Learn How to Be a Better Video Poker Player

Video poker is a great game for players of all levels and this is why it is definitely a popular choice for a great many people, whether they be beginners or veteran gamblers. Some might think that playing video poker and slots is basically the same, however the main difference between playing pokies and playing video poker is that, with video poker, you have a chance to come up with and employ a strategy based on your skills. Slots however are simply games of chance.

The fact that you can’t really lose more than your initial bet in video poker makes strategizing a lot easier, but there are other things you might like to keep in mind in order to ease your efforts and maximize your wins.

Even though it’s common sense and everyone’s heard it before, you would be surprised how many people forget the basic, most essential game-changing factor for making your video-poker experience rewarding and fun. The number one tip to enhance your ultimate results at video poker, is to be observant.

Before starting your game, it is important to take note of a few features that might influence your chances, even before you start to actually apply your strategy to the game. The paytable is the main important element of video poker as it will let you calculate exactly how good your chances of winning are, unlike slot machines for example, where you never know the payback percentage. But don’t keep your observation superficial. For example, the full house return ratio may look acceptable, but since casinos need an edge, they might reduce the payout for other hands. You might want to keep this in mind during your game.

Your wins may also depend on what type of game you pick, so choose wisely. Jacks or Better is commonly the best choice. This was the original game video poker was based on and the strategy for it is quite easy to master because in order to score a payout, you need at least a pair of jacks. It should also offer you the best winning odds compared to any other game.

Because video poker is a game of strategy – with some even going as far as to say it is pure science – there are 32 different ways any 5 card poker hand can be played. A very popular way to stay on top of the game and maximize wins by using your brain, is to use strategy cards. The internet is the best place to start looking. You can find free strategy cards available on the internet, and there are even strategy calculators so that you can efficiently determine the exact chances according to the specific payout the game offers.

It should come as no surprise that the last but definitely not least piece of advice on this list is to practice. This is not just true when speaking of video poker, but all games in general as well. There’s a reason a saying becomes a cliché, so always bare in mind that practice makes perfect and that Rome wasn’t built in a day. When you exercise your skills and take your time doing it, good results are always soon to follow, so good luck and don’t forget to have fun!