Video Poker is a beloved game that can be played in casinos across the world, or alternatively at home on your computer, through a web connection. The rules are absolutely straightforward and involve the player attempting to get the highest assemblage of cards achievable in order to come away with cash. In this respect it is much the same as a regular game of poker, minus the involvement with any other players. Of course, methods used in a physical game of poker, such as tricking, will be irrelevant in Video Poker.

The game of Video Poker begins when the enthusiast puts credits (whether it is tokens, credit slips or cash) into the video poker machine and pushes the deal button. A 5 card hand will then be electronically ‘dealt’ on the video screen.

The Electronic Poker machine also has hold buttons, and players should now decide which cards to hold and which to discard. For the cards the enthusiast would like to retain, the ‘hold’ buttons should 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 bettor has selected which cards he would like to keep, the player will then press ‘deal’, which will mean that any fresh cards are handed out if desired. The game is now finished, with the Electronic Poker machine analyzing the cards to see if it matches any of the winning hands shown on the payout schedule.

Normally, the lowest succeeding hand on an Electronic Poker machine is a pair of jacks with the award money increasing for each better hand. A list of common winning hands begins 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 finally royal flushes. It is obvious that the pay out schedule can range from machine to machine, so that skillful players are able to pick the most profitable machine each and every time.

Once the first round has completed, the player can either decide to remain on in an attempt to increase their earnings, or press the ‘collect’ button to cash out any money that might have been won. Further, a few styles of the game allow the player a chance to double their winnings, in which case another game is played. There are also variations between specific machines, with some virtual decks including wild cards and other varying elements to enhance playability.