Video Poker Games: Play Against the Machine

There are more than a hundred known video poker games. To name a few, you have Deuces Wild, Pick 'em Poker, Jacks or Better, Shockwave, Two-Way Royal, and White Hot Aces.

Video poker games draw their base concept draw poker. That is, a player is dealt five cards and has the option to substitute one's initial hand with new cards. That is, video poker games are played like draw poker save that the player does not compete against other players but against the machine.

Every game has its own pay table. The pay table shows what the winning hands are and how much is the credit for every hand. Every hand has different pay-out amount, and every game has a different pay-out system for its hands. Thus, you can compare the maximum and maximum pay-outs of video poker games by looking at their individual pay tables.

Pay tables are either displayed on the video screen or printed in paint on the glass of the machine.

The pay-out for video poker games depend greatly on how rare a hand is. The rarer the hand, the higher the pay-out. In almost all games, royal flush appears to have the highest pay-out.

Video poker games yield high theoretical returns, which make them a popular choice among casino gamblers.

To play a game, all you need to do is to put in money or paper ticket according to the credit of your choice. To receive your five cards, press the button marked "Deal/Draw."

At the bottom of each card, there's a "Hold/Cancel" button. Again, as it is with draw poker, you may choose to substitute your hand cards with deck cards. To keep a card, just press the button corresponding to the card of your choice. You may also opt to stay pat, in which case, you don't press any "Hold/Cancel" button.

If your hand corresponds to any of the listed hands on the game's pay table, then you win.

Video poker machines rely on random number generator. The random number generator is responsible for random and evenhanded distribution or dealing of cards. This means that you get a fair play every time you press the "Deal/ Draw" button.

When you play video poker games, you are trying to beat the machine. As such, basic poker strategies such as limping won't work here. There are video poker strategies which you can study and apply. Meanwhile, the most essential weapon you need to know is the basics of draw poker, the root game of all video poker games.