• Video Poker Basic Strategy Chart
• Video Poker Strategy Free

Video poker is one of the few casino games where the player's input has a major effect on the outcome of the game. Every time you push Deal you receive five new cards and have a total of thirty-two ways to play the hand. To be a successful video poker player, you have to make the best choice out of those thirty-two options as often as possible.

Video Poker Strategy We’ve been touching on a selection of the most popular video poker games at online casino in every department from rules to odds. We’ll continue using those same examples as we outline strategies for playing in each instance. The basic strategy for any video poker game is determined by comparing the expected value of each decision and choosing the one with the highest expected mathematical return for the player. You see, in any video poker game, you’re dealt an initial 5 card hand.

Since computers can mathematically analyze all thirty-two ways to play any given hand, it is possible to figure out the absolutely correct decision for every hand you receive. However, most players don't carry around high powered computers when they are in the casino, so how is this useful?

EDITORS CHOICE: BEST VIDEO POKER STRATEGY CARDS Bob Dancer's Video Poker Strategy Cards - Set of 9 by Bob Dancer These video poker strategy cards were developed by everybody's favorite video poker authority-Bob Dancer-along with strategist extraordinaire Liam W. Daily, and may be the best strategy cards ever devised for any game. The most important thing in video poker is learning which of your original five cards to keep or hold and which to discard. You should have a basic knowledge of what beats what and how to play five-card draw before getting into the nitty-gritty of strategy.

Well, fortunately for us, some video poker experts have taken it upon themselves to analyze every single hand that can come off the deck, and assemble their findings into easy to read charts that teach players how to play. Below we have strategy charts for the most common video poker games:

Where to Play Video Poker Online

Most of our pages above list just an expert-level strategy chart that will get you to within 0.1% of the maximum payout percentage for the respective game. Some of the pages also list a beginner-level strategy chart that isn't as accurate, but is easier to follow. If you want to play video poker on your PC check out our guide here. Alternatively, you can also have a look at this site's list of ipad video poker app for real money.

How to Use a Video Poker Strategy Chart

The strategy charts on our site are actually very simple to understand, but to a beginner they may be a bit overwhelming at the start. To use a chart you follow these steps:

1. Analyze your hand. Make sure you look at all five of your cards before looking at the chart.
2. Start at the top of the chart and work down. You are looking for any spots on the chart where your hand matches up. For example, if you had four hearts in your hand as well as a pair of Kings, it would match up with 'Four to a Flush' as well as 'High Pair'.
3. Once you find a couple matches for your hand, observe which one is highest on the chart. Hold the cards indicated by the highest match.

If you still are a little confused, check out the below example to clear things up:

An Example Hand Analysis

Imagine you are playing a normal Deuces Wild video poker machine. You push 'Draw', and are dealt the hand below:

Ok, so what do we have here as far as options? Well, first of all, we have a Pat Straight, Seven to Jack - a made hand. We also have four clubs, so we have Four to a Flush. If we look at the chart below (a condensed strategy chart for Deuces Wild), we can see that a Pat Straight is just above Four to a Flush, so the Pat Straight is the better hand of the two.

But wait! Since all we need for a straight flush is the nine of clubs, we also have Four to a Straight Flush. Because Four to a Straight Flush is higher on the chart than both a Pat Straight and Four to a Flush, the correct play here is to hold the four clubs and discard the nine of spades in hopes of hitting the Straight Flush.

See - it really isn't bad at all, as long as you pay attention to all the cards in your hand.

Video Poker Basic Strategy Chart

How Accurate are Strategy Charts?

Another intelligent question to ask is how accurate are these charts? If you find a game that returns 100.5%, but your chart has 0.6% error in it, then you are actually only playing at a 99.9% return - also known as a losing gamble.

Well, the charts on our site are on roughly accurate to within 0.1% of perfect play. So, if you find that game that returns 100.5%, you would be actually earning about 100.4% with our charts - not too bad. Not many charts get much closer than 0.1% because they would have to be extremely long and complicated to explain the subtle differences in rare hands.

Video Poker Strategy Software

Video Poker Strategy Free

There are quite a few programs out there than can develop custom strategy charts for all kinds of games with various pay tables. We have reviewed quite a few of these programs, here are links to our reviews:

Video poker is one of the few casino games that give players the chance to win by using their skills and knowledge. Throughout the years, a number of strategies have been developed in an attempt to improve the odds of the game and make it more favourable for the players. Experienced video poker players know that they need to employ a proper strategy in order to win in the long term. Undoubtedly, one of the most important strategies that every poker enthusiast needs to know is the basic strategy. This is the first step towards becoming a proficient video poker player.

Many inexperienced gamblers often rely solely on luck, which in games such as video poker, is not the best decision since it is possible to influence their outcome by having appropriate knowledge. The truth is that players can enjoy video poker the most, only if they follow a strategy. The chance to win the game by using the relevant skills is one of the things that make it so interesting and exciting.

Not to mention the fact that thanks to the basic strategy, players can gain advantage and win some cash which is a valuable opportunity which not many casino games offer. Moreover, once players have mastered the basic strategy, they can improve their game even more by learning the advanced strategy.

Basic Strategy Overview

The basic strategy is one of the most used strategies when it comes to video poker. It works very well as it has proven to be highly efficient and reliable. It is perfect for even inexperienced players as it is very simple and easy to use. Nowadays, it is extremely accessible to learn the basic strategy as there are many available charts on the Internet. In brief, this strategy suggests the best moves players can make, depending on the hand they have. It uses basic rules and principles which makes it easy to grasp. It is also worth mentioning that the basic strategy chart varies, depending on the variation of video poker.

How the Basic Strategy Works

The most important decision that every player needs to make while playing video poker, is to decide which card to hold and which one to replace. The basic strategy serves as a guide as it suggests which move is the best in a particular situation. Regardless of the variation that players have chosen to play, at the beginning of each round, they will be dealt five cards. It is possible to replace all of the five cards or none of them and it is entirely up to the players to make this decision. Without an appropriate strategy, it can be really hard to decide as the possible card combinations that can be formed are a lot.

Unless players are dealt the best hand – Royal Flush, they should always discard at least one card. This rule inevitably gives rise to the question which cards are supposed to be replaced and which ones should be held. This is where the basic strategy comes into effect. In order to clarify this matter further, let’s have a look at some of the fundamental things which players should remember.

First of all, there are certain cards or combinations of cards that players should always keep in their hand. One of the major rules of the basic strategy is that it is always good to keep winning cards. In most games, these cards are usually a pair of jacks or better, although, in certain variations, they can be as low as a pair of tens. There is no obvious reason to discard such strong cards as they are highly beneficial. There are a few rare occasions that it might be acceptable to replace a winning pair. For instance, if players have 4 or 5 cards that contribute to a Royal Flush. In such cases, it is a good idea to discard the card that does not belong to the combination and go for a Flush. The odds are against players and in most cases, they will lose. However, the risk might be worth taking as in case they get lucky they can win big.

Secondly, in most cases players should hold high cards. Four of a Kind, Straight Flush, Full House, Royal Flush, Pair of Two are among the card combinations which should be always held. In case that players hold Three of a Kind, they should replace the two remaining cards. If they are dealt a hand with no winning combinations or pairs, it is best to keep whatever high cards they have. Usually, face cards are considered to be high value ones. The reason why players should always keep high cards is that this way, they have a 1/13 chance of getting a matching card and an even better chance of getting a winning hand. However, sometimes it is best to hold a low pair, instead of keeping a single high card.

Another thing that players should keep in mind is that discarding all of the cards in their hand should be their last resort. The basic rule is that whenever players have a card that can lead to a winning combination, they should always keep it. For instance, three cards that can develop into a Straight, two cards that are consecutive, or any cards of the same rank or suit.

Last but not least, whenever players have a card that contributes to forming a Straight, they should keep it. The reason why, is that the payouts for this winning combinations are very high. However, it is worth mentioning the chances of getting it are not high enough and therefore, in some cases, it is best to keep a pair than to go for a Straight. In addition, players should break a Straight only if they have four cards to Royal Flush.

Another important thing that should be taken into account is the difference between an outside Straight and an inside Straight. An outside Straight is “open ended”, meaning that it consists of 4 consecutive cards and it can be completed by a card on either end. For example, a hand that consists of 4, 5, 6, 7 would be considered an outside Straight because it can be completed by either a 3 or an 8. On the other hand, an inside Straight is 4 non-consecutive cards that require an “inside” card in order to be formed. For example, 4, 5, 7, 8 is considered to be an inside Straight, because it requires a 6. Outside Straights are much easier to make and thus, players should aim at getting them more.

Conclusion

The basic strategy is one of the best strategies that video poker enthusiasts can learn in order to improve their game. Thanks to it, it is possible to successfully gain advantage and make a profit in the long term. It is moderately easy to grasp which makes it suitable for all types of players, regardless of their experience and knowledge. Nowadays, players can find video poker in a number of brick and mortar casinos as well as online which makes it extremely easy to play it on a regular basis and develop their skills. Moreover, a lot of online casinos also offer free play mode, meaning that it is entirely risk-free to enjoy video poker.