Video Poker Rules

Video Poker is one of the most exciting new casino games that combine the huge payouts of slot machines with the skill of draw poker. The rules of online video poker are the same as casino video poker - to make the best possible poker hand.

The poker game is Five-Card Draw. In this variation of poker, the player is dealt 5 cards and is able to keep or discard one or more of the original cards dealt in order to be dealt new cards that will improve her hand. All video poker machines have listed on them what is called their payout schedule. This tells the player how much he will be paid for each poker hand based on how many coins were inserted.

Here is a simple run-down of the rules of our Video Poker game!

Card Ranks:
Almost all poker games use a regular deck of 52 cards, comprised of four suits that each have 13 cards ranking as follows from highest to lowest: ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. (Note that the poker rules for most games stipulate that the ace can also be counted as the lowest card).

When you are dealt replacement cards for your discards, your new hand is evaluated. Based on what kind of hand you are holding, you will receive a certain number of points. Hands are listed below, from highest scores, to no scores

ROYAL STRAIGHT FLUSH (ROYAL FLUSH)
The highest five denomination, all in the same suit:
A K Q J 10

STRAIGHT FLUSH

Five cards in denomination sequence, all in the same suit:
5 6 7 8 9

FOUR OF A KIND

Four cards of the same denomination:
10 10 10 10 J

FULL HOUSE

Three cards of one denomination and two of another denomination:
Q Q Q 5 5

FLUSH

All five cards in the same suit:
2 5 7 8 k

STRAIGHT

Five cards in denomination sequence:
4 5 6 7 8

THREE OF A KIND

Three cards of the same denomination:
7 7 7 2 A

TWO PAIR

Two cards of the denomination and two cards of another denomination:
A A 6 6 3

ONE PAIR

Two cards of the same denomination: K K 7 A 9

HIGH CARD

The card of the highest denomination. Ace is the highest and Deuce is the lowest. Tiebreakers go to the next highest card.
Q 5 2 9 7

Note:
In video poker, Straights Flushes should not appear on the screen in sequence order.

Each hand of a poker game is, in essence, a self-contained game in which someone will be awarded the pot. The dealer who deals the cards according to the specific poker rules for that game initiates a new hand. Each player in turn, proceeding clock-wise from the dealer, either bet or check (also known as a pass). If a player makes an opening bet, the next player clockwise has three choices: fold, call or raise (Players can no longer check once a bet has been made).

A "fold" means that the player does not want to spend more money to play for the pot; therefore, he discards his cards and is no longer a part of the hand. A "call" means that the player stands in the hand by betting an amount equal to the current bet. A "raise" means that the player increases the current bet. Betting ends when all who wish to call the highest bet have done so or when all but one player has dropped out. The poker rules for the specific game may limit the number of raises allowed. However if only two players are in the pot they can keep raising each other indefinitely.

According to the poker rules for the specific game, the sequence of dealing cards and having a round of betting continues. At the end of the last betting round, all players who are left in the hand have a showdown in which the player with the best hand is awarded the pot. It is the obligation of the player who made the last bet or raise (not call) to show her hand first in the showdown.

The other remaining players then show their hands in a clockwise fashion. However, the other players do not have to show their hands; if they know they are beaten, they can just concede the pot. Remember that not all hands will reach the showdown stage; very often, a player will win the pot because all other players have folded their cards. These are some basic poker rules that should help you in your game of online poker.

Advantages of playing online video poker
Today there are real advantages of playing online video poker compared to machine based video poker.


1. With online video poker there is no time pressure; one can play hands at home at a pace that suits you. In a casino there are distractions, at home you can concentrate fully on the video poker game and therefore stand a change of beating the house edge.

2. The graphics that you get at home make the video poker is amazing. The ambient noise makes you feel you are on the floor of the casino!

3. As online casino operations have expanded more casino operators have invested in customer service and retention. Thus, playing video poker at home now means that you can enjoy generous bonus programs without having to journey to Vegas to enjoy comps!

The future of online video poker looks promising. We believe that the video poker players will continue to benefit from great customer service, better games and higher payouts.