Best Video Poker Strategy: How to Maximize Your Wins

Ready to dive into the electrifying world of video poker? At CoinPoker, we’re all about bringing you the most thrilling action, and video poker is no exception. This fast-paced game combines the best of both worlds – the strategy of poker and the excitement of slots. 

In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about video poker strategy, from basic tips to advanced techniques that’ll have you playing like a pro in no time.

What is Video Poker?

If you blend poker’s strategy and structure with the speed of slot machines, that’s video poker. It’s a game that offers the best of both worlds: the strategic depth of poker with quick-fire mechanized action. In video poker, you’re dealt five cards, and you get to choose which ones to keep and which to discard. The goal? Make the best poker hand possible and rake in those sweet, sweet winnings.

However, if you choose to exchange some valuable cards, like part of a pair, you could wind up with nothing. The best players know exactly when to hang on to their hand, but they also pick ideal spots to go for gold.

How Video Poker Differs from Traditional Poker

While video poker might look like poker’s digital cousin, there are some key differences:

1. You vs. The Machine: In video poker, you’re not playing against other players or a dealer. It’s just you and the machine, mano a mano.
2. Fixed Payouts: Unlike traditional poker where the pot size can vary, video poker has a fixed paytable. You always know exactly what you’re playing for.
3. Speed: Video poker moves at lightning speed. No waiting for other players to make decisions – it’s all about you and how fast you want to play.
4. No Bluffing: Your poker face won’t help you here. Video poker is all about making the best mathematical decisions based on the cards you’re dealt.
5. Multiple Hands: Many video poker games allow you to play multiple hands at once.

Now that we’ve got the basics down, let’s dive into the strategies that’ll help you dominate the video poker scene.

6 Must-Know Video Poker Strategies

Video poker combines the strategic depth of poker with the rapid-fire excitement of slots. To master this game, you need a solid strategy. Here are six crucial strategies that will set you on the path to video poker success:

1. Understand the pay tables.
2. Know which cards to hold or discard.
3. Learn when to break a hand.
4. Maximize your bets.
5. Practice with free games.
6. Follow bankroll management.

Each of these strategies plays a vital role in improving your game and maximizing your potential winnings. By mastering these key elements, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a video poker pro. Let’s dive deeper into each one to uncover the secrets of successful video poker play.

1. Understand the Pay Tables

The first rule of Video Poker Club? Know your pay tables! Different video poker variations have different payouts, and even the same game can have different pay tables at different casinos. A keen understanding of these pay tables is crucial for maximizing your returns.

For example, in Jacks or Better (one of the most popular video poker variants), look for machines that offer a 9/6 payout. This means a full house pays 9 times your bet, and a flush pays 6 times. These games offer better long-term returns than machines with less favorable pay tables.

Understanding pay tables also helps you choose the best games. A full-pay Deuces Wild machine, for instance, can offer a theoretical return of over 100% with perfect play. 

Remember, a small difference in the pay table can have a huge impact on your long-term results. Take the time to learn and compare pay tables – it’s an investment that will pay off in the long run.

2. Know Which Cards to Hold or Discard

This is where the rubber meets the road in video poker strategy. Knowing which cards to hold and which to discard is the key to success. Here’s a quick guide for Jacks or Better:

• Always hold a royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, or flush.
• With four cards to a royal flush, discard the fifth card.
• Hold three of a kind over a pair.
• Never break a flush or a straight to go for a royal flush.

Remember, these are general guidelines. As you become more experienced, you’ll learn the nuances of when to deviate from these rules based on specific game variants and situations.

3. Maximize Your Bets

In most video poker games, betting the maximum number of coins gives you the best return on investment. This is especially true when it comes to royal flushes, which often have a disproportionately higher payout when betting max coins.

For example, a royal flush might pay 250x your bet for 1-4 coins, but jump to 800x your bet when playing with 5 coins. That’s a significant difference that can really boost your bankroll over time.

However, maximizing your bets doesn’t mean betting beyond your means. If the max bet at a particular machine is outside your bankroll, find a machine with lower denominations. The key is to always bet the maximum number of coins for the game you’re playing, within the limits of your bankroll.

Remember, the goal is to maximize your potential returns while ensuring you can withstand the inevitable short-term variance in the game. Proper bankroll management is crucial when implementing this strategy.

4. Learn When to Break a Hand

Sometimes, the best move in video poker is to break up a winning hand for a chance at an even better one. This strategy requires a delicate balance of risk and reward, and it’s a skill that separates the amateurs from the pros.

For instance, if you have four cards to a royal flush and a pair, it’s usually better to break the pair and go for the royal flush. The potential payout far outweighs the guaranteed small win. Similarly, in Deuces Wild, you might break up a straight or flush if you have a chance at a four of a kind or better.

However, this strategy isn’t without risks. Breaking a sure thing for a chance at a bigger win can increase variance in your play. You need to understand the odds and potential payouts before making these decisions. Use strategy charts and practice to refine your ability to recognize these situations and make the right call.

5. Practice with Free Games

Before you start risking your hard-earned crypto, take advantage of free play options. Freeroll tournaments are well-known bankroll builders in classic poker, but how about video poker?

With a quick online search, you’ll see many video poker games that offer practice modes where you can play for free. This is a great way to get comfortable with the game mechanics and test out different strategies without any financial risk.

Free play allows you to make mistakes and learn from them without costing you anything. It’s also a great way to try out new variants or strategies before committing real money.

Remember, while practice mode is great for learning, it doesn’t perfectly simulate real money play. The psychological aspect of risking actual money can affect decision-making, so once you feel confident in your skills it’s time to move to real money.

6. Follow Bankroll Management

Last, but definitely not least, proper bankroll management is key in video poker. Here are some key bankroll management tips:

1. Set a budget for your play and stick to it.
2. Choose game stakes appropriate for your bankroll.
3. Be prepared for short-term losses – even with perfect play, you can have losing sessions.
4. Don’t chase losses by betting more than you can afford.
5. Take advantage of casino comps and bonuses, but don’t let them tempt you into playing beyond your means.

Remember, even with perfect play, video poker has a house edge (albeit a small one in some variants). It’s important to approach it as entertainment rather than a guaranteed money-maker.

How to Use Odds in Video Poker

Ready to put those video poker odds to work? Let’s walk through it. Imagine you’re dealt J♥ Q♥ K♥ 7♣ 2♦. You’ve got three cards to a Royal Flush – exciting, right? But what are your odds of hitting it?

With three cards to a Royal Flush, you’ve got about a 1 in 1,081 chance of completing it. Sounds slim, but compare that to the odds of being dealt a Royal Flush outright (1 in 649,740), and suddenly it’s looking pretty good.

Now, weigh that against your other options. Holding just the K♥ Q♥ for a potential high pair? That’s a 1 in 6 chance. Given the massive payout for a Royal Flush, the smart play is to go for glory.

Remember, using odds effectively is about comparing your options and making the mathematically sound choice. It’s not always intuitive, but it’s how the pros play.

Want to dive deeper into video poker odds? Check out our comprehensive Video Poker Odds & Payouts guide.

Video Poker Strategy Charts

Strategy charts are your secret weapon in the world of video poker. They tell you exactly which cards to hold based on your initial hand, optimizing your chances of winning. While memorizing these charts takes time, they’re an invaluable tool for serious players.

Here’s a simplified strategy chart for Jacks or Better:

1. Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind
2. 4 to a Royal Flush
3. Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind
4. 4 to a Straight Flush
5. Two Pair
6. High Pair (Jacks or Better)
7. 3 to a Royal Flush
8. 4 to a Flush
9. Low Pair
10. 4 to an Outside Straight
11. 2 Suited High Cards (Jack or Higher)
12. 3 to a Straight Flush
13. 2 Unsuited High Cards (Jack or Higher)
14. Suited 10/J, 10/Q, or 10/K
15. One High Card
16. Discard Everything

This chart is read from top to bottom, in order of which hands you should value more. 

For example, f you have both a low pair and four to a flush, you’d keep the four to a flush as it ranks higher on the chart. Find the hands you have and keep whichever one is higher up on our list.

Remember, this is a simplified version. As you become more experienced, you’ll want to delve into more detailed strategy charts for each video poker variant. These charts can get quite complex, accounting for every possible starting hand and providing the mathematically optimal play.

What to Do When You Don’t Have a Winning Hand?

When you’re dealt a hand with no obvious winners, it’s time to think about your draw. Here’s what to do in some common scenarios:

1. High card hands: If you have one or more high cards (Jack or higher), hold onto them. They give you a chance at a high pair, a winning hand in most video poker variants.
2. Four to a flush or straight: If you’re one card away from a flush or an outside straight, it’s often worth drawing to these hands.
3. Three to a royal flush: If you have three suited high cards that could make a royal flush, it’s usually worth holding them and drawing two.
4. Low cards: If you have nothing else, sometimes it’s best to discard all five cards and hope for a better hand on the draw.

Remember, the goal is to maximize your chances of making a winning hand or setting yourself up for a big win on future draws. Don’t be afraid to dump everything if you don’t have any promising partial hands or high cards.

Jacks or Better Video Poker Strategy

Jacks or Better is often considered the bread and butter of video poker. It’s straightforward, widely available, and offers some of the best odds for players. Here are some key strategies for Jacks or Better:

1. Always hold a paying hand: If you’re dealt a pair of Jacks or better, hold onto it. The guaranteed payout is often better than chasing a potentially better hand.
2. Go for the Royal Flush: If you have four cards to a Royal Flush, always go for it, even if it means breaking up a lower-paying hand.
3. Don’t draw to inside straights: The odds of hitting an inside straight (like 6-7-9-10) are lower than other draws. It’s usually better to hold onto high cards.
4. Keep an eye on kickers: If you’re holding a high pair, don’t hold onto a kicker (an unpaired high card) unless it’s an Ace.
5. Play max coins: As mentioned earlier, always play the maximum number of coins to take advantage of the higher Royal Flush payout.

By following these strategies and using a detailed strategy chart, you can reduce the house edge in Jacks or Better to less than 1%, making it one of the best games in the casino for savvy players. Remember, consistency is key in Jacks or Better. Stick to your strategy even when it feels like it’s not working – in the long run, it will pay off.

Deuces Wild Video Poker Strategy

Deuces Wild adds an exciting twist to video poker by making all 2s wild cards. This changes the strategy significantly compared to Jacks or Better. Here are some key Deuces Wild strategies:

1. Never discard a deuce: A wild card is far too valuable to throw away.
2. Go for big hands: With wild cards in play, it’s often better to aim for four of a kind or better rather than settling for smaller paying hands.
3. Don’t be afraid to break up winning hands: In Deuces Wild, it’s often correct to break up a paying hand if you have a chance at a much higher-paying one.
4. Know the pay table: Look for machines that offer the “full pay” Deuces Wild game for the best odds.
5. Understand the new hand rankings: In Deuces Wild, five of a kind is possible and ranks above a royal flush.

Remember, Deuces Wild requires a very different approach from other video poker variants. The presence of wild cards significantly changes the probabilities of making different hands. This means you’ll need to adjust your strategy accordingly. 

Make sure you study a Deuces Wild-specific strategy chart to maximize your chances of success. Don’t be afraid to take risks that you wouldn’t in other video poker variants – the potential rewards can be much higher.

General Tips for Winning in Video Poker

Now that we’ve covered some specific strategies, let’s look at some general tips that apply to all forms of video poker:

1. Choose games with good pay tables: This can’t be stressed enough. The pay table makes a huge difference in your long-term results.
2. Play at a comfortable pace: There’s no rush. Take your time to make the right decisions.
3. Take advantage of casino comps: Many casinos offer comps or cashback for video poker play. Make sure you’re signed up for the player’s club to take advantage of these offers.
4. Understand variance: Video poker can be streaky. Don’t get discouraged by short-term losses if you’re playing correctly.
5. Stay sober: This might seem obvious, but it’s worth mentioning. Clear decision-making goes a long way in video poker.
6. Quit while you’re ahead: Set win goals and loss limits before you start playing and stick to them.
7. Keep learning: Video poker strategy can get quite complex. There’s always more to learn, so keep studying and improving your game.

Remember, while these strategies can improve your odds, no strategy can completely eliminate the house edge in the long run. Always play responsibly and within your means.

It’s also important to choose the right variant for your skill level and bankroll. While games like Deuces Wild can offer great returns, they also require more complex strategies. If you’re just starting out, stick to simpler games like Jacks or Better until you’ve mastered the basics.

What’s Your Next Move?

Video poker is a game that rewards skill and strategy. By understanding the rules, memorizing the right plays, and managing your bankroll wisely, you can turn video poker from a game of chance into a game of skill. Remember, no strategy can overcome the house edge in the long run, but with the right approach, you can maximize your chances of walking away a winner.

Ready to put your new video poker skills to the test? CoinPoker has got all your favorites. Plus, with our crypto-friendly platform, generous bonuses, and commitment to fair play, there’s no better place to enjoy the thrill of online poker. Sign up to CoinPoker today and join the action!

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