How To Win In Online Video Poker

Before we learn how to win in online video poker, we need to do some “splaining” or “explaining” for those of you who aren’t big “I love Lucy” fans. There are tons of benefits out there to learning any poker game variation before you play.

Nearly all of the online video poker machines employ a Random Number Generator (RNG), which was employed to keep the machines “honest” and fair by making sure that the numbers are as random as possible. By using the RNG, the online video poker competitors` goal is to produce the optimum hand attainable, using the original cards which were dealt at the beginning of the game. The better recieves 5 playing cards at the opening of each round. The gambler will then select which cards to keep and which ones to replace which is where the risk comes in, as the cards could make a great hand or an even worse poker hand than originally dealt. Once the cards that have been determined as duds, are thrown out, new cards are given to replace them, resulting in a total of 5 playing cards again.

Okay so that’s the basics of how the machines work and how the cards are dealt. Next is to better understand the risk factor or in the betting and gambling world “the odds.” Ah yes the magical world of odds. Most vacationers who visit Vegas aren’t too concerned with the odds, but if you want to win at video poker online or at the casino, knowing the odds once you’ve seen your hand will give you way better expectations of winning hands. Casino’s rely on you to NOT know your odds so they can make more money! But Tops-Poker.net loves to let the cat out of the bag and expose this stuff, after all were here to help you win and direct you to all the best poker sites right?! Okay so lets look at the odds:

In a brick and mortar card deck there are 52 cards. Internet video poker sites still employ this card number in each virtual deck for consistency and fairness. Out of those 52 cards in the deck, there are a possible 2,598,960 hands available to make! The RNG’s job is to make sure that that large number of possible hands, is spread out throughout it’s lifetime, evenly and fairly. This is good news for you odds keepers as long as you don’t get too greedy and look for the big money all the time. Always keep in mind that the next hand’s odds are determined by the RNG and a hand that has just been dealt (say a full house) is less likely to happen the next hand.

Jacks Or Better Pay Table:

Lets have a look at some odds that are often called “pay tables.” This Jacks or Better pay table is not super mathematic, so it’s pretty easy to use and remember so you can easily use it at your next online poker video game.

Video Poker Quick Tip!

Okay so hopefully that table above will help your web poker video “style” and success rate and your not keeping lousy cards and your not throwing away great cards for that possible better chance. Remember that if you play Jacks or Better video poker game, that it’s not uncommon to have a royal flush that pays 250 : 1 odds for each credit wagered along with a prize bonus if maximum credits are bet.

quick tip:
-if you have a high pair, it’s a good idea to hold onto it and aim for 3 of a kind.

Online Video Poker Terminology:

Here are some common Video Poker Terms that you should familiarize yourself with:

Open – When you are dealt cards and have 2-4 numerically consecutive cards, you have what is called an open or open ended striaght. For example; if you are dealt 4, 5, 6 of any suit, you can have any variation of numbers before, after or both to create a straight such as 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (of any suit) or maybe if you hold 4, 5, 6 and get a 3 and 7, you end up with a straight!
Closed – Closed is when you don’t have all the cards in consecutive order to make a straight. You may have a 3, 4, 6. In order to make a straight, you are relying on the 5 to come up first, before you have an open. The 5 in this hand is often referred to as the “inside” card and is necessary to make a straight.
Double – This is a little tougher to get as you don’t have quite as many options to play. For example, if you have 3, 4, 7, you’ll need a 5 and 6 ONLY to make a straight, so you are a bit more limited.
Triple – If you’re super “ballsy” you can go for what is called a triple. It’s where you hold say a ten and an ace and you’re counting on the Jack, Queen and King to complete a straight hand! You kinda need to be lucky sort of.
Aces High or Aces Low. The ace will play 2 roles in straights. It can be used in a low striaght like: A, 2, 3, 4, 5 or a high striaght in 10, J, Q, K, A
Sequential Royal. Woa! Now we’re getting complex! This is where you need some skill and knowledge of online video poker! 10, Q, J, K, A of the same suite is a Royal Flush but it is NOT a sequential Royal. 10, J, Q, K, A is considered a true sequential Royal.
Kicker – It’s common for a kicker card to be a high card that is held in hopes to create a pair and often has some significance in trying to produce a 4 of a kind hand.

Hopefully all of these tips are going to teach you how to win in online video poker before you visit our online video poker directory!

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