Video Poker

What is Bitcoin Video Poker? 

Video poker is a computerized poker game that allows players to play against a computer opponent that you can play for Bitcoin and other crypto. With a typical return rate of 97-99% or higher, video poker offers the potential for even higher payouts with the use of strategies and winning techniques.

Here, we'll explain what video poker is, highlighting the differences between online and real casino poker.

Overview of Bitcoin Video Poker

Video poker is a BTC poker game controlled by a computer. Players compete with the machine by creating poker hands with cards displayed on the monitor.

While traditional poker involves competing with other players at a dealer's table, video poker allows players to enjoy the game solo, creating high hands without opponents.

Widely introduced in many online casinos, it provides an opportunity for casual play in regions like Japan, where physical casinos are not yet established. Similar to the category of video slots, it is user-friendly for poker beginners aiming to get accustomed to the game pace. It's also popular among high rollers and seasoned veterans. 

Differences Between Video Poker and Traditional Poker

The main differences between video poker and traditional poker lie in the absence of opponents and the handling of hands. In traditional poker, multiple players compete for the strength of a hand, but in video poker, you create your own strong hand. Video poker requires a different set of strategies as the psychological aspect of traditional poker is not present. 

Regarding hands, the treatment of one pair differs. While any two cards from 2 to Ace can form a one-pair hand in traditional poker, video poker may not count as a one-pair hand unless there are at least two cards of 10 or higher (10 to Ace). 

Types of Video Poker

There are various types of video poker, and here we'll explain some representative ones included in the category of video poker. 

Jacks or Better

Jacks or Better is the most common video poker game, widely adopted in both land-based and online casinos. Payouts occur with a pair of Jacks (J) or higher, and be cautious as there are no returns for pairs like "2" or "10." 

Deuces Wild

Deuces Wild is a rule in which a "2 (deuce)" acts as the wild card, regardless of the pattern of the cards. A three of a kind or better pays out.

The "2" can replace any card, but it is important to use it effectively in order to get a higher paying hand. Conversely, if you can make a natural hand that does not contain the "2" wild card, you will receive a higher payout.

All American

All American is based on Jacks or Better, with the distinction that flushes and straights have higher payouts, while full houses and pairs have lower payouts.

Joker Wild

Joker Wild incorporates a Joker as a wild card in the poker game. The Joker serves as a wild card, affecting the payouts for similar hands. Payouts are confirmed with a one pair of "Kings" or higher, and a natural hand without the Joker results in higher payouts. 

Ace and Face

Ace and Face poker has the same basic payout as other poker games, but only the four of a kind pays differently. A pair of "K" (King) or higher will pay out, and "A" (Ace) is the highest paying.

The payout depends on the number of four of a kind. Ace" and "8" four of a kind pay more than a straight flush, so you will need to think about your strategy.

Full and Low Pay

Full and Low Pay is a rule where the payout is 9 times the wager on a full house and 6 times the wager on a flush. Most online casinos only offer full pay machines.

Low pay machines pay less (typically 8x on a full house and 5x on a flush), but have a higher house edge.

Tens or Better    

Tens or Better is a variation of Jacks or Better where a pair of "10s" or higher results in payouts. It's suitable for those looking for low-risk gameplay.

Double Bonus

Double Bonus (Double Bonus) has the same rules as Jacks or Better, except that one pair of "K" or better pays out. Also, the four of a kind pays higher, and the strength of the four of a kind changes from "5-K" < "2-4" < "A".

The "A" four of a kind pays more than a flush, so it is recommended for advanced players who want to aim for higher payouts.

Five-card draw

The name of this game type refers to the five cards each player receives in their hand. Players are then given the option of replacing those cards to improve their hand. The “draw” is made, and unwanted cards are thrown out of the hand, which are then replaced with new cards from the deck. Bets are placed both before and after the draw, with a showdown taking place for the final pot.

Seven-card stud

In this form of poker, the player is dealt seven cards, some of which will be face up and the others face down. The player must then assemble the best five-card hand they can from that initial seven card hand. Although like Texas hold’em, seven-card stud is differentiated as the cards are not shared by the table and belong to the individual.

Deuces wild

Here, all 2s are wild. The payouts for four of a kind hands are much bigger in this version and will usually come up more often.

Basic Rules of Video Poker

The rules for video poker are relatively easy. It is actually quite similar to Yahtzee in some ways, but with a significant amount of extra variety. When you first begin to play, your first step will be to choose your wager. Different games have different wager ranges, so depending on the game you choose to play, you may be placing high wagers or low wagers. Almost every video poker game uses a one to five coins wagering system, but some do have different values for the coins. This is how they allow for different wager ranges without having to undertake wholesale changes to the pay tables within the game. Once you have chosen your wager, you will be dealt your first hand.

Your first hand will be dealt randomly from a deck of 52 cards. Despite video poker being a computer program, it still uses an algorithm to ensure that the deck is both shuffled fairly and dealt out fairly. It actually offers a fairer shuffle than in real life due to the algorithm carrying out the shuffle without human error. Your first hand will contain five cards. Once you have received your cards, you can then choose which ones you would like to keep and which ones you would like to discard. You can keep as many as you like or discard as many as you like. Once you have chosen which cards you would like to keep or discard, you will be dealt out more cards from the deck to make sure that you have a hand of five cards. If you choose to discard no cards, then you will be dealt no additional cards. The cards are dealt from whatever is left in the deck – just because it is a computer dealing does not mean that the cards will just be random cards. They still come from the genuine cards that are remaining. The aim is to create the best possible poker hand. Depending on the pay table, you will then either be paid out depending on what your hand is, or you will not be paid at all if your hand is sufficiently bad.

Game Flow

The basic flow of a typical video poker game is as follows:

• Set the Bet Amount.
• Press the "DEAL" button to receive 5 cards.
• You can exchange cards once. Hold the cards you want to keep and select "DRAW" for the ones you want to change.
• Reveal the cards, and if a hand is formed, the payout is determined. If not, the bet amount is forfeited.
  

How to Play Bitcoin Video Poker

The objective of video poker is to create a stronger hand (combination of cards). After revealing the cards, if a valid hand is formed, you receive a payout. At this point, you can choose the Double Challenge option.

In the Double Challenge, you pick one card from four, and you must choose a card stronger than the face-up card. If successful, your payout is doubled; otherwise, you lose all winnings. This adds a higher level of gambling excitement to the game.

Compared to live casino poker or traditional casinos, the cycles are shorter, and the steps are fewer, making the game more efficient in determining wins and losses.

Video Poker Hands and Payouts 

The types of hands and their payouts may vary slightly depending on the game, but in general, video poker has nine common hands listed below in descending order of significance:

Card rankings follow a hierarchy from the strongest, "A" (Ace), to "K" (King), "Q" (Queen), "J" (Jack), and down to the weakest, "2". Suits (hearts, spades, etc.) generally do not determine strength.

In case players have the same hand, the comparison is made based on the strength of the cards. If this still doesn't resolve the tie, non-hand cards are compared from the top down. Video poker payouts are determined based on the hand, and if multiple hands are formed, payouts accumulate.

Strategies to Win in Video Poker 

There are numerous video poker strategies. There is no guarantee that you will win by following a winning strategy, but it will increase your chances of winning. Here are some ideas of strategies for beginners and advanced players, respectively.

Basic Strategy for Beginners

If you are new to video poker, start with basic strategy. To begin with, it is important to choose a machine with a high payout percentage, such as Jacks or Better. The same game has different payouts for full houses and flushes on different machines, such as Jacks or Better 9/6 and Jacks or Better 8/5. Check the machine's payout and choose the one with the higher number.

When you are dealt a hand of cards, if you have already made a hand, play the cards as they are. If you do not have any cards in your hand, consider the following.

• 1 Card Short: Exchange the missing card.
• 2 Cards Short: Prioritize keeping pairs.
• 3 Cards of the Same Suit: Aim for a flush.
• 4 Cards Straight: Aim for a straight.
• 4 Cards of the Same Suit: Aim for a flush.
• 2 Pairs: Keep the pairs and exchange the remaining card.
• Close to a Royal Flush (missing 2 cards): Keep 3 related cards and aim for the hand.
• 1 Card Away from Flush/Straight: Hold 4 cards.
  

It may be difficult to judge by the cards in the hand when you are not used to it, but basically, the safest way is to aim for the highest paying hand by comparing the cards in your hand to the cards you have already played.

Advanced Strategies for Experts

Advanced tactics for advanced video poker players are listed below.

• Opt for machines with the highest payout rates.
• Prioritize exchanging low cards in Jacks or Better.
• Double Double Bonus Strategy: When holding 4 cards, always exchange the kicker.
• Progressive Jackpot Strategy: Set maximum bet for a chance at special jackpot prizes.
  

Online video poker is all about improving your skills and knowledge, as well as choosing the right machine. Keep playing steadily and upgrade your strategy by improving your skills. 

Using strategies with expertise, such as GTO vs. Exploitative play in poker, can also help.

Everyone acquires skills through winning and losing. You can also learn a lot by reading books on poker strategy.

Tips and Techniques for Enjoying Video Poker 

Poker, despite being a psychological game, can be challenging to delve into the opponent's mind

immediately. Start by betting small amounts to observe and develop a sense of the game gradually. 

Additionally, it is crucial for beginners to be prepared for losses, even with strong hands like an Ace pair. Maintaining confidence despite unexpected losses is important. 

Over the long term, you will gradually learn about hands that result in more wins. To succeed in poker, it's vital to play the actual game, master hands, and gain experience. Firmly grasp the basics and accumulate experience; anyone can improve. 

Until your skills improve, be cautious and stick to small bets. Proper bankroll management is essential, as overspending or excessive losses should be avoided.

Strategies for online video poker

Avoid playing bad hands

The top tip for a winning video poker strategy. If you’re starting with a less-than-stellar hand, it's more than likely you will see a poor result. Make sure you can always justify why you are entering into a hand and playing a given round. Being honest with yourself will allow you to nip bad hands in the bud rather than letting them continue to generate low returns.

Evaluate the size of the pot

When playing poker online, you have the full value of the pot readily available. Take advantage of this by figuring out the best amount to bet in a given hand. This will help you avoid losses. After all, there’s no point losing more money than the pot is actually worth.

Practice self-control 

One of the biggest issues facing players of all levels, but particularly video poker newbies, is self-control. Without self-control, even the most seasoned veteran can turn a winning hand into a loss.

Much of this is rooted in a lack of confidence in one’s own judgement. With that said, developing discipline when wagering can be the difference between breaking even and suffering a hefty loss. Of all the points to take from these video poker basics, let this be the one that you bear in mind most often.

For some, self-control will come over time as you gain more experience in online video poker, so practice as often as you can right here at Bitcasino. This will give you a better sense of when it’s time to fold and when it’s time to claim the table.

Playing more games will allow you to build up the experience and gain greater confidence in your playing decisions, naturally leading to better self-control and informed decisions. As part of this learning experience, take the opportunity to reflect on a bad hand and analyse whether your decision was the right one

Common mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the payouts in Texas Hold'em Poker?

In the widely-played "Texas Hold'em" poker, payouts are uniformly set at 1x, determined by the strength of the hand.

What is poker as a sport?

Poker attracts attention as a competitive sport. Some individuals make a living as professional poker players, utilizing skills such as psychological warfare, analytical ability, probability assessment, and mastering standard strategies to maintain a high winning rate.

What are the victory conditions in poker?

In poker, the player who forms the strongest hand among the participants is the winner. To receive payouts in video poker, you need to create a hand stronger than the computer program. Winning amounts vary depending on the game, hand, and bet amount.

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