Online Video Poker Tips

You should know that when you are playing video poker online, your decisions have a very real effect on the outcome. So before you start playing blindly (and throwing your money away), take a few minutes to learn how to play well. Sure, you should start by carefully choosing an online casino with generous bonus opportunities and a decent comp program. You will also have to select an acceptable video poker game – one that has low levels of variance while minimizing the house’s edge. Both of these decisions will give you a solid foundation and set the tone for your future video slots action, but they cannot make you a winner on their own.

If you really want to have a shot at success, you will have to do more than select the right game: you will have to know how to play it properly! To do this, you will have to research the optimum (or at least nearly optimum) strategy for whatever game you decide to play. These strategy guides can vary greatly in complexity, but to get you started, take a look at our basic strategy tips for playing Jacks or Better. This is a great game for all kinds of players, and it is particularly popular among novices.

Basic Jacks or Better Strategy

This is a basic list of the moves you may have to make to win Jacks or Better video poker. We’re going to assume that you already know to bet the max credits (five per spin), and that you won’t have trouble with the easy decisions. Following these tips won’t quite take you to the 100% perfect level that an optimum guide would, but it should still yield a large improvement over playing without any advice. So without further ado, here are the answers to five of the most common difficult decisions you will face in Jacks or Better.

If you are facing the nail-biting decision between a Royal Flush Draw and a Pat straight flush, make the safe move and keep the Straight Flush. When you have to decide between a Pat Straight or making a move with four to a Straight Flush, keep the Straight. When comparing a High Pair to four to a Flush, hold on to the high pair. When looking at a hand that could be four to a Flush or four to a Straight, go for the Flush. Finally, when you have a hand with a High Pair as well as an Open Four to a Straight, keep the High Pair.

Putting It All Together

What is the underlying message that accompanies all five of these tips? Don’t throw away a winning hand in hopes of hitting a slightly better one! This kind of conservative playing style is exactly what optimum video poker strategy promotes, and having the discipline to stick with it is the key to succeeding. Resist the urge to follow your gut instincts and, instead, follow the rules. There is no way to guarantee that you will win, but playing well should greatly improve your chances.