Video Poker is a beloved game that usually will be wagered on in casinos across the world, or alternatively at home on your computer, using a net connection. The rules are very simple and involve the player trying to get the highest combination of cards achievable in order to come away with money. In this respect it is very similar as a regular game of poker, apart from the involvement with competing players. Of course, methods used in a physical game of poker, like bluffing, will be irrelevant here.
The game of Video Poker starts when the player inserts credits (whether it’s tokens, tickets or cash) into the machine and pushes the play button. A hand of five cards will then be electronically ‘distributed’ on the video screen.
The Electronic Poker machine also has hold buttons, and enthusiasts will need to now decide which cards to hold and which to throw away. For the cards the enthusiast would like to retain, the ‘hold’ buttons must be pressed so that they light up. The player can choose to keep any number of cards they want, whether it’s all or none.
After the player has decided on which cards he or she wishes to retain, the player will then press ‘deal’, at which point any fresh cards are needed they will be dealt. The hand is now finished, with the Video Poker machine analyzing the hand to see if it matches any of the winning hands printed on the payment schedule.
Typically, the minimum succeeding hand on an Electronic Poker machine is a pair of jacks with the award money increasing for each and every better hand. A list of common winning hands starts with jacks or better, moving on to 2 pairs, 3 of a kinds, straights, flushes, full houses, 4 of a kinds, straight flushes and finally royal flushes. It definitely goes without saying that the payout schedule can change from game to game, so that skillful enthusiasts are able to select the most money-making ones each time.
As soon as the initial round has played out, the player can either decide to remain on in an attempt to maximize their earnings, or they can press the ‘collect’ button to cash out any cash that might have been won. Further, some styles of the game allow the enthusiast an opportunity to double their profits, in which situation a further game is played. There are also differences between individual games, with some virtual decks including wild cards and other differing characteristics to enhance playability.
