Video Poker

Specifics of video poker

The main difference between video poker and online poker is that you play the former alone. In a game of online poker, you’ll face off against other human players. They’ll all have different levels of skills and abilities like the ability to bluff well, which is essential to winning.

In video poker, however, you play against the machine. The software does everything, from providing the table, the dealer, and even the opponent.

Generally, these games have a fixed return to player (RTP). So, your odds are more rigid than in most live tables. Your virtual opponents will act as though it was pre-determined by artificial intelligence (AI). As AI technology gets better, these games are getting more like actual games in which you play with other people because they react better to your actions.

How to play video poker

It’s very easy to play video poker. First, you need to find a game that you like. Software providers such as Evolution Gaming and NetEnt offer several options for gamblers.

The main difference between video poker games is their interface (which changes a lot depending on the company that has developed the product) and the game itself. These virtual machines emulate real-life poker games. You can play Texas Hold’em, 5-Card Stud, Omaha Hi, Omaha Hi-Lo, and many others.

Video poker plays like standard poker. You need to set up your wagers and limits. If you get better cards than your virtual opponents in the end, you’ll win the round.

Rules

Casinos have dozens of different types of video poker games, and their rules vary. You should carefully read the rules before you start playing if you’re unfamiliar with their real-life versions.

In this guide, we’ll quickly explain the rules of two popular video poker offerings: Texas Hold’em and Omaha Hi.

In Texas Hold’em, the player gets two hole cards, and five community cards are set on the table. If you want to keep playing, you’ll need to make bets at every round, starting before you get your first hand.

If your final 5-card combination is better than your virtual opponent’s hand, you win. On the other hand, if you don’t believe that your hand is good enough, then you can fold and prevent losing more money.

Omaha Hi is also easy to play. It plays similarly to Texas Hold’em. The main difference is that each player gets four hole cards, instead of only two. Community cards are also available, but you need to use at least two cards from your hand to create a winning combination.

Terms

Video poker has terms that may confuse inexperienced players. So, you can find a quick guide here that will explain some of them.

• Ante: it’s a small bet that you may need to make before a game.
• All-in: placing all of your credits on a single game.
• Call: pay the cash and continue in the game.
• Fold: give up on the game.
• Check-raise: betting and then raising the bet.
• Flop: this is what the first three community cards are called.
• Hole cards: the cards that you hold at any moment.
• Community cards: open cards that all players can use in any combination.

Hands

There are up to ten hand combinations whenever you play video poker:

• Royal Flush: the combination of the most valuable cards in the same suit (A, K, Q, J, 10)
• Straight Flush: a roll of five cards of the same suit in a roll.
• Four of a kind: the same card in all the four suits available.
• Full house: two combinations in one, a pair, and three cards of the same type but different suit.
• Flush: five cards of the same suit in any given order.
• Straight: five cards in a roll, but from different suits.
• Three of a kind: you get the same card three times, but in different suits.
• Two pairs: Two pairs of cards in your hand.
• Pair: only one pair of cards and three cards that are not a match.
• High card: if you don’t have any combination, you may still win if you hold the card with the highest value.

Note that low ball games, such as 2-7 Triple Draw, work differently. In this case, low numbers are actually preferable.

Odds

Video poker has fixed odds, but your ability counts when determining how likely you are to win. If you can read the odds, you’ll know when you’re likely to lose a match and cut your losses.

The odds of getting a Royal Flush are one in almost 650,000. This means that you’ll rarely get one. Getting four of a kind is easier. Odds are one in over 4,000.

The odds for a full house are one in 693, whereas for a Flush they are one in 508. Three of a kind are pretty common. Your odds for getting them are one in 46. However, two pairs are even more common, with one in twenty chances to snatch one.

You can often check the return to player (RTP) of each game on the casino’s website.

Video poker vs. Online Poker

Which is better: video poker or online poker? The answer will depend entirely on you. First one is a lonely game with potentially fewer risks. You can play it anytime, because you don’t need anyone else. You can also set up your stakes, which is good if you want to be in control of how much you’re wagering.

On the other hand, online poker is a much more social game, and it often has higher stakes. If you play a no-limit Texas Hold’em, for example, the risks can get high. This option is perfect for players who like to socialize and are pretty good at bluffing and reading how their opponents are going to play.

In the end, both types of poker can be entertaining. Your favorite will depend entirely on whether you want to play alone or want to turn your poker games into a more social experience.