Poker. Is there any casino game more ubiquitous, more loved, more talked about than this classic? Plenty of casino titles have their claims to fame, but poker is perhaps the undisputed ultimate option for players around the globe. People never seem to tire of its dynamic bluffing, its focus on social elements, and its tantalizing fun. Not to mention the math that goes into it.
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But that takes us to a totally different beast. Video poker. This game has also captured hearts and minds, staking out its presence on the casino floors and in digital gaming halls the world over, and enthralling players from every different subset. But if you’ve never played video poker before and you’re an avid poker fan… what do you need to know to decide if this game offers something for you?
Is Video Poker A Version Of Poker?
First things first, let’s clear up a potential confusion. There are many, many variants of poker, but video poker isn’t one of them.Â
Video poker may share part of its name and the cards it uses with actual poker, but they aren’t the same game. Poker nous may be of very little use against this kind of machine. Poker bluffing isn’t going to help you here. Indeed, video poker is not a social game at all. It’s just you and the computer.
It was originally based on the five-card version of traditional poker, with designers trying to figure out a way to automate poker’s popularity and capture it in a single-player version. It was initially developed in the 1970s, and despite not having a huge amount in common with the original game, it quickly saw widespread popularity. Back then, you’d have played video poker on a machine a bit like a traditional slot machine… but today, we’ve mostly moved to online video poker.
The great thing about online video poker is that it offers variety! You don’t just have Jacks Or Better, the game many players are familiar with from land-based casinos. You’ve also got things like Joker Poker with a range of hand sizes, all of which change the betting dynamics and chances. Alternatively, you can try Double Double Bonus Video Poker or Bonus Deuces Wild. All offer different paytables, changing which hands are valuable, and offering varied experiences all round.
Will I Like Video Poker If I Love Poker?
So, with the basics out of the way, who is video poker for? Not all poker players will love video poker, but a lot will! If you’re a strategist at heart, rather than someone focused on bluffing, video poker could be for you. Strategic thinkers tend to be more reflective, which the slower pace of video poker lends itself well to. With the different variants and a number of winning combinations available (depending on the variant you pick), there’s far more to this game than you might initially think.
Learning video poker takes time and focus. You aren’t penalized if you can’t keep a straight face or if you struggle to read your opponents. It’s all about the risk vs. reward of drawing certain cards, and figuring out how you can maximize the value of your hand. Taking the time to read paytables and thinking about the math behind the game will be key to succeeding here.
The lack of socializing might seem like a drawback, but it’s actually one of the biggest appeals for some people! You don’t need to make small talk or follow what’s going on in the chat. You can just pay attention to the cards in front of you and enjoy the game at your own pace. And thanks to online play, you can do so at any time of day or night that suits you, without any of the fuss of trying to find other players who are awake in your timezone.
Is The RTP Any Good?
A lot of people don’t realize how high the Return to Player is for many video poker games – though be aware it does depend on the variant you’ve picked. Indeed, this is often one of the casino games where you have the highest chances of winning, with many games sitting around an RTP of 99% if you’re a keen strategist who knows how to handle the cards. That’s appealing, especially when you compare it to the ever-popular slot machines, which often have a much lower RTP of around 96%.
If you aren’t sure yet whether this game is for you, the good news is that you don’t have to decide based just on what you’ve read here. You can instead try out a demo version of any of the variants that take your fancy, and get a feel for the game first-hand. Demos generally have the same features as you’d see in the live version of the game, sometimes slightly pared back – letting you get to grips with how this option plays out for real.