Video Poker are a relatively modern invention, a merger of sorts between traditional Poker and slot machines. A video poker game is a contest between you and the machine. During a game of video poker the dealer (the machine) will deal you two hands of five cards each. When you receive your first hand you must decide which cards to hold (keep) or discard. The objective is to finish the game with the strongest hand possible. The payout at the end of the game is dependent on the value of the hand you are holding. If you have won, the game will offer you an additional opportunity to increase your winnings by participating in a doubling phase.
How to Play
Playing video poker requires only a basic understanding of the makeup of various poker hands. The game play itself is simple yet understanding exactly which cards to hold or discard will take practice and knowledge.
When begining play choose the coin size you want to play.
Then choose exactly how many coins you want to bet.
Then all you need to do is click deal to start a game.
Your first hand of cards will then be displayed in the play area on your screen. Make sure you look them over carefully. You should evaluate the cards in your hand and compare them with the payout schedule on your screen. Any winning hands will be indicated on the payout schedule and, if you have automatic hold enabled, the cards will automatically be kept for you.
In power poker you will be able to hold an entire column of cards by clicking on the card in that row in the first hand and unselect a column of cards by clicking on that card again. Each time you choose to keep a card a bar saying held will be displayed across the card.
Hold the cards that can potentially give you the highest payout.
Click the draw button to get your new cards. If your cards make up a winning hand you will be offered an opportunity to double your money or to collect your winnings.
If you have won, the game will offer you an additional opportunity to increase your winnings by participating in a doubling phase.
The allow double option in the otions menu of the game, is on by default. This toggles the doubling option on or off, so you can choose the option you want. If this option is not turned on the game will not allow you to double on a winning hand.
The doubling option gives you a chance to increase your winnings. After completing a winning hand you will be given the chance to double the payout, or to collect your winnings. The double and collect buttons will be highlighted. To collect your winnings, click the collect button. The game will then be finished and you will have a chance to play again. If you want to try and win even more, click the double button.
When you click the double button, the cards will be removed from the screen and a further five cards will replace them. The dealers' card will be exposed, while the remaining four cards will be left face down. Select one of the face down cards by clicking on it. The four cards will be revealed and the card you selected will be highlighted. If the card you chose has a denomination greater than that of the dealers' card, you will win an amount double that of your original payout. You will then be given the chance to double your payout again or to collect your winnings. If your chosen card is of an equal denomination, it is a tie, and you will have a chance to collect your original winnings or to double up. If the card you chose is of a lesser denomination, you lose and will not receive any payout
TIPS
- Play Carefully - Take your time and make wise decisions. It's you against the machine and there is no need to rush things.
- Know the Paytables - This is one of, if not the most important keys to success in video poker. You need to understand the paytables for each machine - understanding these will potentially allow you to maximize your winnings.
- Play each hand like a new game - Since you are playing a machine try and forget about the last hand played. The machine has no memory of the last hand - the random number generator assures this, so don't fret over what happened last hand - focus on the next.
- Practice makes perfect - the more you play the better you will be. Learning which cards to keep and which cards to discard is very important if you are to take full advantage of the payout tables. If you use your knowledge consistently i.e. utilize a strategy, it will help assure that you will meet the payout percentages of a particular machine.
- Never keep a kicker with any pair. Holding a kicker to any pair reduces your return by 5%.
- Never draw four cards if you can draw three to a royal flush.
- Always keep five card winning pat hands with one exception: if you can, draw one card to a royal.
- Don't break a flush even if you can draw one to a straight flush, but always break a flush to draw to a royal.
- Never break a straight to draw to a straight flush.
- Never draw five if you have a jack or better.
- Don't keep a ten for a four card draw.
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