Video poker secrets don’t exist. Nobody has secrets about video poker that you don’t have access to. But there are a few things that can help you get better video poker results that you might not know about.
So, instead of looking for video poker secrets look for things you don’t know about video poker.
Fortunately, I’ve gathered everything you need to know in this post. So, if you’re looking for secrets about video poker, you’re in the right place. But everything covered in this post can be found in books and online. In other words, these aren’t secrets, but you need to know about them anyway.
Table of Contents
Video Poker Strategy
If there’s a secret about video poker you need to know, it’s strategy. Using strategy when you play any video poker game improves your odds.
Video poker strategy uses odds to determine the best play in every situation. The best odds are determined by the probability based on the cards in your hand and the cards remaining in the deck.
But it’s hard to know what play gives you the best returns. In other words, how do you know the best play?
You can determine the best video poker play in two ways. You can use the easy way or the hard way.
The hard way involves using a calculator and running numbers on every possible result from each playing option. The easy way involves finding a strategy card or strategy chart for the video poker game you’re playing.
I always go with the easy option. I play Deuces Wild and Jacks or Better and I keep a strategy card for each game.
Using strategy cards when you play video poker improves your return by as much as 3 or 4%, depending on the decision you make without the card.
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Video Poker Return to Player Percentage and House Edge
Every video poker machine (like every slot machine) has a return to player percentage and a house edge. The return and house edge vary somewhat based on the strategies you use.
You need to know the expected return and house edge for every video poker machine you play. And the number you’re looking for is the expected return when you use perfect strategy.
Here’s what return to player percentage and the house edge are based on:
- The video poker game variation
- The video poker pay table
- The strategies you use when you play
If you want the best returns when you play video poker, you have to use the right strategies, play the right variation, and find a machine with the right pay table.
The best video poker games offer returns close to 100%. Any video poker machine returning over 99.5% is a good video poker game.
To determine the house edge for a video poker game, subtract the return to player percentage from 100%. A video poker game with a 99.5% return has a house edge of .5%. You’re looking for video poker machines with a house edge under .5%.
Pay Table Secrets
If return to player percentage and house edge are important and the pay table dictates these numbers, how do you know if a pay table offers the best chance to win?
You can’t look at a pay table and know the return and house edge unless you’ve done some research. So, you need to start by looking for the best pay tables for the video poker games you want to play.
Here’s an example:
You like to play Jacks or Better video poker. So, you look for pay tables and the return for each pay table in books or online. When you finish your research, you know the best pay table pays nine for a full house and six for a flush.
Now you know as soon as you see a pay table for a Jacks or Better game if you should play or not.
Pick a couple of different video poker variations you like and research the pay tables for these games. And don’t forget to get a strategy card for each game. With knowledge of the best pay tables and a strategy card, you can always play with the best return.
Bonuses for Video Poker Games
If you play online video poker, sometimes you can find bonuses. But not all online casino bonuses are for video poker. So. you need to read the terms and conditions.
And just because you find a video poker bonus doesn’t mean it helps you win. When you read the terms and conditions pay attention to what you have to do to clear the bonus.
If the clearing requirements aren’t too bad, it might help you win. But if you’re planning to play anyway, you might as well play with a bonus in most cases.
Video Poker Comps
When you play video poker in a land-based casino, ask if the casino has a player or rewards club. And if the casino has a club, sign up so you can earn comp when you play.
Most players’ clubs don’t pay much in comps for video poker play. But even a small reward is better than not earning anything for your video poker play.
Casino rewards clubs are free to join, and you receive a card. Insert the card every time you play video poker and the casino tracks your play. You earn points when you play that you can exchange for comps.
Comps aren’t usually in the form of cash. So they don’t directly change the return. But when you earn a comp, like a free buffet meal, it saves money. So, in some ways, it helps your return.
Video Poker Tournaments
Video poker tournaments aren’t as popular as some gambling tournaments. But you can find video poker tournaments in large casinos.
Most video poker tournaments don’t give you great value. But occasionally you might find a video poker tournament offering extra value.
Here’s how video poker tournaments usually work:
Each player pays an entry fee. Part of the entry fee goes towards the prize pool, and part of it goes to profit for the casino.
Each entrant plays the same amount of time. The players with the top scores advance to the next round. Players continue playing until they’re eliminated or the tournament ends. Players with the top scores win the set prizes.
If you earn a free entry to a video poker tournament through the players club, you’re playing for free money. But there’s another way to find positive value.
Some video poker tournaments offer a guaranteed prize pool. If a tournament offers a guaranteed prize pool and there aren’t many entrants, it creates a positive expectation situation.
Here’s an example:
The tournament offers a $5,000 guaranteed prize pool. Each entry costs $110, with $100 going to the prize pool. If the tournament only has 40 entrants, the casino has to add the extra $1,000 for the guarantee.
The prize pool of $5,000 divided by the number of entrants, 40, equals $125. Your expected average return of $125 compared to the cost of $110 to play presents positive expectation.
You still need to use the right strategies in video poker tournaments if you want to have the best opportunity to win.
Hot and Cold Video Poker Machines
The last thing you need to know about video poker machines involves a myth. Some video poker players believe machines run hot and cold.
They believe a hot machine pays out more often and a cold machine doesn’t pay out often. And they believe you can switch machines and possibly find a hot machine.
But the myth of hot and cold video poker machines doesn’t change the house edge or return to player percentages. Every video poker machine uses mathematical principles to dictate returns.
As you learned earlier, the pay table and the strategies you use dictate your overall return. Video poker machines don’t run hot or cold. Everything that happens comes from the odds based on the cards used.
Here’s an example:
You’re playing Jacks or Better and start with four spades. You discard your fifth card and hope to draw another spade for a flush. The remaining cards include nine spades and 38 cards that aren’t spades.
These numbers mean you hit a flush nine out of 47 times. Over the short run, you can get a spade or not get a spade two or three or even six times in a row. But over 1,000s of hands like this, you’re going to average completing your flush nine out of every 47 times.
Math dictates these numbers. A machine can’t be hot or cold. Stick with using good strategies and good pay tables and forget about hot and cold video poker machines.
Conclusion
Now you know every video poker secret I know. And as I researched video poker, I found there aren’t any secrets. You just have to build as much knowledge as you can.
If you use video poker strategies and play on machines that have good pay tables, you get the highest return. And when you use bonuses or comps, you get an even better return.
Video poker tournaments can offer a good return if you know what to look for. And finally, don’t fall for the myth of hot and cold video poker machines. Hot and cold machines don’t exist. Everything in video poker games runs based on math.
