Video poker games are a big money maker for casinos, both online or offline. People enjoy playing video poker. It’s simple, fun and it is one casino game where the odds can actually be in a player’s favor. Most casino games give the edge to the house, often times in a big way. Not so with many video poker games. If an individual plays at the right machine, has a good strategy and are able to play mistake free, the odds swing in their favor. Video poker is popular for other reasons. Its low cost, the ability for players to avoid direct competition and simplicity are other reasons people enjoy playing it.
Video poker first became available to casino patrons in the 1970s. It immediately became a hit. The game required skill, the house edge was low and there was the opportunity to win a lot of money. For many people, it was the ideal casino game. Millions of people still feel that way today.
One of the best things about video poker is its simplicity. Individuals work to create the best 5 card hand possible. To begin play, individuals insert 1 to 5 coins into a machine. The number of coins they use will depend on the strategy they are using and their bankroll. Individuals looking to secure the biggest payouts will play the maximum amount of coins. After an individual has inserted their money, the machine will deal them five cards. The player decides which ones they would like to keep and which ones they would like to discard, if any. The machine will then replace the discarded cards with new ones. If the final hand is a paying hand, the player will receive the amount of money designated for that particular hand.
In the vast majority of casino games, the edge goes to the house. More times then not, the house will win. Casinos are set up that way. Its’ how they make their money and stay in business. Video poker is one of the exceptions to this rule. Players can potentially have the advantage, albeit a small one. In fact, there are some machines that have a payout percentage of over 100%.
It is important to note that video poker is not a game of chance but one of skill. Individuals may be enticed to give it a try because in some cases, there is no house edge. However, unless a person knows what they are doing, this is ill advised. Video poker is not akin to a slots game. Sliding up to the machine and paying ones money does not give them as good a chance as anyone else. No, good video poker players utilize effective and proven strategies and pay close attention to pay tables.
There are many different types of video poker games. This is especially true online because there are no restrictions due to floor space. However, while there are lots of games to choose from, all of them fall into two primary categories full pay and low pay games.
Full Pay Games
Full pay games are those that pay out the highest payback percentages for a particular game. Full pay games have payback percentages very near 100% and sometimes more then that. However, in order for an individual to win that amount, they have to play mistake free. Each of the following games have full pay machines available, Jacks or Better, All American, Deuces Wild, Tens or Better, Bonus Poker or Double Bonus.
Full-pay Jacks or Better has a payback percentage of 99.54%, Deuces Wild 100.8 and Bonus Poker 99.2%. There are often some misconceptions concerning full pay games. Some people mistakenly believe that it is impossible to lose. This, unfortunately, is not true. A person is not guaranteed a win simply because they play at this type of machine.
It is very important that players take their time and carefully study a machine’s play schedule. Not every video poker game is full pay. In fact, in a land based casino, these games will be mixed in amongst low pay games. The onus is on the player to determine which machines are which. This can be done by simply looking at the pay schedules. The majority of machines are only full pay when a person plays the maximum amount of coins. Unfortunately almost all none of the online video poker games are full pay machines.
Low Pay Games
Low pay games do not use a full pay table. The maximum payout percentages are lower then that of full pay machines. The house edge is also larger, which puts the player at a disadvantage. When a player has the option, they should opt for full pay machines.
Summary
Video poker is an incredibly popular game. It is fun, simple and much easier then the table version. Individuals do not have to worry about raising, calling or bluffing. Instead, they are dealt five cards. They have the option of keeping some or all of their cards. The ones they discard are replaced by the machine. The goal is get a paying hand. To win consistently, it is important to develop a good video poker strategy and pay close attention to pay tables.
