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Video poker machines were first in the 1970s and they were referred to as “poker slots”. At first, video poker was not well accepted and it took some time until it attracted players’ interest.
Today, video poker is so common that every self-respecting online casino offers at least Jacks or Better, Tens or Better, Deuces Wild, etc. Video poker is often seen as video slots’ sibling. But what’s the difference between slots and video poker?
Essentially, all video poker variations are based on keeping some of the cards you are dealt and discarding others. Your decisions, the cards you keep, and those you discard do make a difference. If played skilfully, video poker has the best return to player percentages (RTP) with the Jacks or Better variation offering 99.5% return in the long run.
All video poker variations are based on five-card draw poker. In video poker, you don’t have to interact with a live dealer. You do not compete against other players, either. Each video poker variation has its specific rules and slightly modified pay table.
When you decide which video poker variation to play, and adjust your bet and to push the Deal/ Draw button. You will be dealt 5 face up cards. Each of them has a keep/ discard button. Depending on the video poker variation you play, you need to make a careful evaluation of the cards you have been dealt and decide which of them to discard and which to keep. The cards you discarded will be replaced by new ones. Then, if the available cards are compared against the paytable and you are paid accordingly.
If you win, you can hit Collect. If you wish, you can try to increase your payout by taking part in a side game and click on the Double button, but not all variations have such a feature.
| HAND | DESCRIPTION | EXAMPLE |
| Royal Flush | Ace-king-queen-jack-10 all of the same suit. This is an unbeatable hand. | 10d-Jd-Qd-Kd-Ad |
| Straight Flush | Five consecutive cards of the same suit | 5s-6s-7s-8s-9s |
| Four of a Kind | Four cards of the same rank | Qd-Qc-Qs-5h-Qh |
| Full House | Three cards of one rank, two cards of another rank | 7d-As-7h-Ad-7s |
| Flush | Five cards of the same suit | 8c-Ac-7c-2c-6c |
| Straight | Five consecutive cards of mixed suits | 2 of diamonds, 3 of hearts, 4 of diamonds, 5 of clubs, 6 of spades |
| Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same rank | 10h-10d-10c-5s-Ad |
| Two Pair | two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank | Jd-Js-7c-7d-9s |
| Jacks or Better | Two jacks, queens, kings, or aces | Qd-Qh-8s-5h-Ks |
*Legend: d = diamonds; h = hearts; s = spades; c = clubs
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Well, we have heard about hundreds of superstitions, hot and cold slots, biased roulette wheels, “due” machines, and what else. There might be a pinch of truth in all these, but the reality is slightly different.
Casinos cannot change the odds of getting a winning hand, but they can change the payout for winning hands. Likewise, casinos cannot change the outcome of a spin, but they can lower the default RTP slots are shipped with.
Applying the right strategy in video poker enables you to get a 100% return.
It’s a combination of skill and luck. You have no influence on the cards that will be dealt to you, but it is entirely up to you which of them to keep and which to discard.
Casinos cannot change the odds, but they can make paytable amendments.
The odds of being dealt a natural Royal Flush in a 52-card video poker game are 1 in 649,740.
So if you are more interested in the fresh content and entertainment, video slots are a viable option.
Video poker offers quite a monotonous gameplay, but if you prefer taking calculated risks, you’d better stay away from slots, especially high volatility ones.
About the author
Pettie Iv / Head of content
