Video Poker Strategy

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  1. Video Poker Strategy: A Beginner's Guide

Introduction

Video poker is a single-player, five-card draw poker game based on a five-card draw poker hand. While it appears simple, mastering video poker requires understanding the underlying probabilities and employing a strategic approach. Unlike traditional poker where you play against other players, video poker pits you against the machine, and with optimal strategy, the house edge can be remarkably low – even offering a slight advantage to the player in some variations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide to video poker strategy for beginners, covering basic concepts, hand rankings, variations, and essential strategies to maximize your chances of winning. Understanding these principles is crucial, even if you're already familiar with standard poker hand rankings. This guide will focus primarily on Jacks or Better (JoB), the most common variation, but will also touch upon other popular variations and their specific strategic considerations. It's important to note that proper strategy is *essential* – playing intuitively will almost certainly result in losses.

Understanding the Basics

  • __The Game Play__*: A standard video poker game begins with the player making a bet. The machine then deals five cards face up. The player can then choose to hold any number of cards, from zero to all five. After holding the desired cards, the player discards the unheld cards, and the machine deals replacements. The final hand is then evaluated, and a payout is awarded based on the hand ranking and the paytable.
  • __The Paytable__*: The paytable is the key to understanding the value of a particular video poker machine. It lists the payouts for each winning hand. Paytables vary significantly between machines and even between casinos. A more generous paytable will significantly improve your expected return. Always look for “full pay” machines, especially in Jacks or Better, which we’ll discuss later. Examining the paytable is the first step in assessing a machine's potential profitability; a detailed analysis of paytables is critical.
  • __Random Number Generator (RNG)__*: Video poker machines utilize a Random Number Generator (RNG) to ensure that each deal is completely random and independent of previous deals. This means that past results have no bearing on future results. Understanding the RNG is crucial to dispelling myths about "hot" or "cold" machines. Each hand has an equal probability of occurring.
  • __Return to Player (RTP)__*: RTP is the percentage of wagered money that a video poker machine is expected to return to players over the long run. A higher RTP is more favorable to the player. Full-pay Jacks or Better machines can have an RTP of around 99.54%, making them very attractive. Different variations and paytables will have different RTPs.


Hand Rankings in Video Poker

The hand rankings in video poker are the same as in traditional poker. Here’s a quick refresher:

1. **Royal Flush:** Ten, Jack, Queen, King, Ace of the same suit. (Highest payout) 2. **Straight Flush:** Five cards in sequence, all of the same suit. 3. **Four of a Kind:** Four cards of the same rank. 4. **Full House:** Three of a kind and a pair. 5. **Flush:** Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence. 6. **Straight:** Five cards in sequence, not of the same suit. 7. **Three of a Kind:** Three cards of the same rank. 8. **Two Pair:** Two different pairs. 9. **One Pair:** Two cards of the same rank. 10. **High Card:** If no other hand is made, the highest card determines the payout. (Lowest payout)

Understanding these rankings is vital, but knowing *which* hands to pursue and *when* to hold onto cards is where strategy comes into play.


Variations of Video Poker

While Jacks or Better is the most common, numerous variations exist. Here are a few popular ones:

  • **Jacks or Better (JoB):** Requires at least a pair of Jacks to win. This is the foundational game for learning strategy.
  • **Deuces Wild:** All 2s are wild cards. This significantly alters the strategy and increases volatility. Deuces Wild Strategy
  • **Joker's Wild:** Includes a Joker as a wild card. Similar strategic considerations to Deuces Wild.
  • **Bonus Poker:** Offers increased payouts for certain four-of-a-kind hands. Bonus Poker Paytables
  • **Double Bonus Poker:** Further enhances payouts for four-of-a-kind hands, especially Aces.
  • **Triple Double Bonus Poker:** The most volatile of the Bonus Poker variants, with extremely high payouts for specific four-of-a-kind hands.
  • **16s or Better:** Requires at least a pair of 16s to win.
  • **9/6 Jacks or Better:** A specific paytable for JoB that pays 9 coins for a full house and 6 coins for a flush – considered a “full pay” machine. Finding these machines is a priority.

Each variation demands a specific strategy chart to maximize your RTP. Using a JoB strategy chart on a Deuces Wild machine, for instance, will likely lead to significant losses.


Jacks or Better Strategy: The Foundation

For beginners, mastering Jacks or Better strategy is crucial. The optimal strategy is complex and requires memorizing a strategy chart. However, we can outline some general principles:

  • **Always Hold High Pairs:** Always hold pairs of Aces, Kings, Queens, and Jacks.
  • **Hold Three of a Kind:** Always hold three of a kind, regardless of the rank.
  • **Hold Four of a Kind:** Always hold four of a kind.
  • **Straight and Flush Draws:** Holding a four-card straight or flush draw is often correct, especially if it’s a high-ranking draw (e.g., a straight draw to 9-10-J-Q).
  • **Low Pairs:** Holding low pairs (2s through 9s) is often incorrect, unless you have a potential draw. However, holding a pair of 10s can be strategically sound in certain situations.
  • **Discarding:** When you have no potential draws or high pairs, discard all five cards.
  • **Kickers:** A “kicker” is a card that doesn’t contribute to a hand’s ranking (e.g., a 7 in a hand of A-A-K-7-2). Kickers are generally less important, but a high kicker can improve your chances of making a pair on the draw.
    • Full Pay vs. Short Pay:** As mentioned earlier, “full pay” Jacks or Better machines pay 9 coins for a full house and 6 coins for a flush. These machines have an RTP of approximately 99.54%. “Short pay” machines have lower payouts, reducing the RTP and making the game less favorable to the player. Always seek out full pay machines. Paytable Analysis
  • __Strategy Charts__*: Utilize readily available strategy charts online or purchase them in app form. These charts provide the optimal action for every possible starting hand. Learning to use a strategy chart is the single most important step in improving your video poker game. There are numerous resources available online, including [Wizard of Odds](https://www.wizardofodds.com/games/video-poker/) and [Video Poker Strategy](https://www.videopokerstrategy.com/).



Advanced Strategy Concepts

Once you’ve mastered the basic strategy chart, you can delve into more advanced concepts:

  • **Expected Value (EV):** Understanding EV is fundamental to making informed decisions. EV represents the average amount you expect to win or lose per hand, based on the probabilities of different outcomes.
  • **Volatility:** Volatility refers to the degree of risk associated with a particular video poker game. High-volatility games offer the potential for large payouts but also carry a higher risk of losing your bankroll quickly.
  • **Bankroll Management:** Proper bankroll management is crucial for long-term success. Set a budget and stick to it. Avoid chasing losses.
  • **Paytable Variations:** Become familiar with different paytable variations and how they affect the optimal strategy.
  • **Progressive Jackpots:** Progressive jackpots can offer substantial payouts, but they often come with a lower RTP. Consider the odds and the jackpot size before playing a progressive machine.
  • **Multi-Hand Video Poker:** Playing multiple hands simultaneously can increase your playing speed and potential winnings, but it also requires more concentration and bankroll.



Strategy for Other Variations

  • __Deuces Wild__*: Deuces Wild strategy is significantly different from Jacks or Better. The wild 2s drastically change the probabilities and optimal plays. Holding onto 2s is often correct, even if they don't contribute to a current hand. Focus on building hands with high-ranking wild cards. Deuces Wild Chart
  • __Bonus Poker__*: Bonus Poker strategy focuses on maximizing payouts for four-of-a-kind hands, especially Aces. Holding onto potential four-of-a-kind draws is often more important than in Jacks or Better.
  • __Double Bonus Poker__*: Similar to Bonus Poker, but with even higher payouts for specific four-of-a-kind hands. Requires a very aggressive strategy.
  • __Triple Double Bonus Poker__*: The most volatile and complex variation. Demands a highly specialized strategy chart and a large bankroll.



Resources and Tools

  • **Wizard of Odds:** [1](https://www.wizardofodds.com/games/video-poker/) - Comprehensive information on video poker strategy, paytables, and calculators.
  • **Video Poker Strategy:** [2](https://www.videopokerstrategy.com/) - Strategy charts, articles, and tools for various video poker variations.
  • **VPFree2:** [3](https://www.vpfree2.com/) - Downloadable video poker software for practicing strategy.
  • **Online Strategy Calculators:** Numerous websites offer calculators that can help you determine the optimal play for specific hands.
  • **Strategy Charts (Printable):** Search online for printable strategy charts for your preferred video poker variation.

Important Considerations

  • **Practice:** Practice is essential for mastering video poker strategy. Use free online simulators or downloadable software to hone your skills.
  • **Discipline:** Stick to the strategy chart and avoid making impulsive decisions.
  • **Patience:** Video poker is a game of long-term averages. Don’t get discouraged by short-term losses.
  • **Casino Bonuses:** Take advantage of casino bonuses and promotions, but be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully.
  • **Responsible Gambling:** Gamble responsibly and within your means. If you have a gambling problem, seek help.

Additional Resources and Links

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