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The game of video poker is played on an electronic slot machine and resembles the game of 5-card draw-poker.

 

 

History

The game became possible once TV monitors were used with computers. Players began to feel more comfortable sitting in front of a slot than at the poker table which could be somewhat daunting. These days, many of the larger Las Vegas casinos own hundreds of video poker machines, such is their popularity. They are especially popular with the local residents who appreciate the ambiance of the casino coupled with the low stakes and higher odds often available.

Playing Video Poker

To commence each game a coin (or coins), banknote or credit token must be inserted, and the player must then press the button informing the machine to deal you a hand. After evaluating your hand, you have the opportunity to exchange any or all for new cards. You are only playing to obtain the best hand possible, not obtain a better hand than the machine. The machine will then calculate what (if any) winnings your hand has earned, based upon the displayed table.

The minimum hand required to win is usually a pair of JJ's. The table displaying the payouts is based both upon the probability of receiving a particular hand and the percentage house advantage. A progressive jackpot is sometimes available for a Royal Flush. As with regular slots, these are sometimes linked to offer huge jackpots. The only stipulation is that the player must be playing each hand for the maximum amount of coins allowed per game. This serves to encourage the player to wager more each hand.

 

Control

Regulations are in place to ensure the correct operation of all video poker machines. Cards are dealt randomly as are the subsequent (up to) 5 cards required if the player decides to draw. The State Laws regarding video gaming machines dictate that the dealing of cards, spinning of roulette wheels and the throwing of dice should be as random as the real games, as far as the software will allow.

The simulation is tested stringently before machines are authorized for use. They employ a deck of 52 cards, or 53 in the video poker game of “Jokers-Wild”

The gaming licenses in casinos located in Native American land or reservations are held by the tribe and may be regulated in a different manner. Older machines dealt out all ten cards, only displaying the player's five. Any cards the player wished to draw were then displayed. However, some players discovered a method of calculating the face-down cards before they were “drawn”, so modern machines only generate the first 5 cards. Any further cards required will force the software to generate the amount requested from the 47 still left in the deck.

 

Video Poker Variations

Wildcard games are popular variations such as “Aces Wild”, “Jokers Wild” or “Deuces Wild”. The player will notice that the winnings table is modified to account for the enhanced probabilities of drawing a good hand.

Once the player has become familiar with the operation of the machine and the gameplay, video poker is a very fast game with a hand being dealt, drawn and paid all in ten seconds. Playing the “non-wild” game continuously in this manner, a player will win with a scarce “4 of a kind” each hour, and an even more elusive royal flush every week or two.

 

Full Payback Video Poker

Providing the player plays a perfect game according to the correct strategy, a full payback game will return 99% of his wagers over time. Bear in mind the fact that this includes royal flushes, which are rare, and you cannot expect to win over the long period. Often the casino will place these machines amongst others with smaller payout percentages. They include a display which indicates that the maximum payouts are only possible if you are playing the maximum permitted number of coins.

“Jacks or Better”

"Jacks or Better" is the most widely played variety of the game. Players must have at least a pair of Jacks to win. When played without error, this variety will payback more than 99%.

Hand	1 credit	2 credits	3 credits	4 credits	5 credits
Royal Flush	250	500	750	1000	4000*
Straight Flush	50	100	150	200	250
Four of a kind	25	50	75	100	125
Full House	9	18	27	36	45
Flush	6	12	18	24	30
Straight	4	8	12	16	20
Three of a Kind	3	6	9	12	15
Two Pair	2	4	6	8	10
Jacks or Better	1	2	3	4	5
Theoretical Return	98.37%	98.37%	98.37%	98.37%	99.54%*

• *There is a discrepancy between the winnings for a Royal Flush won with five credits and just one credit. Players are thus penalized for failing to play maximum coins.

“10's or Better”

The player must hold at least a pair of 10's to win. The only difference between this and “Jacks or better” is the value of payments for winning.

Deuces Wild

In this game, deuces or 2's can act as substitutes for absolutely any card in order to produce a superior hand. The software inside the machine will automatically ascertain the best hand when one or more 2 is included in the hand. When played without error this machine can, in theory payback 100%. Again, this is over an infinite period of time and includes royal flushes without the aid of a “wild 2”. Obviously, good hands occur much more frequently and the payoffs reflect the probabilities:

Hand	1 credit	2 credits	3 credits	4 credits	5 credits
Natural Royal Flush	300	600	900	1200	4000*
Four Deuces	200	400	600	800	1000
Wild Royal Flush	25	50	75	100	125
Five of a Kind	15	30	45	60	75
Straight Flush	9	18	27	36	45
Four of a Kind	5	10	15	20	25
Full House	3	6	9	12	15
Flush	2	4	6	8	10
Straight	2	4	6	8	10
Three of a Kind	1	2	3	4	5
Theoretical Return	99.679%	99.679%	99.679%	99.679%	100.762%*

• *There is a discrepancy between the winnings for a Royal Flush won with five credits and just one credit. Players are thus penalized for failing to play maximum coins.

Bonus Poker

This game is almost identical to “Jacks” but with an increased bonus payout for any hand which consists of 4-of-a-kind. Some versions pay different bonuses depending on the value of the four cards.

Double Bonus

This is similar to Jacks with the exception of an increased bonus for a hand containing all 4 Aces, with a payback in theory of slightly more than 100%. It is a difficult matter to understand the best playing strategy in order to exploit fully the payout bonus:

Hand	1 credit	2 credits	3 credits	4 credits	5 credits
Royal Flush	250	500	750	1000	4000*
Straight Flush	50	100	150	200	250
Four Aces	160	320	480	640	800
Four 2, 3, or 4	80	160	240	320	400
Four 5-K	50	100	150	200	250
Full House	10	20	30	40	50
Flush	7	14	21	28	35
Straight	5	10	15	20	25
Three of a Kind	3	6	9	12	15
Two Pair	1	2	3	4	5
Jacks or Better	1	2	3	4	5
Theoretical Return	99.1079%	99.1079%	99.1079%	99.1079%	100.1725%*

• *There is a discrepancy between the winnings for a Royal Flush won with five credits and just one credit. Players are thus penalized for failing to play maximum coins.

Double Double Bonus

Another variation as above, except offering the bonuses for a variety of “4-of-a-kind's”:

Hand	1 credit	2 credits	3 credits	4 credits	5 credits
Royal Flush	250	500	750	1000	4000*
Straight Flush	50	100	150	200	250
Four Aces w/2, 3, or 4	400	800	1200	1600	2000
Four 2, 3, or 4 w/A-4	160	320	480	640	800
Four Aces	160	320	480	640	800
Four 2, 3, or 4	80	160	240	320	400
Four 5-K	50	100	150	200	250
Full House	10	20	30	40	50
Flush	6	12	18	24	30
Straight	4	8	12	16	20
Three of a Kind	3	6	9	12	15
Two Pair	1	2	3	4	5
Jacks or Better	1	2	3	4	5
Theoretical Return	98.9154%	98.9154%	98.9154%	98.9154%	100.067%*

• *There is a discrepancy between the winnings for a Royal Flush won with five credits and just one credit. Players are thus penalized for failing to play maximum coins.

Progressive Jackpot

As with the casino slots, progressive jackpots can be offered to a whole network of linked video poker machines. Some of these jackpots are included in the percentage payback thus affecting the interpretation.

Players Club

Some establishments encourage you to join “slot clubs”. These record how much you play and payback some of this as comps. Usually, the player will have a card to insert into a slot in the machine to keep track. Comps should be included when calculating your win/loss.

 

 

 

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