Video Poker Strategy

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Video poker is a game of skill and luck. The online video poker games payout up to 100% when players play at the expert level, the casinos can do this because the vast majority of players don't play anywhere near the expert play level required. Here are a few tips to bring your playing closer to an expert level and improve your chances of winning.

Video poker strategy is very complex. Additionally, each type of video poker machine requires a different strategy. Presented here are the strategies for two of the most common video poker games. Deuces Wild and Jacks or Better. If the strategies for these games are followed (no mistakes allowed) the payout percentages can be some of the best found in the casino. 99.5% for Jacks or Better and 100.7% for Deuces Wild.

Choosing the Right Machine - The Pay Table There are many different variations of video poker. There are even pay table variations on the same video poker game. The first rule to follow when using the strategies provided here is to select the FULL PAY video poker machine.

Jacks or Better Video Poker Strategy- The table below lists the best possible combination of cards to hold in decreasing order. Start at the top and go down the list to find the description that matches your hand. Keep these cards and discard the rest. Perfect (not one single deviation from the chart) play on a FULL PAY Jacks or Better machine yields 99.5% long term payout. It's a good idea to print out the lists below to use as you are playing.

Note: A straight with only one rank of card needed to complete the straight is referred to as an "inside straight" or "1 gap".

Deuces Wild Strategy - Use the tables below for Deuces Wild strategy. Each table depends on the number of deuces appearing in the initial hand.Start at the top of each chart and go down the list until you find the first description that matches your hand. Keep these cards and discard the rest. Perfect (not one single deviation from the chart) play on a FULL PAY Deuces Wild machine yields 100.76% long term payout.

Should You Double Up? Some video poker games also feature a Double Up option. This allows you to draw a single card against the video poker machine on a winning hand to double your winnings. dealer draws first, player second. Highest card wins. You can double up as many times as you like, until you lose that is. There are a lot of opinions on whether you should double up. Since there seems to be evidence to double up and evidence not to double up, the individual player should decide that for himself. I always double up the first time I am offered the chance. If I win at the first double up I try, I continue to double up until I lose. After losing the first double up, I don't double up anymore unless I get ahead of the game by a certain percentage later on.

By now you should have an understanding that it is the different winning hand combinations and variations that create the video poker strategy you would use and determine from the paytables for any chosen game. It is also these different combinations that determine the probability and payout percentages for any given game. Find the game you wish to play, become familiar with the paytables that will be the basis of your video poker strategy. Have fun and may the Royal Flush come your way.

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