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Video Poker

Monday, December 21st, 2009

There are many out there among you, myself included, that at times simply want to sit down at the computer and play a thoughtless game that has a little kick to it to make my day a little more exciting. These are great days for simple slot machines. If you really want to get fancy you can go from a three reel machine into the five reel machines, or more, and maybe make things a little more exciting.

But for many there is only one answer to a slot machine fix and that is Video Poker. Now you may be wondering what Video Poker has to do with slot machines, but the truth is that the two are very similar. They both have the same type of gaming interface and both are fairly easy to play. But the Video Poker aficionado can certainly tell you that the two are very far from the same.

Video Poker is for the Poker enthusiast that doesn’t really want to get involved in a full blown Poker game but also wants elements of the excitement that goes along with a great Poker game. Let me clarify. In a full on Poker game, be it at a live dealer online casino where there is a real person there dealing the cards, along with real players, or at a computer generated online Poker game there is the expectation that you will have to interact with someone at some point of the game. Most of the time that is a good thing, unless you are just anti-social (which isn’t bad either).

Video Poker takes away all of these elements, yet provides the player with the exact same game. In fact, in many ways it is much better than a traditional Poker game because it can be played much faster. There is absolutely no wait time while the new hand is dealt. A player has to really be on their toes if they are trying to play quickly because it can be overwhelming if someone isn’t paying attention.

For example, the online Poker world is one of convenience in and of itself. You never have to wait in line to play, or wait for a dealer to sit down to begin playing. Or even worse, wait for some inexperienced player to figure out what they are doing. Even in a live dealer online casino a player is at the whim of the online dealer and all of the real players that join. Video Poker is at the whim of the player playing the game anytime, anywhere, and any place.

There are those that will always love their slot machines, but if the urge strikes Video Poker, even just a little, is a great distraction-and you might never go back.

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Winning Video Poker Machine Tips

Friday, December 18th, 2009

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Everyone has seen her, and most of us, at one time or another, have been lured to her by her bright colors and flashing images. The flash of neon and the alluringly undulating “Win! Win! Win!” which pulses across her screen. It’s the video game which gives the player just a hint of the chance of winning cash instead of points. Of course this little tease is known as the video poker machine.

Of course if you have fallen for the tease of the video poker machine, you’ll know that she doesn’t give up the cash as easily as she portends she will. That’s part of her appeal to the player, to get her to finally give in to them and pay off. She is a paradox of beauty and frustration.

Just once wouldn’t you like to beat her at her own game? Do you yearn to make her finally pay off to you? Then read on friend, for I have some tips which will maximize your chances to make the little beauty keep her promises of a win.

As with any game of chance where money is involved, the first rule to live by is to limit how much you’re willing to lose. Make a promise to yourself that you’ll quit before you lose your shirt. Know before you begin where to draw the line if you start to suffer huge losses, and make certain you stick to your pledge to walk away.

As you would in regular poker, take your time and look over your cards each hand. You should take an ample amount of time to consider what strategy you wish to pursue with each new hand. Since there are no other people involved, your mechanized opponent will be patient with you. I have yet to see a video poker machine with a time limit, so don’t feel pressured into hasty decisions.

Always play maximum coins, for the payout will be based on amount of coins played. Playing fewer coins doesn’t guarantee playing longer. Always pick a machine which gives the best payout to coin ratio. If you want to play longer with less coin, then seek out a lower coin machine.

Practice at the many free video poker machines available to you at online casinos. Most online casinos offer free to play video poker machines. Use these to both hone your skills and build your confidence in playing video poker.

Playing video poker can be as much fun as playing regular poker. It presents you with unique opportunities and allows you to play at your own pace. If you follow the above tips, you’ll also increase your chances of walking away a winner.

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Winning Video Poker Hands

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

Video Poker combines both the luck of the draw and the skill of the player. Luck comes into play when the video poker machine randomly deals out the player’s cards. Skill on the part of the player is needed to know which cards to keep and which cards to discard. Although luck is a big factor in the game, the likelihood of winning increases based on the amount of skill the player possesses.

No matter what the skill level the player has, it’s important to know what to keep and what to discard if you want to end up with a winning hand. It’s essential to know the types of winning hands that are available in video poker if the player is playing to win.

The smart player knows the patterns to look for, which will make the difference between them winning big and losing it all. Here is a listing of the most common combination of video poker hands ranked from the highest possible to the lowest.

Sequential Royal Flush: This is a hand which occurs when the cards fall in exact order and suit, like 10 Spades, J Spades, Q Spades, K Spades, and A Spades. Remember this is video poker, and that the Sequential Royal Flush is different from the Royal Flush.

Royal Flush: This is when you get a same suit flush with the cards 10 Hearts, Q Hearts, J Hearts, A Hearts, and K Hearts in any order. As long as all the cards are there, the order is not an issue.

Straight Flush: The Straight Flush occurs when all five cards are in sequence, and all five cards are of the same suit 4 Spades, 5 Spades, 6 Spades, 7 Spades, and 8 Spades.

Four of a Kind: Four of a Kind is when there are four cards which all possess the same rank 5 Diamonds, 5 Spades, 5 Clubs, and 5 Hearts.

Full House: The Full House is three of a kind plus a pair. Suit does not come into play with a Full House. A good example of a Full house would be 5 Diamonds, 5 Clubs, 5 Hearts, 7 Clubs, and 7 Spades.

Flush: The Flush is when the player gets five cards with all having the same suit. Rank makes no difference with this hand. It’s the suit that is featured in the Flush. For an example; 2 Hearts, 4 Hearts, 5 Hearts, 7 Hearts, 10 Hearts.

Straight: A player holds a Straight when all five cards held are in rank sequence. With the following hand, the player would have a Straight; 2 Hearts, 3 Clubs, 4 Spades, 5 Hearts, 6 Diamonds.

Three of a Kind: When a player is dealt three cards all of which have the same rank, they have Three of a Kind. The remaining two cards do not count as anything in the hand. The suit of the cards does not matter with this hand. An example of this hand is 4 Hearts, 4 Clubs, and 4 Spades.

Two Pair: Two Pair is when the player has two pairs of cards, each set of a different rank. An example of this hand is 3 Diamonds, 3 Clubs, 5 Hearts and 5 Spades.

One Pair: One Pair is two cards of the same rank, regardless of the suit. An example of this hand is 7 Diamonds and 7 Hearts.

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Let It Ride.

Sunday, July 26th, 2009

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Let It Ride is a curious card game in that if you don’t like the look of your cards, you get to pull some of your wager back. Together with its relaxed pace the game is a favorite with old and newbie gamblers alike.

Each round in Let It Ride starts with players placing three bets of equal size. Players are then dealt three cards each and an additional two community cards that are dealt face down. Having checked their cards players are now given the option of either withdrawing one of their initial bets or “letting it ride”. The dealer then turns over one of the two community cards and again players can choose to withdraw one the initial bets or let it ride. The choice to withdraw a bet at this stage is independent of what the player did in the previous round. The dealer then reveals the last community card and each player’s hand is compared to a pay-out table.

Pay-out tables vary from region to region but most US casino follow the same basic table. However, be warned many tables have a maximum pay-out. You should always check this and not place bets that total more than the maximum pay-out divided by about 3000. Betting above this limit will not pay out the maximum if you hit a royal flush and that means you are effectively increasing the house odds.

The following is a basic strategy guide to Let It Ride based on the standard pay-out table found in most US casinos. After receiving your initial three cards you should only let it ride if you have:

Any paying hand (tens or better, three of a kind).Any three cards required to make up a royal flush. Three straight cards of the same suit with the exception of 2-3-4 and ace-2-3. Three cards of a straight flush, including a ten or higher, and spread out over a group of four consecutive numbers. For instance 7-8-10, or 9-J-Q. Three of a straight flush, including at least two high cards, and spread out over a group of five consecutive numbers. For instance, 8-9-J-Q, or 9-10-Q-K.

After the first of the community cards is turned you should only “let it ride” if you have:

Any hand that is on the pay-out table (pair of tens or better, two pair, three of a kind). Any four cards towards a royal flush.Any four cards towards a straight flush. Any four cards towards a flush. Any four consecutive cards of straight and at least one high card. Any four consecutive cards of a straight with no high cards. Four out of the five cards required for a straight when all four are high cards.

Some casinos also offer a side a bet of $1 that gives you an additional pay-out for some bets. This bet usually offers some of the worst odds out there and should not be taken.

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Video Poker Basics And The 10 Best Video Poker Games.

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

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That beautiful Royal Flush!
Straight Flush
Four of a Kind
Full House
Flush
Straight
Three of a kind
Two pair
One pair of jacks or better

Let’s begin your basic Video Poker Education.

The two techniques that are mandatory to becoming an educated and prepared video poker player are:

1) how to read a pay schedule with additional education to know the difference between short/partial pay and full-pay versions, plus

2) strategies for all the VP types/games.

Pay Schedules:

In a grouping of video poker machines, known as banks or carousels, all of which may look exactly the same, casinos will often ‘mix-in’ several VP machines with inferior pay programs (short/partial pay). Often, in a bank of regular non-progressive, non-bonus VP machines, only 1 or 2 may be the Jacks or better 9/6 (nine coins for a full house, and 6 coins for a flush), while the rest are 8/5, 7/5, or even worse, 6/5.

This means that one player, on the 9/6 machine, will be winning more for the same hands than the other players.

If you bet 5 coins, all winning hands are paid out multiplied by a factor of five, except for the royal flush. This is a bonus amount designed as an incentive to play five coins. All those players who play less than maximum coins are setting up the best payoffs for those who do.

Below is the average overall payback percentage for ten of the best VP versions.

These percentages are maintained with maximum coins per hand, ‘full-pay’ schedule play and perfect strategy.

1) 10/4 Loose Deuces–4 Deuces pays 2500=100.97%
2) 9/5 Deuces Wild=100.76%
3) 7/5 Jokers Wild–5 of a kind pays 1000, Quad pays 100=100.64%.
4) 9/6 Double Double Jackpot Poker–2 pair pays 1=100.35%
5) 10/7 Double Bonus–2 pair pays 1=100.17%
6) Pick ‘Em Poker–pair of 9’s+ min. payout=99.95%
7) 11/7 Triple Bonus Poker–Kings+ min.payout=99.94%
8) 9/6 Jacks+–2 pair pays 2= 99.54%
9) 8/5 Bonus Jacks+–2 pair pays 2, Four Aces pays 400=99.17%
10) 9/6 Double Double Bonus–4 Aces with 2, 3 or 4 pays 2000=98.98%

The first two numbers reflect the payouts for a full house and flush as per one coin payout.
Therefore, a 10/7 Bonus VP version #5, would pay 10 coins for a full house and 7 coins for a flush for a one coin bet.

The exception being for Deuces Wild versions–#1 and #2, which reflect the payouts for a straight flush and 4 of a kind as per one coin payout. The minimum payout for Deuces games is 3-of-a-kind.

#4 ‘Jackpot’ version is also known as Aces and Faces where the higher payouts are reserved for Aces, Kings, Queens and Jacks. In addition, because Bonus VP versions offer higher payouts for four aces and four 2’s, 3’s and 4’s, the pair and two pair payouts are often the same–1 coin. VP versions that pay 2 for 2 pair are #8 and #9 Jacks+ and Bonus Jacks+ in the guide above.

It bears repeating that these percentages are maintained with maximum coins, full-pay schedules and perfect strategy in play. The actual payout of any video poker machine is determined not only by its schedule but also by how you select discards. Since playing errors can reduce the payout, just sitting down in front of a full pay machine won’t help you unless you learn the correct strategies.

Until we meet again to continue your VP education, may all your VP choices turn out to be ‘royalty’.

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