More Video Poker Games
Information about Online Video Poker
| Type | Single-Hand |
|---|---|
| Release date | 2019 |
| Developer | IGT |
| RTP | 96.37% to 97.40% |
| Min/Max Bet | $0.10/$100 |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS |
| Technology | HTML5 |
Video Poker is a virtual casino game mainly popular in the United States. Rather than playing at a table with other players, it is played online, or inside a land-based venue at a Video Poker machine. These resemble slot machines, with back-lit touch screens to facilitate interaction.
It is very different from standard poker variations, and instead more closely resembles a casino machine game, with the final hand compared against a fixed pay table rather than another player or dealer.
Here at CoolOldGames.com, you can play Video Poker online completely for free. Our games require no download or registration, and they work directly inside your browser. The game above supports 9 different variations and can be played in full-screen mode.
How to Play Video Poker?
Most Video Poker games are played with a virtual standard deck of 52 cards, although some variations use wild cards or add a Joker. The rankings are generally based on the usual poker hands, with some variations adding extra winning combinations. There will be a table below with the Hand Rankings as needed.
Step 1
Players usually exchange real money, either by transferring it into their online account or putting cash into the kiosk or machine, for credits.
These credits represent a real cash value, similar to gambling chips.
Step 2
The exchange rate between currencies and credits will be displayed. Players sit at their chosen machine, and make a wager of credits before the hand begins.
Different machines will have different maximum bets, but the minimum is usually a single credit.
Step 3
Once a Player has made their wager, five cards will be dealt. Players use these five cards to attempt to form the strongest possible five-card poker hand that they can.
Step 4
Players are given the choice to “Hold” their cards. All cards that are held will be kept in the hand. Cards that the Player does not choose to hold will be discarded and exchanged with new cards from the deck.
If one wishes to keep their whole hand, simply hold each card. Some casinos may even offer a “Hold All” button.
Players may also discard their entire hand, if they wish. This can be done simply by holding none of their cards. Once Players have decided which cards to hold, they press the “Draw” button. All held cards remain, while the others are discarded and exchanged.
Step 5
The second hand is the Player’s final hand. The computer will automatically form the best possible five-card hand for the Player, and then reference the pay table.
Based on the hand the Player was able to form, they will be paid out a certain multiplier based on their initial wager.
Ending
Gameplay continues as above, with the Player wagering credits, until the Player runs out of credits, or until they decide to walk away with their winnings.
Physical
If playing at a machine, Players will be given the option to cash out at the end of each game, or there will be a button labeled “Cash Out” or something to that effect.
- The player’s credits will be tabulated and exchanged into real cash value.
- Players will be given a voucher that they can take to the cashier, where the voucher can be exchanged for cash.
Online
If playing online, the Player will usually be given the chance to leave the table. Their credits will automatically be converted into cash value, left in their play account.
These accounts are most often connected to the Player’s bank account; from which they can deposit or withdraw money as necessary.
Hand Rankings
The key distinction between the traditional poker hand rankings, and Video Poker, is the lowest meld in the game, the Pair.
The exact winning hands depend on the Video Poker variation being played. In the popular Jacks or Better variation, a Pair only qualifies for a payout if it is composed of Jacks or better. This means a hand of two 8s does not pay, while a pair of Queens does.
The following is the standard hierarchy used in Jacks or Better Video Poker, from highest ranking to lowest:
| Hand | Example |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 10♠️ J♠️ Q♠️ K♠️ A♠️ |
| Straight Flush | 6♣️ 7♣️ 8♣️ 9♣️ 10♣️ |
| Four of a Kind | 9♦️ 9♣️ 9♠️ 9♥️ |
| Full House | J♦️ J♣️ J♠️ Q♦️ Q♣️ |
| Flush | 2♠️ 5♠️ 8♠️ J♠️ K♠️ |
| Straight | 7♦️ 8♣️ 9♠️ 10♦️ J♣️ |
| Three of a Kind | 5♥️ 5♠️ 5♦️ 8♠️ 10♣️ |
| Two Pair | 3♣️ 3♠️ 6♦️ 6♣️ 9♠️ |
| Pair | J♥️ J♠️ 2♦️ 8♣️ 10♠️ |
Pay Tables Explained
The pay tables for Video Poker are based on the rankings above, although the exact payouts vary between variations. A Royal Flush will generally offer one of the highest payouts, while some games offer additional bonuses for particular hands such as certain Four-of-a-Kinds.
The exact values of the payouts are important, as even small changes to the pay table can noticeably change the game’s theoretical return. Casinos can offer different pay tables for the same Video Poker variation, while the Player’s strategy also affects the expected return.
Even blackjack, the most popular “fair” game to play can have vastly different rules in two different casinos. These different rules result in different payouts, and therefore a different house edge.
This section is not intended to simply demonstrate the payout table of a single Video Poker game. Instead, this section serves as a warning to players: Always check more than one machine.
When playing online, check other reputable sites for a Video Poker game with a better payout table. In essence, “shop around” to get the best potential return for your money.
Example Payouts
Consider the following two example payout tables:
| Meld | Payout Table 1 | Payout Table 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 250 | 250 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 50 |
| 4-Kind | 25 | 25 |
| Full House | 9 | 8 |
| Flush | 6 | 5 |
| Straight | 4 | 4 |
| 3-Kind | 3 | 3 |
| Two Pair | 2 | 2 |
| Pair | 1 | 1 |
These two payout tables exemplify why it is so important to compare your options.
The second payout table offers slightly less money on wins than the first. These games may seem practically identical, but the reality is quite different. The Payout table to the right has a 2% higher house edge.
This means, on statistical average, you will lose 2% more money playing the 2nd payout table.
Machine Selection
Land-based casinos will often offer machines with different payout tables. They want a balance of Players to win and lose.
- If too many Players lose, then they will become wary of the unfair games and might even avoid that venue altogether.
- If too many Players win, the casino will become cash insolvent and will have to shut down operations.
By providing machines with both types of edge, the casino can strike a mathematically healthy balance between good public image and profitability.
You, as the Player, do not need to concern yourself with the casino’s profitability. You are there to make as much money as you can before you leave. Therefore, always look for the kiosk with better payouts. Think of it like finding the best deal at the grocery store. Why pay more than you need to?
Often, online casinos will only offer Video Poker on a single-pay table. However, a different website is simply a click away. Always look at multiple places to find the game with the best odds for you, the Player.
Quick Rules
- If playing on a Video Poker machine, Players simply insert cash to obtain their credits. Real gambling websites generally require an account. Players then fund their account with one of the supported payment methods.
- Players attempt to form the best five-card hand that they possibly can. The computer will automatically tabulate the best hand available to the Player and pay out accordingly.
- Players can hold 0-5 of the cards from their first deal. Cards that they choose not to hold will be discarded and exchanged with new cards from the deck.
- Players compare their hand against the pay table, rather than another opposing hand. Players are paid out automatically after the 2nd deal.
Example Scenario
Suppose that you are dealt five cards after wagering 3 credits. Each credit has a cash value of $5, for a total $15 wager.
The cards are as follows:
8♠ 5♥ Q♣ 7♠ K♦
Multiple Hold combinations would be reasonable to take here.
- A Player could hold the 8♠ 7♠ in the hopes of achieving a Straight Flush. However, holding 8s is risky because of the Jacks or Better rule.
- A Player could hold the K♦ Q♣ in the hopes of a Straight. Holding Face Cards is usually advisable, as it is quite likely to receive a pair, and a pair of face cards will not lose the game.
- Or the Player could hold no cards, and possibly reshuffle their entire hand. This is a highly risky option, and should only be considered in a hand of completely unsuited junk. As such, it is the wrong choice here.
Suppose the next 5 cards in the deck are the following:
K♣ 8♦ A♥ Q♠ 10♥
- A Player that held their 8♠ 7♠ would receive K♣ 8♦ A♥ and receive a Pair 8s, which would not qualify for Jacks or Better, and would lose the bet.
- A Player that held their K♦ Q♣ would receive K♣ 8♦ A♥, which will result in a pair of Kings and win 1x the wager.
- A Player that shuffled their entire hand would receive all five of the above cards and lose their wager as it is a junk hand.
As demonstrated by the example above, the best cards to hold depend on your starting hand and the pay table being played. Many times, holding high cards such as Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces can be the correct choice when no stronger combination or draw is available.
However, having a qualifying Pair or better does not always mean that every card in that hand should automatically be held into the 2nd Deal. In some situations, breaking up an existing winning hand to pursue a stronger combination can have a higher expected return.
For this reason, Video Poker strategy is based on comparing the value of the different possible holds rather than simply keeping any hand that already qualifies for a payout.
Video Vs. Regular Poker
Video Poker and regular poker are two very different games. Video Poker is, in essence, a game of statistics and eventuality. This puts it more in line with a table game, such as baccarat or blackjack.
Although there is some level of strategy in blackjack, ultimately, there is a decidedly optimal play in every hand. Players cannot make their hand any better than it is mathematically, and Players who deviate from this perfect choice only make their odds worse and never better.
Traditional poker, on the other hand, is a game of psychology and long-term skill. It allows a Player dealt a hand of complete junk to bluff their way through the game and still somehow win the pot. It is much more than a pure game of luck, like most casino games. Instead, poker is a game of wit and skill.
Video Poker does not allow the mental aspect to shine. The only true similarity it holds to poker is its mechanical resemblance to Five-Card Draw and the use of its hand rankings.
The lack of betting phases, and the fact that Video Poker is not in actuality a comparing game, means these games are not even truly in the same genre of card games.
Ready to Practice? Play our Free Video Poker Game
Step into the virtual casino and enjoy our online Video Poker at no cost. Every hand gives you a new chance to test your instincts, try out different strategies, and see how far your luck can take you.
No chips to buy, no account to create, just straightforward gameplay you can reload whenever you want. Perfect if you are curious about poker-style games but prefer a quicker pace than the tables.
Take your time, explore the pay lines, and discover how many winning combinations you can land before you reset your credits and go again. Scroll up to start playing!
