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Video poker can be one of the best casino games to play. It has a low house edge. Some Nevada video poker games return over 100%. Unlike slots, video poker requires skill to receive the highest return. Here are some video poker tips to help you get the best play for your money.
Learn Video Poker Strategy
The most important video poker tip is learning the strategy. It varies from one game to another. It is best to learn Jacks or Better first, which is the base for all other games with no wild cards. It can also be used with Bonus Poker, another simple, low-variance video poker game. The Jacks or Better strategy is simple to learn and will help you understand more complicated games, like Double Bonus, Double Double Bonus, and Triple Double Bonus. Wild card games like Deuces Wild, Deuces Wild Bonus, and Joker Poker have substantially different strategies than those based on Jacks or Better.
Failing to learn the strategy can cause significant losses and prevent big wins. This is why it is the most important tip for new video poker players. Some mistakes can cost players several bets per hour.
Some websites have video poker software that helps players learn the game. It will stop and show when players make strategy mistakes. These websites include Videopoker.com, which offers training software to help you practice as you learn, and Wizard of Odds.
Choose Games With Lower Variance
It is important to start with low-variance games. This avoids wild swings, which will keep you in the game longer and require a smaller bankroll. Jacks or Better and Bonus Poker have the two lowest variances of common games. All casinos with video poker will have one or both of these. Wild card games like Deuces Wild and Joker Poker are in the next group of games in terms of variance.
Start with Low Denominations
When starting at video poker, play lower denominations until you are familiar enough to move up in limits comfortably. All casinos offer quarter denominations. Many have nickels. Some even have pennies. Playing at these small denominations will make mistakes cost much less than at higher limits.
Always Bet One or Five Coins
A video poker game pays a larger jackpot on a royal flush when betting five coins compared to one, two, three, or four coins. The payout is typically 800 for every one wagered on five coins. It drops to 250 on one to four coins.
One coin also works on most games. While the royal flush payout is only 250, the expected loss on one coin is usually about the same as five coins due to the smaller wager amount. Never bet two, three, or four coins. Change the game’s denomination to make a proper bet instead, even of the paytable is worse.
Using a Players Card
Casinos issue players cards to customers. These are created at the loyalty club desk, which may be part of the cashier’s cage. Inquire about any new player promotions when getting a new players card from a casino. They may offer free slot play, match bets, or progressive awards for earning specific numbers of points on your first day of action.
Insert the card into a video poker machine while playing. Slot points are awarded based on the level of action.
The casino’s marketing team rates each session. If it reaches a predetermined level, comps are sent by mail, which may include free slot play, meals, and hotel rooms. Special events like slot tournaments and parties may also be offered to loyal players.
Most casino promotions require a players card. These may include hot seat drawings, point multipliers, slot tournament entries, points chases, and meal comps based on a day of play. Check your favorite casino’s website or loyalty club center for dates and times to ensure the best return on your video poker action.
Find the Best Video Poker Paytables
Paytables are key to video poker returns. Playing a good paytable versus a bad one can have a major impact on your bankroll. Advice on this often states to look for games where the full house pays 9 coins and the flush pays 6. However, that is only the case for Bonus Poker Deluxe, Double Double Bonus, and Jacks or Better. Keep in mind that some Las Vegas casinos have a 10/6 version of Double Double Bonus.
All other 9/6 games return 98.15% or less. This includes 9/6 Triple Double Bonus and Double Bonus. Some 9/5 and 8/5 paytables can be full-pay. That is why it is important to use a video poker tool to determine a paytable’s return.
Play Slowly at First to Avoid Mistakes
Many video poker machines allow players to adjust the game’s speed. New players may want to pick the slowest setting to keep pace low. Cards and draws coming fast may make new players rush their decisions. If you choose the fast setting, ensure you understand the correct play and have clicked the proper cards to hold. All video poker players make occasional errors by not ensuring all the cards they want to hold are recognized by the machine and not misclicked. Reducing these to almost zero will greatly increase your video poker returns.
Don’t Play Tired, Hungry, or Drunk
Gambling for too long is never a good idea. Breaks help players clear their minds and decide if they want to continue or call it a night. Gambling while tired, hungry, and especially drunk, can end in disaster.
If you are tired, mistakes are more likely. It is time to return tomorrow. That game will still be there next time. Being hungry can cause strategy errors and other mistakes. It is time to grab a snack.
One perk of playing video poker in a casino is the free alcohol. When you have consumed too much, the outcome can be even worse, as bad decisions can go beyond just making mistakes and may cause you to go on tilt more easily, meaning you may chase losses or increase limits when you may not do that sober.
Play Responsibly
Playing video poker responsibly may be the most important advice. Set a loss, win, and time limit before playing. When any of these hit, it is time to leave. This gives you a chance to rethink your next move when you are not carried away on a big upswing or downswing. You can always return tomorrow when you are fresh. This will help keep you playing within your bankroll without spending too much time in a casino.
I played video poker while sitting at the bar in a casino once. It’s very true that bad decisions will mess up your poker hand. Oh no I should’ve kept that Ace!
Like a lot of things in the casino, experience teaches us a lot! Video poker skills and learning how to get comped rooms are both acquired knowledge :) We appreciate your comment, Eileen!