How to Play Video Poker: A Beginner's Guide

Learn how to play video poker in this complete beginner's guide to the game. We'll cover everything from setting up for your first deal to checking the paytable for wins, so you can start playing with confidence.

Key Takeaways

• Video poker is a five-card single player RNG game

• Gameplay consists of a Deal > Hold > Draw process

• Players choose a stake then are dealt an initial five cards

• Held cards are kept, while unheld cards are replaced in the draw

• The final five-card hand is compared to the paytable for qualifying wins

How to Play Video Poker: Quick Explanation

A typical round of video poker involves first choosing your stake and receiving five cards. You'll then select which cards to hold and draw replacements for the remaining ones. Finally, you'll check your final five-card hand against the paytable to see if you won.

That's what you can expect from a standard round of video poker, but rules and payouts vary between variants.

What is Video Poker?

Video poker is a casino card game based on five-card poker hands. Unlike traditional table poker games, video poker is a single player game driven by a random number generator (RNG).

Video poker gameplay is unique in that it combines a random deal with a player decision on what cards to hold for the draw. Winning hands and payouts are displayed in the game's paytable.

Is Video Poker the Same as Poker?

While poker is a table game involving multiple players and various rounds, in video poker you play individually, not against other players, in single rounds. Both games use poker hand rankings, but the rules and gameplay are significantly different.

How Does Video Poker Work?

Video poker is played in single rounds each consisting of a deal and a draw. Let's see how they work.

The Deal

The first part of the round starts when the player chooses a stake and hits the Deal button. Five cards will then be dealt face up. The player considers this initial hand and decides if they want to hold any of the cards.

The Draw

Once happy, the player hits the button for the draw. Held cards remain in place, while unheld cards are replaced by new ones from the deck. The resulting five cards become the final hand. The paytable determines if the final hand qualifies for a payout.

How to Play Video Poker Step by Step

Here's what you can expect from each step of a typical round of video poker.

Step 1 - Choose Your Stake

Choosing your stake involves two steps: setting your coin value and selecting how many coins to play.

First, use the + and - buttons to set your coin value. These buttons are usually sitting at the bottom right of the screen, though exact placement can vary.

Then decide how many coins you want to play, from one to five. Press the Bet One button multiple times to select your chosen number of coins. You can also simply hit the Bet max button to immediately start the first round playing with five coins.

Step 2 - Deal Your Five Cards

Once your stake is set, hit the Deal button. You'll then see a brief animation of five cards appearing face up, one at a time, at the bottom of the screen. This is your initial hand.

Step 3 - Choose Which Cards to Hold

This is the central decision point of the game. Consider the cards and decide which ones to hold. For example, you might see a pair that you want to hold for the draw. To hold cards, simply press the Hold button under the card. A Hold ribbon will appear on the card to show it's been successfully held.

You don't have to hold any cards if you don't want to. Just click the Deal button to carry on.

Step 4 - Draw Replacement Cards

When you've held your cards (or chosen not to), hit the Deal button. Any held cards will remain in place, while unheld cards will be replaced by new ones from the deck. These five cards are your final hand.

Step 5 - Check Your Final Hand

Your final hand is then compared to the paytable to see if it qualifies for a payout. If so, the payout is added to your balance.

Video Poker Rules Every Beginner Should Know

Here are the basic rules of video poker that you should know before you start playing:

• Five card format: Each hand is made up of five cards

• Two stages: Each round consists of a deal and a draw

• Player decision: After the deal, you can choose to hold none, some, or all cards

• Final hand counts: Your five-card hand after the draw determines the round's outcome

• Differing paytables: Each video poker variant has slightly different payouts

• Wilds: Some video poker games include wild cards, such as the joker or 2, which stand in for other cards

• Single or multihand: Video poker can be played a single hand at a time or multiple hands at once. The number of hands can vary between variants.

Always check the rules before you start playing so you know what to expect from gameplay.

Video Poker Hands Explained

Video poker hands are defined as follows, valued from highest to lowest:

Note that a pair does not always qualify for a payout. For example, in Jacks or Better, only a pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces qualifies for a payout.

What About Five of a Kind?

The five of a kind hand is unique and only available in variants of video poker that feature wilds, eg. Deuces Wild. It consists of four cards of the same rank plus a wild card.

In terms of its payout value, a five of a kind hand usually falls between a Royal Flush and a Straight Flush.

How to Read a Video Poker Paytable

Unlike slot games where the paytable is usually found within the help pages, the video poker paytable is almost always present on the game screen. As you can see from the Jacks or Better screenshot, the paytable is right at the top and consists of hands listed vertically and the coin value horizontally (in this case, only 1 coin is displayed).

The numbers shown in the 1 Coins column are the various payouts for each hand as a multiple of your bet. So as an example, a pair of Jacks or better played at 1 coin pays 1x your bet.

A few things to note:

• Different video poker variants can offer different payouts for the same hand

• Playing at Bet Max (ie. five coins) often disproportionately increases the Royal Flush payout

• Games with wilds can have different minimum qualifying hands, eg. a pair of Jacks in Jacks or Better versus a pair of Kings in Joker Poker

Check the paytable before you start so you know which rules are in play.

How to Play Different Video Poker Variants

There are several variants of video poker worth exploring, such as Jacks or Better, Joker Poker, and Aces and Faces. While the basic Deal > Hold > Draw gameplay is the same, qualifying hands, wild cards, and payouts can vary.

Jacks or Better

This version of video poker is one of the most basic, offering the standard five-card format. The minimum qualifying hand for a payout here is a pair of Jacks or better, as the name suggests. There is no wild card in Jacks or Better video poker.

Joker Poker

In Joker Poker, a joker serves as a wild card, which stands in for other cards. This changes the possible winning card combinations and adds the possibility of the five of a kind hand.

The minimum qualifying hand for a payout is slightly higher compared to Jacks or Better at a pair of Kings or higher.

Aces and Faces

With no wilds and a minimum qualifying hand of a pair of Jacks or higher, Aces and Faces seems similar to Jacks or Better at first. However, there are some notable differences to the payouts.

Four of a kind hands are split into three groups: 2s to 10s, face cards (Jacks, Queens, Kings,), and Aces. Each of these has a higher payout than the standard Jacks or Better four of a kind payout.

2s to 10s and face cards sit in their normal position between Full House and Straight Flush, while Aces are placed between Straight Flush and Royal Flush.

Single Hand vs Multi Hand Video Poker

The standard way to play video poker is one single hand at a time, but it's not the only way. Many variants also come in a multihand version that allows you to get multiple draws at once from the same initial decision.

In Jacks or Better 3H, for example, you start with one initial deal, choose which cards to hold, then you get three draws with those held cards.

Bear in mind that playing multiple hands at once increases your total stake per round, so keep an eye on your bet total to stick to your budget.

Video Poker Tips for Beginners

Part of learning how to play video poker is understanding the basics, including hand rankings, paytables, and wild cards. Check off these valuable beginners tips before you start playing.

Learn the Hand Rankings

Use the probability of certain hands coming up to inform your decision of which cards to hold. The best way to do this is by learning the value of each hand in relation to the rest. A pair of Jacks is less valuable but more common than a Straight, for example.

Check the Paytable Before Playing

Paytables can vary slightly between variants. This is most notable in Aces and Faces, where the four of a kind hands have been split into three groups, each with their own payouts. Also bear in mind that playing five coins can increase the proportionate payout of the Royal Flush hand.

Understand Wild Cards

Wild cards can change the possible hand combinations as well as the minimum qualifying hand for a payout. For example, there are no wilds in Jacks or Better, which pays for a pair of Jacks or higher. However, in Joker Poker, which has a joker wild, pays are triggered for a pair of Kings or better.

Check Your Total Stake

Remember that your total stake is a combination of your coin value multiplied by the number of coins you play. That's for single hand games. If you're playing a multi-hand game, you'll then need to multiply by the number of hands you're playing to get the total stake. Keep this in mind when playing on a budget.

Learn One Variant First

Before diving into variants with wilds, split hand payouts, and multiple hands, nail the basic game first. Jacks or Better is an ideal starting point as there are no wilds, it's single handed, and payouts are straightforward. Familiarise yourself with the Deal > Hold > Draw gameplay before exploring other variants.

Common Video Poker Mistakes

Many beginners make the same kind of mistakes when learning how to play video poker. Avoid these common faux pas when just starting out.

• Not checking the paytable: Payouts and hand values can differ between variants, so eyeball the paytable before you hit Deal.

• Assuming each variant has identical rules: A pair of Jacks isn't the minimum paying hand in all versions of the game, for example.

• Confusing video poker with multiplayer poker: Hand values may be about the same, but that's where the similarities end. Video poker is a single player, RNG-driven game.

• Not understanding what Hold does: After the deal, use the Hold button to keep cards for the draw. Unheld cards are then replaced to give you your final hand.

• Accidentally increasing the total stake when playing multiple hands: Remember that your total stake is your coin value x number of coins played x number of hands played.

• Assuming a particular card choice guarantees a winning result: Holding four out of the five required cards for a straight does not mean that fifth one is a given. Results are random, there are no guarantees.

How to Play Video Poker at PlayOJO

When you're ready to try video poker for yourself, here's how to get started at PlayOJO:

1. Go to the Video Poker section

2. Choose a video poker game

3. Check the game's paytable

4. Select a coin value and number of coins to play

5. Hit Deal for your first five cards

6. Hold the cards you want to keep

7. Hit Deal again to draw replacements for unheld cards

8. Check your final hand against the paytable for qualifying wins

Is Video Poker Easy to Learn?

Understanding the basic Deal > Hold > Draw gameplay is fairly straightforward, especially if you're already familiar with poker hand values. However, the differences in rules, payouts, and minimum qualifying hands between variants can take a little longer to learn. Take your time with the basics before progressing.

Conclusion

Video poker is a five-card hand game where you start with a single hand deal, decide which cards to keep, then replace the rest in the draw. Your final hand is then compared to the paytable to see if it qualifies for a payout. While the basic gameplay is the same, rules and payouts can vary between variants. Explore PlayOJO's collection of video poker games and remember to check the rules before playing.