Many
people think of video poker as being just another
slot machine. Although video poker is a type of
slots, it is differentiated from typical slot
machines by the fact that there is actually some
skill involved in playing the game. It is easy
to win at video poker if you know how to play
poker. Here are some simple rules that can help
you sin in video poker.
The main difference between video poker and real
poker is that in video poker you are playing against
a machine. Other than that, the rules are pretty
much the same.
The game starts by dealing five cards. These cards
are displayed on the screen, and you can decide
which ones you want to keep, if any. There is
a hold button under each card on the screen. Press
the button for each card you want to keep. After
you have indicated which cards you want to keep,
press play. The cards you didn’t want to
keep will be swapped for new cards, which will
be displayed on the screen in their place. If
you end up with a hand that is listed on the pay
schedule, then you win.
That sounds easy, right? Well, it is. But there
are a few things you should know to improve your
odds of having a winning hand.
Before you play any game you should always make
sure you understand the odds. Some machines have
better odds than others. The pay schedule is attached
to each machine, and from this it is possible
to figure the payback rate for each one. The way
this is done is beyond the scope of this article,
but if you search online you can find pay tables
for many of the most popular games with the payback
percentage already figured for you. Obviously,
you will do better if you play the games that
offer the highest payback.
Video poker is basically a computer program that
attempts to simulate a real poker game. In most
areas, the games are regulated and the cards must
come up randomly. However, the casinos try to
put the odds in their favor on any games they
offer. It is possible to find machines with very
high paybacks, but you have to look for them.
Most video poker machines offer pretty close to
the same payout on the smaller hands, with the
biggest difference in the larger hands. Once again,
make sure you are playing at a machine that offers
a high payout percentage to tip the odds of winning
in your favor.
When you are playing video poker, most games will
offer a bonus on the royal flush if you pay with
the maximum number of coins (usually five). This
increases the payback for the game. If you play
with fewer than the maximum number of coins, you
will never win the bonus on the royal flush. This
not only reduces the level of payback for the
game, but also takes some of the fun out of playing.
The most important thing to remember about playing
video poker is that it is a game that requires
a time commitment. You can’t walk into the
casino and expect to strike it rich in the first
few minutes and then leave. Video poker requires
patience. Make sure you pick good machines and
know how to play the game first. Then be willing
to stick with it for awhile until it pays off. |
