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Video Poker Strategy - How to Play Video Poker

Playing correct strategy is very important in Video Poker, as it can decrease the edge of the house tremendously. Below, we list important strategies you should know when playing Video Poker, so you can also decrease the edge of the house and play more Video Poker for the same money.

Always play with maximum coins! This is very important as the payout for the royal flush is much higher in terms of units payout (amount you get for $1 bet) when you play maximum coins, instead of just 1 coin. If you can't afford maximum coins, go to a machine that has a lower coin value (instead of playing at the $1 machines, play at the $.25 machines).

Know the paytables! Knowing the paytables is very important because it will help you find the best video poker machines. For example, when playing Jacks or Better Video Poker, make sure that you play on a 9/6 machine. This means, make sure that you play on a machine that pays you 9 units for a Full House and 6 units for a flush. There are many machines out there, that pay only 8 or 6 units for a Full House and only 5 units for a flush. Avoid these machines!

When holding a pair, don't hold a single "money card"! Should you be dealt a pair and also have a single money card (like Jack, Queen, King or Ace in Jacks or Better), don't keep this money card, as keeping the card greatly reduces your chances of hitting 4 of a kind.

Keep winning hands dealt to you, unless only 1 card to Royal Flush! When you are dealt a winning hand, always hold this hand, instead of trying to get an even better hand. The only exception to this rule is when you have a made hand, but also only need 1 card to get a Royal Flush. In that case, go for the Royal Flush!

Don't go for the flush, when holding nothing! Should you have only 3 cards of the same suit and nothing else, don't go for the flush, but instead either hold a money card you might have. Should you not have a money card, throw the entire hand out! The payout of the flush too low to draw to it with only 3 cards of the same suit.

When nothing on initial hand, hold "money cards" or throw out entire hand! Should you be dealt a hand with no initial pair or draw to anything, keep only your money card, should you have one and throw the other 4 cards out. Should you not have a money card, throw the entire hand out.

These basic rules should help you decrease the edge of the casino. This is not perfect strategy because perfect strategy varies with each game of Video Poker, the different payout tables and can become incredibly complex. But when using this strategy, which we think is pretty easy to remember, you are already decreasing the edge of the house significantly.

Should you be ready to play Video Poker at an online casino, visit our Video Poker Casinos section to find great casinos available online. I have played at these casinos myself and was always very satisfied with the gambling, the customer service and the payment processing.

 

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