Our expert Milan Rabszski will tell you more about video poker. He wants to focus his attention on such issues:
- what is pokerwideo and what are the types of this game?
- rules of video poker;
- what are the most effective poker strategies;
- how to play video poker for money at the best online casinos in South Africa?
What is video poker in an online casino
Videopoker is another beloved by all players a must-visit point in the casino. Although this classic card game used to be played at small tables in an atmosphere of high tension, videopoker allows everyone to participate in the game without stress and at their own pace. The game is based on five-card hand-picked poker, with the same rules and the same seniority system. there are many varieties of video poker that add even more excitement to the game. The most famous variants are video poker Multi-Hand and videopoker with a progressive jackpot, but in total there are several different varieties of this game.
Making bets in video poker is quite simple. The player must first pay the entry rate (ante) and then receive the cards. The cards are dealt by a real dealer when it comes to live poker, or using the program on the slot machine we have chosen (poker hand). Please note that all cards are dealt from a shuffled deck. After receiving five cards, the player has the opportunity to return them to the dealer to exchange them for others. He can only do it once. To play video poker you can sit in the comfort of your own home and play at any rate. This is by far the least stressful and potentially highly profitable variant of poker.
What is the difference between playing video poker and playing online poker?
- Online Poker is a game between several players who use different strategies in order to outsmart and preserve the poker face. The final win is based on the pot that has accumulated over the course of the game.
- Video Poker is an entertainment for only one person, which is played on the basis of poker hands, and the player's winnings depend primarily on the rules of withdrawal by a particular slot machine. In short, video poker is a synthesis of the usual classic slot machine and online poker in South Africa.
Varieties of video poker in online casinos
Video poker appeared relatively recently, but its varieties now you can not count on the fingers of one hand. The rules of each type of video poker differ depending on the number of lines in the game, the possession of special symbols or the possibility of paying jackpots. The pay table is also different. Each gambling brand offers something different, it depends mainly on the software of manufacturers who are constantly working to make their product much more attractive than, for example, the classic type of video poker.
- The number of lines in video poker can be several, for example, 100, 50, 25, 10 lines. The five starting Cards are always dealt on the same line. The cards that have been selected by the player are fixed on all lines, and non-fixed Cards are dealt randomly.
- The paytable in each game can be changed. In the most popular games there can be about a dozen different percentages for payouts.
- Video Poker can also be divided due to the theme, symbolism and the possibility of collecting large sums. The most popular types of video poker are Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, All American, Multi Hand Poker, Bonus Poker, Triple Poker, Double Bonus Poker etc. Detailed information about these types is given below.
Jacks or Better. To be honest, this is the most popular variant of video poker, which consists in collecting at least one pair of jacks. Then the player can receive a cash prize. All payouts in this game are possible when you have a jack in your hand.
Deuces Wild. All wins start with a three, and all twos from the deck can serve as lucky Wild cards that can replace any other card. In such conditions, the strongest system can be created.
All American. All American Video Poker is a game between you and the dealer, played using a standard deck of 52 cards. Five cards are dealt in the first hand. All American Video Poker is a standard video poker game based on Jacks or Better. The main difference in this game is the payouts for certain combinations: Royal Flush-standard payout, Straight Flush - higher payout, Full House - lower payout, straight - higher payout, Flush - higher payout, Three of a Kind - standard payout, two pairs - lower payout, Jacks or Better-standard payout.
10's or Better. As in the previous version, Tens or Better gives players a little more chances, because to win a prize you need to have a deal with at least two tens.
Joker Poker. In this game, there is an additional Joker card that functions almost the same as the Wild card in the slots. This card can replace other cards, which gives you the opportunity to build the best possible poker hand. Payouts start with having two pairs.
Multi Hand Poker. This type of game allows you to play several hands at the same time. The player's hand is the same in each additional hand allowed in the game, but new cards are dealt randomly, allowing for more winning combinations. In such a game, there may be more hands than in other types (e.g. 50).
Bonus Poker. A type of poker in which a player can win additional prizes on specific hands. The most common bonus is the card bonus.
Triple Play. The game involves dealing three hands at the same time. This type can occur during jacks or Better or Deuces Wild.
Double Bonus Poker. This is a variant of Bonus Poker, which consists in receiving more attractive additional bonuses not only for one hand. Usually, the casino itself and the manufacturer decide what bonuses can be provided in such a game.
Joker Wilds. In this case, the whole game is played on the basis of a deck, which consists of 53 cards (standard deck and one more joker).
Progressive jackpot. Online video poker game, which is played as a classic five-card hand-picked poker, but after meeting special conditions, you can win a progressive jackpot. The only way to win the jackpot is to bet the maximum amount allowed, which is a high bet.
As you can see, there are many varieties of video poker, so the question of choosing the right type is much more difficult than it may seem at first glance. For example, at Slottica Casino we can choose between a huge number of games in live poker and online video poker, we have such titles: Super Video Poker, Joker Poker, Poker Room, Bet on Poker and others. Zet Casino focuses more on games like Turbo Poker, oasis Poker and Caribbean Poker.
Rules of playing video poker online
New casino players are always worried due to the fact that the rules of playing poker in land-based online casinos are very difficult. In the case of the online version, there is nothing to worry about and now we will briefly describe how to play video poker. In the deck there are 52 cards from which the player gets only 5 cards. Next, the player must decide which cards he wants to leave in his hand, and which he wants to exchange. The places of the mentioned Cards are occupied by the newly selected cards from the deck, and the necessary result of the player in the game depends on the layout of the cards compared to the paytable. The winner is the one whose hand is identical to the one on the screen. If you choose a casino with the intention of playing video poker only, then before you make a deposit and determine the type of game, you should first familiarize yourself with the paytable and the rules of this game. This is very important due to the fact that the additional rules of playing each variety of video poker in each online casino are different.
In order to help you and significantly ease your game, we want to show you the most important terms in video poker that are sure to be useful to you.
- Hand. The hand that the player has. In video poker, the player has 5 cards.
- Deal. The option to deal the cards by the dealer in the live casino or by the device.
- Hold. Option where the player marks which cards remain on the hand.
- Draw. The player's choice to replace the cards that he has not marked.
- Passport. Quitting the game.
- Bankroll. All the money players that are allocated for the game.
- Joker. A Wild card that can replace other cards.
- Jackpot. The biggest win in poker with a progressive jackpot. It is usually taken by the player who has the best hand compared to the paytable.
In addition to the above terms, a novice player should also understand the names of the hands in video poker and what they are. Depending on the layout, we decide how to continue the game and how to better exchange cards, and which cards should be left in your hand. In the paytable for each such hand is entered the amount that the player can withdraw if he has all these cards in his hand. We show all hands from highest to lowest possible win.
Royal Flush. It is the most powerful system that can exist. It consists of cards of the same suit from ace to 10. To be honest, it is rarely found in the game of poker. Loans are up to 2000.
Straight Flush. This hand consists of 5 consecutive cards of the same suit. If this hand is held by two or more players, then the winner is the one whose card in this hand is the highest.
Four of Kind. A hand consisting of four cards of the same value, for example, 4 Kings. If this hand is repeated, the player whose fifth card in the hand is of higher value wins.
Full House. In other words, Full – one of the highest poker hands, which is created from three cards of the same value and another pair of Cards also of the same format. In the event that such a hand coincides, the player with the higher pair wins.
Flush. When collecting this layout, color counts. The player with 5 cards of the same suit wins.
Straight. The basis of this layout are the cards that follow each other. They can be of different colors. A straight that brings a player a win must contain a higher card than the other. The highest straight consists of such cards: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, ten. The lowest straight contains the following cards: as, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Three of a kind. This hand is contains three different cards of the same value. The player with the highest value of the three cards wins this hand.
Two pairs. In this hand we have two pairs, the cards in each are of the same value. If both players have identical cards, the fifth card will determine the win.
One pair. This hand has a player who has collected two identical cards of different colors. In the case of the coincidence of such a hand in the hands of several players, the amount of the third card determines the win.
High card. This hand is really a no-deal because the win pays out based on the highest card in your hand.
Game software manufacturers
Video poker was created many decades ago – in 1979. Sircoma is now known as international Game Technology. It is this company that is one of the most popular manufacturers that offer the best poker software in both land-based and online casinos.
Modern software providers for video poker have left the classic variants of this game, as well as supplemented the existing ones with much better offers in the form of interesting symbols, themes and New chances to pay. Online casinos always strive to offer their customers the best games, so most often they choose software from such as Betsoft, Novomatic, Wazdan, Microgaming, Pragmatic Play etc. Depending on the type of manufacturer and its game, you can compare the chances of paying out winnings in video poker.
| Video poker | Manufacturer | RTP |
| Joker Poker Power Poker | Microgaming | 98,6% |
| American Poker | Wazdan | 95,96% |
| Oasis Poker Classic | Evoplay | 99,7% |
| Pyramid aces and Faces Poker | Betsoft | 94,36% |
| Bonus Poker | Red Rake | 99,17% |
| All American 1 Hand Poker | Netent | 98,11% |
| Video Poker Pursuit | iSoftBet | 96,43% |
| Three Cards Poker | Wazdan | 95,47% |
How to play video poker online for money?
Video poker came to South African casinos in the 1970s and it was then that it managed to become one of the most popular slot machines. Many famous gamblers of that time began to test such machines, and the Johnson Brothers proved that the chances of breaking the bank in video poker are huge. Playing video poker is childish. Thanks to the intersection with slot machines, the gameplay is practically automated, and we will only have to give ourselves to the joy of winning! There are several options that we can choose in this insanely exciting and fast gameplay. So, how should you play video pokeronline for money? There are four basic types of video poker: Jacks or Better, All American, Joker, and Deuces Wild. Each of them differs in the figures from which the reward begins and the figures awarded with a bonus. The style of play remains the same.
What distinguishes videopoker is the extremely small advantage of an online casino! This is one of the main reasons why video poker is the most popular. This has been statistically confirmed, which means that the chances of winning the player are huge. This is because unlike some pure casino games in video poker, our influence on the draw is much greater. It is mainly up to us to place bets. The machine allows the player to place bets x1, x2, x3, x4, x5. After placing a bet, we get five cards. We really have two options – leave them or exchange them. We can exchange any number of cards, we can also exchange them all. When the cards are exchanged, the hand ends, and we either win or lose the money allocated for the bet. Of course, the payouts vary depending on the type of game you choose, but a few things remain the same. This is primarily a paytable that is present on every slot machine. In addition, betting is also unchanged, and its capabilities are exactly the same as in any available slot machine. In short – we can bet a maximum of five times the value of the credit, i.e. if the value of the credit (chip) is 1 SAN, a one-time bet can be 1 SAN, 2 SAN, 3 SAN,4 SAN or a maximum of 5 SAN which is five times the value of the chip and is called max bet. There is also no change in the layout of the pieces, however, depending on the type of gameplay, they can be paid differently. In most cases, the system rewards those who enjoy the thrill and always play at max bet, which is the highest possible bet. Therefore, we should choose such videomats, in which the maximum bet suits us. For example, in a slot machine with a chip of 1 SAN, We have the opportunity to make bets of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 SAN, but already if the machine has a programmed roll of 25 cents max bet will be equal to 1.25 SAN. Playing with the maximum stake is important because of the maximum gain and the largest win multiplier. The multiplier also depends on the type of Game. For example, where the classic "Jacks or Better" pays for a card (four in a row) at a rate of 25:1, the "All American" will pay as much as 30:1 – a higher multiplier means more profit and more win. In “Jacks or Better " poker, the payouts for the pieces are adequate to its power adopted in standard poker with one exception-the pieces are paid only from a pair of Jacks, where each high pair is paid in a ratio of 1:1, that is, we simply return the bet, but we do not gain anything from it. The gain starts with two pairs and then increases depending on the strength of our poker hand. In the case of”All American " the best paid are straight and colors, so it is on them that we need to focus all our attention during the game. About the variety "Deuces Wild" it is safe to say that the key cards are twos, the special feature of which is to replace each card with the appropriate suit. The rules of "Joker Wild" are similar to "Deuces Wild" except that the special card here is the joker. The rules of the game are exactly the same, and the joker replaces each of the cards (unlike deuces, the joker replaces a card of any suit). Of course, in both Deuces Wild and Jokers Wild, the paytable is exactly the same as in classic Jacks or Better.
Video poker at the casino for free
We are aware that not all players are at the same levels of gambling development. Someone has already gained experience before, playing not only in online casinos, but also in land-based casinos. Someone is just starting out and does not know anything about what bets are and how to bet, so as not to lose large sums at the start. In the case of the former, we recommend that you immediately choose video poker to your liking and start this machine playing for Real Money. When it comes to new players, it would be good to learn first and without depositing any amounts, as well as without registration, to understand what video poker is. It is for such users that online casinos provide the option of playing slot machines for free. This is a demo game where all your bets mean nothing and winning is impossible due to the fact that everything is done on the basis of free chips. In any case, at first we are not only interested in winning, but we focus more on the habits that we can acquire. When playing free video poker, it is worth paying attention to every detail, take into account every symbol and grasp the paytable. You can also consider different strategies and test each without losing anything.
Strategies for video poker
Video poker, although still a random game, gives us a much larger scope than other gambling games.of course, it is worth understanding that we will win only if we know how to play. Perhaps this can not be called a game system, but a strategy as much as possible. A high percentage of the advantage of the casino is most often due to the inability to play and not adapting to the general rules that allow for safe gameplay. However, there are several ways to prevent this.
For each variant of video poker, a separate strategy has been developed, which describes tips on how to behave in this or that situation. However, we would like to point out that it is not worth trying to play Bonus Poker according to The Deuces Wild strategy or on a spin.
| Type of Game | Strategy |
| Jacks or Better | Many experts recommend choosing such a game only for beginners, since the strategy is quite simple. Jacks or Better is usually found in 2 main variations: 8/5 (Full House and Flash give 8 and 5 coins), 9/6 (Full House and Flash give 9 and 6 coins). The strategy is to stop the deals that are paid. An ideal example is to keep four cards for Royal poker or regular poker (externally and internally) – this is recommended due to the high probability of getting a suit, which is a well-paid hand. However, if it turns out that this will be difficult, then we are aiming for lower and more likely systems. Of course, remember to always have at least a high pair. |
| Deuces Wild | The minimum withdrawal is charged for three cards of one denomination. Special odds pay for four twos, five ones and a straight color with jokers. The most important cards in this variant of video poker are the title deuces – each two can replace any card of its own suit. This makes it much easier to get high poker figures starting with straight and full on poker and ending with Royal poker. The main difference with Deuces Wild is that the pairs are not paid. Paychecks are from three, so it's not too easy either. What we have to remember is that we stop every two and try to create a poker or a straight. When we are in a situation where it is impossible – we make a three, leaving of course two twos – then no matter what cards appear, two twos guarantee that we will have a minimum of three. |
| Joker Poker | In this version, the combinations begin with a pair of Kings. Joker is used here, thanks to which additional combinations appear: poker (five cards of one denomination) and Royal Flash with Joker. They are paid according to specific multipliers. |
| All American | This Model differs from Jacks or Better in the odds of calculating a win, which requires a modification of the overall strategy. In addition, the winnings for the royal color with five pennies on the line are inflated. This should also be taken into account. This type of video poker is so specific that the best payouts are straight, poker and colors. Of course high pairs are also paid, as is Fulle, however these three are at the top of the table and of course these three are the hardest to get. Tactics is not too complicated, because all the time we have to strive for these figures to our online game was impressive and profitable. If we have no other option and we are in the worst situation-we hit the color, that is, we hold as many cards as possible that can create this Color. Otherwise, we try straight lines, stopping in particular the cards of the outer straight. |
A few more recommendations and tips from Milan Rabszski that are worth remembering:
- it is worth looking for video poker with maximum return;
- it is worth starting to play on the standard varieties for which simple strategies have been developed for the game;
- keep in mind that playing video poker with a progressive jackpot is usually worth starting with 5 coins;
- always check the paytable and choose games with bonuses or free games;
- to place an ante bet, select a chip and then click on the betting area;
- to remove a bet, select Remove chip, and then click the betting area;
- to start the next game, click on the deal;
- to view the Paytable, move the mouse over the Min / Max sign;
- Turn and River bets are always exactly equal to the ante;
- the Flop bet is always twice the ante bet;
- the limit symbol is the minimum and maximum ante bet limit;
- it is recommended not to replace cards that have already initially created a bet card, Full, straight, color or three;
- after getting 5 different cards of low value, it is recommended to replace them and choose new ones;
- if you have more than two cards that match Royal poker, list all the others.
History of poker
"The game of poker originated near the 19th century in the United States". There are several versions about the origin of the name “Poker”. Some say that this name comes from the Irish word “Poca”, which means "pocket". Another variant of the origin of the name – the French "Poque“, which is a loan of the German word” Pochen", that is,"boast as a bluff."Either way, no one can say for sure whether poker itself originated from games that have such names. It is also believed that the rules of Poker are similar to those of Primero and Brelan games. Video poker came to casinos in South Africa in the 1970s and already then gained the title of one of the most popular slot machines. The latter is also the origin of the English game Bragg, in its principle was bluffing. Experts believe that all these games could have contributed to the development of the poker game that we have today. By the end of the 19th century, poker was firmly established in popular culture as the most widespread entertainment in the United States. "In California and Los Angeles begin to open the largest poker rooms (such as Commerce Casino and Bicycle Club)". In 1979, they started talking about online poker and video poker. It was this first version of video poker that was most similar to the one-armed bandit slot machine, however, it was seen as an alternative for those players who no longer wanted to just spin the reels and were constantly in search of something more attractive. "The first slot machines of this kind had 50 cards, there were no jacks and tens in the deck". Of course, this made it difficult for the players, because these two cards most often appear in the straight. With the development of the internet, the online version of video poker began to gain popularity, and later, thanks to the Texas Hold'em Variety, it was possible to play this game live and join the video stream. Everything that took place in the hands of the dealer, the players could see in live mode and that is why the game of live poker partially replaced the universality of video poker.
Summary
Video poker is a combination of two games – classic, hand-picked poker, which was eliminated on the gambling scene some time ago, and classic slot machines. It's a trivial idea, but how well-received! If you already feel the taste of winning, and by the way you want to try something new – try and play videopoker. The rule is simple: you play with yourself, the classic rules of poker apply, and the advantage of the casino over you is only a few percent, which is an incredibly good result when compared to other gambling games. You can try free poker or go straight into the deep water trying to play for Real Money. For the latter variety, we recommend that you remember about max bets, which increase the chances of winning each user. Even a simplified version of this game can be fun for you.
In addition, everything always starts with small steps, so if you want to make your gambling career based on this game, we will honestly tell you that you are on the right track. Experienced players who have been choosing video poker and all its varieties for many years, moving to a new higher level of this "ladder" - take part in poker tournaments. It is tournaments that are the greatest reward for those who have been working on their habits for many years and are constantly developing. At such poker tournaments you can collect an attractive jackpot, as well as meet new people from different parts of the world. That is why we recommend that you follow the updates in all gambling brands that are included with our ranking.
