Video Poker is a game that requires some skill to play and bridges the gap between slot machines and table games for many players. It's still easy and fun to play, but you have the potential to maximize your gains by being able to put the odds in your favour, making it a more involving playing experience. In most casinos video poker machines, (when played correctly), give a lower house edge than other online slot machines. When video poker machines first appeared in casinos, the only game played was Jacks or better draw poker. Today, there are over 100 variations of the game and they can all be played online.

How to Play

Video Poker is derived from draw poker and has the same rules, except that you are not playing against any other players, just a machine. The machine deals five cards on the screen. The player can if they want, take up to five new cards. The player keeps the cards they want to keep by hitting the "hold" button that corresponds to the individual card shown. When the choice is made the player hits the "deal" button, and the cards discarded are replaced by new cards. The result of the game is determined by the outcome after the final hand is completed. How much you win (if at all) is shown on the pay table that is on machine the player is playing. Video slots have better graphics and more effects than three-reel slots, and create an overall more visual and exciting gaming experience.

The Pay Table & Return

The major advantage that video poker has over other slot machines is that the return of the game can be calculated by reading the pay table on the front of the machine. Most video poker games use the combinations of hands that can be made from a 52-card deck. There are some Joker Poker Games that use one / two Jokers added to the deck. For example, the game Deuces Wild uses a 52-card deck but the deuces are wild cards. The number of combinations that can be made from the cards used in the game means the payout can be worked out by what the machine pays for each winning combination.

There are 2,598,960 possible hands from a 52-card deck. The programme in a video poker machine is set to simulate the probabilities of drawing any of these combinations. Because this is a set probability, the casino simply adjusts the pay table of the online machines to produce the house edge. There are software programs, books, courses, strategy cards, and online information sites where you can get relevant information to workout the payouts for each pay table. By knowing how to read a pay table, you can pick a machine with the best return and best odds of success.

Video Poker - Online Slot Machines with Skill

Many players start playing online slot machines, try video poker and stay with it. So why is online video poker one of the best online slot machines to play? Simply, it has all the fun and excitement of regular online slot machines, but there is also the possibility to put the odds a little in the players favour by introducing an element of skill. Many players who want to maximize their bankroll and payback like this!