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Video poker offers some of the best odds in the casino. It gives you much control over your decisions. But, “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility” (Spiderman). And “With Great Responsibility Comes Great Mistakes!” (me).
When playing Video Poker, mistakes cost you money. It will also shorten your session and bring a lot of frustration. Let’s take a look at Video Poker Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make.
How Do You Play?
- You’re dealt five cards.
- Decide which cards to hold by pressing buttons on the console.
- Hit the DRAW button and you get replacement cards for empty spaces
- You win if you wind up with a traditional poker hand like two pair, straight, flush, etc.
Poker And Video Poker Are NOT The Same
Except for the hierarchy of winning hands, video poker differs significantly from live games.
- There are no “bluffs.”
- The pace is faster.
- There are no physical tells from the machine.
- The Random Number Generator does the machine’s choosing of cards, and
- The player chooses the best hold cards.
1. THE WORST MISTAKE OF ALL
If you play Video Poker, you should learn the best strategy for whatever game you prefer. If you want longer sessions, use Optimal Strategy to diminish the house edge. It gives you the best chance to increase your bankroll. The main mistake many VP players make is not knowing how to play the hand strategically. Playing randomly, trying to figure it out yourself, or basing your play on “gut feelings” will lead to ruin. Usually, there is one way to play it correctly – 31 ways to play it wrong!
There are 2.6 million possible hands in a 52-card deck. Each Video poker game has an optimal strategy. Strategy cards, online information, and practice apps are found everywhere. I would suggest you start with VideoPoker.com. Practice is important.
Study and memorize the correct strategy for the specific video poker game you are playing. Start with easier games like Jack or Better (JOB).
Not knowing the best strategy is the worst poker mistake of all. But other mistakes can take a bite out of your bankroll as well. Read on.
2. BEGINNING MISTAKES TO AVOID
Not Managing Your Bankroll:
Set a budget for your gambling session and stick to it. Stop playing if you reach your loss limit.
Forgetting To Check The Denomination You Are Betting Before Starting To Play
Make sure your wagers are at your correct playing level. Be careful, your unit value of $.25 can look like $25 when we don’t check
Ignoring Malfunctioning Equipment
Sticky buttons and malfunctioning player’s card readers can result in missed credit or strategy mistakes leading to lost plays.
Not Using Players’ Club Cards & Promotions
Using a player’s card can get you valuable comps. Check promotions regularly to maximize value including offers on specific days. Multiplier days are the best way to even out the lower reward point earnings of video poker. VP earns 1/2 the rewards points than slots.
Not Betting Enough to Qualify for the Full Royal Flush Payout
You need to bet enough (most frequently five coins) to qualify for the jackpot on a royal flush. Not making your wager qualify for the full royal flush payout drops your RTP 2%. Small Bankroll?, Then lower your denomination.
Be careful, not all pay tables are made alike.
- Make sure you’re betting enough coins to qualify for the full 800:1 Royal Flush payout (which on most machines is 5 credits, for a 4000 credit payout). I have played some video poker that needed a 10-credit bet for the full Royal payout. Five credits (the usual Max,) only paid out 1250 instead.
- Don’t overbet if you don’t have to. Some video poker machines will let you bet more than a 5-coin base bet, even though you don’t need to bet higher than 5 coins to qualify for the full payout. Some machines will allow you to bet up to 25x per credit.
Don’t Lose Your Concentration
Set a time limit for playing. “No breaks lead to mistakes!” Try taking a walk. Consider getting a bite to eat. Do anything to get the heart moving and give the brain a rest.
Consuming Too Much Alcohol
Over-drinking causes more mistakes and ultimately costs you money. Free drinks? Oh no, they’re not.
3. Know the Paytables
Understand the pay tables for each game you enjoy. Choose machines with the best paytables in the casino of that particular game. Better pay tables offer a better return to player (RTP) than others. To find the higher return of two identical games, check the Full House payouts. Also, check the Flush payouts on both. The first game has 6/5. The second game has 8/5. Same game? Choose the one on the right.
4. For Recreational VP Players
Be Aware That Multi-Line Games Don’t Increase Your Chances To Win
It’s like buying more lottery tickets. It doesn’t increase your winning chances. Playing Triple, Five, or Ten-Play Video Poker is the same thing. Your first five cards are dealt. You hold whatever cards the optimal strategy dictates. Each hand, then, receives a group of hold cards its own separate 47-card deck for the draw. Each hand is now finished, with various results. In general, the game is played the same as a single-hand game.
More hands does have a down side – slightly higher volatility. (higher highs and lower lows). Please note – a few multi-games also need slight tweaks to perfect playing strategy, for example, Ultimate X.
Speed Kills…Your Bankroll That Is
According to this theory, you can increase your speed to finish one hand every three seconds. This forces the machine to cycle through 20 hands per minute rather than just 10. You’ll approach the threshold required triggering big winners twice as quickly.
But, if playing faster causes mistakes, it defeats the purpose. Strategy accuracy is more important. The best speed to play for your most precise play is the way to go.
Don’t Chase Your Losses
This is called The Gambler’s Fallacy. It is an irrational belief that earlier outcomes of independent random events influence future outcomes. The outcome each time you gamble is completely independent of any other time. Your odds are no more in your favor on your first bet as they are on your tenth. Over time, risking more and more will only create greater losses. If you feel your gut that your luck is going to change for you…..it’s probably gas. Don’t chase your losses.
Summary
It’s not just about the cards you’re dealt. It’s what you do with them. It’s about knowing the specific rules, strategies, and payout structures of the game at hand. But most importantly, if you cut down on mistakes, you give yourself a better chance to succeed financially
