How to Play Video Poker
Online video poker is interactive, fun and combines the best of slots and poker games; however, the best part is that it takes almost no time to get the hang of. This step-by-step guide will teach you how to play, explain what a winning hand looks like and look at some of the different variants available.
Playing Video Poker Step by Step
Different video poker variants include Deuces Wild, Jacks or Better, and Double Bonus Poker, but at the core they all work the same. Let’s look at the basics of playing video poker:
Place Your Bet
The first step is choosing how much you want to bet. Video poker machines use coins (also called credits); you must choose the value of each credit. The next step is deciding how many credits you want to bet per hand.
Buttons
On your screen you will notice buttons that easily allow you to either bet only 1 credit or the maximum credits (usually 5).
Paytable
The paytable will be displayed at the top of your screen. It shows you what constitutes winning hands and how much each winning hand pays out.
Cards Are Dealt
After choosing your bet, hit the deal button to get your first five cards. In some video poker games all cards are dealt facing down, and they only turn over once all have been dealt. Other games will deal all cards facing up.
Don’t worry if your hand doesn’t look too good at first. Next, we’ll teach you how to draw new cards.
Holding Cards
The next step is deciding which cards to keep. Use the hold buttons under each of the cards to hold on to the cards you’d like to keep.
Those you don’t “hold” will be replaced by new cards.
Second Draw
After choosing your keepers, hit the draw button again to draw new cards in place of the ones you discarded.
The five cards you have now will represent your final hand.
Determining You Hand and Payout
You don’t have to understand your hand. The machine will automatically determine the best hand you can make by highlighting it in the paytable.
Keep in mind that bigger hands mean bigger payouts.
Once your winnings have been paid out you can play again.
The Aim of the Game
Much like five-card draw, the objective of online video poker is to create a strong hand by choosing whether to keep the cards you have or replace them with new ones. The stronger your hand the bigger the payout. For example, a royal flush (ten, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of the same suit) will be worth much more than three of a kind (three same rank cards plus a pair).
In most video poker machines, you will find a hold button underneath each of your five cards. There will also be a draw or deal button on the screen, which will deal new cards to replace the ones you don’t want to hold.
Don’t fixate too much on what each hand pays out, as this differs from machine to machine and each machine will also have a paytable visible on the screen (typically at the top of the screen). However, it would be good if you could at least remember which hands are worth the most, so you can aim to create these as much as possible.
Winning Poker Hands
| Name | Hand | Order |
|---|---|---|
| Straight Flush | Q - J - 10 - 9 - 8 | Five consecutive cards of the same suit |
| Royal Flush | A - K - Q - J - 10 | 10, A, Q, J, K all of the same suit |
| Full House | J - J - 5 - 5 - 5 | One pair, plus three of a kind |
| Four of a Kind | J - J - J - J - 3 | Four same rank cards |
| Straight | 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 | Five consecutive cards (Aces can be low or high) |
| Flush | J - 10 - 4 - 6 - 3 | All five cards of the same suit |
| Two Pair | K - K - 2 - 6 - 6 | Two pairs, one of one rank and one of another |
| Three of a Kind | 7 - 7 - 7 - 9 - 3 | Three same rank cards |
| Jacks or Better | J - J - 2 - 7 - 4 | A pair of Aces, Jacks, Kings or Queens |
Five Best Tips
At CasinoTop we have played countless hands of online video poker, so we are happy to provide you with our most helpful tips for beginners (or a brush-up for the more advanced players).
The Difference Between Poker and Video Poker
If you are wondering what the difference between poker and video poker is, there are many. The most remarkable difference is that video poker is played against a machine while poker is played against a dealer and other players. This means that you don’t need to try and find tells or read your opponents in video poker.
You also do not have to worry that the good hand that you carefully put together can be beaten by an opponent’s even better hand. Only your hand matters in video poker. Such a relief for players who have suffered too many bad beats to count.
Although some people are of the opinion that video poker is “easy,” it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t require skill to learn strategies for different variants. However, it is safe to say that video poker is a great way to learn what a winning hand looks like without breaking the bank.
Another remarkable difference is the accessibility of video poker, as video poker tends to be more accessible than poker in land-based casinos or standard online poker. You have no opponents, which means you can play as slow or fast as you want.
Different Variations of Video Poker
Most casinos have a wide variety of video poker variants to choose from. Some have multiple games that are all played in the same way.
In fact, the differences between variants are usually small. While you might find your favorite soon, keep in mind that all variants have different payout percentages!
Jacks or Better
This is arguably the most popular version of video poker, and perfect for beginners. It pays out for any hand containing a pair of Jacks or better, with an RTP of 99.5%
Deuces Wild
As the name hints, all twos in this game are wilds. But this also means that the lowest paying hand is three of a kind. You can also expect a payout percentage of 100.8% on the full-pay version.
Double Bonus Poker
This is another variation of Jacks or Better and offers a bonus payout if you can land four Aces. The only difference is that it has a payout percentage of 100.2%.
Aces and Eights
This variant is similar to Jacks or Better, but pays out most for either four sevens, eights, or Aces. Expect a payout percentage of 99.78% on the full-pay version.
Let’s Start Playing!
Now that you’ve got the basics down and understand the game, you can start playing for real cash. Remember to chase the highest paying hands and you'll crush it. If you want to read more about playing poker online, check out our additional guides.
$5,000
Frequently Asked Questions
There’s no guarantee that you will win at video poker. However, you can increase your odds of winning by using a strategy designed for your specific variant. The best approach to video poker is usually slow and strategic gameplay. If faced with a choice between games like slots and video poker, we’d recommend video poker, as the house edge in slots is much higher.
Without a doubt Deuces Wild, if you use a proper strategy and opt for the full-pay version, which gives you an advantage over the house. However, keep in mind that this advantage might only become apparent if you play a vast number of hands.
Yes, the two are quite different. You play video poker against the machine and not opponents and the dealer like with real life poker. While it is often thought that video poker has more in common with slots than poker, it does still require skill and knowledge of what a winning hand is.
Yes! Most, if not all, online casinos offer free versions of their games where you can practice risk-free. Some free video poker games even provide commentary on if you’re making the right move.
Jacks or Better is a good option for beginners due to its high payout percentage and easy winning hands. Regardless, it also comes down to personal taste. You might like a completely different variant.
Whether you’re at a land-based casino or signing up for an online casino, you will always have to be 18 or older to play.
No. It depends on the online casino. Not all online casinos offer video poker.
Yes. You need to know what a winning hand is and how to create one.
No. Like slots, video poker games use random number generators to ensure complete random results.
Some casinos with the best video poker games include El Royale Casino, BetOnline, Wild Casino, and Vegas Casino Online to name a few.
More related guides for you
This page has been reviewed by Reza Shojaei, a pioneer in iGaming with over 15 years of experience. As the founder of CasinoTop.com and Value Marketing, he specializes in market analysis, player safety, and regulatory compliance. Reza’s collaborations with top operators and regulators reflect his commitment to fairness and innovation in online gambling.
