Video Poker
In poker you always play other, real, live people, but video poker is totally different. Here you do not play other people. Instead you'll be pitting you wits against a computer or a machine, depending on whether you're playing online on in a bricks and mortar casino. In fact the whole thing is more of a slot machine game than anything else. Always remember that the house has an edge in these games, so you can't possibly win in the long run. The more you play, the more you stand to lose.
However, unlike other slot machine games, winning isn't purely a matter of pure luck - there is a small element of skill and strategy involved. Perhaps that's why it's so popular.
This is how it works:
- First you place your bet by selecting a number of coins from a choice of denominations.
- Next, the computer or machine deals you a hand of five cards.
- You can now reject some, or all, of your cards. Obviously the decision as to which to keep and which to discard depends on the strength of your hand.
- Any cards you discard are immediately replaced by the computer, bringing the number of cards back up again to five. And that's basically it.
Whether you have a winning hand or not depends entirely on the payout scheme which should be clearly indicated, either on screen, or on the actual machine.
There are countless variants of video poker, although progressive poker is where you can win the most money. Here, a constantly accumulating jackpot is up for grabs - and these can be worth many thousands. In addition, you have the same chance of winning whether you've been playing for days on end or just a few minutes (you'll need a Royal Flush to win).
Remember that in video poker there is no such thing as a bluff. It's you against the computer and all that matters is the strength of your hand. It's also quite addictive - so practise good money management, remember to take a break now and then... and know when to quit.
