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Videopoker
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Videopoker
Videopoker is challenging and very fast game which involves simultaneously luck and skill. Playing provides lots of entertainment and fun training strategical and tactical brainwork.
History
Video Poker was introduced in mid of 1970s. Many variants were introduced and implemented since those times. The first Video Poker game was Jacks or Better, followed shortly by Deuces Wild, then Joker Poker. In the late 1980's "Bonus" series appeared. They were Bonus Poker, Double Bonus Poker, Double Double Bonus Poker, and Triple Double Bonus Poker. The specific features of them is that they pay more for the "bonus" hands of 4 Aces, 2's, 3's, and 4's. Later they were developed and they paid more for bonus hands of 4 Aces, Kings, Queens, and Jacks. The distinctive feature of all these is that they all have different tips and strategies which gives the game flavor of excitement and challenge.
Video poker today is a conjunction of slot machines and the table five-card draw poker game. Their main and evident difference from usual poker is that video poker is played against a machine operated by human beings. The goal is the same - achieve the highest card combination to get the biggest payout.
Rules
Video Poker uses 52-card pack (sometimes jokers or wild cards are used). No suit is higher than another. If the combination is similar, there is split pot - the pot is divided between the player and the machine.
How to play
First, deposit coins into the machine to place your wager. The bet is placed before you draw your cards and can't be changed if the game starts. After that you push a button "Draw/Deal" - and you are dealt with five cards. You decide whether you want to keep any of the cards in your hand. Just click on cards and they will be exchanged. Push the "Hold/Cancel" button under the card(s) you wish to keep. To cancel the hold simply push "Hold/Cancel" button a second time. Make sure that there is confirmation that you have held the cards that you want to hold (the word "hold" flashes under your held cards). Then press the Draw/Deal button a second time to obtain new cards for those not held. If you have a winning combination in hand the machine pays off and is then ready for another game. Below you will find table of winning combinations and correspondent payouts:
| Name of the combination |
Example |
Explanation |
Amount of payout |
| Royal Flush |
 A K Q J 10 |
Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10 all of the same suit. |
250:1 |
| Straight Flush |
 K Q J 10 9 |
Five cards in numerical sequence and of the same suit. |
50:1 |
| Four of a Kind |
J  J  J J 6 |
Four cards of the same rank regardless of suit. |
20:1 |
| Full House |
Q Q Q A A |
Three of a kind and a pair. |
7:1 |
| Flush |
8 9 5 6 10 |
Five cards of the same suit. |
5:1 |
Straight |
10 9 8 7 6 |
Five cards in sequence. Ace considered to be high or low. |
4:1 |
| Three of a Kind |
7 7 7 8 5 |
Three cards of the same rank. |
3:1 |
| Two Pairs |
10 10 8 8 Q |
Two pairs. |
2:1 |
| Jacks or Better |
J J Q 10 3 |
A pair of jacks, queens, kings or aces. |
1:1 |
You can double total winning. For this goal push the button "Double" and then choose a card from the four closed cards. Your win will be doubled if a selected card is higher than the opened one. If it's not - you loose all your money. If the cards are of the same value, the game will end in a draw. You may double your winnings several times (up to 5).
Casino Video Poker strategies
Never forget that you play with a machine not a man - it pays off only in case a player holds one of the posted hands. So don't hold a single high-value card. Also it's not recommended to draw to an inside straight but to try to fulfil and open straight.
Always prefer a pair to high card - the odds to get three is better. Always keep a high pair vs. a four-card open straight, a four-card flush or a three-card royal. Better try to get three of a kind - at least you will recover your bet. You better keep a low pair than a four-card open end straight. The low pair is more valuable than going for the straight and should be kept. A three-card royal should be kept over a low pair, a four-card flush and a four card open end straight. The bonus for the royal flush makes it a better play.
Last tip - don't hesitate drawing five cards if you have garbage (one that doesn't have at least one high card).
Basic Playing Video Poker Strategy Summary:
| Cards in your hand |
Draw |
| 4 of a kind or better |
0 cards (keep all your cards) |
| 4 cards to a royal |
1 card |
| Full house or flush |
0 cards (keep all your cards) |
| 3 of a kind |
2 cards |
| 4 card straight flush |
1 card |
| Straight |
0 cards (keep all your cards) |
| 2 pair |
1 card |
| High pair |
3 cards |
| 3 cards to the royal |
2 cards |
| 4 card flush |
1 card |
| Low pair |
3 cards |
| 4 card straight |
1 card |
| 3 card straight flush |
2 cards |
| 2 high cards |
3 cards |
| 1 high card |
4 cards |
| Garbage |
5 cards |
Betting limits
Minimum bet is $0.25 per coin, maximum - $5 per coin. Maximum number of coins is 5
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