Online Video Poker Game Selection
While your enjoyment comes first, when it comes to winning at online video poker games, some titles are better than others. In fact, pick the right online video poker game and you could have what's called a “positive expectation” scenario. That means that playing that game with a perfect strategy can yield a consistent profit margin. While these games are few and far between, you should have no trouble finding an online video poker game with a payout percentage of 99% or more. Add in your comps, and even these games can be considered positive expectation.
As a general video poker rule, the more complicated an online video poker game is, the less likely it is to offer a positive expectation scenario. Why? Because all the bells and whistles are designed to keep the game interesting for less serious players who are willing to sacrifice a high payout percentage for entertainment value.
Hand Selection
Different online video poker games require slightly different hand selection strategies. The minimum hands for the most popular video poker machines are covered in our video poker tips section. Whereas the oldest and most basic video poker games have a minimum hand of a pair of jacks, some of the newer wild card machines require at least a three of a kind. This makes holding single high cards less advantageous.
Likewise different machines offer different payouts for each combination. It's important to check the paytable before you play a new online video poker game. Some machines offer the same payout for two pairs and three of a kind. In this instance, you'd be better off pursuing two pairs, since they are more common but pay the same as a three of a kind.
Video poker cheat cards are the easiest way for a novice to learn the perfect strategy for any specific online video poker game. While their name might imply otherwise, video poker cheat cards are actually totally legal. These cards are just a shortcut to learning the best choice for each possible hand. Even better, there's a card for every variation and even for different paytables. You can save yourself hours of trial and error by simply memorizing the hand selections recommended by video poker cheat cards.
Progressives
As with slots, some online video poker games are connected to a network that offers a progressive jackpot. Just as you can calculate the probability of getting a certain hand combination, you can also calculate the probability of hitting a progressive jackpot. Once the jackpot goes beyond its average hit amount, many pros consider it its own positive expectation scenario and will play prime progressive games specifically to hit the jackpot. That means that they may be throwing out paying hands in an attempt to get the combination that triggers the jackpot. We do not recommend this strategy to beginners with small bankrolls.
Getting to Know Your Online Video Poker Game
If you're looking to master your preferred game, don't waste your time or money on an outdated poker video or paid lessons. There are two great ways that you can perfect your approach without dropping a dime. First is a video poker trainer, and second is free video poker. Technically, both of these methods are free, but free video poker is called such because it's generally hosted on sites that also offer cash video poker games. A video poker trainer, on the other hand, is usually offered through a strategy site.
Both training methods have their own unique advantages. For example, a video poker trainer will give you a hand-by-hand analysis of what you're doing right and wrong. Free video poker, on the other hand, won't tell you what you're doing wrong but will get you accustomed to the actual workings and odds of your preferred online video poker game. If you're serious about making a profit with online video poker, then these tools are a great way to calculate payout percentages and to fine-tune your video poker strategies.
