Make the Most with Your Video Poker Strategy
One of the most exciting features of any live casino is the slot machine. Every casino has them and every casino promotes them as the sport of choice that they are offering. You stand to win thousands without having to put much work into the process whereas with casino games, you could drop $100 and if you're not good at the game, that's gone. Typically, players will start their nights off at the machines to get a feel of how their luck is running.
After hours of playing slots, one can start to lose interest in it all as you find yourself in the monotonous rhythm of bet, spin, repeat. Luckily, not too far from the slot machines, is another machine that offers quite an interesting take on one of the world's most popular card games. Video poker is a fun way to keep your game private without having to step away from the machines. However, it can be difficult to accumulate many winnings as the game can be hard.
The difficulty leads many to wonder if there's a way to increase your chances of winnings. Video poker strategy is a common request for those looking to make thousands off of the poker machines in a casino. While there's no way to guarantee your winnings, there are some interesting video poker strategies available to help you out a bit. Once you have the tips in your pocket, it's time to choose the right machine and get your play time started.
Best Video Poker Strategy Choices
Unfortunately for us, there's no way to guarantee yourself winnings. If you're looking for a simple trick that will net you the win every time against the machine, there isn't one. You're going to have to continue to put in the work to reap the benefits. Video poker strategy is all about math and finding the best times to place your bets. Many experts claim that poker is all about paving the way for future hands. 99% of your hands won't win you the jackpot, but instead will get you enough coins to keep trying for it.
This bit of information can seem counter-intuitive, but it can be the difference between $40 and $4,000. Typically, video poker machines offer you bets anywhere from 1-5 coins. When given these options, go for the most coins you can put down. This automatically enters you for the chance to win the jackpot whereas lower deposits will keep you playing for smaller amounts. You're likely not going to win for some time, so the best strategy is to sustain yourself long enough that your chances of winning the jackpot increase.
Keep it slow. There's no pressure to place your bet as soon as your turn comes around, so take your time and think about what's going on in the table. If you give yourself time to think, you lessen the chances of messing up and losing your money. Many players seem to forget that you won't have the clock called on you. Another great video poker strategy is to simply walk away. The more hands you play, the more difficult it gets for you and the more you lose, so don't be afraid to step away and take a break from the machine. When you go back, your chances return to base and you can play again without luck favoring the casino too much
The best way to increase your chances of winning is to study the video poker strategy charts. These charts are mathematically derived and organized in order to give you a sense of how likely your hand is to grant you a return on your money. You can also increase your chances of winning by finding the right table. Tables with higher jackpots or more progressive winnings enter you into the possibility of winning more on a smaller bet.
Video Poker Strategy Charts
The mathematics of winning a video poker hand comes down to the video poker strategy charts. These charts are much more complicated than blackjack charts and will not guarantee you a win. Poker is simply much more complex and up to chance than blackjack and thus there's no way for the chart to accurately predict your chances of winning like with blackjack's hands. Typical charts are organized in descending order of possible winnings. Better hands on top, worse ones on bottom.
As you play, keep an eye on your hand and take note of how it compares to your chart. If you're still standing to win something from this deal, then keep your hand and push forward, trying your luck against the machine. If your winning chances drop below a certain amount, you might have a higher chance of making your money back if you simply fold and start with a fresh hand. It pays to know when to fold as you're playing against a machine with the ultimate poker face.
There are hundreds of different video poker strategy charts online that you can either print out and bring with you to the casino or keep open when playing online. They will be quite useful in remembering the chances your hand has and the possible winnings you stand to earn. Unfortunately, there's no way to guarantee our winnings while playing video poker, but there are ways to increase your chances of winning and decrease your losses.
What to Avoid
Another great video poker strategy for increasing your chances of winning is to avoid certain pitfalls that can be quite damaging for many players. These issues can plague players of all experience levels and will often lead to losses. The real trick of these problems is that you often think you're doing the best thing to avoid losses when in reality, the hand you're holding is simply increasing your chances of losing.
The first is the kicker. A common video poker strategy is to hold on to the kicker because you think it will give you higher chances of winning. The issue with the kicker is that it does just the opposite. You should never bet on the kicker coming in and saving your hand as in most cases it won't. If you rely on the kicker, you're putting your hand up to chance and hoping the other players don't have it better.
Chances of winning with a straight or a flush are rare and should never be your strategy. Remember, poker is all about sustaining yourself to keep playing more hands. If you're constantly sprinting towards the finish line, you're never going to make it. Don't hold cards in hopes of winning the flush or straight unless you have a guarantee that it'll come.
Keep an Eye Out for "Full Pay" Machines
When choosing your poker table, the best video poker strategy is to locate a full pay machine. These machines give you the best odds on winning hands and will payout more than non-full pay machines. Make the most of your time and don't use lower winning machines. Increasing your chances of winning at video poker starts before you even deposit your first dollar.
