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Video Poker rules
In this section we will briefly describe video poker rules. The objective
of one game of video poker is to get a hand that is listed in the payout table
of the machine, not much unlike playing a slot machine.
After inserting your coins in a video poker machine, and pressing the
'deal' button, you are dealt 5 cards. Next, you have to decide which cards
to hold, using the 'hold' button that is located beneath each card. Some
video poker machines will automatically select a few cards to hold, but
you have the option to change this selection. If a card is on hold the word
'hold' will be placed on top of the cards.
Finally, press the 'deal' button again, and the cards that are not on
hold will be replaced by new ones. If the resulting hand is listed in the
payout table of the video poker machine, you will get paid the amount of
coins indicated in the payout table. Keep in mind that you will always lose
your original bet.
Tip: Playtech casinos and Microgaming
casinos offer full pay Jacks or Better video poker.
Ranking of hands for Jacks or better video poker
The oldest an most popular video poker game around, is Jacks or better
video poker. The following table lists the ranking of video poker hands for
Jacks or better video poker, starting with the highest rank. The ranking
of the hands is similar to the ranking used in five-card draw poker.
In Jacks or better video poker the payout table always contains the
hands listed below. Obviously, higher ranking hands pay out more than lower
ranking hands, but how much a given hand pays out, can depend from machine
to machine.
| Hand |
Cards |
Royal Flush
A,K,Q,J,10 of the same suit. |
 
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Straight Flush
5 sequential cards of the same suit . |
 
  |
4 of a Kind
4 cards of the same rank. |
 
  |
Full House
3 of a Kind and a Pair. |
  |
Flush
5 cards of the same suit. |
  |
Straight
5 sequential cards ( an ace is either the highest or lowest card).
|
 
 |
3 of a Kind
3 cards of the same rank. |
 
|
2 Pairs
2 cards of one rank, and 2 of another rank. |
  |
Jacks or better
A pair of jacks, queens, kings or aces. |
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Since the advent of Jacks or better video poker in the seventies,
*many* other video poker variants have seen the light. To give you an idea
we will shortly discuss Joker's wild video poker, and Deuces wild
video poker, with respect to their differences with traditional Jacks
or better video poker.
Joker's wild video poker
In Jokers wild video poker a joker is added to the traditional 52-card
deck. The joker is 'wild', which means it can be used to substitute for any
other card. The ranking table is augmented with 5 of a Kind, being a 4 of
a Kind completed with a joker. A 'wild' Royal Flush pays less than a regular
Royal Flush. The minimum rank for a winning hand is 2 Pairs, or sometimes
a pair of Kings or better.
Deuces wild video poker
In Deuces wild video poker all deuces are treated as 'wild' cards,
which means they can be used to substitute for any other card. Compared with
Joker's wild video poker, there are 4 'wild' cards instead of just
one, which increases your odds of winning. However, the minimum rank for a
winning hand is 3 of a Kind.
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