Video Poker was the creation of Si Redd who was the Founder of International Game Technology. He invented this game in 1979 to make it possible for people to play the electronic version of the popular five card poker game. Video Poker is similar to a slot machine because a player has to insert coins or tokens in order to play. But the difference between Video poker and slot machines is that a player can use strategies to increase his chances of winning in a game of Video Poker. The first thing a player should do prior to playing the game is to select the right machine. Choose a machine that will give you a better payout such as a 9 to 1 payout if you get a full house and a 6 to 1 if you get a flush.  Two types of video poker machines that offer this kind of payouts are Jacks and Better machines. Machines that offer a 1 to 1 payout for two pairs are best to avoid.

Some players insert one coin but there are others who insert as many as 5 into a Video Poker machine. Such players feel that the more coins inserted will give them a better payoff and a better hand. After inserting the coins, you have to press on the deal button to receive 5 cards out of the 52 cards to begin the game. Choose which of the 5 cards you want to keep by pressing the hold button. Then press deal button to receive additional cards for the cards you discarded. The draw button should be pressed when you want to reveal your hand.  

There are many types of Video Poker games but the common ones played are:

Jacks or Better :

1. A hand that has a pair of Jacks is the lowest hand

Double Bonus :

1. A player can win with a hand that has four of a king

Deuces Wild :

1. Cards that have a value of two are wild

Joker Poker :

1. The deck of cards has a joker added to it.

Video poker is also offered in online casinos. The advantage of playing online video poker is that it offers a player to play free games to improve his skills at the game without having to wager any real gamble money. A player will also be able to enjoy the free bonuses offered when he plays video poker online for free.

Progressive video poker games are the best to play online because it gives a player the chance of winning a huge jackpot. This is because every Microgaming software casino will keep adding additional money into a progressive video poker machine every time a person plays it. The amount in the jackpot will keep accumulating and sometimes can be close to a million dollars or more.

Whether a player chooses to play Video Poker online or in a land based casino, he should take the time to learn about the strategies and tips that can be applied to the game to increase his chances of winning. He should also be aware of the rules of the game and the payouts offered in each machine and select the one where the odds will be in his favor and not the casino’s.

VIDEO POKER

The first time poker was played on gaming machines was during the late 1800’s in America on the East coast. Such coin-operated gaming machines could be found in the many saloons and cigar shops situated in San Francisco. Only 48 cards were used to play poker in these machines leaving out the Ten of Spades and the Jack of Hearts. Winners would not be paid in cash but only with cigars and drinks. It was Charles August Fey who improved the game further in 1901 by inventing the six-way Paying Teller that allowed people to play using their poker skills in these machines to increase their chances of winning.

The first hold and draw combination was made possible since players got to keep the cards they wanted and discard the ones they didn’t want after the first spin. All these machines were destroyed except for one due to the 1906 earthquake and fire. This resulted in people no longer playing poker on such machines. But in the mid 1970’s, the first video poker machine was invented with the help of the personal computer. In 1979, SIRCOMA (Si Redd’s Coin Machines) created Draw Poker. Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild and Aces Face are some of the popular video poker games offered by both land based casinos as well as online ones in this day and age. The advantage of playing video poker online is that you can play a few free games before wagering any real money to improve your skills as well as earn free credits sometimes up to the value of £1000.00. Online video poker also has better graphics and sounds compared to land based casinos. Video poker is one of the easiest games invented because all one needs is to insert coins and press the “deal button” to begin playing.

Five cards are dealt and you keep the cards you want and replace the ones you don’t want by discarding it and requesting for new cards. If the five cards in your hand matches one of the winning hands in the posted pay schedule that is displayed in the machine, you win. Some professional players swear that by choosing the right video poker machine will definitely help a person to increase his chances of winning. Always choose a machine with the best possible pay tables. The best video poker machine would be one that offers over a 100% payback.