Video Poker Trainer. Playing video poker can get frustrating once you see your bankroll is headed south due to the wrong cards you discard and hold. Fortunately, you can easily find a trainer of video poker online that will help you master your skills and become comfortable in choosing which cards to hold in order to form a high-ranked hand.
- Video poker strategy resembles basic strategy in blackjack in many ways. They both represent the optimal way of playing every possible hand you could get. Of course, the differences are obvious, too. Your goals in video poker are quite different from your goals in blackjack. Most video poker strategy is just presented as a list.
- If you love poker, then you will love PokerTube. The world's largest Poker Media website has everything you need to follow the games that matter to you. With over 20,000 videos available covering a wide variety of live and online games, Pokertube is a priceless resource for enthusiasts and professionals alike.
- Learn the basic strategy. Some people will go into video poker without being familiar with the strategy behind the game. If you guess while playing, you may win money, but you'll have a better chance at winning the game if you understand the rules and components of the game.
- Learning cash game strategy is essential if you want to be a professional poker player. Poker tournaments have extreme variance even when you are playing well, but cash games can provide a steady income.
Jacks or Better Short-term Playing Strategy
The following is taken from Power Video Poker,
the Only Video Poker Book You'll Ever Need!
The following chart shows the Simplified Playing Strategy for all versions of Jacks of Better video poker.While this playing strategy was developed for short-term play, you may use it for long-term play as well giving up only a few hundreds of a percent of potential return.
Simplified Playing Strategy for Jacks or Better
Hand to be held | Cards held | Cards drawn |
5 | 0 | |
Straight Flush | 5 | 0 |
Four of a Kind | 5 | 0 |
Full House | 5 | 0 |
Free hot shot casino game. Four to a Royal Flush | 4 | 1 |
Flush | 5 | 0 |
Three of a Kind | 3 | 2 |
Straight | 5 | 0 |
Four to a Straight Flush | 4 | 1 |
Two Pair | 4 | 1 |
High Pair | 2 | 3 |
Three to a Royal Flush | 3 | 2 |
Four to a Flush | 4 | 1 |
Low Pair | 2 | 3 |
Four to a Straight | 4 | 1 |
Three to a Straight Flush | 3 | 2 |
Two to a Royal Flush | 2 | 3 |
Two High Cards | 2 | 3 |
One High Card | 1 | 4 |
Nothing | 0 | 5 |
Explanation of Simplified Playing Strategy for Jacks or Better
The chart above lists the hierarchy of hands to be played in Jacks or Better video poker games.The higher the hand is in the chart, the greater its value.For example, Three of a Kind is ranked higher than a Straight and Two Pair outranks a High Pair.
Hand to be Held- Refers to the hand dealt to you with the first five cards.You will always keep a hand that is closer to the top of the chart.
Cards Held – the number of cards you will keep of the original cards dealt.
Cards Drawn – the number of card you will draw.For example, if you are dealt a High Pair, keep the pair and draw three cards.
Explanation of terms:
1.The term high refers to any card ranked Jack or higher.The term low refers to cards less than a Jack in value.Ace, King, Queen and Jack are high cards.2 through 10 are low cards.
2.A Royal Flush is refers to five sequential cards of the same suit staring with a 10 and ending with an Ace.For example, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of spades.This is the top hand for Jacks of Better.
3.A Straight Flush refers to five sequential cards of the same suit but not starting with a 10 and ending with an Ace.For example, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack of hearts.
4.Four of a Kind refers to four cards of the same number or picture card.For example, four 2s or four Kings.
5.Full House consists of a hand with three cards of the same number or same picture card and two cards of the same number or same picture card.For example, three 6s and two Queens.
6.Four to a Royal Flush means that you have four of the five cards needed to make a Royal Flush.For example, if you have Jack, Queen, King and Ace of diamonds.In this case you only need one card, the Ten of diamonds to complete the Royal Flush.
7.Flush consists of five card of the same suit.For example 2 4 5 8 9 and Jack of spades.
8.Three of a Kind is three cards of the same number or same picture card.For example, three Jacks or three 7s.
9.Straight is five cards all in sequential order but not of the same suit.For example, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 or mixed suits.
10.Four to a Straight Flush means that you have four of the five cards needed to make a Straight Flush.For example, if you have 4, 5, 6 and 7 of spades.
11.Two Pair refers to two pairs of the card of the same number or card picture.For example, two 4s and two 9s.
12.High Pair is a pair of cards valued Jack or Higher.For example, a pair of Jacks or a pair of Kings
13.Three to a Royal Flush means that you have three of the five cards needed to make a Royal Flush.
14.Four to a Flush consists of four cards of the same suit.For example, 4, 7, 9 and Jack of diamonds.
15.Low Pair is two of the same cards valued ten or lower.For example two 5s or two 9s.
16.Four to a Straight consists of four cards in order but not of the same suit.For example 4,5, 6 and 7 of mixed suits.
17.Three to a Straight Flush means that you have three cards in order and of the same suit to make a Straight Flush.For example, 3, 4, 5 or hearts or 5, 6, 7 of clubs.
18.Two to a Royal Flush means you have two of the cards in order of the same suit to secure a Royal Flush.For example, a Queen and King of hearts or a Jack and Queen of spades.
19.Two High Cards means two cards which are not a pair valued as Jacks or better.For example, Jack, Ace.
20.One High Card refers to one card ranked Jack or better.For example, if you have one King or just one Ace.
21.Nothing means that none of your cards will make any of the hands mentioned above in the first five cards dealt to you.
Let's take another look at the playing chart and consider some of the decisions you will have to make when you follow this playing strategy.
1.Whenever you hold Four Cards to a Royal Flush discard the fifth card even if that card gives you a flush or a pair.
2.A High Pair, Three of a Kind, a Straight and a Flush all outrank Three to a Royal Flush.Play the Three to a Royal Flush when you have lesser hands such as Four to a Flush or a Low Pair.
3.With Two Cards to a Royal Flush keep Four to a Straight, Four to a Flush or a High Pair.Otherwise, go for the Royal Flush.
4.Never break up a made Straight or a Flush, unless one card gives you a chance to make a Royal Flush.Another way of saying this is that you will give up a Straight or Flush if you only need only card to make a Royal Flush.
5.Keep a High Pair over Four to a Straight or Four to a Flush.
6.You will never break up Four of a Kind, a Full House,Three of a Kind or Two Pair.The worthless cards for the last two hands will be discarded.
7.Always keep a High Pair unless you have Four Cards to a Royal Flush or Four to a Straight Flush.
8.Keep a Low Pair over Four to a Straight or Three to a Straight Flush.However, you will discard them in favor or Four to a Flush or Three or Four to a Royal Flush.
9.If you are dealt an unmade hand you will try to improve them in the following order:
Four to a Royal Flush and Straight Flush, Three to a Royal Flush, Four to a Flush, Four to a Straight, Three to a Straight Flush, Two to a Royal Flush, Two High Cards and one High Card.Any of these nonpaying hands can, with the right draws, turn into winning hands.
10.Lacking any of the above, that is numbered cards 1 to 9, with no card Jack or higher, discard all of the cards and draw five fresh ones.
This strategy can be applied to the
following versions of Jacks or Better:
1.Jacks or Better
2.Bonus Poker
3.Bonus Poker Deluxe
4.White Hot Aces Bonus Poker
5.Double Bonus Poker
6.Double Double Bonus Poker
7.Triple Bonus Bonus Poker
8.Triple Bonus Jacks or Better
9.Super Double Bonus Poker
Instant Access to the Power Video Poker Strategy
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Video poker is a type of skill-based slot machine that uses card faces instead of numbers, letters, and other symbols. To have the best odds of winning, you'll have to be skilled at poker while also playing at machines that feature the best pay tables. But there is more to video poker than earning comps, perfect play, and pay tables. You also have to take advantage of the machines' set up.
Pay Attention to Casino Improving Odds
While at a brick and mortar casino, you may notice the casino staff interacting with the machine for the patrons to see. They often do this to entice you to play these machines because they're more than likely improving the odds of winning. Since poker slots aren't typically visible in high traffic areas, casinos will do this to bring more people in. Pay attention and test those.
Online or Offline: Most Video Slots Win the First Time
Whether you're playing free online slots or sitting in a high traffic casino, most slot machines are designed to make you win the first time. You can test this by trying a machine that hasn't been used in half an hour and cycle each video poker game in intervals. Chances are if one machine is set up this way, they all are.
Free Video Poker Games
Adjusting Odds After Jackpots and Giveaways
Casinos don't just adjust video poker odds randomly, they will also skew slot odds in your favor after holidays, Derby Days, or massive giveaways. In the slot community, it's agreed that if the casino (including online) has a central computer-created or renovated after 2012, a central computer was installed to change odds frequently and quickly after key events.
Find Progressive Video Poker Machines
Video Poker Strategies Free
A progressive machine has a jackpot that continues to increase as long as the jackpot isn't won. Often, multiple video poker machines are pooled or linked together to form an even larger winning amount. This amount us usually displayed prominently, again to attract the attention of passersby. Stick to these machines if they're available because you can use all of the previous and following strategies while also giving yourself the chance of striking gold.
Welcome Bonuses or Complimentary Gifts
Although there are plenty of brick and mortar casinos that offer complimentary gifts when you become a member (free spins, discounts, or money to spend on games), it's more common in online casinos. It's in your best interest to find casinos that offer welcome bonuses, free spins, and other monetary incentives so you can start off on the right foot.
Find Your Winning Strategy and Stick to It
It's tempting to just throw everything at the wall and see what sticks, but if a strategy is working for you, it's usually more detrimental to you if you falter from it. As an alternative, if something isn't working for you, try to determine whether this is bad luck or just a strategy that won't work for that specific video poker game, slot machine or casino.
Locate Newer Brick and Mortar and Online Casinos
First, a word of caution: If an online casino is new, it's in your best interest to research that casino to ensure they're legitimate. Look in their terms of service, reviews online, and whether or not they have a license before uploading your payment information. It's possible you could get scammed if you aren't careful. Brick and mortar casinos, however, are usually safe.
Starting at a new casino, if they're legitimate, offers many advantages. For one, new casinos will make it easier for you to win at all games, not just video poker. If you're concerned that a new casino isn't legitimate, wait a year and do more research. Winnings will still be high after a year of opening as they are always looking for new customers.
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