Video poker is very easy to learn, and this would explain why this game is so popular. Basically if you know how to play poker, you will be able to play video poker. The best part is that even if you do not play poker well, you can still play video poker quite successfully as long as you know that you have a strong hand.

Here are some video poker rules and strategy that will help you as you move from traditional poker to this exciting new way of playing poker.

The first thing that you should understand is that you are playing poker against a machine. The aim of video poker is not to have the best hand. Rather it is to ensure that you have a strong hand so that you can win some money. When you are playing video poker, that payout chart will appear on the screen. This chart will give you details on how much each hand will pay. For example, if you are playing Jacks or Better, the minimum that you need to have in your hand to win money is a pair of jacks. In this case, your payout will be even. As the strength of the hand increases, the amount you win also increases.

In order to play video poker, you have put in a certain number of coins. It is always best to play with the maximum allowed limit. Once you have entered coins, press the deal/draw button. The machine will then deal 5 cards to you as the initial draw. There will be a button under each card which will allow you to hold on to the card or discard it. After you have made your choice on the cards to hold or discard, you need to press the deal/draw button again to be dealt replacement cards for the discarded ones. Depending on the strength of the hand and the payout chart, you will get paid. The moment you have a winning combination for a particular game, you are paid. So, you do not have to beat the machine. Then you start a new game.

As you can see, playing video poker is actually very easy. There is not much to it. But when it comes to getting paid, you will need a strong hand. If you take the example of Jacks or Better, which is the simplest video poker game that you should be playing as a novice, the winning hands are as follows:

Royal Flush is when you get an ace, king, queen and jack belonging to the same suit. This is the strongest hand that you can get.

• Straight Flush is when you have five cards in a sequence and they are of the same suit. For instance, getting five, six, seven, eight and nine of hearts.
• Four of a Kind is when four cards that are of the same value. For example four 7s or four Jacks.
• Full House is when you have a hand that has three cards that are of the same value and two cards that are of the same value. For example, you have three Kings and two sixes.
• Flush is when you have five cards that are not in a sequence but are of the same suit. For example, 3, 5, 8, 9 and 10 of diamonds.
• Straight is when you have five cards in a sequence, but they do not belong to the same suit. For instance, 6 of clubs, 7 of hearts, 8 of diamonds, 9 of clubs, and 10 of spades.
• Three of a Kind is when you have three cards of the same value. For example, your hand has three sixes or three fives.
• Two Pair, as the name suggests that you have a two pairs of cards out of five. For example you have two threes and two Jacks.
• Pair is the smallest winning hand in video poker. Here you need to have a single pair of the same value. For instance, two 5s or two 4s.

Different people employ different strategies to ensure that their chances of getting a winning combination increases. However, different types of video poker have different strategies. For instance, here is a strategy for Jacks and Better video poker game:

If you have a winning hand, it is best to hold on to it unless you have four cards to get a Royal Flush. A winning hand will ensure that you get paid. However, a Royal Flush will ensure that you get a massive payout. However, if you have a hand where you will not get paid, it is best to hold on to the following combinations:

• Four cards to get a Straight Flush. These can be any four cards.
• Four cards to get a Flush
• Three cards to get a Royal Flush
• A pair of low cards; these cards should be 10s or lower
• Two high cards belonging to the same suit
• Jack, Queen and King belonging to different suits
• Jack, Queen, King and Ten belonging to the same suit
• Two high cards even if they belong to different suits

In case you do not have the above mentioned combinations in your hand, you have the option of discarding the 5 cards from the initial deal and drawing five new cards.

Similar to the strategy adopted in Jacks or Better, each type of video poker has a strategy that should be learned and used to increase the odds of winning a payout. So, as you progress from the basic game of Jacks or Better, you should first learn the different video poker rules and strategy.