VideoPoker – Having fun and winning on video poker

If you want a get rich quick scheme video poker is not your game. If you are looking for a way to overcome the house edge that is built in to nearly all casino games, again you will be disappointed. If you want to know how to find a hot machine, you will be depressed to know that there is no such thing. But if you want to learn how to achieve a small but real advantage on certain video poker games (and have fun doing it) then read on.

My publications show you how to keep the house edge to a minimum, and, in some casinos, to even gain a real mathematical advantage over the house. My strategies are computer-generated and proven by professional players, yet they are easy for a novice to begin using immediately. You can become a favourite to be a winner in the long run and have fun at the same time.

For more than two decades, casino visitors have been intrigued by video poker. They may have heard that the payback is higher than reel slots (which is generally true), perhaps they like the challenge of making decisions instead of just pulling a handle, or maybe it’s just to try something new. After a short try, however, many move back to the one armed bandits. Why do they give up so quickly? Is video poker too difficult? Are they losing even more than they did on the reel slots? Is it the five coin requirement to qualify for the royal flush jackpot? Or is it just that they have a very small budget for gambling and there are too few nickel video poker machines available?

This article delves into the whys and wherefores of video poker for the novice, especially one whose gambling has been limited mostly to nickel or quarter slots. By seeking out the good machines and following a few simple playing rules, you can cut the house edge to one half of one percent or less, and in some cases you can even gain an edge over the casino, even on some nickel machines.

Already I hear you say, “I don’t want to be bothered with rules. I’m on holiday, and just want to have some fun.” But isn’t it more fun if your limited bankroll lasts longer, and even more fun when you’re winning? The big advantage of video poker over the no brainer reel slots is that the maximum payback can be determined from the payoff schedule on the front of every machine. No, you don’t have to do any maths; just compare the payoff schedule with my tables. Most players’ intuitive decisions will yield about 1% to 5% less than a game’s maximum payback. Statistics from Nevada casinos show an average payback on video poker of about 2% less than what it would be if everyone played perfectly.

This is why the casinos are able to offer games with over 100% payback potential, thus making it possible for us to gain a small but real edge on some games. Most video poker experts assume computer-perfect play when rating a game’s payback. Such accurate play is impossible for most of us, yet you can easily get within a few hundredths of one percent of the rated payback with my simplified strategies. Even in a casino that doesn’t offer 100% plus games, video poker generally offers a higher return than any other low stakes game.