Video Poker is a type of poker game that is played on a machine that looks like a slots machine. It can be played at a land-based casino or online casino and the rules are similar for both. Online video poker is very popular and many online casinos offer a number of variations of the game. It is important to be aware of the hand rankings when playing video poker, as well as the rule differences between the different variations.
The Aim of Video Poker
The aim of video poker is to hold the highest ranking hand possible. Video poker is played at a machine and as you are not playing against any other players, you only need to focus on the hand you are holding.
Playing Video Poker
To begin playing video poker, you must place a bet by feeding coins into the slot in the machine. The machine will then deal you five cards. Of those cards, you must decide which to hold and which to discard, bearing in mind that once you decide to hold a card, you cannot decide at a later time to discard it. The machine will then deal cards to replace the ones that you discarded and your final hand will be ranked.
Hand Rankings in Video Poker
Understanding video poker hand rankings is essential to understanding how to play the game.
- Royal Flush - The highest ranking hand - Ten, Jack, Queen, King, Ace of an identical suit.
- Straight Flush - Any five consecutive cards, all in the same suit e.g. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 of Hearts.
- Four of a Kind - Four cards of the same numerical value, but different suits e.g. 2, 2, 2, 2, X.
- Full House - Any three cards of one numerical value with two cards of another numerical value. They can all have different suits. E.g. 3, 3, 3, 7, 7.
- Flush - Five cards from an identical suit, with different numerical values e.g. 3, 6, 7, 9, A of Hearts.
- Straight - Any five consecutive cards, with different suits.
- Three of a Kind - Three cards of the same numerical value, but with different suits e.g. 4, 4, 4, X, X.
- Two Pair - Two pairs of cards - two cards of one numerical value and two cards of another numerical value e.g. 5, 5, 8, 8, X.
- Pair - Two cards of the same numerical value e.g. 3, 3, X, X, X.
Video Poker Variations
While the basic hand rankings are relevant to all casino games of video poker, there are a number of variations. The variation you choose to play can dramatically alter the cards you aim to have in your final hand.
Some common video poker variations include:
- Jacks or Better - Pairs of Jacks, Queens, Kings or Aces are sought after. This is the most common variation of video poker.
- Jokers Wild - A joker is added to the deck and acts as a wild card.
- Deuces Wild - The four twos (deuces) act as wild cards.
- Double Joker - Two jokers are added to the deck and act as wild cards.
- Deuces and Joker - One joker is added to the deck and the joker and twos (deuces) all act as wild cards.
- Aces and Faces - The most sought after hand in this variation is a hand of four Aces or four face cards.
|
|
