Video poker offers a variety of game variations, each with unique rules, paytables, and strategies. Understanding these variations can help you find the game that suits your preferences and increase your chances of winning. Here’s a guide to some of the most popular variations of online video poker:
A Guide to the Different Variations of Online Video Poker
1. Jacks or Better
- Objective: Form a winning hand with at least a pair of Jacks or higher.
- Paytable: Payouts start with a pair of Jacks, with higher rewards for hands like Two Pair, Three of a Kind, and Royal Flush.
- Strategy: Hold any pair of Jacks or higher, high cards that can complete a straight or flush, and four cards to a Royal Flush.
2. Deuces Wild
- Objective: Use 2s (deuces) as wild cards to form the best possible hand.
- Paytable: All 2s are wild and can substitute for any card. The paytable usually offers higher payouts for hands that include multiple wild cards.
- Strategy: Always hold 2s and aim for high-paying hands like Four of a Kind or a Royal Flush with the help of wild cards.
3. Joker Poker
- Objective: Use a Joker as a wild card to complete poker hands.
- Paytable: The Joker acts as a wild card and can substitute for any card. The paytable varies, often including higher payouts for hands involving the Joker.
- Strategy: Hold onto the Joker and high-value cards. Play for high hands like Five of a Kind or a Royal Flush when possible.
4. Double Bonus Poker
- Objective: Form winning hands with bonus payouts for certain hands.
- Paytable: Features higher payouts for Four of a Kind compared to Jacks or Better, but lower payouts for other hands. The paytable often includes bonus payouts for specific Four of a Kind hands.
- Strategy: Hold onto any high card or a hand that could potentially lead to a Four of a Kind. Adjust your strategy based on the paytable to maximize bonuses.
5. Double Double Bonus Poker
- Objective: Achieve high payouts for specific Four of a Kind hands, with an emphasis on hands like Four Aces or Four 2s.
- Paytable: Offers significant bonuses for Four Aces and Four 2s, with different payouts compared to standard Double Bonus Poker.
- Strategy: Prioritize holding hands that could lead to Four Aces or Four 2s. Use the paytable to guide your strategy for optimal results.
6. Triple Play Video Poker
- Objective: Play three hands simultaneously with a single set of cards.
- Paytable: The paytable is similar to that of Jacks or Better, but winnings are calculated across three hands.
- Strategy: Apply Jacks or Better strategy to each hand, aiming to maximize payouts across all three.
7. Multi-Hand Video Poker
- Objective: Play multiple hands at once, typically 5, 10, or 50 hands per deal.
- Paytable: The paytable remains the same as the base game (e.g., Jacks or Better), but payouts are calculated across all hands.
- Strategy: Use the same strategy as the base game but consider the increased number of hands. Focus on holding cards that offer the best chance for a winning hand across multiple hands.
8. Aces and Eights
- Objective: Form winning hands with specific bonuses for Aces and Eights.
- Paytable: Bonuses are given for Four of a Kind hands, particularly Aces and Eights, which receive higher payouts.
- Strategy: Hold onto Aces, Eights, and any hands that could lead to a high-paying Four of a Kind. Use the paytable to guide your strategy.
9. Loose Deuces
- Objective: Utilize 2s (deuces) as wild cards, but with different rules and paytables compared to Deuces Wild.
- Paytable: The paytable often includes unique payout structures for hands involving wild cards.
- Strategy: Hold onto 2s and play for strong hands like Four of a Kind or a Royal Flush, adjusting your strategy based on the paytable.
10. All American Video Poker
- Objective: Form high-paying hands with a unique paytable structure.
- Paytable: Offers high payouts for hands like Four Aces, but often has lower payouts for other hands compared to Jacks or Better.
- Strategy: Focus on forming high-value hands, especially Four Aces, and adjust your play based on the specific paytable.
11. Super Times Pay Video Poker
- Objective: Play video poker with the added feature of multipliers on certain hands.
- Paytable: Features multipliers that can significantly increase payouts for winning hands.
- Strategy: Use standard video poker strategy but be aware of the multiplier feature, which can affect payout calculations.
Conclusion
Each variation of video poker offers unique gameplay elements, paytables, and strategies. By understanding the differences and strategies for each variation, you can choose the game that best suits your preferences and potentially increase your chances of winning. Whether you prefer classic Jacks or Better or enjoy the added complexity of Deuces Wild or Triple Play, knowing the rules and strategies for each game is key to a successful and enjoyable video poker experience.