Win Big with Online Video Poker

Video poker has exploded in popularity over the last few decades, becoming one of the most common casino games found online and in brick-and-mortar establishments. While video poker machines may seem like simple slot machines, they actually involve a large element of skill and strategy that slots do not provide. By using video poker strategy guides and making mathematically optimal plays, you can dramatically increase your chances of winning money legally playing online video poker games at Casino Bruno.

Understanding Video Poker Basics and Terminology

Before diving into specialized tips and tactics, it’s important to understand some video poker fundamentals. Video poker machines function similarly to slots in appearance, allowing players to insert money and press buttons to play independently. However, the games themselves more closely resemble table games, using poker hand rankings to determine payouts.

Here are some common video poker terms to know:

• Pay table: The payout schedule showing reward amounts for different poker hands like a pair, two pair, full house, etc.
• Bankroll: The amount of money set aside specifically for gambling purposes.
• Variance: The natural ups and downs of luck and randomness inherent to casino games.
• Expected value (EV): A game’s average payout over the long run. Positive EV means the game favors the player over the house.

Unlike slots, well-played video poker offers a positive expected value. That makes it crucial to learn optimal strategy to capitalize on that mathematical edge over the long run.

Seek Full Pay and Bonus Video Poker Machines

One key tip is to seek out “full pay” or even better “bonus” pay table video poker machines to play. While a Jacks or Better game may look the same visually, the pay table can differ drastically between machines. Full pay simply means the pay table offers returns of 100% or more when using perfect mathematical strategy. Bonus refers to pay tables offering over 100% returns.

Here’s an example illustrating the difference:

In this example, the full pay Jacks or Better game offers significantly more for poker hands like a Full House and Flush. That directly translates to a higher expected return when making optimal plays. Always check the pay table first before inserting money to play video poker!

Learn Basic Strategy for Your Chosen Game

While video poker looks simple on the surface, the difference between skilled and unskilled play is enormous. Playing by instinct rather than math can slash the game’s return by 10-20% or more. Taking the time to learn basic draw strategy for your chosen video poker title is crucial.

Strategy guides detail the mathematically optimal decision to make for every possible hand combination. For example, proper Jacks or Better strategy covers decisions like:

• When to break up powerful hands like a straight or flush draw to chase a royal flush
• How to play smaller pairs like jacks or tens pre-draw
• When it is correct to discard higher denomination cards like a king or ace

By referencing video poker strategy cards, you can ensure you make the decision with the highest expected value each turn. That provides the maximum return over the long-term.

Set a Strict Gambling Bankroll

Bankroll management is a crucial aspect of responsible video poker play. As with any casino game, there will be natural swings in luck that cause temporary winning and losing streaks. Setting a strict gambling bankroll helps weather those ups and downs.

A general guideline is to set aside 300-500 big blinds worth of cash as your bankroll. In video poker, a single “blind” equals your maximum bet size. So if playing $1 per hand video poker, aim to have $300-500 set aside.

Once you have set your bankroll limit:

• Only gamble with those allocated funds
• Quit playing if you lose your maximum budget for the day
• Lock up and preserve any winnings rather than risking them again

This bankroll system protects you from losing more than you can afford while giving you the best chance to capitalize on positive variance.

Take Advantage of Free Play Options

All reputable online casinos like SlotsPeak offer a free play mode for video poker and other titles. This allows you to play just like real money gambling but without putting actual cash at risk.

Practicing for free is invaluable when first learning optimal video poker strategies across different games.

Free play is also useful for more experienced players looking to learn a new variation before playing for real stakes. And veterans can always brush up on strategy to avoid bad habits forming over time.

So be sure to spend time in free play mode when:

• Learning basic draw strategy for titles like Jacks or Better or Deuces Wild
• Trying a more volatile game like Double Double Bonus for the first time
• Returning from an extended break to brush up on optimal play

Taking advantage of free options ensures you enter real money play armed with the best strategy.

Play Max Coins for Maximum Rewards

When playing progressive jackpot video poker machines, it is essential to play max coins each round. Progressive jackpots require max bet sizes to qualify for the life-changing prizes. And standard progressive machines also increase rewards for all other hands when playing five credits.

Here’s an example five coins versus three coins pay table:

As illustrated above, max betting doubles, triples, or even 10x payouts for big hands.

So while playing max coins increases variance with higher bets, the boost to top rewards significantly raises the game’s overall expected value.

Final Tips to Win Big at Video Poker

Implementing optimal video poker strategy takes discipline, but doing so maximizes your chances to win big. Here are a few final tips:

• Learn basic strategy rather than playing by hunches
• Seek out full pay and bonus pay table machines
• Manage your bankroll and quit while you’re ahead
• Brush up with free play mode before betting real money
• Bet max coins on progressive jackpot games

Follow these tips and video poker transitions from gambling to a legitimate battle of skill against the house. And skill reigns supreme over the long run. So put in the time to study strategy and video poker profits will follow.

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Brandan Bauer

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