Poker Heroes
Video Poker FAQ: Questions and Answers
FAQ. Is video poker the same as slot machines?
No, only similar in concept and physical structure. Video poker is a game of strategy; slots are pure luck. In video poker, you know the odds you are up against and how much the casino pays out on each machine. This is because video poker simulates the use of a standard deck of cards (usually 52) and has a pay table. Slots have a pay table too but you don't know how many symbols are programmed in the computer, there's no way to tell the probability of each symbol appearing. You could be aiming for a 1 in 10,000,000 jackpot and not know it. In video poker, you know the best hand - a royal flush - always has a 1 in 40,000 chance of hitting.
FAQ. Which video poker games should I play?
If you play for fun, you can play anything. But if you're playing for profit, play only games with a payback percentage of over 100% when played with perfect strategy. But these are getting increasingly rare. If you can't find positive-expectation games as these are called, look for games with 99.9% payback percentage or higher. Used together with a slot card and strategy, you may yet overcome the house edge.
FAQ. What is perfect strategy?
They are the best hold/discard decisions for each hand. The best decision is defined as the one that gives you the highest expected return.
FAQ. Can I practice strategy for two similar games at the same time?
A. No. Although video poker games may appear similar, they usually are not. The same hand may require a different strategy depending on the game and/or pay table.
Video poker is like martial arts. Practicing two similar arts would be counter-intuitive and it's better to practice one, or at most two systems that are quite different from each other. It is the same with video poker.
FAQ. What happens if I don't play perfect video poker strategy?
A. It depends on how well or badly you play by gut-feel. You can expect to lose more or less 3% of the payback percentage. You will lose more if you don't bet the maximum five coins.
FAQ. Why would I lose more if I don't bet max coins?
A. Because of how the royal flush payoff works. Roughly 2% of total payback comes from royal flushes which have a significantly higher payout for max bets. If you don't bet max and the royal flush comes, you won't get the full payback percentage.
FAQ. Is there a way to know when I'll hit a royal flush so I'll know when to be max?
A. No. All that is known is that a chance for a royal flush is about 1 in 40,000. That does not mean you can expect one after playing that many hands. But you will hit it if your bankroll lasts the wait.
FAQ. Can I make a living playing video poker?
A. Yes. But you need 1) positive-expectation games like full-pay Deuces Wild, and 2) a big bankroll. Choose a high payback machine to play. Multiply the royal flush credits for a max bet by 3-5 times as in: (e.g. 4,000 x 3 = 12,000 credits). The dollar equivalent of that is your bankroll.
Games with high payoffs for rare hands and low payoffs for inferior hands are volatile games. Volatile means you experience long losing streaks before hitting a big payoff. You need a bigger bankroll if you play volatile games. If you want to win steadily, play machines with smaller prizes.
