What is Video Poker?

Learn the basics of Video Poker, from game rules to winning strategies. Improve your odds and maximize your chances of success with oddschecker and grab some great sign up offers along the way!

Video poker is a digital version of the classic card game you’ll find at online casinos. It combines features of traditional poker and slots, making it innovative yet straightforward to play. Like traditional poker, the goal is to build the strongest five-card hand to win. 

If you’re interested in video poker, the game is featured at many online casinos in the US. At oddschecker, our goal is to bring you the best versions. Therefore, we’ve extensively covered how video poker works in this guide, along with the top sites to play and honest video poker reviews. Continue reading to learn more.

How to Play Video Poker? 

As we mentioned, online video poker incorporates elements from the traditional card game with slot machines. To play, you must first set your bet and hit the Deal button. Next, the software will share five cards, all face up. The suits and ranks are the same as you’d find in classic poker.

After receiving the cards, you have one shot at replacing them to build the strongest hand possible. You can choose to switch all, some, or none of them. All you have to do is click on the cards you don’t want to replace and hold them. Then, tap the Deal button again for the dealer to draw new cards. Everything happens randomly, and that’s how video poker is similar to slots.

Types of Video Poker Games

We’ve found that online casinos in the US have more than five variants of video poker. They all have similar gameplay, but there are a few differences in terms of payouts, RTP, and highest-hand ranking. We’ve discussed the most popular ones to know below: 

Jacks or Better

This is the most popular type of video poker. In Jacks or Better, you aim to build a hand with a pair of jacks or better. That’s the lowest possible rank, and anything below that will result in no payout. As you play Jacks or Better, you can score higher winnings with stronger hands like two pairs, three of a kind, flush, and others.

Jacks or Better is very straightforward, and that’s one reason it’s the most famous version of video poker. In addition, the variant has favorable video poker odds. Depending on the casino, you can expect 97% to 99.50% RTP.

Tens or Better

This variant is quite similar to Jacks or Better. However, as the name implies, the goal this time is to score a hand with a pair of 10s or higher. In short, you’ll receive a payout if your hand has at least two 10 cards. 

Deuces Wild

One reason players appreciate slots is because they often come with bonus features like free spins. If you are looking for similar features in video poker, look no further than Deuces Wild. For the record, Deuces refers to the 2s, and they function as Wilds in this variant.

Typically, Wilds replace other symbols to form more winning combinations in slots. You get something similar with 2s in Deuces Wild. Whenever the cards are drawn, they can substitute for others to help you win.

For example, suppose you have 3, 3, 2, J, Q. In this case, the 2 can become a 3 to give you a three-of-a-kind hand. However, it can’t change to J or Q for a pair because the lowest payout in Deuces Wild is for three of a kind. Nevertheless, we rate it as one of the best video poker game types because the RTP is over 100%.  

Joker Poker

Have you ever played poker with an additional Joker card? If this premise intrigues you, Joker Poker is an interesting option to consider. It’s pretty much the same as Deuces Wild, but instead of 2s, the extra Joker card acts as the Wild. If you’re dealt cards and a joker is among the five, it can replace others to build a better hand. 

In most Joker Poker versions, you can’t win any payout with a hand below two Ks. Therefore, you’ll sometimes find the game referred to as Joker Poker: Kings or Better. Based on our findings reviewing online casinos, Joker Poker’s RTP ranges from 98.47% to 100%. 

Double Bonus

Many players want to play video poker online and try to score high payouts. If that is your goal, Double Bonus is a variant we recommend. It’s like a sub-variant of the popular Jacks or Better, meaning you need a pair of Js or higher to win. However, Double Bonus video poker is unique because it gives you higher payouts for four-of-a-kind hands. 

Specifically, you’ll get extra winnings for building a hand with four 5s or four Aces. Keep in mind, however, that you won’t score such hands regularly since the variant has very high volatility. Also, the RTP is lower at 99.2%.

All American

We won’t be surprised if this becomes your favorite video poker type as a US player. All American Poker is an interesting option that provides higher payouts for certain hands, just like Double Bonus. To be specific, you get more winnings with straights, flushes, and straight flushes. 

It’s safe to say that the game rewards the strongest of hands. Therefore, you should always aim for the highest ranking when playing All American Video Poker. With an RTP of 99.38% to 100%, you might see good returns in the long run.

What Strategy is Best to Play Video Poker?

At this point, you know how video poker works, the hand rankings, and the different types. Now we’ll take a look at strategies you can apply when playing. Like online slots, the cards are drawn at random, so winning depends on chance. However, you can increase your video poker odds by knowing what cards to replace and when. 

Work With a Video Poker Strategy Chart

With a strategy chart, you get a simple guide on the best decisions to make. After the software deals the cards, you can consult the chart for advice on how many to retain or switch.

If you get a Four of a Kind, Flush, Straight, or Full House, your payout will depend on the variant. It may be high or not, but the bottom line is that you can’t get a Straight Flush or Royal Flush. For all other hands, look at the chart to know the number of cards to replace.

Choose Low Pairs Over a Single High Card

In video poker or the traditional card game, it’s a no-brainer to keep a low pair over a single high card as it will likely result in a better payout. A low pair of 2 or 3 can easily become a three-of-kind if you draw new cards and get the same value. In addition, if you are playing a variant with a Wild card, your chances of winning are even higher.

Consider Breaking Up a Flush or Straight

A flush or straight is a strong hand that can fetch generous payouts. However, there are cases where you have four cards building up to a Royal Flush. You can choose to switch the remaining card and take your chances.

However, we don’t recommend breaking up your straight or flush if the target is to get a full house or four of a kind. That’s not a good video poker strategy because there’s little to no difference between the hands. 

Break High Pairs at the Right Time

If you have a high pair in video poker, you’re in a solid position to win. Nevertheless, you may want to alter it and draw new cards to improve your hand. A good example is when you’re one card short of getting a royal flush or straight flush. As the strategy chart shows, any of the two is a sure win.