Online poker is one of the most popular games at online casinos. Before you strategise how to play online video poker, we advise you to familiarise yourself with the rules of this fascinating card game. Even if you know the rules of classic poker, we advise you to read this section to the end.

Advantages and features

• For beginners, the game is quite simple, as it has a lot in common with slot machines. The difference between the two is that in video poker, players influence what happens when their decisions determine the outcome.
• Many fans prefer this game as there is no interaction with other players, meaning users are not competing against each other (as in the traditional version) - they are spending one-on-one time with the machine.
• In some cases, video poker can be guaranteed to produce positive results if the ideal strategy is followed.
• Last but not least, here it is realistic to determine exactly how much you will win - use the information available in the payout table.

The slots used here are similar to slot machines for the most part, but only playing cards are used as symbols here. The game made its debut on casino floors in the 1970s, but the original video poker devices were quite primitive as they resembled the TV sets of the time. The lowest winning combination at the time was two pair, but this later became a pair of jacks or better.

Video poker really took hold in the 1980s and many varieties of the game were created. Interestingly, it also led to a rapid rise in the popularity of slot machines. Today, it is available in hundreds of desktop, online and mobile applications where gamers can choose from a wide range of variants, each offering a different payout table. Despite the impressive number of offerings available, video poker's forefather, Jacks or Better, remains the most commonly played.

Video poker rules

Video poker is a game that can be enjoyed by all types of players, regardless of their abilities and experience, because the rules are straightforward and simple to understand. Video poker uses the same hand rankings as traditional poker and is based on the hugely popular five-card draw poker game. Users can build a specific selection of cards by using a full card game with 52 cards.

Choosing a coin value and the number of credits you can bet every hand are the first steps in the procedure. The player receives five random cards from the deck as their beginning hand after pressing the release button. You must determine the "strength" of it and choose which cards to keep and replace. All five cards are up for grabs, or none at all.

When you press the deal button once more, the cards from the top deck are changed with the ones you don't wish to keep. Once the round is over, the game will automatically assess if the player was able to collect a winning combination. If this is the case, the payoff schedule for the game is set forth in the payout table.

The most common variations of video poker have a feature called Double Up. You have the choice to double your score or receive your initial prizes after each winning combination. If you concur, you are offered the option to select a card, which must be worth more or carry more weight than the dealer. If you are successful, your winnings are quadrupled; otherwise, you forfeit what you were given.

Each video poker hand looks like this:

• The cards are dealt. The player receives 5 cards, which appear on the screen in one row. It is recommended to study them carefully and decide in advance what combinations can be collected;
• Replacing cards. If you need to leave some cards for a winning combination, press Hold;
• Final Deal. After the substitution, the online casino or live dealer issues new cards. If the player managed to collect the right combination, he gets the winnings. If not, the next deal begins.

As you can see, poker in online casinos is quite simple, and understand how to play in the casino can even a beginner. Memorise the winning combinations do not need to. As a rule, the list of all possible combinations (rack, royal flush, etc.) is right on the playing field. Usually a deck of 52 cards is used, but if there are jokers in it, 56 cards are used. 

Beginning poker players often make mistakes. They act on intuition, do not participate in the loyalty programme and do not apply the basic strategy in "exotic" versions of poker. However, only those players who have chosen the right model and follow the recommendations of experts can count on increased payouts.

Strategies for playing poker online for money

Card dealing and paying combinations in video poker are fully automated. Before you start playing video poker, you need to learn the rules of the game, memorise the basic combinations and learn the strategies for playing casino online. By and large, the game of video poker online is based on mathematics. An experienced player knows how to calculate the odds of the pot and assess the situation. Sometimes it makes sense to go all-in and open the cards. Sometimes it's better to drop them so that you don't lose everything.

Professional players say that it is possible to achieve mastery in poker only through constant play. The opportunity to play poker online is available at many online casinos, such as Red Dog. For each type of poker game strategy is used.

We want to give you some basic recommendations that are relevant for any type of video poker.

• Always choose poker online with the highest possible return
• Play standard types of poker, avoid the "exotic" Deuces Wild Poker or All American Poker.
• Study the rules carefully before you start playing. Card games with the same name have been known to have completely different rules
• Do not chase games with the biggest bonuses and prize options. Such versions are not always the most profitable
• Always bet 5 coins if you play online video poker with a progressive jackpot.
• Regularly monitor the rating of online casinos on our site with fair winnings and generous bonuses. These sites often have new poker games with tempting terms and conditions.

And one more tip for those who do not know how to play poker online. Take part in casino video poker tournaments. Some of them are free or with a minimum entry fee. The competition in these online poker tournaments is not always tough, but the prize pool can be substantial.