The Best Video Poker Strategies 2022

Most players dream of playing online casino games and winning every time. When it comes to video poker, this is achievable. All you need is one (or more) of the best video poker strategies.

Video poker is different from classic poker versions because players can enjoy a lower-than-average house edge. As a result, your chances of winning are higher, but only if you know how and when to use the video poker strategy you need the most. This guide will help you understand the simplest video poker strategies. It also includes valuable tips on how to turn the odds in your favor.

Video Poker Titles

Although the gameplay is always similar, there are dozens of video poker titles to choose from. The seemingly small differences mean that not all video poker strategies are applicable for every title. Let’s look at the three most popular video poker variants:

Jacks or Better

This is arguably the most popular of them all. If you have a pair of jacks or a better hand, then you’ll enjoy winning. The average payout of this title is 99.5%

Deuces Wild

This poker variant is simple to play: all the 2s are also wilds. It has a better payout compared to Jacks or Better (100.8%).

Double Bonus

This is one of the several Jacks or Better variations. If you have four aces, then you’re in for a bonus payout. It has a higher payout as well – 100.2%.

These and other video poker titles have something in common: high gambling odds and ways to make the outcome more predictable. To achieve the latter, you need good skills and a working strategy.

Video Poker Strategies

With all that said, it is now time to finally start discussing strategies. The way this is going to work is that we can provide you with advice on what to do, depending on what combination of cards you end up having in your hand after the cards have been dealt. Naturally, the cards that you will want to keep in your hand will differ from one game to another, depending on the rules and what combination can help you win the biggest amount of money.

With that said, let’s start by looking into the strategy for the following:

Basic Video Poker Strategies

Let’s look at some of the basic but important strategies to use when playing the three video poker titles mentioned above.

Jacks or Better

There are simple steps to make while playing this video poker variant. You should hold when you have one of the following hands:

• You have three cards with a possible royal flush during the next draw
• You have any pair (draw three cards after you hold the pair)
• You have three cards and you hope for a straight flush

Deuces Wild

The important steps to follow when you play Deuces Wild video poker include:

• Hold everything if you have four deuces
• In case you have not four, but three deuces, then you should hold your hand, as long as you can reach five of a kind or a royal flush
• Keep all paying cards if there are no deuces in your hand
• If there’s a pair in your hand, but none of the above combinations, then hold it.

Double Bonus

Double Bonus requires easy steps to form a winning strategy. Here are a couple of examples:

• Keep any pair you get, even if it’s the lowest paying one.
• In case there are no pairs in your hand, then you should get rid of it.

Additional Strategies to Always Remember

A winning video poker strategy doesn’t have to be complicated. Taking advantage of the bundle below will help you turn the odds in your favor and excel every time you play video poker.

Necessary loss

Experiences players always realize that losing is part of the game, especially when it comes to money. Losing some while waiting for the perfect hand is a good strategy.

Activity at the best time

Every time you see a great hand, don’t hesitate to raise the bet. This is how you make a hefty profit, at least in most cases.

Risk calculation

If you have an unusual hand and you think that it’s worth raising to win the pot, then you should do it, but only after you calculate the risk. Paying money to keep playing should always be related to moderate risk.

Maximum bets

If you want a better payout, then you should place maximum bets. This is not just a strategy, but an unwritten rule when it comes to video poker. Needless to say, you need to carefully examine the situation and pay attention to every hand before you bet a lot more than a single token.

The pay table matters

One of the differences between video poker and the rest of the popular casino games you can think of is the pay table and its ability to tell you the projected return before you make a single bet. This is why choosing the machine with the best figures displayed on the pay table is essential for your profit. The returns are in direct correlation with high pay tables.

Become a players’ club member

If you’re into video poker and you don’t have plans to quit anytime soon, then you can become a member of a dedicated club. Being part of such an organization can lead to additional, exclusive bonuses that lower the house edge. You wouldn’t have access to such bonuses otherwise.

How to Use Video Poker Strategies?

Diving into the world of video poker and making the most of it sometimes requires an individual approach to finding the best strategy. You can turn the odds and lower the house edge using a combination of the right game and an appropriate set of strategic moves.

Not all casinos would allow you to find a high-paying machine easily, but things are different when it comes to video poker. It’s a game of luck, just like any other casino product, but several tricks and strategies can give you enough leverage to achieve higher profits.

Mathematically speaking, there is always one strategy to use or one right move to make in video poker. Still, they can never fully guarantee success. Things get more complicated by the fact that video poker strategies require more experience to be used compared to blackjack strategies, for example. The first draw in video poker has roughly a couple of million combinations, meaning that you can never have a strategy that’s ready to use; you’ll need to assess the situation within seconds and choose a strategy.

Suppose your hand includes four cards and a royal flush may come your way after the second draw. The simple strategy to use is to hold. Dispose of additional cards, regardless of their value, as the royal flush should be the primary goal in this case. Using this strategy requires experience.

Mastering one particular video poker variation is likely to help you learn all the important strategies much faster. Focusing on the details that set it apart can be the difference between a mediocre and a great performance. Jacks or Better is a good choice (especially if you are a novice) because it’s the simplest video poker title and one of the most popular options to choose from.

One of the essential things about using any strategy is to know when to stop trying. Before you join a pay table and even before you choose the video poker strategies you want to try out, you need to be prepared to lose a certain amount of money and stop playing when you reach that amount. It’s always best to analyze why did you end up losing and why this or that strategy didn’t work as expected. This is the ultimate learning experience. When combined with practice, it eventually leads to mastery. One easy way to avoid the temptation of playing further is to never change the bet percentage of your bankroll. It’s essential to quit when you lost the exact amount you were prepared to lose in the worst-case scenario. Analyzing the situation that resulted in this loss will pay off in the long run.

What Should You Avoid While Playing Video Poker?

There are things to avoid when you’re playing whichever video poker variation. Let’s take a look.

– Keeping three cards for too long in hopes of a straight or a flush. This might seem like a good idea at first, but the chances of it to result in a loss are much higher when you hold such cards. The only reason to hold three cards is when you can score a straight flush during the following draw (as mentioned above).

– Keeping a kicker for too long. This is sometimes referred to as controversial advice, but it’s nothing but a mistake in most cases. It almost never leads to higher payouts.

– Giving up a winning hand in hopes of a bigger hand. While it’s worth discarding a winning combination sometimes, it most often leads to disappointment. Experienced players know when to dispose of combinations, hoping for their prediction of a better-paying hand to come true.

Final thoughts

Video poker strategies are a must if you want to combine the fun and excitement the game brings with higher chances of a good payout. The good news is that video poker is probably the one online casino game that you can influence using a combination of strategies.

If you have the experience to correctly assess the situation, you will know when and how to act. With this said, it’s obvious that it takes time and accepting mistakes to reach that level. There are plenty of strategies to master, too, so practicing them regularly is important.

One of the best tips to remember is that video poker is not just a slot machine. Decision-making is key for the outcome of the game. Experienced players are usually able to turn the odds in their favor. Despite the relatively low house edge video poker is known for, never doubt that the casino always has the advantage.