|
 |
|
OPTIMAL STRATEGY: In video poker you are dealt five cards and can hold or swap any number of them to try to increase your chances of making a hand. You can only do this once. The rules given in the table on the right describe which cards you should hold. Wherever possible, choose the option that is highest on the list. Every time you make a mistake with this strategy it is the equivalent of giving away one full bet every 1000 hands, not much but it does add up over time so stay alert! A high card is a jack, queen, king or ace - the cards that will pay out when they pair up. An inside straight is a straight that can only be completed with one card, i.e. 6,7,9,10 can only be completed with an eight. An outside straight can be completed with two cards, i.e. 6,7,8,9 can be completed with a 10 or a 5. example
Here you can see that there are three holding options; either hold the low pair of threes, hold the two high suited cards (Jack of clubs and Queen of clubs), or hold the four clubs in the hope of making a flush. Simply look at the table on the right and see which option is ranked highest. As you can see the low pair is ranked 9th, the two suited high cards is ranked 11th and the four to a flush is ranked 8th, so you should choose to keep the four clubs. |
|
click here to try this system out at 888Casino.com
|
HOUSE ADVANTAGE: expected return The table on the right shows different variations in payout which you can expect from one casino to the next. Check which of the payout structures most closely resembles the one you are playing to discover your expected return. This is not as straightforward as the house edge in blackjack as you can go for a long time without getting a decent win. Over the long run you will certainly get back what the expected return says you will, but with less hands you are much more susceptible to luck. Fluctuations can occur when you have a streak without hitting the bigger hands, or when you get a cluster of them together. If you stick with it though you should achieve the return listed in the table by the time you've reached your wagering requirement. Note: always play for maximum stakes in video poker, the return is much more favourable. |
|