Help With Video Poker

Video poker is a type of poker and thus is a game of skill but it also includes an element of luck.  The following hints are offered to assist you in increasing your odds of winning by enabling you to perform at a much advanced level of ability.

Play only machines that offer full payback – the machines that will payback all of the monies played.  In the event that the payback rate is not posted then select the machine the returns the the largest amount when you hold a full house or a flush.  The machines that return the most for these hands will be the machines that offer the highest returns.

The maximum number of coins (usually five) as well as payouts are shown on all machines.  It is a wise choice to at all times bet the highest number of coins so that a player is eligible for the extra payout if they make a royal flush.  Also ensure the machine accepts all of your tokens before playing – in case you hit the jackpot, you want to be certain five coins were played.

At all times remember that when playing video poker you are playing a machine not playing other people, and the computer is set to pay out any time you are holding one of the posted winning set of cards.  At casinos there are machines that pay out 100% when people play at an expert level.  The casinos can offer this since most video poker competitors play at a level a long way from the expert level necessary for the 100% pay out.

Do not hold on to high value kicker cards that you wish to make use of along with a pair.   This strategy works when playing with people at poker establishments, however when playing video poker you have just missed a chance to acquire a better card to use to build a winning hand.

Do not try to fill a inside straight (whenever a player has 4 of the 5 cards needed for a straight but needs one in the center).  On the other hand trying to fill an open-ended straight (whenever you have four of the five cards needed for a straight however they are sequential and a player can add one at either end of the group) should be attempted.

Keeping any two of a kind  is a lot smarter move than retaining an individual high ranking playing card.  Most people would get rid of a pair of twos and hold a single high value playing card, but this isn’t the wisest strategy.  A player has a better chance by retaining the two of a kind and trying for three of a kind.

When the cards you have contain a high valued two of a kind, a four-card open straight, a four-card flush or a three-card royal flush; then hold the pair.  Players have a better likelihood of completing three of a kind and at worst you will have recovered your bet.

If you are holding a low value two of a kind as well as a four-card open end straight, retain the two of a kind.  A low value two of a kind is more valuable than attempting to fill a straight and should be kept.

Retain a three-card royal over a four-card open ended straight, a four-card flush or a low ranked pair.  The additional payout for a royal flush makes attempting it a smarter bet.

When given a worthless set of cards (a hand that has not even an individual high valued card) it is a good idea to draw a complete fresh set of playing cards.