VIDEO POKER STRATEGY
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Many people relate video poker to slot machines and incorrectly assume that it all comes down to the luck of the draw. While luck is certainly a component in any gamble, there is an element of skill involved in playing video poker. In fact, many video poker machine offer theoretical returns of just about 100% (sometimes even slightly over) for players using optimal strategy and betting the maximum on each hand. Online Casinos can afford to do this because:
- hardly any video poker player actually uses optimal strategy and
- many video poker players choose the game because of its low minimum stakes, and do not dare to bet the maximum.
Problem 2 can be easily fixed. If you are in it to win, always use the maximum bet. It's as simple as that.
Meanwhile, problem 1 takes a little more effort to deal with. Poker is a complex game with an equally complex strategy. What makes video poker special is that you have no opponent to compete with - your only goal is to make the highest hand possible. Because you have nothing like bluffing or card counting to worry about, the strategy of video poker is somewhat more straightforward. Use the following chart for optimal play strategy:
| If you have | then draw |
|---|---|
| Straight or better | 0 cards (keep them all) |
| Two pair, or one card away from an open-ended straight or higher | 1 card |
| Three of a kind, or two cards away from a straight flush or higher | 2 cards |
| One pair or two high cards | 3 cards |
| One high card | 4 cards |
| Absolutely nothing | 5 cards |
The only exception to this strategy is in games with wild cards like Deuces Wild or ones with modified payoffs like Double Double Bonus. In these games, if you are holding four of a kind and the remaining card is doing nothing for you, always go ahead and drop it. You might just wind up with an even better hand!
