Video Poker Online

Strictly speaking, video poker is not a separate poker game. A ‘brother’ of the modern slot (or fruit) machines, it is widespread both in traditional and online casinos, nowadays abundant in the internet. Video Poker is a popular computerized version of a classic poker game, Five-Card Draw, and is played on a special video console, which in size and appearance resembles a slot machine.

History

While according to some estimates, traditional poker has a five-hundred-year history, Video Poker is still a newbie in the word of gambling industry: It was not until after the 1970s that the first Video Poker machines came about. Interestingly enough they were invented practically at the same time as the first personal computers although – just like personal computers –  were quite primitive at the time.

The field of Video Poker was revolutionized by SIRCOMA (Si Redd’s Coin Machines), a predecessor of International Game Technology known for its casino and online casino software technologies. In 1979 the company’s developers presented their own version of Video Poker simply called Draw Poker.

Throughout the 1980s, despite a competition with poker giants such as Texas Holdem, for example, Video Poker enjoyed popularity in casinos.  This is unsurprising since many gamblers are more comfortable sitting at a video console in the privacy of their own company other than sitting at a poker table, surrounded by strangers.  Even the spread of online casinos has not caused any harm to Video Poker, and today Video Poker machines still have a place of honor in any major casino, especially in Las Vegas where this game is particularly loved by the local residents.

Description

The classic Five-Card Draw and Video Poker are quite similar in terms of rules and general principles applied, so anyone who is familiar with Five-Card Draw will have no difficulty mastering Video Poker. The only difference is that in Video Poker gamblers play for credits, not real money, although to use the machine, one has to spend real money too – sometimes huge amounts of it. Many people may have heard of Maureen O’Connor, former mayor of San Diego, California, who managed to lose over one billion dollars in Video Poker.

The interface of the console is quite convenient to use. All required information is shown on the display: the amount of the current bet (‘Bet’), the amount of the credit available to the player (‘Credit’) and the most recent amount won.

Just as in traditional poker, the game begins by making initial bets. To place a bet, a player has to click on the ‘Bet One’ button (each click increases the bet by one credit). By clicking on the ‘Bet Max’ button, a player makes the maximum bet allowed. After the bet has been placed, a player begins the game by clicking on the ‘Deal’ button. Five cards are dealt and may be replaced if necessary. If a player is satisfied with the card dealt, he or she clicks on the ’Hold’ button or on the card itself. If a player decides not to keep a card, the machine will replace it after the ‘Deal’ button is clicked again.

In essence this is where the game ends since after the cards have been selected, a player either receives a winning combination of cards or loses if no winning hand has been built. The amount of the payout is determined by the type of hand built: The stronger the hand, the bigger the payout, and the lower the chance of winning it.  The amount of the prize may also vary depending on how many coins a player has inserted in the slot machine – the more coins, the bigger the payout. Generally the amount of the payout is calculated by using a pay schedule that may vary in different casinos.

The amount won is paid out in credits and may be cashed by clicking the ‘Collect’ button. Once again, the above schedule is not inclusive, and the amount of payouts may differ depending on the casino.

Rules

By and large the rules of online video poker are identical to those of Five-Card Draw with arguably one major exception, the player need not bet against other players. One has to keep in mind, however, that there are several variations of Video Poker, each one of them having its own special rule or rules.

• Jacks or Better - In this variation of the game, the lowest winning combination is two Jacks. Likewise, if Tens or Better is played, the lowest winning hand combination is a pair of 10s.
• Deuces Wild - In this variation of Video Poker, all 2s are wild cards, which may substitute any other card to build a winning hand.
• Joker Poker - Here unlike in other poker games, a 54-card deck, not a deck with 52 cards, is used. The deck has two Jokers that may substitute any other card to build a winning combination.
• Aces and Faces - In this variation of Video Poker, a combination of four Aces or Face cards (Kings, Queens and Jacks) increases the payout.

Some variations of Video Poker offer a progressive jackpot, a feature that increases the jackpot each time a new game is played. The amount of a progressive jackpot is displayed on the top of the console.

Free video poker

In terms of winning real cash video poker is one of the most profitable casino games. There is no need, however, to spend real money to play video poker online: almost every casino offers free practice mode, where you can play as long as you want without spending a penny. Free video poker is an exciting way to practice and learn basic rules of the game; all your winnings, however, will belong to casino as long as you spend virtual money, not your own.

Video poker — video review