Video Poker

There is a lot of similarity between a video poker game and a slot game except that cards are used in video poker games. It is because of this similarity of both being played on a screen that most people often confuse between the two games. Video poker and slots are entirely two different types of casino games. Video poker became extremely popular in the eighties in major casinos in the United States. It is very similar to the regular poker that is played on tables except for the fact that video poker is played on a screen. In a video poker game, it is important that a player gets the best playing hand to win.  Video poker being an easy game attracts many enthusiastic players at both land based casinos and online casinos these days.

Video poker rules are simple and easy to follow.  In this game, a 52-card deck is used normally but at times 53 or 54 cards are also used. Reshuffling of cards takes place after every game. In a video poker game, you as a player are dealt with a five-card hand. The main objective is to have the best hand. You may opt to keep the cards or throw them away by clicking on the required buttons. This allows you to drop and pick up the dealt cards. If the new hand and the cards you hold are of the same winning combination than you get to win. In video poker the chances of winning depends on the number of hands that you hold. Therefore, the better your hands the chances of winning are greater with increased payouts. It is expected that you should hold a hand that contains a pair of jacks or something even better.

Another video poker rule states that if the cards in your hand are not the winning combination it is best to throw them away and try for another. Everytime you throw away the cards, the same number of cards is replaced.  

An important rule of video poker is to always check the pay table where the list of all winning combinations of that particular game will be displayed. Therefore, it is important that before any player begins their game, they should be aware of all the winning combinations. Here are some of the winning combinations that can be useful when you play video poker at online casinos or at land-based casinos.

In Royal Flush, the order of the cards should be an Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10 and the cards should be of the same suit. That means the cards should be all spades, diamonds, cloves or hearts. In straight flush, all the cards must be in the ascending order and must be of the same suit. It means you can have cards that number five, six, seven, eight and nine to win.

Four of a kind means you can have four cards that have the same value say for instance four Jacks and a number. In Full house out of the five cards that are dealt, you must have three that have the same value and the other two cards must have the same value. For example, you can have three Queens and two numbers that are the same value.

A flush means that all the five cards have the same suit that is they are all belong to spades or diamonds or cloves or hearts. In a straight, the cards have to be in a row but their suits can vary. In three of a kind, you need to have three cards that have the same value while the other two cards do not matter.

In two pairs, while you can have two cards of one value the other two cards need to be of another value. It means that you can have 10 of spades and 10 of hearts as one pair while you have two of spades and two of diamond as the other pair. The fifth card value does not matter. In one pair all that is required is for you to have a pair of cards that have the same value to win. Playing video poker provides endless hours of fun and entertainment.