Rules of video poker
Very easy to learn, video poker can be learnt in a few minutes, even by someone who has never used this type of machine before. however, before you start gambling real money on it, you should master the rules. There are many variations of this game, such as the Jacks or better, Tens or better, Deuces wild, Joker poker and All-American. In this article, we will present you the general rules of video poker, without explaining the details of all those variations.
Basic Principles
Video poker is inspired by the eponymous card-game. But, unlike poker, it is played alone. The aim of the game is not to beat your opponents but to get high enough a hand to win money. Therefore, you need to get the highest possible hand with the cards the machine deals you in order to win money. Read the winnings tables to know which hands are profitable. The highest and rarest your hand is, the more money you win. Each machine has its specific rules and payments but they all follow the same basic principles.
Bets
The first thing to do in video poker is to bet. In order to do so, you need to insert one or more coins or tokens in the slot, if you are playing in a brick-and-mortar casino. If you are online, click on the button you choose. Generally, you can choose between Bet 1, to increase your bet by one unit and Bet Max to bet the maximum amount. Nowadays, video poker machines allow you to bet between 0,25 and 5 € per hand.
Card Dealing
After you have placed a bet, you need to push a button generally labeled Pull, Play, Deal or Draw, or pull a lever to receive your hand composed of 5 cards. You must then choose, for each card, whether you want to keep it or not. In order to do so, use the button, generally labeled Hold, which appears under each card. Then, push Pull, Play, Deal or Draw, or pull the lever again. You'll be dealt new cards to replace the ones you have discarded. If this hand contains a winning hand, you win money. If not, repeat the operation. Winning hands are inspired by those of traditional poker, which we are going to present to you. However, depending on variations, some are not valid and others are added.
Pair
A pair contains two cards of identical values. The 3 other cards can be of any value, but different than the value of the pair, or it is called three- of four-of a kind and different from each other, or it is called a two pair or a full house.
Two pair
Two pair is composed by two times two cards of identical value. But they need to be of different values from one another or it is called four-of-a-kind. Also, the remaining card must be different from the others, or it is a full house.
Three of a kind
Three of a kind is composed of 3 cards of identical value. The remaining two can be of any value but different from the three others, or it is four of a kind, and different from one another, or it is a full house.
Straight
A straight is composed of 5 cards of increasing and consecutive values. A jack, a queen, a kind, an ace and a two do not form a straight. Cards cannot be of the same suit or it is a straight flush.
Flush
A flush is 5 cards of the same suit. they cannot be of increasing and consecutive values, or it is called a straight flush.
Full house
A full house is formed by three cards of identical value and two other cards of identical value, taht is, from three of a kind and a pair.
Four of a kind
Four of a kind comprises 4 cards of identical value. The remaining card can be anything.
Straight flush
A straight flush comprises five cards of increasing and consecutive values of the same suit. A jack, a queen, a king, an ace and a two of the same suit is not a straight flush.
Royal flush
A royal flush is 5 cards of increasing and consecutive values the lowest of which is a 10. It is therefore a ten, a jack, a queen, a king and an ace of the same suit.