The Online Casino World Explained: Video Poker Basics

If you ask the very best of pro players about which casino games they’d play for hours on end, the answer comes up almost always as video poker. Of course, you don't have to look far to see why. Video poker games have some of the best payout rates (aka RTPs).

Take Full Pay All American poker, for instance. Its RTP is so right up there that it gives you back $100.72 for every $100 you wager on it after an extended period of play. Even a wildly popular pick like Jacks or Better offers up a 99.54% RTP in the 9/6 format.

That's just the tip of the iceberg. Video poker titles come in many fun configurations, especially when you play them online. Just like table games, they call for some skill, and that's where they get the leg up on slots.

It pays not to forget that video poker is a game of strategy and could take beginners some time to get their feet wet at it. That's why we have put together this beginner's guide with tips, strategies, and pointers on how to become a video poker pro.

It all begins with the pay table

The pay table is the be-all and end-all when pinning down a great video poker game. You may be looking at games that feel and look the same, but their pay tables are miles apart. A 9/6 Jacks or Better game dish out nine credits for a full house and six for a flush. If you go for an 8/5 variant, you cut your RTP from 99.54% down to 97.29%, and that can chip away at your pay.

Bet the max coins when possible

Most video poker games favor max-coin plays, especially on royal flush. If you plunk down 4 credits and land a royal flush, you may get a 250:1 payout. If you up your coin size to five credits, you could land up to an 800-to-1 payout or higher. That's a humongous jump for just increasing one credit per hand.

A strategy chart can be a game-saver

Each video poker variant has its own optimal strategy, and it pays to memorize these plays. That's where strategy charts can be your game-saver. They tell you precisely which cards to hold, and you can find strategy charts for popular titles like Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Double Bonus online.

Hold made hands rather than chase long-shot draws

When you're dealt a low pair or a made flush, it can be tempting to toss everything away and go for a royal flush or straight flush. But math rarely backs up that kind of gambling. A pair in hand is worth more than the slim chance of hitting a premium hand. The same goes for breaking up a flush or straight just to chase four cards to a royal. 

Pick a reputable online casino

Any player who knows a thing or two about playing superb games will tell you that gunning for the right online casino is a no-brainer. After all, not all sites are cut from the same cloth. You want to sift out all the bad and the ugly and then do more legwork on the good sites.

As with all gaming platforms, the first thing to look at when finding the best online casinos is their reputation. It's a factor that will pull all the strings as far as your safety and security go. Think of sites that are not only licensed by trusted regulators like the UKGC but also feature a bevy of fair games audited by 3rd-party labs, such as eCOGRA and TST. The same goes for high user ratings and airtight SSL encryption.

Learn the rules for each variant

Jacks or Better plays nothing like Deuces Wild, and Double Bonus has its own quirks compared to Bonus Poker. They pay out using different rules that affect the gameplay and math behind each play of a hand.

In Deuces Wild, those wild cards shift everything since any deuce can become whatever you need it to be, and that means you'll hold cards differently than you would in a game without wilds. Take time to understand what makes each variant tick before you jump in.

Set a limit on your bankroll (and stick to it)

You'd be forgiven for thinking video poker has slow gameplay because it is a skill game. It can move quite fast from hand to hand, and your bankroll can take a hit if you run into a nasty losing streak. Before you log in to play, put down how much you are willing to lose, and walk away once you hit that limit.

Choose a betting denomination that fits your budget

Video poker comes in all coin-bet sizes, from penny games to $50 machines and everything in between. Your bankroll should dictate which level you play at. A good rule of thumb is to have a big enough bankroll to zoom through anywhere from 200 to upwards of 300 hands at your chosen bet size. 

Perk up your bankroll with bonuses and loyalty rewards

Every casino site gives a welcome bonus of some sort. It could be a no-deposit chip, a match bonus, or a package that bundles them. Claim them to perk up your bankroll, and the same is true of reload promos, loyalty rewards, and free chips.

Practice in demo mode

Most online casinos let you play video poker in demo mode, and it’s the perfect way to get comfortable with the gameplay. It can help you test strategy charts and figure out which variants you enjoy most. Use this time to make mistakes and learn from them.