Video Poker Machine

One way that many people can enjoy the game of poker without the stress some may feel in a face to face match is by playing poker on a video terminal. It’s all the fun of poker mixed into the presentation of a vending machine – a video poker machine to be more specific!

All right, video poker machines are really only similar to vending machines in their shape, and even in that they are sometimes different. Basically video poker is an opportunity for players to test their luck against a machine one on one, and instead of winning a pot, they receive a payout according to odds. Video poker machines are thus very similar in nature to their gaming machine cousins, the slot machines.

Reasons to play video poker games on a machine:

You might be wondering why, with so many sites dedicated to poker and so many different opportunities to play poker out there, anyone would want to play on a machine. Here are some reasons that you might find appealing.

• Fast play. If you’ve only got a couple of minutes, then you have probably been frustrated by the way players on poker sites can take forever in determining what their moves are going to be. With a video terminal, this is a non-issue. You can take all the time you want to decide what you are going to do, and you don’t have to wait for anyone else. On the other hand, you can also lose a lot more money a lot quicker, so keep that in mind while you are facing down that video display!
• Good practice. Video poker machines can be good practice for determining your odds at any given number of hands; some specialized video terminals will even give you percentages, such as those on which you can play Texas hold ‘em cards. This can be very useful when it comes to real play, as you will eventually just understand the odds of combinations turning up as if it were second nature.
• Novelty. Owning your own machine and having it your entertainment room adds an amazing element to any room that all your guests will enjoy – that is if they can get you off of it! There are some fantastic new machines out there as well as antique poker machines that will create whatever theme that you have in a room more appealing and flashy.

Video Poker Machine VS People !

If you are used to playing poker against human players, whether online or land based, then you have to make a bit of a mental shift when you are playing video poker. You have no choice but to play your cards; bluffing is out of the question. In some versions, such as Jacks or Better, you are best off discarding combinations that would probably give you a good chance to win in a head to head poker match; a pair of tens, for example, would be no good to you. The odds of another ten turning up are low and you need at least a pair of jacks to break even.

In addition, not all video poker machines offer full pay, that is, payouts that dictate that in the long term a player will lose $1 or less for every $100 he or she wagers. As you can see, even full pay machines come with a bit of a house edge, and unless you are very lucky you will lose even more with video terminals offering less advantageous pay schedules.