A workable video poker strategy is a no frills strategy. Video poker may be the game for you if you are looking for a solitaire-type game that still has the characteristics of poker. In video poker, you don't have to face other people; you don't have to take into account any psychological factors. The only things you have to worry about are the type of poker game you are playing, the contents of your hand, and the soundness of your poker strategy.
If you are a player with strong intuitive math skills along with unlimited patience in grinding, then it's time to go hit the casinos and find the best video poker machines out there. Video poker players need to keep their math intact because math is the foundation of a good video poker strategy. As for grinding, that is a must because hundreds or even thousands of hands may be needed before a good player can profit decently.
There are two types of video poker games that are found in casinos. The first, and the most familiar one, is the Jacks or better variant; that type of poker game requires you to get a Pair of Jacks or better in your hand so that you can earn any payout or at least break-even. A common piece of advice: when you are playing this poker variant, you should look for those machines that offer a 9-to-1 return if you get a Full House and a 6-to-1 return if you get a Flush. Such poker machines are called 9/6 machines and are the machines that give you the best returns for your money. In these 9/6 machines, you can profit in the long run through sound play.
The second is the Deuces Wild variant; here, all Deuces (or Twos) are considered wild cards and therefore can take the place of any card. The Deuces will substitute for cards that can give you the best possible hand. For example, if you are holding 10-9-7-2-2, the two Deuces will become a Jack and an Eight, because that will give you a J-10-9-8-7 Straight. If you are holding 10-6-3-2-2, the two Deuces will become two Tens, thus giving you 10-10-10-6-3, or a Three of a Kind, as the best hand. In Deuces Wild, the best possible hand is Five of a Kind (an example is J-2-2-2-2 where you get five Jacks). The minimal hand that you should have for you to get payouts in Deuces Wild is Three of a Kind.
Video poker strategy for Jacks or better and Deuces Wild is basically the same. For instance, you don't discard any cards if you already have a made hand, unless you have a Royal Flush draw. If you have three cards that can lead to a royal flush, and you haven't made any hand yet, don't let go of them. If you don't have a Pair and you have high cards, keep two high cards and draw. If you have a Pair, always go for the Three of a Kind. Such rules apply for both types of video poker.
If you are a player with strong intuitive math skills along with unlimited patience in grinding, then it's time to go hit the casinos and find the best video poker machines out there. Video poker players need to keep their math intact because math is the foundation of a good video poker strategy. As for grinding, that is a must because hundreds or even thousands of hands may be needed before a good player can profit decently.
There are two types of video poker games that are found in casinos. The first, and the most familiar one, is the Jacks or better variant; that type of poker game requires you to get a Pair of Jacks or better in your hand so that you can earn any payout or at least break-even. A common piece of advice: when you are playing this poker variant, you should look for those machines that offer a 9-to-1 return if you get a Full House and a 6-to-1 return if you get a Flush. Such poker machines are called 9/6 machines and are the machines that give you the best returns for your money. In these 9/6 machines, you can profit in the long run through sound play.
The second is the Deuces Wild variant; here, all Deuces (or Twos) are considered wild cards and therefore can take the place of any card. The Deuces will substitute for cards that can give you the best possible hand. For example, if you are holding 10-9-7-2-2, the two Deuces will become a Jack and an Eight, because that will give you a J-10-9-8-7 Straight. If you are holding 10-6-3-2-2, the two Deuces will become two Tens, thus giving you 10-10-10-6-3, or a Three of a Kind, as the best hand. In Deuces Wild, the best possible hand is Five of a Kind (an example is J-2-2-2-2 where you get five Jacks). The minimal hand that you should have for you to get payouts in Deuces Wild is Three of a Kind.
Video poker strategy for Jacks or better and Deuces Wild is basically the same. For instance, you don't discard any cards if you already have a made hand, unless you have a Royal Flush draw. If you have three cards that can lead to a royal flush, and you haven't made any hand yet, don't let go of them. If you don't have a Pair and you have high cards, keep two high cards and draw. If you have a Pair, always go for the Three of a Kind. Such rules apply for both types of video poker.
