Video Poker rules are very simple to grasp. After all, this game is a combination of 5-card-draw poker and slots, a game which many rightfully consider to be the simplest found in the casino. Video poker inherited its somewhat isolated nature from slots – this is basically a simple version of single-player 5-card-draw poker – one betting round, one draw, and just you up against the house. No bluffing, no psychological tricks and no mind-twisting battles with your opponents, this is the simplest poker game you could ask for. Read on to find out how to play video poker.

Learn Video Poker in Five Easy Steps

There are many video poker machines out there, each offering a slightly different 5-Card Draw poker variant, and consequently a different payoff schedule. These include: Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Jokers Wild and Multi-play video poker, and many more. Don’t let the different variants and payouts confuse you – the basic video poker rules stay the same no matter which variant you chose. Once you learn how to play video poker, you know how to play them all.

Playing video poker is easy. Here is the game flow which incorporates all the video poker rules you need to know before you start playing:

• Choose the video poker machine you wish to play on
• Insert the number of credits/coins you wish to bet on
• Press the “deal” button when you’re ready to be dealt your first set of 5 cards. This is your starting video poker hand, but please be patient - it can improve!
• Choose which cards to hold, i.e. keep for the next round. You can hold any number of video poker cards between 0 (none) and 5 (all)
• Press the “deal” button once more. You will receive a new card for each card you decided not to hold from the first round. This improved set of cards is your final video poker hand
• Collect your winnings and start over!
  

At this point the game is over. The machine analyzes your hand and pays off according to the game’s specific payoff schedule (see Ace Hoyle’s video poker odds section for detailed payout explanations).

How to Play Video Poker Online

Video poker rules are the same everywhere, and playing video poker online is not much different than playing the game in a casino. Video Poker is therefore one of those games that made a very smooth transition into the internet, due to the nature of Video poker:

1. Playing video poker is a solitary act. In a casino, video poker machines are placed right along the slot machines, in an area somewhat remote from all the commotion and razzle-dazzle of community table games such as roulette and craps. When you play video poker online, you’ll find the same reclusive environment, with all its advantages and disadvantages. And yes, we’re not trying to hide it – if you’re looking for a more social gambling interaction, perhaps playing video poker is not the best solution for you.
2. In a casino, video poker machines use random number generators to deal the video poker cards. This means your video poker hand is essentially determined by computer software, and the very same software is easily translated to your personal computer. So when you learn video poker you’re essentially learning how to play video poker online as well – it’s basically the same game.
   

Looking Beyond the Video Poker Rules

Now that you know how to play video poker, we recommend you visit our odds and payouts section, where you can learn about different video poker variations. The payoff schedule for each variant is discussed, and you can choose which video poker variant to play.

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