Switch Dealer
Beginners' Basic Video Poker Strategy
Video Poker is one of the most popular casino games around. If you're a loner and can't be bothered by having other players around, you will like Video Poker. Play is fast - and it's a quick way to lose money. Luckily there are free Video Poker games on the Internet so you can play risk-free. But no matter how long you play with Video Poker software, you can't improve your game unless you use a sound strategy. We will show you the basic strategies for playing Video Poker.
In Video Poker, you have to choose which cards to keep and which to discard so you can get a better hand. Recall that old country song by Kenny Rogers. As he says, the key to success in gambling (and Poker in particular) is the ability to judge which cards to hold and which to discard.
Now for some basic Video Poker strategy:
- You should always keep all five cards of a Royal Flush (wow!) and a Straight Flush.
- There is no point throwing away the fifth card of a Four of a Kind hand. No card you get can possibly improve it.
- Keep a Three of a Kind and a Two Pair. But replace the two unmatched cards of the former and the three of the latter. Why? Because that gives you a shot at improving the hand. If you let go of the fifth card of a Two Pair, for example, you might just get a match for one of the pairs, thus obtaining a Full House.
- Give up the fifth card of a Straight or a Flush if you have four out of five cards needed for a Royal Flush. So if you have A, K, Q, J and 8 of the same suit, replace the 8 and hope for a 10. You can still get a Flush, Straight, or a high Pair depending on the card that turns up.
- If you are just one card shy of a Royal Flush or lower Straight Flush, and you have One Pair of Jacks or higher, discard one of them.
- Keep a One Pair no matter how low it is. Never trade it for a single high card.
- In Video Poker, do not hold on to a "closed" Straight hand. That is, one where the missing card is inside the hand, like 5, 6, 8, 9. The chances of you making that hand are quite low since only the number 7 can complete it. It's better to stake on an open-ended Straight instead. That is, 8, 9, 10, J or something like that. Either a 7 or a Queen would do.
- Don't fall into the habit of keeping a "kicker" if it's single.
These is basic Video Poker strategy that every beginner must know. Later you can develop more advanced techniques in your war against the casinos.
