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Video Poker Tutorial

As a newcomer to online casinos, you’re probably wondering what video poker games are all about? If you’re looking for a clear guide on how to play video poker, you’re in the right place. We’ve prepared a complete dossier covering everything you need to get started.

You’ll learn about the main game categories, the basic rules, and simple strategies to help you play smarter. We’ll also show you some of the best online casinos where you can enjoy video poker safely.

video poker guide

Video poker: the Game and its Variants

The main advantage of this online casino game is the fact that you will be able to play a classic game, but also many variations of this legendary game. Indeed, to our surprise, many players consider Jacks or Better to be the original version of video poker. However, you should know that this game is one of many variations of online video poker.

There are four different variations of video poker, including Jacks or Better, 4-line Jacks-or-Better, Wild Card and a progressive jackpot version of video poker. All of these games can be found directly at online casinos.

You’ll also come across more advanced and high-volatility versions like Double Double Bonus, Bonus Poker, and Deuces Wild. According to Wizard of Odds, full-pay Deuces Wild can return over 100.76% with optimal play – making it one of the rare casino games with positive expectations under perfect conditions.

Always look for online casinos that are licensed and regulated by authorities such as the Malta Gaming Authority, UK Gambling Commission, or iGaming Ontario. This guarantees that video poker games use verified random number generators (RNGs) and fair pay tables, as required by law.

All the Rules for Playing Video Poker

We’ve told you that video poker is a mix between slots and poker, but how to play video poker is actually much easier to learn than you might think. You’ll understand how betting, wagering and how the game in general works, so you can play with confidence.

If you have prior knowledge of the rules of online poker or the use of virtual slot machines, you will have an advantage over the rest of the players who are trying to master the concept and operation of video poker games at online casinos. While the rules of video poker remain the same, it’s good to get some other perspectives from professional Canadian players.

In most versions, here’s how video poker works:

  1. Place a bet – usually between 1 to 5 coins.
  2. Aim to bet the maximum (5 coins) to unlock the top jackpot (e.g., 4,000 coins for a Royal Flush in Jacks or Better).
  3. Receive five cards.
  4. Choose which cards to keep.
  5. Draw replacements for the cards you discard.
  6. Get paid based on standard poker hands, from a pair of Jacks to a Royal Flush.

According to a study by Paul Bouthellier (University of Pittsburgh), playing a simple optimal strategy on a 9/6 Jacks or Better machine results in an expected return of 99.55%, assuming perfect decisions on every hand.

Basic Video Poker Strategy

Once you’ve got the rules down, you can take advantage of our free article on basic video poker strategy. All online casino games have a basic strategy that allows players to use a number of strategies that can pay off in casino games. Of course, video poker is no exception to the rule.

Playing Video Poker is fun and relaxing. It happens sometimes that we hit the jackpot, but it is a bit like in love, “the less we wait for it, the more chances it will come! So put aside your dreams of instant and easy wealth and enjoy your gaming sessions to the fullest by following these tips.

Let’s look at some expert-backed tactics. For example, according to user “mizary1” on Reddit, “Video poker (played correctly) has a very low house edge and variance. If people were smart, they’d play more VP instead of slots.”

Always choose machines with a high return-to-player (RTP). For instance:

VariantRTP (Full-Pay)House Edge
Jacks or Better (9/6)99.54%0.46%
Deuces Wild100.76%-0.76%
Double Bonus (10/7)100.17%-0.17%
8/5 Jacks or Better97.30%2.70%

Data source: Pinnacle

Understanding Risk and Variance

Even though video poker has high RTP, it’s still gambling. For example, the probability of hitting a Royal Flush is about 1 in 40,000 hands. You may need 60–80 hours of play to hit it once. According to Bouthellier’s simulations, even skilled players lose money in 64% of 1,000-hand sessions.

To minimize risk, start with a $20–$50 bankroll on low-denomination ($0.25) machines and use free online trainers to build up your accuracy.

10 Fundamental Tips on How to Play Video Poker

  • If you have no pair, don’t waste time in such a situation, replace all your cards, your new hand will only be better!
  • If you have a pair, keep it and replace the other three cards. It is wrong to think that keeping another card will help you. On the contrary, it decreases your chances. Even if that other card is an Ace and it seems crazy to discard it, it is still the right decision to make.
  • If you have a pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings or Aces, keep them. Don’t be distracted by the possibility of a straight. Always remember the saying, “You know what you have, you don’t know what you’ll find!”
  • If you have two pair, replace only the orphan card. This is obvious. Are there any other options here? We don’t think so.
  • If you have 4 interesting cards and only one is missing to complete a straight or a flush, of course, go for it! Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
  • Do not replace a single card to finalize a straight, there is little chance that it will succeed. Indeed, if you have 4, 5, 7, 8 and another card which is not a 6, you could be tempted to exchange this other card in search of the famous 6, but know that there are only 4 in the game, your chances of success are thus weak. Whereas you can otherwise get pairs or maybe even a straight.
  • Let’s continue the reasoning of point 6, but this time with 4 consecutive cards: 4, 5, 6, 7. Here it’s worth looking to complete the set, as 3 and 8 can do the trick, so 8 cards are likely to suit you. This does not work of course if the first card is an Ace, as then you are back to the situation in point 6 where only one card would be satisfactory.
  • If you have three of a kind, keep them and see what the two new cards you receive do for you.
  • If you have a four of a kind, is it necessary to tell you to keep it at all times?!?!?!
  • It happens that you are “served”. Take advantage of this, it’s not so frequent!

Bonus tip from Quora user Erik Litts, former professional player:

“Playing a full-pay 25¢ machine at 400 hands/hour might net you $3.80/hour profit with perfect play – but only if you have a $13,000+ bankroll to absorb the variance.”

We hope that these few tips from our video poker tutorial will help you keep the pleasure of playing Video Poker and enjoy every session to the fullest.

Video poker isn’t just about luck – it’s one of the few games where knowledge and strategy truly matter. Whether you’re playing for entertainment or aiming to improve your skills, a solid understanding of pay tables, strategy, and probability can make all the difference.