6 Step Strategy For Video Poker By http://kingsclubpoker.com/
A Short Guide To Video Poker
Video poker was traditionally played on slot machines in casinos. As other casino games and other forms have poker have moved onto the internet, so has video poker.
The game is a strange cross between between a slot machine and the traditional game of poker. Video poker has gained popularity due to the fact that it can be played alone. Also unlike most other slot machine games, there is a significant amount of skill involved not just luck.
The fact that video poker is played alone, means you can play the game at your own pace and you cannot get intimidated by your opponents. There are no egos and no reputations, just you and the computer.
How To Play Video Poker
There are a number of variations of video poker, but for the purposes of our challenge and for this article we will concentrate on the game called 'Jacks Or Higher'. This form of video poker was the original version and we are concentrating on it as it has more written about it when it comes to strategy.
What ever type of video poker you play, the aim of the game is to get the best hand you can. In 'Jacks Or Higher', a winning hand is one which is worth equal to or more than a pair of jacks.
The first step, is to choose your bet size, this may range from a few cents or pence per hand to several dollars or pound. Make sure you pick a value that is proportionate to your bank roll. If you only have a few dollars or pounds in your account, you should only really be betting a few cents or pence. This prevents you bankrupting yourself with a run of bad luck.
Most video poker games are loosely based on 5 card stud. This means that you are initially dealt 5 random cards. You then get to 'Hold' the cards you want and swap the rest for new random cards. After you have replaced the cards you don't want, your hand is evaluated against a table. This table decides your winnings if any. If you get or beat the pair of jacks you usually just get your stake money back. If however your hand contains 2 pairs, three of a kind or higher, your winnings increase. The amount you win increases in accordance with the normal poker hand ranks with a royal flush
paying the most. The exact value of these winnings however, can vary from site to site.
Double Up
If you have a winning hand, you may get the option to double up. This is a separate round and you risk your winnings for the last hand on a single double or nothing bet. This bet can take a number of forms such as a coin toss or a bet on red or black. Sometimes this can take the form of another hand of cards. Here 5 cards are dealt as normal, except they are face down. The first card is turned over so that it is face up, you then have to click one of the remaining cards which you think has a higher value than the exposed one. As the value of the first card is random, sometimes you have a fair chance of picking a better one and sometimes you have little chance. Unfortunately you do not know what the card will be until you have decided to double up.
Basic 6 Step Video Poker Strategy
This is a very basic 6 step strategy for playing 'Jacks Or Higher' video poker. A lot of video poker is down to the luck of the draw, so although we cannot guarantee that this strategy will make you a fortune, it will give you a good start in the game.
When you are dealt your hand, go through the following list to decide your next move.
If you have a straight, flush or straight flush then keep all cards.
If you have 2 pairs or you are 1 card away from an open ended straight, change the 1 useless card.
If you have 3 of a kind or you are 2 cards away from an open ended straight, change the 2 useless cards.
If you have a pair of 2 high cards (a jack or higher), then keep these and change the other 3. If you have several high cards try to keep 2 of the same suit as this will leave a slight chance of a flush.
If you just have a high card then keep it and change the rest.
If you have nothing, change all 5.
Please visit the Free Video Poker page of the ShyTeds.com website for the most up to date list of video poker sites that offer cash prizes without any deposit needed.
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