Despite the fact that video poker is rarely found in the lists of the most popular slot machines in online casinos, this discipline is one of the best for beginners. Simple rules and low entry threshold allow you to start enjoying the process almost immediately after making a deposit. You only need to learn the combinations, track the payout table and understand which slot is potentially more profitable.

To minimize the mathematical advantage of the casino and increase the yield to 95.5% and above, you can use various tricks. The most popular and easy to learn will be described below.

Each video poker slot provides fixed payments for the collection of combinations of different strength. The higher is the final combination of cards, the larger the winnings the user receives. But the amount of prize money also affects the number of coins put. The largest one occurs when passing from four to five.

For each type of video poker there is its own optimal strategy, working tactics of the game in one variant will not be effective in another. To maximize the benefits, it is important to choose the right slot. To do so, look at the average payoff – RTP. The higher it is, the more profitable the machine.

The most important skill of a poker player is the ability to count the chances of falling out of individual cards and collecting whole combinations. Knowing this, you can estimate the benefit of the bet:

• It is better to choose a machine with maximum payout.
• What works in one variety may be useless in another.
• It is necessary to give preference to games with simple and clear rules.
• It is sometimes useful to avoid additional bets – bonuses, second exchanges and so on.

The video poker free online games are a competition with the casino. To compete with live people, it is recommended to visit a regular, “land” casino.

Choice of machine

Video poker free online games are pretty popular, so dozens of providers are involved in their development. Therefore, there is definitely no shortage of variety of slots. They differ not only in appearance, but also in rules, payout tables, combination hierarchy and so on.

If the RTP of the machine is less than 95%, it is better not to play it, because the losses on a long distance will be significant.

Novice machines are well suited Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild. In the first case, you can win only when collecting a pair of jacks or higher. The peculiarity of the second is the “wild” cards, replacing any other.

The main difference between the applications is the chosen type of poker. In slots, the dealings take place according to the rules of Texas Hold’em, Draw, Oasis, Let it Ride, Pai Gow or other disciplines. Games may also differ in the presence of a contingent opponent:

• Versus dealer – you need to put together a combination better than the virtual dealer’s hand.
• Versus system – there is no opponent, the reward depends on the strength of the cards obtained.

It is important to remember that in both cases the real opponent is a computer algorithm. You should be aware that on the long distance, AI will always outrun the player.

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Bankroll things

In order not to risk the entire budget at once, you need to divide it into a certain number of bets. It is better to prepare for many rounds, like for 50 or even 100. Assuming an average game time of 1 minute, this should be enough for 2-4 hours.

Bankroll management allows you to minimize the impact of variance on the overall results, and protects against the complete loss of the budget in the case of lose streak.

It is possible to distribute funds on both high and small bets. Not the least important here are the RTP % and volatility (or riskiness). Beginners are advised to choose less dispersive slot machines with the highest possible return of funds.

Discarding unnecessary cards

The main problem most novice players face is their inability to determine the utility of their current hand. High value cards are not always the best cards. There are several factors to pay attention to when evaluating:

• Deck’s value.
• The similarity of the face value to other cards.

For example, in a 2-4-5-8-Q hand: the queen is better to discard anyway, since it can only turn into a pair and, in rare situations, a flush. The other cards also have straight potential.

Playing at Risk

In most game titles, the user is offered to switch to “Double or Nothing” mode when receiving the prizes. There will be five closed cards from which you need to choose only one. If its value is higher than required by the casino or if it is matches the suit, the payout will be doubled, and the round can be repeated.

Sometimes the game is played by 4 to 1 rule. Prizes here are increased by four times, but the chance of getting them are 25%.

The gambling site does not get an advantage in this mode. At least if it operates under proper license. So it is a nice possibility to play video poker online games for free.

Bonuses and tournaments

No matter how profitable the slot is, it’s RTP will always remain less than 100%. A certain part of the total amount invested in the machine automatically goes to the casino and the provider, making their income. This does not mean that it is impossible to make a profit. The best option if you want to earn something is to play for free by using the different casino’s bonuses. You also should probably change developers regularly or take part in tournaments and promotions.

Thanks to the bonuses, it will be possible to increase the amount of the first and subsequent deposits. To withdraw this money, they must be wagered, but you can also spend in casino on whatever you want.

In tournaments you can earn real cash is, but it is not so easy to get it. To do so, you need to be active, make bets, accumulate points and move up the leaderboard. At the end of the competition, the most productive players share the prize money. Well, you still can play for free with no deposit bonuses, but it will be rather difficult to make big money this way.

Authoritative software developers

There is always a lot of competition among gambling application providers. Among them are both promising start-ups and large developers with extensive experience in cooperating with famous casinos. These are the largest developers of almost all titles:

• Microgaming;
• NetEnt;
• Playtech;
• Novomatic;
• Betsoft;
• Slots of these developers can be found on almost any proper, licensed gaming establishment.

The best games

The following disciplines are the most popular when we are talking about video poker:

• Deuces Wild – there are two jokers.
• Jacks or Better – the reward is accrued for the combination of a pair of jacks. Tens or Better working by the same scheme
• American – the strongest combination is four cards of the same value, along with the joker. Otherwise, the hierarchy of hands is similar to Texas Hold’em.
• Oasis– a variant against the dealer with exchange circles.
• Russian – the goal here is to beat the dealer on the strength of the combination. To win you must have at least an ace and a king.

To find your format, it is better to try several varieties.

Play video poker online for free

To play in virtual slots you do not have to make a deposit and risk your own money. Most applications have a demonstration mode. In this format the game corresponds to the normal version, the rules and probabilities of combinations. But in free mode there may be missing some elements of the interface.

Demo allows you to make the first steps in learning the rules for beginners without risk to the budget. But there are two significant disadvantages of the demonstration mode:

• Lack of real winnings.
• Impossibility to view the game history.

The free version of video poker online is a good way to develop a strategy that can be transferred to the serious games in case if you want to play with money.

How to bet

The main bet in video poker is made at the beginning of the match, before you get the cards in your hand. It is usually called an “ante”. It’s kind of a forced bet.

The player controls the process through an interactive panel under the table or buttons located near its edges. The general process of the game usually looks like:

1. The participant chooses the size of the bet. He is dragging chips from the stack to the ante or bet field. In some machines it is possible to make an additional bet on bonus conditions – to have a strong combination from the start.
2. The dealer places cards to himself and the guests. The player chooses whether he continues the deal. If so, he adds a bet to the pot. If the game is played by draw rules, he also must choose which cards to get rid of.
3. After a bet in Hold’em, a “showdown” takes place. If the winning conditions are met, the player receives his rewarded payout.

Rarely the machines offer “Double Up” rounds. This is a minigame with an opportunity to double the prize. Usually two cards in this case are laid out, one of which is open. It is necessary to guess whether the second is higher or lower in value. Often the reward for guessing correctly is represented as x2 of a prize.

“Double Up” gamble allows you to check your luck at the end of the game by trying to double the prize. If the machine has this minigame, it opens automatically. There will be displayed from two to five cards and player will be needed to guess the next card Will it be lower or higher?

Correct answer – doubled the winnings.

You can take the money or try to double the initial amount. It’s only up to you.

Combinations

When playing, you should be guided by the hierarchy of combinations. The weakest possible showdown hand is the high card, and the strongest is flush royal.

The interface of most slot machines uses English, so the names of the combinations are displayed in the same language.

Payout rules for combinations are different and should be checked before playing. For example, in Oasis Poker a four of a kind is paid 20 to 1, and in Ride’m – 50 to 1.

The more examples:

• Pair of Jacks and higher – 1 to 1;
• Two pairs – 2 to 1;
• Three of a Kind – 3 to 1;
• Straight – 4 to 1;
• Flush – 6 to 1;
• Full house – 9 to 1;
• Fourteen of a Kind – 25 to 1;
• Straight Flush – 50 to 1;
• Royal Flush – 800 to 1.

If you bet less, the multipliers can be lower, so you will lose some of the potential payoff. Be careful. If you don’t want to lose anything – it is better to try out free version of video poker games online.

Glossary

The phrases and unusual words you can hear during the game:

• Ante – main bet.
• Max bet – to put the maximum amount.
• Auto play – mode with the automatic launch of new games.
• Suit – suit on the card.
• Payout – payment to the player.
• Double Up – mini-game for doubling the prize.
• Cycle – jackpot frequency.
• Hold – to save a card when exchanging.
• Wild Card – a special, bonus card.
• RTP or payout percentage – percentage of payout the machine is programmed for.

Little FAQ

How much money do I need to start playing

Depends on the conditions of the casino. The minimum deposit on many sites is posed as 5 CAD. If you decide to play for free (if there is an option to do so), you don’t really need to pay anything.

How is video poker different from other the classic poker games

In video poker client like always play versus casino, not versus another clients.

On which sites can I win more

Depends on the specific slot. You need to carefully read the rules and payout terms of each slot.

Is it possible to hit the jackpot

Yes, many casinos have slots with cumulative jackpots nominated for collecting a strong combinations.

Will the demo mode strategy work in the real money version

It will, because the payout ratios in free and paid formats are the same.

What is the required bankroll

Bankroll management is not important if you will play for free. It is more important to follow the rules of responsible gaming.

Video poker has few similarities with its club forebear, but mostly they are different. Online casinos designed in such a way that it is impossible for visitors to gain a strategic advantage over the establishment. However, the games still can be viewed as a recreation thing.