How to Win at Video Poker Online: Tips and Strategies for Success

Video poker is a classic casino game that's become a real hit online. It's partly because it's not just about luck; it involves a bit of skill too. Basically, you can boost your winning chances by making smart choices during gameplay.

Still, if you want to nail those video poker wins, you'll need the right strategy for each game and situation. Here are some top tips and strategies to help you succeed at video poker online right here in New Zealand.

Mastering Video Poker: Top Strategies for Kiwis

The very first step for any Kiwi looking to rack up video poker wins is to get a solid grip on the game's rules. There are heaps of video poker variations, and each comes with its own ruleset. The main differences usually lie in the card combinations that count as winning hands and the payouts you get.

Some popular versions you might come across include:

• Jacks or Better
• Deuces Wild
• Joker Poker
• Aces and Faces

The best strategy is going to depend on the specific video poker variation you're playing. Always take a moment to check out the winning hands and their payouts before you make your move. This info is usually displayed in a handy table.

Video poker strategy really boils down to making smart decisions about which cards to keep after the initial deal.

Once those first five cards are dealt, you need to pick which ones you want to hold onto to build a winning hand. Then, you hit DRAW to get your new cards, which will combine with the ones you held.

Essentially, you should aim to hold cards that have the potential to form a winning hand. But this isn't always straightforward, as you might have two or more promising options staring back at you from the initial deal.

Here are some common plays when specific scenarios pop up:

• Four cards to a Straight or Flush: Hold all four of those cards.
• Three cards to a Royal Flush: Hold onto those three cards.
• Three cards to a Straight Flush: hold
• A pair of any value: hold them and draw three new cards
• None of the scenarios above: hold all the jacks or higher

By following that, you tend to get more winnings and avoid taking unnecessary risks. But remember: there’s no guarantee. Even if you follow the instructions we gave, there’s always a good chance you won’t receive the cards you were expecting after they are drawn again.

Best Video Poker Variations with a Big Winning Potential

One of the reasons why video poker is such a popular online casino game is because it has a relatively low house edge. This means that the casino's advantage is minimal, giving players a better chance of winning. Additionally, some variations of video poker offer players a progressive jackpot, which can result in amazing payouts.

Some of the best variations of video poker to win at include Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild. These variations offer the best odds for players and can be found at most online casinos.

To increase your chances of winning at video poker, it's important to learn the correct strategy for each specific scenario you are playing. By following those strategies and practicing responsible gambling habits, you can increase your chances of success at video poker online.

How Video Poker Jackpots Are Setup

Whether you’re playing poker at an online casino or a land-based casino, the royal flush is the premium hand. In other words, getting this hand might land you the game’s top-most prize, which is the jackpot. But to hit the royal flush, your hand must consist of five sequential cards of a similar suit. The arrangement starts from the 10 and goes all the way to the Ace.

Meanwhile, the royal flush pays out 4,000 coins for every five-coin bet ($1.25). In return, this gives you a total of $1,000. Along with the royal flush, you can also scoop a big win with the following hands:

• Four aces - $100
• Straight flush – $62.50
• Four 2s through to 4s - $50
• Four 5s through to kings - $31.25
• Full house - $10
• Flush - $6.25
• Straight - $5
• Three of a kind – $3.75
• Two pair - $2.50

How to Win the Jackpot

As you may already know, walking away with the video poker jackpots is no mean feat. However, there are a few tips to help you be the winner.

Playing Maximum Coins

Playing all five coins in video poker is the only way to pocket the 800 coins in a single payout. Betting anything less will give you 200 coins. Therefore, if you’re looking for a video poker jackpot, bet all the available coins.

Interestingly, the probability of getting the royal flush remains the same even if you wager fewer coins. So, what’s the difference? Logically, getting 800 coins for a single payout is a lot better than getting 200 for a single payout.

Play for High Stakes

Sounds straightforward, huh? Most players are usually afraid to risk much on a single shot. But the truth is that you can’t win those $100,000 video poker jackpots when playing with fear. Players who play for high stakes win more considerable sums with the maximum coin bet.

For example, some video poker games let players risk up to $25 per hand. Therefore, if you choose the maximum bet, you can easily go home with a six-figure salary.

Have a Big Bankroll

Honestly, you don’t stand a chance to win a six-figure pay if you don’t have a big bankroll. That’s because video poker can be expensive to play, especially when chasing a jackpot. That said, having a big bankroll ensures you stay at the table for longer, maximizing your winning potential in the process.

However, the bankroll should be money that you can comfortably live without. In addition, you should have a stop-loss limit. For instance, if you can comfortably play with $20,000 and you plan on wagering $10 per hand, this means you’ll have up to 2,000 betting units (20,000/10). In that case, you can walk away after playing 100 or 200 units with or without success.