In this guide, we’ll explore the best video poker tips to create a winning video poker strategy and ensure better winning chances.
Lastly, we’ll list some common mistakes and give tips on how to avoid them. Whether you're new to the game or a seasoned veteran, these tips for video poker will help you play safer and smarter.
Since its gaming floor debut mid-1970s, video poker has consistently been a favorite among players.And when it finally made its way into the online world, the appeal became even bigger, more convenient, exciting, and fun.
A key reason why online video poker remains so interesting is because it combines a low house edge with easily understandable gameplay. Plus, players must employ strategies to maximize performance, which keeps them on their toes. The goal is always the same – hit the highest hand and win. But easy as that sounds, it takes more than just luck to win in video poker.
Tips for Playing Online Video Poker Games
Although video poker seems like an undemanding casino game – and compared to other games, it definitely is – it’s actually a game of skill requiring the use of strategies.
Essentially, to win in video poker, one requires a bit more than luck; players need to understand the structure, make informed decisions, and avoid mistakes that can turn out to be quite costly.
Here are some of our best tips for playing online video poker that can help you enhance performance and build proficiency without breaking the bank.
1. Play Jacks or Better with a 9/6 Full House to Flush Ratio
New video poker game variants are not that common now, or at least not as common as they used to be.
Casinos used to churn out new variants constantly, but nowadays, we are lucky if we see two to three new video poker games added to casinos.
But that does not mean the popularity is waning.
If anything, video poker is now a ‘classic,’ so players enjoy it as it’s vintage. That is why older video poker variants such as Jacks or Better still take precedence over newer versions.
Truth be told, Jacks or Better also offers the best chance of winning. Players are advised to play on the full pay machines with a 9/6 full house-to-flush ratio.
This means that the Full House payout is 9x bigger than that for one Pair, whereas Fush pays 6x the payout for one Pair.
This kind of machine gives you a great return of 99.54%, which is among the best RTPs casino games could offer.
2. Practice with Free Video Poker
Learning the rules of video poker is the first step. But considering how easy it is to learn to play video poker online, that step should not take more than a handful of minutes.
What counts after that is practice, as practice makes perfect.
There are two ways to practice video poker: playing it for real money or playing video poker for free. In the first case, you risk losing funds before you learn the ropes, which is why freeplay is always recommended to newcomers (if possible).
Even after learning a solid video poker strategy, we don’t recommend playing for real money right off the bat. Players will need time to put their newly acquired knowledge to good use.
Besides, almost all casino sites with video poker now offer free play, meaning you will be able to practice your skills completely free of charge and see for yourself if the strategy is producing results.
Only after you have had enough practice, should you start playing for real money.
3. Lose the Ace to Increase the Chance of Hitting a Straight
Video poker is not classic poker. And unlike in other popular versions of poker, such as Texas Hold’em, Ace is not the most important card in video poker.
Many online gamblers don’t know this. In fact, many players, especially beginners, are not that well-versed with the hand rankings in video poker, mostly because they think video poker is just an online copy/paste of poker.
This oversight can cost them dearly at some stage.
So, before you initiate a round, please make sure you understand all the hands and payouts in the game you’ve chosen.
Now, given that in video poker, you are not competing against other players, an Ace will not be worth more than Jack, Queen, or King.
Moreover, keeping an Ace in hand will decrease your chances of hitting a Straight. When you have three high cards in your hand, always lose the Ace.
4. Learn When to Break the Flush
What is the best hand in video poker? It’s the Royal Flush.
It’s very rare, but also very profitable for players that manage to get it. Hence, one of the best poker tips we can give is to keep the hand that pays, but with exceptions.
One major exception comes with 9/6 full-pay video poker.
In full-pay video poker such as 9/6 Jacks or Better, Flush hands pay 6/1 and are generally more frequent than Royal Flush.
Hence, Flush is definitely one of the most desirable hands in video poker.
In general, players are not advised to break a Flush to draw for Straight Flush. Although that might seem like an odd choice, the payout for Straight Flush is 50/1 and is more difficult to achieve.
However, if the player is facing an option to break a Flush for a Royal Flush, it is generally considered okay to break the Flush. After all, Royal Flush is the highest-ranking hand in video poker paying 250/1.
5. Don’t Keep a Kicker with Any Pair
Pairs in video poker with Jacks or better cards produce payouts.
That is why players who are used to playing video poker tend to hold an additional kicker card in their hand alongside a low pair.
However, no matter what kind of Pair you have – low or high – keeping such a card does not guarantee you are going to get a high Pair with the retained kicker.
Simply put, the kicker reduces your chance of improving the hand, not improve.
You should focus on building a higher, better hand, not wasting the chance on a low card. The kicker is a wasted opportunity as it typically does not contribute to the value of the hand.
The exception is the Double Double Bonus Poker where you might get a kicker bonus, but most players opt for other video poker variants anyway.
Therefore, the best strategy for video poker is to discard the kicker to increase the chances of getting a better hand.
6. Learn When to Draw for Straight
When players get a hand with 4 cards that could potentially form a Straight, they have two options: either draw for Straight or not. The decision depends on the card that is missing.
The Straight hand has a lower payout, so it’s not exactly a jackpot, which is why it would make sense to draw for it only if there is a high chance of getting the missing cards.
For example, an open-ended Straight, when you need one of two possible missing cards (an example is 4-5-6-7, with either 3 or 8 forming a Straight).
You should also draw if you have no better hands in place, or you have better odds of getting that card.
But you should never draw for a Straight if you need a card in the middle (4-5-7-8 and you need 6), or you have a Pair or better.
In that case, keep the Pair or other cards that could improve the hand.
7. Bet Maximum Coins to Get the Best Hand Payout
Even though we recommend lower bets, especially to beginners, betting the maximum coins in video poker might be a smarter decision than going with a lower wager.
The main reason is that this significantly increases the Royal Flush payout.
Let’s say you are betting 5 coins. The payout is 4,000 coins, but if you bet less than that, Royal Flush pays 250 coins per bet, or 1,000 coins for a 4-coin bet.
Moreover, betting the maximum bet also gives you a chance to compete for a progressive jackpot.
Some progressive video poker games tend to tie the progressive jackpot with the max-coin Royal Flush payouts.
That means you cannot get the jackpot unless you wager maximum coins on the round.
Of course, if you have bankroll management limits, either switch to games with lower limits or stick to your budget, which is safer.
You should also avoid betting maximum coins if you are playing a low-pay game.
Video Poker Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Everyone makes mistakes, and some errors are hard to avoid. But thankfully, most can be, if you know how.
Before you even get to the more specific types of mistakes in video poker, there are some very easy, general things you can do to protect your assets.
- Pick your games carefully. Players often ask, is video poker really random? Yes, it is. Video poker uses RNG to ensure completely unpredictable and random draws. Still, some games may feature different rules/ lower payouts so pick games that offer the best payouts.
- Start with small bets. Start with smaller bets and then slowly build the wager as you get more comfortable with the game. This perhaps clashes with the advice to bet maximum coins but starting slow and then increasing the wager is safer and better for inexperienced players.
- Manage your bankroll. Bankroll management is a crucial part of the casino experience. The best way to ensure a long and fulfilling casino experience is to prepare a budget and stick to it, regardless of the outcome. Never bet outside of the amount you’ve chosen as the betting unit.
- Know when to stop. Gambling is fun but also addictive. That is why it’s vital to know when enough is enough. You should know when to pause, take a break, and leave the game. Never chase losses, as it’s a slippery slope that can result in a dangerous loss of funds.
- Play only at reputable casinos. Casinos licensed by MGA, UKGC, Spelinspektionen, and other similar gambling authorities are more likely to offer fair playing conditions than unlicensed casinos. These are safer.
These tips do not apply to video poker only, but instead can be used for all other casino game types you might decide to explore.
Specific Tips for Experienced Players
Now we’ll focus on some specific mistakes you can encounter while playing a video poker online game. Some experienced players might know these already, but it won’t hurt to go through them just to refresh your memory.
If you are a newcomer, make sure to remember these.
Avoid Playing Short Sessions
Another potentially useful tip for you might be to avoid playing short game sessions.
In other words, try to go for longer sessions, as that can increase your chances of hitting the Royal Flush. As you know, Royal Flush is the most sought-after hand in video poker online.
Granted, the odds of hitting a Royal Flush are 1 in 649,740.
That does not mean you are guaranteed a Royal Flush every 650,000 rounds, but you might have a better chance of hitting the hand if you play longer than a handful of rounds.
Avoid Reduced Payouts
Video poker games are traditionally split between full-pay and short-pay games.
What does that mean?
Well, we mentioned above that you should play Jacks or Better with a 9/6 Full House to Flush ratio. Full-pay video poker refers to variants with the highest-value payback.
In other words, there are variations of video poker that have better payouts – RTP – than their counterparts.
For Jacks or Better, the best option is 9/6 Jacks or Better, as the full-pay Jacks or Better has a 99.54% payback percentage.
Examples of low pay versions of Jacks or Better include 9/5 Jacks or Better, as well as 8/6 Jacks or Better, 8/5 Jacks or Better, and many others.
These games have a reduced maximum payout which means they have a higher house advantage.
Don’t Break a Pair to Hold a High Card
Lastly, it might be confusing for players to decide what cards to keep and what to discard after a deal.
The matter gets even more confusing with three or four high cards in the hand.
What you should do is keep only the suited high cards.
This way, you are keeping the opportunity to have a Flush potentially. You only need to keep suited cards, to have a chance for a Flush.
Also, if you are holding a low pair, keep it, and wait for a three-of-a-kind. Do not hold a high card and break a Pair, no matter how low the rank of the Pair is.
Bonus Tips for Playing on Mobile
If you are a casino player who plays gambling games on your smartphone, you’ll be delighted to hear that you can also play video poker on mobile.
Most video poker variants, especially older versions such as Jacks or Better, were built using now outdated technology. Still, studios found a way to translate the games into new tech and software, so you can now play video poker on your phone without any hassle.
If you want to do that, here are some quick tips for playing using handheld devices.
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Mobile Browser-Based Casinos over Casino Apps
Some casinos offer native casino apps, others are still only browser-based. The choice between these two typically falls on the player, as it is a matter of opinion.
Both options have their pros and cons.
However, browser-based casinos are easier to use as you only need to visit the casino using a mobile browser (Safari, Chrome, whatever you use).
Casino apps take up space, must be updated, etc. With browsers, you are always getting the best casino version with its full offer of bonuses, games, etc.
And the transition from desktop to mobile screens is thus seamless.
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Find Trustworthy Mobile Casinos
Like with regular online casinos, the rules are the same for sites you visit via mobile devices.
Only reputable casinos are to be considered.
Rogue, blacklisted venues operating without a license are no-go, as it’s just a matter of time before they scam you.
Rogue casinos, or casinos with disreputable licenses are notorious. They tend to delay payouts, offer fictional bonuses with sticky wagering requirements, and even hidden fees for banking and transfers.
You can avoid all this by simply going for a reputable casino recommended by our team.
Moreover, many operators with long-standing reputations cover all their bases – which includes the mobile side of the offer.
They either offer cutting-edge browser-based mobile sites or apps for iOS and Android devices.
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Claim a Bonus if It’s Reasonable
Bonuses are promoted as the main attraction at most online casinos. We are big fans of bonuses provided they are fair.
However, not every bonus is player-friendly or fair.
That is why it’s crucial to find bonuses that offer fair conditions, such as low wagering requirements, no sticky deals, no hidden rules, and 100% transparency.
Moreover, you are free to claim a bonus, but we recommend going for one only if it makes sense for you at that moment.
Be sure to check the bonus terms and conditions thoroughly before you deposit and claim the offer.
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Try Different Mobile Platforms for Games
The mobile casino offers almost limitless possibilities if you know how to get creative.
There are many ways to enrich your experience without going over budget or playing at shady casinos. Some examples include crypto, the Metaverse, and similar digital innovations.
These are cool, but if you are looking for something safer, we suggest starting with platforms such as Telegram.
If you did not know, Telegram is a popular hub for online casinos available directly within the messaging app. Here’s our Telegram casino comprehensive guide if you decide to give this one a go.
TG casinos are a good option because they are easy to find (search directly within the app) and safe (no personal data given except for mobile number and wallet). And you can try out your video poker strategy without investing too much (or anything at all).
Conclusion
We hope our tips for playing video poker online and useful and help you have a fun (and safe) adventure.
For more info, visit our section for top rated casinos for online video poker games. If you want to learn more video poker strategy, you check out our guide right here.
Have fun and play responsibly.
