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Beating
Video Poker
By Jordan Walters
Posted: 11:00 am PDT 2006-10-22 |
Courtesy Of Internet Casino and Poker Room at WagerWeb.com |
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I remember the experience as if it
were yesterday. I had finally turned 21, and I rushed out to the nearest casino to try my
luck. The tables were far too intimidating. Everyone looked like a seasoned pro, and I was
scared. My head conjured up all the tales of days past from people talking about their
winnings from Video Poker. As I entered the casino floor, I spotted a Video Poker machine
and made my move.
I took out five shiny quarters from my pocket and dumped them into the machine. It was
intoxicating. The rush from pushing the deal button put me in a state of euphoria. And
there it was -- two Kings. I calmly clicked the two Kings to hold them and hit deal again.
I won! The machine dealt me Jacks or Better, and I won my money back. I was hooked. I went
on to play for years and have hit countless four-of-a-kinds and royals. I've even played
$5 Video Poker ($25 per hand).
In all that time, here's a little something that I learned. It is possible to make money
playing Video Poker. The key to winning is knowing what machines to play and what strategy
to use. I'm not talking about finding "hot" machines. Video Poker comes in
various flavors and payout amounts. If you are just beginning, your best bet will be to
find a 9/6 Jacks or Better machine. I wish I knew all this information when I first walked
into the casino.
What's a 9/6 machine? Basically, the two numbers indicate what the machine pays out on a
one coin bet for a flush and full house. A 9/6 machine will pay out 6 coins on a flush (30
coins for max bet) and 9 coins on a full house (45 coins on a max bet). It's easy to get
caught up with all the various Video Poker machines -- Double Bonus, Double Double Bonus,
Triple Bonus, More For Four, Deuces Wild, Jokers Wild and on and on.
Each of these machines requires a different playing style. In the gambling world, we call
this "optimal play." In other words, if you play the same way on a 9/6 Jacks or
Better machine as you do on a Triple Bonus, you will ultimately lose for sure -- if you
play long enough. Another key number to know is the payback percentage of the machine.
Typically these numbers are posted on, above or near the machine. If you don't see it, ask
someone.
The payback percentage tells you what percent of your money will come back per cycle over
time. For instance, let's say the machine has a 98 percent payback percentage. You put
$100 in the machine and proceed to play 80 hands. In theory, you would have $98 left.
These cycles are large and take time. That's why you should never play a machine with the
attitude that it's "due" to hit, because that's not the way they work. There's
lots of fun and money to be had playing Video Poker. Just remember, begin with a 9/6 Jacks
or Better machine.
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