Video Poker is a popular game that usually will be wagered on in casinos across the world, or alternatively at your house on your personal computer, through a net account. The game rules are absolutely straightforward and consist of the player attempting to get the highest mixture of cards achievable in order to win money. In this respect it is very similar as a normal game of poker, without the line of contact with competing players. Of course, tactics used in a real-life game of poker, like bluffing, will be useless in Video Poker.
The game of Video Poker begins when the gambler puts credits (whether it is tokens, tickets or cash) into the video poker machine and pushes the draw button. A 5 card hand will be electronically ‘distributed’ on the screen.
The Video Poker game also has buttons with ‘hold’ printed on them, and enthusiasts should now pick which cards to keep and which to throw away. For the cards the enthusiast wishes to retain, the ‘hold’ buttons must be pressed so that they illuminate. The player can decide to keep any amount of cards they want, from all to none.
After the bettor has decided on which cards he or she wishes to retain, the player will then press ‘deal’, at which point any fresh cards will be handed out if desired. The hand is now finished, with the Video Poker machine analyzing the cards to see if it matches any of the winning hands listed in the payment schedule.
Generally, the lowest winning hand on a Video Poker machine is a pair of jacks with the prize money growing for each and every better hand. A common list of winning hands begins with jacks or better, moving on to two pairs, three of a kinds, straights, flushes, full houses, 4 of a kinds, straight flushes and finally royal flushes. It goes without saying that the payment schedule can change from machine to machine, so that discerning gamblers are able to pick the most profitable game every instance.
Once the initial round has played out, the player can either decide to remain on and try to to maximize their winnings, or they can press the ‘collect’ button to retrieve any credits that they may have won. Additionally, a few versions of the game allow the gambler a chance to double their winnings, in which situation a further round is played. There are also variations between individual machines, with some decks of cards including wild cards and other varying elements to enhance playability.
