Video Poker Online

The first step to take if you'd rather play a videopoker from the comfort of your home is to choose a casino. There are several available today, so you need to be sure the website you're using is fully licensed and can provide you with different fun games. Of course, it's always safe to read reviews before you decide. Luckily, you can see some of the best casinos in India for video poker below.

If you intend to have fun and make some money playing online video poker, then you need to familiarise yourself with the rules, of course. However, they are pretty simple and the same in most game variations. And even though specific video poker variants may likely change the number of cards or the way cards are dealt, the basics remain the same.

The game begins with players receiving five cards. These cards are known as the player's hand, allowing you to choose which cards to keep or discard. Any card you decide to hang on to should be tapped or be on "hold".

Cards that are not held will then be discarded, and you will get new ones equally distributed to replace the discarded cards. This is then counted as the final hand, and payouts are given based on this round.

Here are the rules in bullet points to help you remember:

• Deposit money on the website you're using
• Place your bet
• Remember that you need a set of cards that can offer a payout, and standard table poker hands are used
• You would be dealt with five starting cards
• You can decide to keep (hold) or discard some or all your cards
• Others would succeed the cards you discard in a single random draw
• When your hand matches any qualifying poker hands (final hands), prizes or payouts are determined

For the record, always confirm the paytable for the payouts of each final hand. In the end, the poker hand you hold would determine the winner.

It's essential to familiarise yourself with what card combination (winning hands) would get you to 'win'. Winning hands in a video poker casino game are similar to what you have in regular poker, but there might be differences depending on the variation you're playing.

See some of them below, from the lowest winning hand to the highest-paid combination.

• The lowest winning hand is known as Jacks or Better, typically formed with a pair of Jacks.
• Three of a Kind is when you play three cards of the same value as the name implies.
• Two Pair means you have to play two cards of the same value. Both are similar, needing no further elaboration.
• Straight is when you combine any five cards with consecutive values, and they do not necessarily have to be of the same suit.
• Flush is similar to a Straight hand; these are five non-consecutive cards of the same suit.
• Full House is a hand made of three of a kind and a pair.
• Four of a Kind is four cards of the same value.
• Straight Flush is a set of five consecutive cards of the same suit.
• Royal Flush, the hand with the highest-paid combination, is formed when a combination of Jack, Ten, King, Queen, and Ace of the same suit.

Video Poker Payouts

Even while having fun, you want to make some money. As such, it's always best to know how much to stake and what you stand to earn when you bet. Check this table to understand better how the payouts work.

Video poker is already a popular game for people who prefer to entertain themselves from the comfort of their home, are currently unable to visit land-based casinos due to the pandemic, or don't fancy playing poker with other people. However, several platforms are out there, and deciding which one to choose can be tough.

Looking out for the bonuses they offer is one way to make a choice. You need a website that features all types of video poker bonuses to boost your bankroll. Some of the best promotions for video poker players include welcome, sign-up, and regular reload offers.

What are the odds of hitting a particular winning hand? Of course, that depends on what video poker variation you're playing. However, in popular variations, the odds are known, and you can use them to pick the best game or at least make informed decisions.

Odds vary depending on the video poker online casino you're playing at, so you should always check that out. For example, when playing with 52 cards, the odds of getting a Royal Flush in the initial draw are like 1 in 649,740, 1 in 72,193 for a Straight Flush, and getting a Four of a Kind is like 1 in 4,165. These numbers mean that you will likely receive any pair of cards at least half the time during your session.

Return to Player (RTP) describes what percentage of the money wagered will be paid back to players in due time. If you're not playing free video poker for fun and hope to cash in some profits, then it is a vital feature when looking for a video poker website to play. However, people explain RTP as a return to be expected only when the game is played with accuracy and maximum bet.

The house edge is the opposite of RTP as it shows the percentage of money the game will keep over time. It is not designed to favour players but the venue, meaning the game will always have an advantage. But that shouldn't scare you away because, in this game, house advantage typically varies from 5% to 0.5% with some video poker games and even zero with others.

To ensure success in online videopoker, it is crucial to develop or use a set strategy. The odds of winning in this game will be far better than most with a proper betting strategy. Moreover, you can even oust the house edge. However, keep in mind that strategies sometimes depend on the variation of video poker you're playing.

There are several variations of video poker, as hinted above. But why are there so many? That's because video poker games are popular and affordable. Also, because the house edge is usually small, casinos need to have a ton of them to draw as many players as possible.

Jacks or Better

• One of the most common versions of video poker
• Named jacks or better because a pair of jacks or better is the minimum winning hand
• The player wins if there is a pair of jacks or better in their final five-card hand
• Payback is as high as 99.54 per cent
• The game may become boring since there is only one high paying hand

Deuces Wild

• Twos are wild in this game as they can act as a substitute for any other card when they appear in hand
• With a proper strategy, it has a significant win potential
• Possibility of a high payback game with low variance
• Playing strategy is determined by the number of deuces initially dealt with.

Bonus Poker

• It offers a Four of a Kind bonus
• Low variance of 20.99
• Lower payback than Jacks or Better

Double Bonus Poker

• It offers a bonus for four aces
• Get 100% with proper play and strategy
• More high paying winning hands
• Playing strategy might be a little complex