17 December 2020
Useful
Online video poker ranks easily among the simplest online casino games. It’s simple to learn, and the payouts are excellent. But if you want to earn playing poker online, there are some simple rules that you must understand. While the rules apply differently on each variant, the main aim is to qualify for a five-card hand and grab the paytable prize. So, read on if you want to beat the casino playing video poker.
Select the right game variant
After creating an account on a regulated mobile casino, you’re likely to enjoy multiple video poker variations. Of course, Microgaming specializes in this category, although you can also get variations from Playtech and NetEnt. That said, online video pokers have a low house edge, unlike most casino games. However, first, decide which card to keep and which one to give away. Below are some standard video poker house advantages of Microgaming:
All American: 0.62%
Deuces Wild: 3.23%
Aces & Eights: 0.91%
Jacks or Better: 0.46%
Deuces & Joker: 0.93% Firstly, learn the rules of the game and know which hand beats the other. For example, Jacks or Better has a small house edge, but you’ll need a minimum of two jacks to win something. On the other hand, Aces & Eights has more house advantage, but with multiple special bonuses if you make a hand with a face card and an ace.
Learn the paytables first
Reading and understand the paytable before playing is a vital online poker strategy that most gamers ignore. That’s because the paytable determines the house advantage. Always play on a paytable with a 9/6 (9 coins for the full house and 6 coins for the flush) payout. In this case, the house edge will be 0.46%. Avoid 8/6 and 9/5 machines, as they have higher house edges.
Play the strategy card correctly
If a video poker game doesn’t have a strategy card, skip it. Using the right strategy card will help you learn which hands are more valuable than others. Start reading from the top until you get a matching hand to your starting hand. If you find a matching hand, keep the strategy card secret and discard everything else. For instance, if you have a 9, 9, 7, 7, 4, the first line that matches your hand is the first pair. So, keep them and discard the 4.
Wager the maximum coins
Experience proves that wagering a single coin when playing video poker is a terrible mistake. Most paytables offer prizes for one up to five coins. So, when playing video poker, wager five coins and get your 5-coin bonus wager. But do you always need to play the maximum coins? Well, not always! However, the chances of getting the Royal Flush with maximum coins are better.
Try the progressive jackpots
Although this poker strategy sounds straightforward, it’s still one of the shortest ways to winning big playing video poker. Try out video poker games that offer progressive jackpots. Typically, you can win the jackpot by hitting the Royal Flush. Interestingly, you can also claim the progressive when wagering lower stakes. Note, however, that the regular paytable is poorer in most video poker progressives. So, risk more to enjoy amazing rewards.