understanding of odds and Return to Player rates. Odds determine the likelihood of drawing winning hands, while RTPindicates the theoretical percentage of money returned to players over time. High RTP games offer long-term winning potential, making them the best choice for strategic players. So get familiar with how odds and RTP rates affect your chances of winning when figuring out what is the best video poker game to play. In addition, you will be better placed to choose a game that works with the best strategies, putting you one step closer to turning a profit. Of course, before you do any of this, it is important to understand and learn the rules of video poker.

Video Poker Winning Hand Odds

The odds of landing winning hands will vary significantly across different games and depend on your decisions. Each hand's probability, from a Royal Flush to a pair of Jacks, informs your strategy for online video poker, affecting when to hold or discard specific cards. Understanding these odds is crucial for making informed decisions that align with optimal strategy, maximizing your potential payouts. Below, we'll explore the odds associated with being dealt various winning hands, laying a foundation how to play video poker in a way that leverages the statistics to your advantage.

9/6 Video Poker and Other Pay Tables

Paytables in poker define the amount paid out to players who get lucky to hold a winning hand. The stronger your hand is, the larger the payout. Before playing, you should note that paytables can pay a given amount for one hand in one game and pay a higher or lower amount for the same hand on a different variant. Therefore, you need to take time to study the pay tables on your game of choice to know how much you can win on each hand.

To better understand how paytables work, consider the 9/6 paytable in Jacks or Better, where the payout for a full house is 9 times the bet and the payout for a flush is 6 times the bet. Pay tables can define a smaller payout on the same hand when applied to the Deuces Wild poker variant. 9/6 is well-known for offering high RTP percentages in Jacks or Better, often hovering around 99.5% in generous casinos. However, some casinos make adjustments to how much each hand pays in order to maintain the odds in favor of the house. So, expect to find games in which the 9/6 pay table drops to 8/5, thus paying 8 times of your bet for a full house and 5 times of your bet for a flush. With this configuration, the RTP comes to 97.3%. On less aggressive games, the pay table can drop to 6/5, resulting in a 95% RTP. Usually, players like to play games that implement the 9/6 pay table since they have the lowest house edge. But since you may not always find such games, you need to check out the applicable pay table before you start playing any game. Here is s breakdown of the most common pay tables and the corresponding house edge for each.

Video Poker RTP

Video poker games are highly popular across the world for offering some of the highest RTP rates. The RTP can vary significantly between different games, influenced by factors like the game's paytable and the player's ability to make optimal decisions. For example, the renowned 9/6 pay table in Jacks or Better game can have an RTP of around 99.5% when you implement the perfect strategy, offering you a mouthwatering payout on high-value poker hands. Moreover, the RTP can also be affected by bonus features and progressive jackpots offered in some variations. While these can offer the chance for higher payouts, they can also impact the game's overall RTP. Therefore, players should consider these elements when selecting a game to play. As the game evolves, with new variations and features being introduced, understanding RTP and how it affects your gameplay is crucial. By choosing games with high RTP rates and employing a solid strategy, players can enhance their chances of success. Below are the average RTP rates for popular games at the best online casinos in 2024:

Best Online Casino Video Poker Games and Strategies to Use

Mastering video poker online casino strategies involves understanding the basics and employing effective strategies tailored to each game variant. The game's beauty lies in its mix of simplicity and depth, providing an engaging experience for new players and veterans. Below, we delve into strategies and how to play video poker and win, highlighting key approaches to maximize your chances of winning. Each strategy is designed to align with the unique rules and payout structures of these variants, ensuring you make informed decisions every step of the way.

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  Jacks or Better Strategy

  Jacks or Better is the most played game and as the name suggests, pays out on hands with Jacks or more valuable hands. As such, the basic Jacks or Better strategy is to discard all cards if they don't have any chances for a payout. Success in this game hinges on understanding which cards to keep and which to discard, aiming for hands that guarantee a payout or offer the highest potential for winning. The list below shows hands that commonly confuse players and how to navigate such situations. Ideally, you should move down the list checking for the hand matching what you have been dealt to know your next move.

  • When holding three cards to a Royal Flush, discard the remaining two in favour of the potential high reward.
  • With an Open Four you can move to a Straight Flush or Two Pair. The right move would be to keep the Four to a Straight Flush.
  • When dealt an Inside Four, you can discard cards to get a Straight Flush or remain with a Two Pair. Here, keep the Two Pair for a better payout.
  • If your first five cards can give you a Four to a Straight Flush or High Pair after discarding one card, go for the Four to a Straight Flush.
  • If the first cards dealt have a High Pair (Jacks or Better) and Four to a Flush, drop cards to keep the High Pair.
  • When the first five-hand combination has a Four to a Flush and Four to a Straight, discard cards to remain with the Four to a Flush
  • Always hold a pair of Jacks or better, aiming for at least a guaranteed payout.
  • If you have four cards to a Flush or a Straight, hold these in pursuit of a higher payout.
  • Hold onto low pairs with the hope of forming Three of a Kind or better in the draw.
  • Discard entire hands that don't offer immediate potential, aiming for better outcomes with new cards.
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  Deuces Wild Video Poker Strategy

  Deuces Wild adds a twist to poker with the number 2 cards being considered wilds. Similar to how wilds in slot machines work, the 2 cards in a poker hand can transform into any other card to complete winning combinations. For example, a hand with two Aces and a 2 of hearts will be considered as three Aces, meaning you have three of a kind. And for a hand with three 2's and a jack, the 2's transform to Jacks, giving you the payout for a royal Flush according to the pay table. With more likelihood to land a winning hand, payouts for each hand are adjusted downwards. So, expect to get lower odds than you would on Jacks or better for each hand. In addition, the weakest paying hand in Deuces Wilds is Three-of-a-kind, meaning any hand below that is worthless. A natural Royal Flush is ranked above Four Deuces even though the four deuces transform to complete the same hand. But four deuces are better than a royal flush that includes deuces.

  As you would expect, the Deuces Wild video poker strategy for beginners accounts for the wilds, leveraging the Deuces cards to maximize winnings. Throwing wilds into the mix complicates even the simplest of Deuces Wild strategies, which are based on the number of deuces you are dealt at the start as explained below:

  • For a hand with four deuces or a natural Flush, count yourself lucky since you already have a valuable hand.
  • If you have three deuces, find the highest card to make a royal flush or keep the deuces to make five-of-a-kind for number cards 10 to Aces. Otherwise, keep the deuces and draw two more cards.
  • Two deuces in hand? Hold any cards that complete four of a kind or better or four cards to a royal flush. Otherwise, aim for the next poker hand in line, which is four cards to a straight with consecutive 6 -7 or higher. If any other combination, keep the two deuces and draw three cards.
  • A single deuce can pivot your strategy to holding promising combinations or drawing to better options. Use the one wild to complete a four-of-a-kind combination. If not possible, the next option would be to add the deuce to make up for cards to a royal flush. Next in line is aiming to include the 2 in a full house or four cards to a straight flush with consecutive 5,6,7, or higher. Keep looking to make the most out of your cards according to the value of poker hands up to three of a kind.
  • You have your work cut out if you do not have any deuces in your hand. The aim still remains the same; to have the most valuable poker hand.
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  Bonus Video Poker Strategy

  Bonus Video Poker games enhance payouts for specific hands, adding an exciting twist to the classic gameplay. The game has the same poker hands as those of Jacks or Better, with bonuses included for high-ranking hands like Four of a Kind made of Aces, Four of a Kind made of 2's, 3's, or 4's, and Four of a Kind 5's - Kings. Pay tables defining payouts for each hand in the game include several variations of the 8/5 paytable with average RTP rates between 99.2% to 98.1% and 7/5 pay tables with RTP rates ranging between 98.1% and 98.0%. Implementing a strategy in bonus video poker requires you to consider hands that can pay a bonus but you should never interfere with a paying hand dealt at the start if you have less than four of the cards needed to complete a Royal Flush. If the cards you are dealt at the beginning do not make up a winning combination in bonus videopoker, go through the following list of possible combos, ranked from the best to least valuable, to find the best one you can complete:

  • Four of a kind, straight flush, royal flush
  • Four cards to a royal flush
  • Three of a kind, straight, flush, full house
  • Four cards to a straight flush
  • Two pair
  • High pair (Jack or better)
  • Three cards to a royal flush
  • Four cards to a flush
  • Low pair
  • Four cards to an outside straight
  • Two suited high cards
  • Three cards to a straight flush
  • Two unsuited high cards (more than two, use lowest)
  • Suited high cards 10-J, 10-Q, 10-K
  • Jack or better
  • Discard all cards

Video Poker Strategy Chart - What to Do With Your Cards

Mastering hands in video poker puts you in a position to know when you have the potential to improve the hand you get dealt by dropping some and when you should hold on to the cards you are dealt. Although there is no strategy guaranteed to end in a win, consistent practice can help you improve your skills. You will be glad to know that you can practice strategies in online video poker casinos for free by opening demo mode on your favourite poker variant to play for fun. When you do so, learn to use the video poker tips listed in the following cheat sheet guiding you on when to discard or hold cards for the best outcomes.

Win at Video Poker - Top 10 Tips

Winning requires more than just luck. You have to take a strategic approach, an understanding of the game's mechanics, and the ability to make smart decisions. Beginners and experienced players applying proven tips can significantly enhance the chances of securing a win. Below, we share tips gathered by the Top 10 Casinos poker research crew designed to help you navigate the complexities of online gaming, optimize your gameplay and maximize your potential payouts. From selecting the right variant to using no deposit casino bonuses, these insights are your roadmap to success in the game.

1. Choose the Right Game: Not all games are created equal. Start by selecting a game with favourable pay tables and rules that suit your playing style and budget.
2. Understand the Payout Table: Familiarize yourself with the specific game's payout table. This knowledge is crucial for identifying the games that offer the best returns.
3. Reduce the House Edge: Opt for games with the highest RTP rates and use strategies that minimize the house advantage.
4. Play the Winning Hand: Focus on playing hands that have the potential to win big. Use strategy charts to help you decide which cards to hold or discard.
5. Take Advantage of Casino Bonuses: Look out for casinos that offer cash promos bonuses for the game. These can provide additional value and extend your playtime.
6. Try Progressive Jackpot Games: If you're aiming for massive wins, consider playing progressive jackpot games, but remember to bet the maximum coins to qualify.
7. Practice with Free Games: Before risking real money, hone your skills by playing free games. This helps you train without the pressure of losing cash.
8. Stay Disciplined with Your Bankroll: Set a budget and stick to it. Managing your bankroll wisely is key to long-term success.
9. Know When to Quit: Set win and loss limits. Knowing when to walk away can prevent significant losses and keep your winnings intact.
10. Keep Learning and Adapting: Even the best strategies can evolve. Stay informed about new tutorials, strategies, and game variations to improve your gameplay and beat the odds.

Practice For Free Before You Play for Real Money

One of the most effective ways to improve your skills without any risk is to practice with free games at online casinos before venturing into real money play. Free games mirror the dynamics and decisions of real money games, providing an excellent platform for learning game rules, testing strategies, and getting comfortable with the gameplay. Utilizing free games allows players to experiment with various hand strategies with no deposit. Luckily, there are tons of legit mobile casinos with apps that let you enjoy demo mode games with no download. You can start playing with no registration to understand the implications of paytables and gauge how you like different casino games. By taking the time to practice, players can build confidence, refine their strategies, and identify variations of the game that best align with their playing style. When the time comes to transition to real money games, this preparation can make a significant difference.

FAQs

Starting out on the game can evoke a mix of excitement and curiosity. To help you navigate through the complexities of the game, we've compiled a list of frequently asked questions. These aim to provide clarity, offer strategic insights, and enhance your playing experience. So if you are curious about strategy charts, the odds of different game variants, or the availability of bonuses, we've got you covered. Let's dive into some of the most common inquiries about the game.

• Are video poker strategy charts a good idea?

  Yes, strategy charts are an excellent tool for both beginners and experienced players. They provide a guideline on how to play each hand to maximize your chances of winning based on statistical probabilities.

• Which game variant has the best odds?

  Jacks or Better is known for offering some of the best odds, with a 99.5% return to player (RTP) when played with optimal strategy.

• Can I practice video poker strategies at online casinos for free?

  Yes, many online casinos offer free versions of video poker games with no deposit. This allows players to practice their strategies and get familiar with the game mechanics without risking real money.

• Are there any no deposit bonuses available for this game?

  Yes, some online casinos offer no deposit bonuses, which allow you to use online video poker strategies to play and potentially win real money without making a deposit.

• Can you cheat at video poker?

  No, cheating at video poker is not possible, especially in online casinos. Video poker games use random number generators to ensure fair play and random outcomes.

• Are there any progressive jackpot games?

  Yes, there are variants with progressive jackpots which offer the chance to win a large jackpot on specific hands, like a royal flush, with the maximum bet placed.

• Does a video poker strategy guarantee a win?

  No strategy can guarantee a win since the game involves elements of luck. However, using a strategy can significantly increase your chances of winning in the long run.

• What's the best bonus to use to play this game?

  The best bonuses are those with low wagering requirements. Note that you have to spend a given amount after claiming a promo to meet the requirements and keep winnings. Have a look through our list of low wagering casinos to find some of the best deals in 2024.

• Is it possible to beat video poker machines every time?

  No, it's not possible to beat the machines every time due to the inherent house edge and the element of luck. However, playing with optimal strategy can minimize losses and increase winning opportunities.

• Is video poker better than slots?

  Video poker and slots cater to different types of players. Video poker offers the potential for strategic play and higher control over the outcomes, while slots appeal to those looking for simpler gameplay and the chance at large jackpots. Your preference depends on your gaming style and objectives.

Written by

Amanda Evans - Chief Editor

Amanda has been involved with all aspects of the content creation at Top10Casinos.com including research, planning, writing and editing. The dynamic environment has kept her engaged and continually learning which along with +15 years iGaming experience helped propel her into the Chief Editor role.

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