Video poker works in exactly the same way as traditional poker, played around a table with some friends or opponents. Instead of sitting face to face with real life humans to challenge yourself against, in this scenario it is just you against the machine. The video machine will give you five cards which you have the option to retain or give up. Most often, there is a once chance to give up the cards you don`t want and receive new ones and then your winnings are determined by whatever is shown on the video machine.
It sounds straightforward and it is really. What many people don`t know, however, is that not all video poker machines are created equal. In fact, some represent a much greater chance of return for your money than others. So, how do you pick the good from the bad video poker machines?
Above the playing screen what is called a payout schedule is shown. The purpose of this information is to tell you what return you will receive if you get certain hands, for example three of a kind or a flush. The information usually states what hands this particular video poker machine will reward you for and how much you will receive. Winnings are based on multiples of whatever coin you are playing with.
The best type of machine to look for is called a 9/6 machine. This basically means that you receive nine coins in winnings for a full house or six coins in winnings for a flush, all assuming that you played a single coin to start with.
On a 9/6 video poker machine, the chance of winning stands at 99.5%. The remainder is taken as profit by the casino, or owner. Those odds seem quite promising and they are, the problem only comes when you start playing on video poker machines that have different payout schedules that start to tip the odds in favour of the house and decrease your chances of walking away richer.
On an 8/5 video poker machine, for example, a single coin played now only nets you 8 coins for a full house or 5 for a flush. One coin`s difference may not sound all that significant but stop for a moment to think what would happen if you start playing five coins for every game. The difference between a 9/6 and an 8/5 now sounds like an amount worth worrying about. Now multiply that again by the number of games you are likely to get through in any one sitting and you will appreciate why choosing the right machine is a crucial part of your overall game play and strategy.
An 8/5 machine has a return rate of 97.3%, down from the 99.5% we saw on the 9/6. Clearly, all the remainder is extra money to the house. If you are unlucky enough to find yourself in front of a 6/5 video poker machine you will unfortunately be even worse off. These machines have a measly return of 95.1% which is only just about an improvement on choosing black at the roulette wheel. Luckily, 6/5 machines are actually quite rare, but next time you want to play at bingo sites online or are sat in front of a machine, be sure to check the odds first.
