The popularity of video poker has increased exponentially over the past few years. Slot machines and regular poker are both combined in video poker.

Video poker is based on draw poker, where you are dealt five cards and choose to hold or discard any of them in hopes of making a winning poker hand. After choosing which cards to keep, the rest are destroyed, so that your final hand is compared to a paytable to determine if you’ve won.

Unlike regular poker against other players, in video poker, you are playing against the computer. The goal is to make the strongest poker hand possible to win the maximum payout. Hands are ranked the same as in regular poker, with a royal flush being the best possible hand.

Types of video poker

• Jacks or Better – The most common type. Jacks and higher pay out.
• Deuces Wild – The twos are wild cards that substitute for other cards to make winning hands.
• Joker Poker – Includes a joker in the deck as a wild card.
• Bonus Poker – Various bonus payouts are available for certain hands like four-of-a-kind.

No matter which type you play the best online gambling sites australia, the basic gameplay is the same. The only difference is the payouts for various hands.

How to play?

Getting started with video poker is simple:

• Choose your game variation. Beginners should play Jacks or Better.
• Insert credits or virtual coins. Video poker allows betting anywhere from 1 to 5 credits per hand.
• You will be dealt 5 cards. Decide which cards to hold by clicking on them.
• Cards you didn’t hold will be replaced. Your final 5-card hand will be compared to the paytable.
• Payouts are based on the pay table. The payout increases depending on how many credits you bet.
• Cash out your credits or continue playing.

Hand rankings

Just like regular poker, hands are ranked from strongest to weakest as follows:

• Royal Flush – Ace, ten, jack, queen, king, all of the same suit
• Straight Flush – 5 consecutive cards, same suit
• Four of a Kind – The same rank of four cards
• Full House – Three of a kind + One pair
• Flush – Any 5 cards, same suit
• Straight – 5 consecutive cards, any suit
• Three of a Kind
• Two Pair
• One Pair – Jacks or higher typically required
• High Card – No pair

The stronger your hand, the higher the payout will be if you win.

While video poker is based on chance in terms of which cards you are dealt, there is an element of skill involved in deciding which cards to hold and which to discard. Using the proper strategy increases your odds and payout potential. Take your time to analyze what gives you the best chance to win before choosing the cards to hold. Over time, using optimal strategy makes a huge difference.