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Video Poker Strategy – How To Consistently Win At The Casino

If you stroll around any casino gaming floor, probably the oldest-looking machines will be those belonging to video poker. These were some of the very first electronic machines ever introduced. As such, the casinos like to hang on to them as they offer a retro gaming experience for many veteran players. Probably the most popular video poker game is Jacks or Better. It's super easy to play. You just choose which cards to keep and which to discard. Nevertheless, the payouts can be super generous.

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Winning Video Poker Strategies

If you’ve ever stepped onto the gaming floor of a brick-and-mortar casino, you’re bound to have seen the video poker machines. They were some of the first electronic games to appear in casinos. Many will still be rather old looking, with pixilated cards on the screens and a button under each virtual card. One great thing about video poking machines is that the house edge on them is still relatively low. This gives you a lot more bang for your buck. But do you know the video poker strategy needed to win?

Jacks Or Better Is The Popular Choice

Many video poker machines will replicate the game of a five-card draw, which is a simple variation of poker. You’ll find that various types of video poker games have reached the marketplace. Today you’ll find Jacks or Better is probably the most popular game. With this, you’re dealt five cards and are then able to discard as many as you wish, with those being replaced with new ones. You’ll find that there’s a preset paytable which may differ between different versions of Jacks or Better. They will certainly be different from other video poker games such as Joker Poker or Deuces Wild. Today we thought we take a deeper dive into the Jacks or Better machines. We want to find the best video poker strategy that will help increase your jackpot winning chances.

Varieties of Video Poker Games

When the original video poker machines first came out, video poker was the only game available. The closest game you’ll find today which makes use of the old-fashioned-looking poker machines is Jack’s or Better. Nevertheless, in all land-based casinos and at online casinos like 22Bet Casino, you can still find many different versions of the game from various software game producers.

Some of these include:

Tens or Better: Pretty much identical to Jacks or Better, except a pair of 10s also pays out.
Deuces Wild: All deuces dealt will replace all the other cards in the deck.
Joker Poker: There’s a single Joker in the deck. The Joker can substitute any card. You’ll need a pair of Kings in order to win anything.
Aces and Faces: If you make 4 of a kind with Jacks, Queens, Kings or Aces, then there are additional payouts. Four Aces pays more than a Straight Flush.
Bonus Poker: Just like Aces and Faces but with additional payouts for certain four-of-a-kind hands. Thanks to a lower payout, the RTP is reduced.

Jacks or Better Video Poker Strategy

Before we can begin to win by playing video poker we first need to understand the workings of the game. Like all casino games, video poker is all about mathematics and odds. To be frank, as you’re probably already aware, in the long run, the casinos will always win. This is because the games are based on probability. After all, it’s important for the casino to know that at the end of the day they are the ones who will emerge the winners.

Always Check The Paytable First

Without a doubt, when you approach a video poker machine for the first time you should look at its paytable. Ideally, you want a game with a 9/6 paytable. This means that the game pays out 6 coins for a Flush and 9 coins for a Full House. You may well be able to find Jack’s or Better machines that pay only 8 coins for a Full House. We suggest that you ignore such machines, as their lesser payouts will only increase your losses.

Once you’ve found the paytable then you’re able to start playing video poker with your first hand. To begin with, press the deal button. You’ll then receive your first five cards. Your job is simply to decide which cards to keep and which to discard. As soon as you discard a card it will be replaced with another.

A Single Strategy Works Best

It’s important to keep your mind that all video poker machines have fixed odds. These never change. So do your best by making optimal choices over the long term. You’ll find some players will want to experiment when they play. But this isn’t really a good idea. Some might take a long shot and be tempted to take a different approach. But we suggest you should stick to the most basic strategy for video poker. We’re not saying that you shouldn’t deviate from the above video poker strategy. But it’s advisable not to do so. By following the most basic video poker strategy, you’ll be able to win the jackpot online more often than not.

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Video Poker Tips & Tricks

There are a number of things you can do to maximize your video poker sessions. Their effectiveness can add up over time and help improve your chances of winning.

Utilise All The Bonuses and Promotions

You’ll find bonuses, incentives and promotions are given out by both land-based and online casinos. Though we must confess that if you’re playing online then the bonuses are much more generous. Because video poker is a game with a relatively low house edge, then receiving a welcome bonus like the 100% up to 300 euros you’d get from 22Bet Casino is going to really help you. Having said that, because the house edge is low, many online casinos are reluctant to give overly generous bonuses for playing at these machines. As a matter of course, you should always look for other incentives as well, such as play-through vouchers.

Video Poker Strategy: Manage A Healthy Bankroll

Maintaining good bankroll management is essential for any gambling game you intend to play. Though video poker is a low-edge game, it does include quite a bit of variance. We suggest that you have at least a couple of hundred bets available for each session. Otherwise, you may be going home early after a short losing streak.

There Are Progressive Bonus Machines

When most casino players think of progressive jackpots they automatically assume they must be slots. But you’ll find that many video poker machines also offer these giant prizes. If you happen to come across a machine advertised with full pay, this might will give you a chance of winning a massive progressive jackpot. We suggest that you always give these machines a try.

Video Poker Strategy: Only Play On The Best Machines

If you look carefully, you can find some video poker games that will give a payout of over 100%, providing you play them optimally. Having said that, it’s probably best not to get your hopes up too much as these machines are very rare. Some games, such as Deuces Wild will come with full pay. We suggest that you learn the specific video poker strategy for this game and then give it a go. Full pay means you have the possibility of winning a much bigger prize than normal.

Join The Casino’s VIP Club

If you’re playing at a brick-and-mortar casino then you’ll find all of them will offer some form of Loyalty Program. Essentially, you’re accumulating points as you play different jackpot games. On the whole, if you’re playing at high payout machines, then the points you accumulate on them will be worth much more. These incentives a great for improving your overall performance. And more importantly, they can also add to your bankroll.

Video Poker Strategy: Don’t Play In A Hurry

It’s important that you don’t play any casino games in a hurry. This is particularly true if you’re learning a new game or are playing with a new video poker strategy. If you’re in a hurry or playing too fast, then there’s a good possibility that you will miss important factors. Only once you have the game’s strategy down to a science can you start to speed up your gameplay.

Ignore Any Low Paying Machines

It’s quite possible to find video poker machines that only offer low-out payout percentages. If you come across a Jacks or Better machine, but it only pays out 8 coins for Full House, then we suggest you stay well away from it. Hopefully, all the above tips will help you enjoy a better playing experience the next time you play video poker. One thing’s for sure, if you implement these jackpot winning tips and tricks then you’ll significantly improve your odds. As with all things in life, practice makes perfect. So don’t go rushing into any game. Simply learn the gameplay and strategies at your own pace.