|
  INTRO
Introduced in the 1970's, video poker
is an increasingly popular form of gambling. Played fast
while involving a combination of skill and luck, video poker
attracts players by providing hours of stimulating entertainment.
A typical video poker machine holds a strong resemblance
to a regular slot machine, and can be found in either a
tabletop form or an upright desktop unit.
The machines come in denominations of nickels, quarters,
dollars and sometimes five dollars. The majority of video
poker games are based on five-card draw poker. In five-card
draw, players are originally dealt five cards and can throw
away any of them to try to improve their hand. New cards
are dealt to replace the discarded ones, and the final five
cards decide your fate.
GAME
PLAY
To initiate play, you decide on the number of coins you
are going to play and insert your money. Once you make your
bet you push the deal button. As your five cards are dealt
you decide which cards that you would like to keep by pushing
the hold button associated with that card.
After making your selections, double check to ensure that
every card you would like to keep has the word hold either
above or below it. You then press the deal button and every
card that you have chosen to discard (not hold) will be
replaced with another card from the deck.
Instead of beating an opponent's hand, you win when you
hold any of the five-card combinations listed in the hierarchy
of winning hands. If your resulting hand holds a winning
combination you will be credited according to the payout
schedule on the face of the machine.
As
with poker, video poker hands are valued based on their
five-card ranking. These rankings are detailed below, 1
being the highest rank:
| Rank |
Hand
Name |
Description
of Hand |
|
1
|
Royal
Flush |
A,
K, Q, J, 10 all of same suit |
|
2
|
Straight
Flush |
Five
cards of the same suit in sequence |
|
3
|
4
of a Kind |
Four
cards of the same rank |
|
4
|
Full
House |
3
of a Kind and a Pair |
|
5
|
Flush |
Five
cards of the same suit |
|
6
|
Straight |
Five
cards in sequence |
|
7
|
3
of a Kind |
Three
cards of the same rank |
|
8
|
2
Pair |
Two
cards of one rank, plus two of another |
|
9
|
1
Pair |
Two
cards of the same rank |
The
minimum ranking hand that is required to win is different
for every game. Jacks or better was the original video poker
game, but now there are many more...
TYPES
OF MACHINES
Jacks or Better
This is a game of draw poker where the dealer will deal
you five original cards face up. At this point you should
decide which cards to keep and which ones to discard. Once
you have decided and chosen to deal again, the dealer will
deal the replacement cards. Whether you win or lose is determined
by the rank of cards in your poker hand. The minimum rank
for a winning hand is one pair of jacks, queens, kings or
aces, hence the name jacks or better.
Joker's
Wild
This game is played with the standard 52-card deck, with
a joker thrown in as a wild card. This wild card can be
used as a substitute for any other card, or can be used
to create a five of a kind. The machine will automatically
compute the best hand when a joker is present, and it can
be expected to show up about ten percent of the time. Because
of the added bonus of the wild card, the minimum rank for
a winning hand is two pair.
Deuces
Wild
The standard 52-card deck is used, with all deuces designated
as wild cards. Because of the added bonus of the four deuce
wild cards, the minimum rank for a winning hand is three
of a kind.
King
of the Decks
In this game, five sets of the standard 52-card decks are
used. If you get five kings of clubs you will win the progressive
jackpot. Because of the added bonus of the increased number
of potential pairs, the minimum rank for a winning hand
is two pair.
STRATEGY
While there are many different strategies involved with
each machine, there are a few points that should be followed
for all:
| • |
Don't
hold four cards of an inside straight—an inside
straight is one where the potential straight can be
completed only one way. An outside straight is one that
can be completed in two ways and so is twice as likely
to be successful. The only exception to this rule is
an ace-high straight. |
| • |
Don't hold three cards of a straight except for K-Q-J
|
| • |
Don't
hold three cards of a flush- do not hold three cards
of the same suit unless it is also a potential straight
flush. |
| • |
Don't
hold a kicker with any pair or with three of a kind-
a kicker is a single high card (J,Q,K,A) that
has the potential to turn into a winning pair. The pair
or three of a kind should always be played and the kicker
discarded.
|
hint: The only way to truly beat a video poker machine is
to hit a
high-paying royal flush
hint: Always play the maximum
number of coins as this is the only way
to get a big payoff on a royal flush
Something
you don't understand? Search through our glossary
of gambling terms.
|
