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  INTRO
Introduced in the 1970's, video poker is an increasingly
popular form of gambling. Played fast while involving a combination of
skill and luck, video poker attracts players by providing hours of stimulating
entertainment.
A typical video poker machine holds a strong resemblance to a regular
slot machine, and can be found in either a tabletop form or an upright
desktop unit.
The machines come in denominations of nickels, quarters, dollars and sometimes
five dollars. The majority of video poker games are based on five-card
draw poker. In five-card draw, players are originally dealt five cards
and can throw away any of them to try to improve their hand. New cards
are dealt to replace the discarded ones, and the final five cards decide
your fate.
GAME
PLAY
To initiate play, you decide on the number of coins you are going to play
and insert your money. Once you make your bet you push the deal button.
As your five cards are dealt you decide which cards that you would like
to keep by pushing the hold button associated with that card.
After making your selections, double check to ensure that every card you
would like to keep has the word hold either above or below it. You then
press the deal button and every card that you have chosen to discard (not
hold) will be replaced with another card from the deck.
Instead of beating an opponent's hand, you win when you hold any of the
five-card combinations listed in the hierarchy of winning hands. If your
resulting hand holds a winning combination you will be credited according
to the payout schedule on the face of the machine.
As
with poker, video poker hands are valued based on their five-card ranking.
These rankings are detailed below, 1 being the highest rank:
| Rank |
Hand
Name |
Description
of Hand |
|
1
|
Royal
Flush |
A,
K, Q, J, 10 all of same suit |
|
2
|
Straight
Flush |
Five
cards of the same suit in sequence |
|
3
|
4
of a Kind |
Four
cards of the same rank |
|
4
|
Full
House |
3
of a Kind and a Pair |
|
5
|
Flush |
Five
cards of the same suit |
|
6
|
Straight |
Five
cards in sequence |
|
7
|
3
of a Kind |
Three
cards of the same rank |
|
8
|
2
Pair |
Two
cards of one rank, plus two of another |
|
9
|
1
Pair |
Two
cards of the same rank |
The
minimum ranking hand that is required to win is different for every game.
Jacks or better was the original video poker game, but now there are many
more...
TYPES
OF MACHINES
Jacks or Better
This is a game of draw poker where the dealer will deal you five original
cards face up. At this point you should decide which cards to keep and
which ones to discard. Once you have decided and chosen to deal again,
the dealer will deal the replacement cards. Whether you win or lose is
determined by the rank of cards in your poker hand. The minimum rank for
a winning hand is one pair of jacks, queens, kings or aces, hence the
name jacks or better.
Joker's
Wild
This game is played with the standard 52-card deck, with a joker thrown
in as a wild card. This wild card can be used as a substitute for any
other card, or can be used to create a five of a kind. The machine will
automatically compute the best hand when a joker is present, and it can
be expected to show up about ten percent of the time. Because of the added
bonus of the wild card, the minimum rank for a winning hand is two pair.
Deuces
Wild
The standard 52-card deck is used, with all deuces designated as wild
cards. Because of the added bonus of the four deuce wild cards, the minimum
rank for a winning hand is three of a kind.
King
of the Decks
In this game, five sets of the standard 52-card decks are used. If you
get five kings of clubs you will win the progressive jackpot. Because
of the added bonus of the increased number of potential pairs, the minimum
rank for a winning hand is two pair.
STRATEGY
While there are many different strategies involved with each machine,
there are a few points that should be followed for all:
| • |
Don't
hold four cards of an inside straight—an inside straight is one
where the potential straight can be completed only one way. An outside
straight is one that can be completed in two ways and so is twice
as likely to be successful. The only exception to this rule is an
ace-high straight. |
| • |
Don't hold three cards of a straight except for K-Q-J |
| • |
Don't
hold three cards of a flush- do not hold three cards of the same suit
unless it is also a potential straight flush. |
| • |
Don't
hold a kicker with any pair or with three of a kind- a kicker
is a single high card (J,Q,K,A) that has the potential to turn into
a winning pair. The pair or three of a kind should always be played
and the kicker discarded.
|
hint: The only way to truly beat a video poker machine is to hit a
high-paying royal flush
hint: Always play the maximum number of coins
as this is the only way
to get a big payoff on a royal flush
Something you don't understand? Search through our glossary
of gambling terms.
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