Video poker offers some of the highest returns in the casino. In fact, some variants – such as Full Pay Deuces Wild Video Poker  – offer a theoretical return of 100.8 percent, which basically means that players can beat the casino! Don’t get too excited just yet – for a chance at such amazing returns, you must play the game with perfect strategy, which is why good video poker strategies are highly sought after. Players are always looking for the best video poker strategy, one that will beat the casino, so we at AceHoyle.com set out to bring you exactly that.

How to Win at Video Poker

The amazing thing about this game is that there actually is a recipe for winning video poker. Strategy is a key element, since your actions directly determine the outcome of the game. There are many different video poker variants, but all video poker strategies share some basic elements:

Vide Poker Strategy Tip #1 – Always play the full credit amount

When you look at the payoff sheets for various video poker games, there is always a considerable gap between the payouts for the best hand when played for full credits vs. the same hand played with less credits. For example, the Deuces Wild payoff schedule shows that a natural royal flush pays 300 for 1 credit, 600 for 2 credits and so on, up to 1,200 for 4 credits – which is exactly the same proportion (4x300=1,200). BUT – when you bet 5 credits and hit a natural royal flush, you get an amazing 8,000 credits! This astronomical leap in returns is what gives Full Pay Deuces Wild its nasty theoretical return. All best video poker strategies will tell you that if you want to cash in on the maximum return, you must bet the full credit amount at all times.

Vide Poker Strategy Tip #2 – Always Look for the Full Pay version of the game

As far as video poker goes, no two machines are alike. Well, that’s not entirely true, but it drives the point home – just because two video poker machines share the same game title, for example Jacks or Better, doesn’t mean they offer the same return. All video poker strategies begin with knowing the game’s payouts, so you know what hands to go after. Always look for the Full Pay versions of the game, so you can enjoy the highest payouts and better your chances to win at video poker.

Full Pay Deuces Wild – Beginners Video Poker Strategy

If you want a chance to win at video poker you must follow an optimal strategy at all times. However, optimal strategy is very complex and involves following different instructions for each and every scenario. The following is not an optimal winning video poker strategy, but is great for beginners attempting to improve their odds at Full Pay Deuces Wild.

• The only high card is a deuce. Other than the ‘wild’ 2 card, ranks don’t mean a thing in Deuces Wild. This may be a difficult concept to grasp at first, especially for players who are familiar with the traditional poker hand ranks, but in this game an ace and a three are the same! The following two points are the logical conclusion:
• Never discard a deuce. It is the best video poker card in Deuces Wild.
• Never hold on to a single traditional ‘high card’ such as an ace.
  
• Never hold a deuce and one more single card. The only time it makes sense to hold a card together with a single deuce is when you have another card to hold it with. For example, if you have 2-3-3-7-J you should hold the 2-3-3 for the three-of-a-kind hand.
• Don’t keep a two-pair – it isn’t a winning hand. You should discard one of the pairs, and since ranks don’t mean a thing, it really doesn’t matter which one you choose to keep.
• Keep a pair over a flush or straight draws. This will help you achieve our next point.
• Draw to a four-of-a-kind. This hand accounts for almost a third of the payback for the game. You’re supposed to see a four-of-a-kind approximately every 15 hands, if you play your cards right.
  

By following these simple steps you are well on your way to finding a winning video poker strategy, and you’ll greatly improve your odds to win at video poker.

How Not to Lose Your Head After a Big Video Poker Win

Your first big video poker win is always the sweetest, but don’t lose your head after the first win. After a big win, some inexperienced video poker players will keep drawing to that same hand, hoping to win again. This is a common strategic mistake. Never alter you game plan, and don’t let a big video poker win blind your site. The best video poker strategy is to follow the guidelines you set out for yourself regardless of the outcome.

......................................................................................................................................................................