Free Poker Software

Beat the Casino with Video Poker

Video Poker for a Living

If you want to gamble for a living, video poker is the game for you. Video poker is one of those few games offered at casinos that you can really win, but it isn't as difficult to learn as blackjack shuffle-tracking and card-counting. Video poker is easy enough to learn and rewarding enough to make steady money from.

Video Poker vs. Slots

Video poker has often been compared to slot machines. What's the difference? First, the outcome in video poker can be controlled by strategy to a high degree. Slots, on the other hand, leave no room for strategy at all. Once you bet your money and spin, that's it. Second, the payback percentage in a video poker machine can be assessed from its pay table. In slots, the house edge is kept secret. With slots, you're basically groping in the dark and depending on luck. With video poker, you know what you got and what you can get.

Positive Expectation

Further, some video poker machines have what is called a "positive expectation." This is a fancy term for "making sure money" from the machine. Assuming you use perfect strategy, you can keep playing video poker with a positive expectation and get paid off eventually.

Full-Time Play

Don't kid yourself though. Video poker isn't the easy road to riches. You won't become a millionaire just by playing it since no strategy can get you the jackpot. And playing video poker for profit means hard work. You have to play 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for 48 weeks a year. It is nothing less of a full-time job, and it is one that has no insurance, sick leaves, or other benefits. However video poker does pay off. A good video poker player can make anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000 a year.

Video Poker Rules

Before you play video poker, make sure you know about poker hands and how they are ranked. To play video poker without knowing which hands pay and how much would lead to many mistakes. Video poker uses the usual hand rankings, with royal flush as the jackpot.

The minimum paying hand depends on the game. In basic video poker known as Jacks or Better, a pair of jacks or higher (queens, kings or aces) will pay you 1 for 1; that is, you get your money back and it isn't really a "winning" hand as it may appear. A two pair pays 2 for 1, so it is the first real paying hand. Other video poker games may require a pair of kings or better or something else.

it is simple to play video poker once you know how to rank poker hands. You put money in the machine, select deal and are dealt five cards. You can either hold or discard one to five of these cards. Any discarded cards will be replaced in a second draw, and the hand you get then will be the final hand. if it is a paying hand, you will be paid as per the pay table; if it is a losing hand, the video poker machine collects your bet.

Video poker is a good game to play for fun and money. Once you master the strategy and pay table selection for the game you like, you are on your way to making steady money right in the casinos.