Video Poker is a beloved game that usually will be enjoyed in casinos across the world, or in your house on your personal computer, using a web account. The rules are very simple and involve the player attempting to get the best combination of cards achievable in order to win money. In this respect it is much the same as a classic game of poker, minus the interaction with other players. Of course, tactics employed during a real-life game of poker, like bluffing, will be irrelevant in Video Poker.

The game of Video Poker starts when the bettor inserts credits (either tokens, tickets or money) into the machine and presses the play button. A five card hand will be electronically ‘given out’ on the screen.

The Electronic Poker game also has hold buttons, and bettors will need to now decide which cards to keep and which to discard. For the cards the enthusiast wishes to retain, the ‘hold’ buttons need to be pressed so that they illuminate. The player can choose to keep any number of cards they wish, from all to none.

After the bettor has chosen which cards she wishes to retain, the player will then press ‘deal’, at which point any new cards will be handed out if desired. The hand is now completed, with the Video Poker machine analyzing the hand to see if it matches any of the winning hands listed in the pay out schedule.

Typically, the lowest winning hand on a Video Poker machine is a pair of jacks with the award money growing for each better hand. A list of common winning hands starts with jacks or better, and moves on to 2 pairs, three of a kinds, straights, flushes, full houses, four of a kinds, straight flushes and last but not least royal flushes. It goes without saying that the payment schedule can vary from machine to machine, so that skillful players are able to select the most money-making game each and every time.

After the initial round has completed, the player can either choose to continue on and try to to maximize their winnings, or they can press the ‘collect’ button to cash out any credits that they may have won. Additionally, several styles of the game allow the bettor a chance to double their winnings, in which case a further round is played. There are also variations among specific games, with some virtual decks including wild cards and other varying elements to enhance playability.