Slots and Poker Combined - Video Poker

Video Poker is an online casino game that combines the fast pace of slots and the thrill of playing traditional poker. It is named video poker since you are playing against the machine.

Short Video Poker History

One of the very first video poker machines dated back to the 19th century. They were manufactured by the "Sittman and Pitt" company in Brooklyn in the 1800's, and were operated by putting a coin. Five drums which held poker cards could be spun in the machine by pulling a lever, similar to how slot machines work. The 10 of Spades and the Jack of Hearts were excluded by the machine in order to lower down the chances of winning. The winners were served with drinks and/or cigars.

From the previous years, the video poker machines were launched in 1976 with black and white colors. But within just 8 months, colored machines also came in the market. These days, the video poker machines are one of the common sights that you can see in traditional casinos. There were lots of variations that were applied to the game, such as including it in the progressive jackpot games, applying wild cards and payoff schedules. When the online casino gaming industry was introduced in 1994, players had acknowledged online video poker games exceptionally, thus, serving as a delectable addition to the game's history.

Video Poker Playing Guide

Video poker games are much more the same as other traditional poker games, except for the bets being wagered, which are considerably smaller than these traditional poker betting systems. The game is a contest between you (the player) and the machine (the dealer).

Similar to slots games, you have to put a coin and press a button in order to be dealt with cards by the video poker machine. You will be dealt with five cards, and when these cards are turned face up, you have to decide which among the cards you want to hold or discard. After you have discarded some cards, you then draw additional number of cards to replace how many cards you have discarded.

The objective of the game is simple: you have to finish with the best possible hand ranking. Your payout will depend on the rank of the final hand you are holding, the variety of video poker game you play, and the number of coins that you wager. Most video poker games accept 1 to 5 pieces of coin, from $0.25 up to $50 each coin as the wager.

Video Poker Varieties, Hand Rankings, and Payouts

Most video poker games applies the same poker hand rankings that traditional poker games use. In most varieties of video poker, the ROYAL FLUSH receives the highest payout. But in Deuces and Joker game, four Deuces (2) and a Joker has the most payout (10,000 coins) when you bet five coins. The lowest hand ranking that wins a payout also differs depending on the type of the game. The Tens or Better requires that you have a 10-high or better hand ranking; the Aces and Faces and the Jacks or Better variants requires a Jack-high or better; the Joker Poker requires a King-high or better; the Double Joker requires a Two Pairs or better; the Deuces Wild and the Deuces and Joker requires at least a Three of a Kind.