Last Updated: 9th May 2024
Are you interested in playing video poker and winning big at the casino? If yes, you are not alone, as video poker has gained unmatched popularity in the gambling industry, especially among Malaysian players. It combines elements of slot machines and poker, often referred to as poker slots.
Video poker is a thrilling game that requires both luck and strategy, making it possible for anyone to win substantial payouts. However, before you begin playing video poker, it’s essential to understand some vital aspects of the gameplay, such as the types of poker games available, the basic rules, and strategies to improve your chances of winning. Most importantly, you should learn how to read the pay table effectively to maximize your winnings. We’ve created this beginner’s guide to cover everything you need to know to get started with video poker!
This comprehensive guide will assist you in understanding the basic rules and gameplay of video poker, as well as the different types and essential aspects of this renowned casino game. Additionally, you will learn how to read the pay table effectively, calculate payout percentages, and develop winning strategies that can improve your odds and enhance your chances of winning significant prizes. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the exciting world of video poker!
Introduction to Video Poker Online
Video poker is a popular casino game that combines elements of traditional five-card poker with the mechanics of a slot machine. However, it is important to note that video poker differs significantly from slots. While slots require minimal expertise and rely mostly on luck, video poker demands that players acquire skills and employ strategies to succeed. Unlike slots, where players spin the reels without knowledge of the odds, video poker offers some of the best odds in the casino industry. Therefore, if a player understands the correct strategies, they have the potential to win substantial payouts in video poker.
Video poker employs a standard 52-card deck that is shuffled after each round. Notably, unlike certain card games like Blackjack, video poker allows the use of Joker cards. Moreover, even for newcomers to the casino world, video poker is relatively easy to grasp and play. Our beginner’s guide is readily available to assist you in understanding the game.
Various types of video poker games are available in both land-based and online casinos. Although the specific variants may differ, the basic rules of the game remain consistent regardless of where you choose to play.
Basic Rules and Gameplay
As mentioned earlier, there are numerous variations of video poker available, such as Double Bonus Poker, Jacks or Better, and Deuces Wild, each with its own set of rules and payouts, but they generally follow a similar format.
As a beginner, it’s important to choose a video poker variation that suits your preferences and requirements. Playing video poker is a straightforward process in an online casino.
Here are easy-to-follow steps to play video poker:
Determine Your Bet Amount
The first step in playing video poker is selecting your bet size. Decide how much you want to bet. Video poker uses coins, also known as credits. You need to determine the value of each credit. Additionally, choose the number of credits you want to wager on each hand.
- Buttons: The game screen will display buttons such as “Bet One,” “Bet Max,” and “Draw.” These buttons allow players to automatically bet a specific number of credits.
- Paytable: The paytable is usually located at the top of the game screen. It shows how much each hand will pay and which hands will win based on the size of your bet.
Get Your First Five Cards
After determining your bet size, click the “Deal” button to receive your first five cards. In some games, all cards are dealt face up, while in others, the cards are dealt one by one face down.
Hold Your Cards
Now it’s time to decide which cards to hold. Use the “Hold” button located under each card to select the cards you want to keep. The cards you choose not to hold will be exchanged for new ones to form the best possible poker hand.
Replace Un-held Cards
Once you have chosen which cards to hold, click the “Draw” button. The cards you didn’t hold will be replaced with new ones. You now have a final set of five cards that will make up your best poker hand.
Payout
The paytable displayed at the top of the game screen will guide you in determining the value of different poker hands. To win more money, aim for a higher-ranking poker hand. Once the winnings are paid, the game will start again, and you can simply click the “Draw” button to proceed. The paytable in video poker typically consists of five columns, each representing different hand rankings and corresponding payouts.
Different Types of Video Poker Games Online
On online casino platforms, there are over 100 variants of video poker available. This wide selection is due to the immense popularity of video poker, as online casinos constantly strive to provide players with new and exciting options. One of the advantages of video poker is that it is an affordable game, offering players the opportunity to win significant prizes while giving the house only a small edge.
For beginners, it can be overwhelming to try to learn all the different video poker games at once. To simplify this task, let’s delve deeper into some of the most renowned versions of video poker: Jacks or Better, Tens or Better, Deuces Wild, and Aces and Eights.
Jack or Better
Jacks or better is one of the most popular and widely played video poker variations. It is highly recommended for beginners entering the world of video poker. Its paytable is relatively easier to understand compared to other variations. This game utilizes a standard deck of 52 playing cards and follows the principles of a 5-card poker game.
In Jack or Better, the most favorable paytable is often referred to as a “9/6 machine.” This signifies that the game offers a payout percentage per hand of approximately 99.5%. The “9/6” ratio refers to the payouts for a Full House (9 coins) and a Flush (6 coins) with a maximum bet.
The highest hand, which awards the biggest payout, is the Royal Flush. A Royal Flush in Jacks or Better typically pays out 4,000 coins, but it is important to note that this payout is achieved when betting a maximum of 5 coins per hand.
Deuces Wild
Deuces Wild is an exciting variant of video poker often referred to as a wild card game. In this game, the 2s (Deuces) act as wild cards, meaning they can substitute for any other card to help players form a winning hand. When a Royal Flush is achieved with the assistance of a wild card, these hands are known as Deuces Royal Flush.
Tens or Better
Tens or Better is similar to Jacks or Better, but the minimum hand required to win starts with a pair of Tens instead of Jacks. This variation offers more frequent wins, but the payouts for stronger hands may be slightly lower compared to Jacks or Better.
Aces and Eights
Once again, this variant is similar to Jacks or Better, but it offers higher payouts for specific hands such as four-of-a-kind Aces and Eights. In this variation, if a player places the maximum bet of 5 credits, obtaining four Eights or four Aces can result in a substantial payout of 400 coins. The game is played with a standard 52-card deck.
Simply put, the above-mentioned video poker variants are suitable for beginners. We advise them to start playing these variants before moving on to more advanced options.
Understanding The Pay Table and Payout Percentages
Knowing the pay table and payout percentage is a crucial aspect of video poker if you want to be a smart gambler. Each variant of video poker will have a different paytable, making it impossible to list all the possible variations. However, to help you understand the concept, we will provide an example of the paytable for the popular version of Jacks or Better.
|
Coins |
1 Coin |
2 Coins |
3 Coins |
4 Coins |
5 Coins |
|
Royal Flush |
250 |
500 |
750 |
1000 |
4000 |
|
Straight Flush |
50 |
100 |
150 |
200 |
250 |
|
4 of a kind |
25 |
50 |
75 |
100 |
152 |
|
Full house |
9 |
18 |
27 |
36 |
45 |
|
Flush |
6 |
12 |
18 |
24 |
30 |
|
Straight |
4 |
8 |
12 |
16 |
20 |
|
3 of a kind |
3 |
6 |
9 |
12 |
15 |
|
2 pairs |
2 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
10 |
|
Jacks or better |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
In the paytable for video poker, the columns represent the payouts for the number of coins players wager on a specific hand. The highest-ranking hand in all video poker versions is the Royal Flush. If a player wagers the maximum of 5 coins, the game will pay out 800 for 1. However, if the wager is less than 5 coins, the payout for a Royal Flush will be 250 for 1.
On the other hand, the lowest qualifying hand is Jacks or Better. If a player wagers one coin and achieves a Jacks or Better hand, they will receive one extra credit. For a 5-coin wager, players will receive an additional 5 coins if they win with a Jacks or Better hand.
It’s worth noting that the maximum bet on a Royal Flush can allow players to win the maximum payout of 4000 coins. By betting the maximum, players increase their chances of hitting that coveted Royal Flush and securing a substantial win.
Simple Strategies To Improve Your Odds of Winning
If you are not new to the world of online casinos, you would already know that winning these games is a mere chance of luck. However, if the intent is to amplify the chances of winning, the below tips can turn out as your savior:
Choose a reputable casino
Start by picking out a reputable and trustworthy casino possessing a valid gambling license such as BP77. Additionally, a reputable casino will make use of certified random number generators (RNGs) to seal the deal on fair gameplay.
Comprehend the rules and odds
Before straightaway trying your hands on a game, it is vital to understand its rules and odds. You can try your luck out once you get familiar with the game’s payout structure and house edge.
Practice with free games
Novice players are recommended to begin with free games before wagering real money. The ultimate intent to do so is to familiarize yourself with the games before risking your funds.
Set a budget and stick to it
It’s paramount to set a budget and essentially stick to it. You should always aim at deciding on the amount of money you are willing to spend and never exceed that limit. This strategy turns out as your savior by preventing you from overspending and chasing losses, spurring responsible gambling.
Take the privilege of bonuses and promotions
It is to your knowledge that online casino games offer various bonuses, promotions, and loyalty programs. You must take sufficient advantage of these offers to augment your bankroll or receive additional perks. But at the same time, you must also carefully read the terms and conditions to understand them.
Know when to stop
When playing online casino games, you should be able to decide when to quit. If you are losing relentlessly, it might be a better choice to take a break for a while. Needless to say, chasing losses can lead to poor decision-making.
Tips For Beginners To Maximize Their Winnings
1. Pick out the right game: It is important to highlight here that not all games are created equal. Scout for games with favorable paytables and higher payout percentages.
2. Learn the basic strategy: Diligently study and practice the basic techniques to minimize the house edge and enhance your chances of winning.
3. Play maximum coins: To open your doors for the highest payouts, it is advisable to play the maximum number of coins.
4. Take maximum advantage of bonuses and comps: You get to relish different bonuses, loyalty programs, and comp points. Make the maximum usage of these rewards.
5. Practice well before beginning: Video poker is a skill-based game and hence it becomes important to use free play or demo versions to practice well before investing real money.
Summary
Are you all geared up to play video poker and have fun at BP77 known as one of the best platforms for playing video poker in Malaysia? If yes, you do a world of good to your experience by simply tuning to this platform. There are a plethora of exciting games available with great graphics and sounds that almost make you feel like in a real casino.
You are leveraged to choose popular games like Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild. What’s more, the wonderful side of this platform is that it can be readily accessed on any device.
To give you more chances to win, there are special bonuses and rewards available. And to ensure your safety, the site is carefully designed to be secured and regulated. Just in case you encounter any issues while playing, the ineffable customer support team is available to help 24/7.
Sign up today at BP77, and enjoy the thrill of Video Poker!