Video Poker is a beloved game that is able to be played in casinos around the globe, or in your house on your computer, using an Internet connection. The regulations are very simple and involve the player trying to achieve the greatest assemblage of cards achievable in order to come away with money. In this respect it is much the same as a regular game of poker, without the line of contact with competing players. Of course, tactics used in a real-life game of poker, like bluffing, will be irrelevant in Video Poker.
The game of Electronic Poker begins when the player inserts credits (either tokens, tickets or money) into the machine and pushes the draw button. A 5 card hand will be "given out" on the video screen.
The Electronic Poker machine also has hold buttons, and gamblers should now pick which cards to hold and which to throw away. For the cards the bettor would like to keep, the ‘hold’ buttons need to be pressed so that they light up. The player can decide to keep any amount of cards they wish, whether it’s all or none.
After the player has decided on which cards he would like to retain, the player will then press ‘deal’, which will mean that any new cards will be needed they will be handed out. The round is now finished, with the Electronic Poker machine scanning the cards to see if it matches any of the winning hands shown on the payout schedule.
Generally, the lowest winning hand on a Video Poker machine is a pair of jacks with the prize money getting larger for each better hand. A list of common winning hands starts with jacks or better, and moves on to two pairs, three of a kinds, straights, flushes, full houses, 4 of a kinds, straight flushes and last but not least royal flushes. It goes without saying that the payment schedule can change from game to game, so that discerning bettors are agile enough to select the most profitable game each instance.
As soon as the first round has finished, the player can either choose to remain on in an attempt to increase their earnings, or press the ‘collect’ button to cash out any credits that they may have won. Further, a few versions of the game allow the gambler a chance to double their profits, in which case another round is played. There are also variations between individual games, with some decks of cards having wild cards and other differing elements to increase playability.