Have you been itching to play online video poker but did not know where to start? Check out this amazing guide that covers everything from basic rules to complex strategies and terminology. This guide will give you an overview of video poker, its variants, tips, free video poker games, and the best real-money online video poker casinos in Jamaica.
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Poker has been one of gaming's favorite games for centuries. Few casino games are as exciting as this competitive masterpiece that combines luck with skill. Heck, if you become skilled enough, you can even partake in the World Series of Poker.
While some Jamaican punters believe that you can only improve your skills by visiting real venues and playing against other punters, some realize that online video poker represents a handy alternative. Join us on this adventure to the exciting world of Jamaican online video poker and learn more.
The first video poker titles appeared in the 1970s in the form of electronic gaming machines, with the very first one being ‘Draw Poker’, which was released by Si Redd in 1979. While this initial version was very barebones, it quickly grew in popularity and garnered a cult following. Said cult following was the incentive for its migration online in the 1990s.
The modus operandi behind video poker is relatively simple. You receive five cards, which can be discarded or retained as you please. Your hand is, at the end of this process, evaluated, and you are rewarded accordingly. The underlying hand rankings and poker rules are classic, with a royal flush being the highest-ranked hand and a high card being the lowest-ranked hand. Note that video poker is a mixture of poker and slots, which is why you can expect certain slot mechanics to appear in certain variants.
Online video poker is incredibly popular, so it comes as no surprise that developers have created numerous variants. Said variants have unique bonus features, mechanics, and themes. The most popular ones include greats such as Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Joker Poker, and Double Bonus Poker. Check out our variants section to discover more.
Video Poker, as you can imagine from the name, is a new twist on an old game. It is based on poker, which dates back to medieval Europe, but its newness comes from its computerization, which began in the 1970s when computerized casino games were first being developed.
Video Poker was created by a Bally Technologies employee named Si Redd; he pitched his idea to the higher-ups at Bally but they shot him down. But Redd was so committed to his idea that he left Bally and created his own company, Sircoma, known today as International Game Technology (IGT).
Though it didn’t achieve immediate success, Video Poker hit its stride in the mid-1980s. This was also the beginning of the MTV era, when people were just beginning to understand the power of computer technology. Video Poker arrived at the perfect time to captivate Las Vegas gamblers.
The game was based originally on Draw Poker, where the lowest possible hand is two-pair. But the most popular version today is Jacks or Better, when the player needs a pair of Jacks or a better hand to win the game.
With the advent of online casinos, Video Poker has become more popular than ever, because as a computerized game, the internet is its natural home. Today, almost all online casinos offer a version of Video Poker, alongside classics like table poker, baccarat and black jack.
Some of the terms in Video Poker are the same as those of regular poker (such as the names of hands); others are more specific to the actual, modern game itself.
Action: The total amount wagered by the player in one game.
Bet Max: The maximum wager on one game. Usually, the bet max is five coins per hand.
Discard: The card(s) that the player throws away after the first round is dealt.
Flush: A hand in which all five cards are the same suit.
Four of a Kind: A hand in which four of the cards are the same value (for example, four Kings).
Full House: A hand containing three of a kind and a pair.
Hand: The term for the five cards dealt to the player by the machine or computer.
Hold: The card(s) that the player holds on to (as opposed to the discard).
Jackpot: This is the maximum possible bonus, usually won if a player has a royal flush.
Pair: Two cards that have the same value (for example, two Kings).
Pay Back: The estimated payout percentage in a specific game, based on data from millions of hands.
Payout: The amount paid out to the player for one hand.
Pay Table: A list of payouts for every possible scenario, shown on the game screen.
Royal Flush: A hand that consists of five cards of the same suit, in consecutive order with an Ace high. This is the best hand in Video Poker – and regular poker.
Straight: A hand in which the player has five consecutive numbers, such as 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King. Suit does not matter in a straight.
Straight Flush: A hand in which the player’s straight is the same suit. The highest straight flush is a royal flush.
Winning Hand: The combination of cards that wins the game and gets the payout.
Video Poker is a relatively straightforward game in contrast to regular poker. Video Poker is played with a 52-card deck (except for the version Joker Wild, which includes Jokers). To begin a game, the player makes a bet and then presses “Deal.” Five cards will then be dealt. The player can then hold or discard as many cards as he or she wishes. If the player discards any cards, the machine/computer will then deal more cards to replace those that were discarded. The five cards after the second deal is the player’s final hand.
If the player has a winning hand, his actual cash earnings depend on the hand, on the version of Video Poker played, and on the casino. Most versions of Video Poker are Jacks or Better, so any hand that doesn’t have at least a pair of Jacks cannot be a winning hand.
In Video Poker, as opposed to regular poker, the player plays against the machine/computer, not other players. This means that the player can either win or lose. There is no in-between! It also means that there is no real House advantage, so payout percentages can vary from 97% to as high as 99.5%.
Given the relative simplicity of Video Poker, its strategy is relatively simple as well. After the first round of five cards, there are only two options – hold or discard. So your strategy will be based on exactly which cards to hold and which to discard. Below are some strategies based on the initial cards a player can be dealt in a game of Jacks or Better.
Straight Flush: Hold all cards; this is a rare hand which can earn you a lot of money!
Four of a Kind: The second best combination you can get; there is no point in discarding your fifth card because you can’t improve upon four of a kind. So hold all cards.
Full House: The third best card combination; hold all cards. All five cards are in use so discarding can only hurt you.
Flush and straight: Hold all cards; these hands cannot be improved upon.
Three of a Kind: Keep the three of a kind and discard the other two cards. You might be able to get another pair (making it a full house), or a flush or straight, depending on what your cards are.
Two Pairs: Keep the two pairs; discard the fifth card so you can aim for a Full House.
Jacks or Better: Hold the pair and discard the other three cards. There are many other possibilities you can get.
If you don’t win anything on the initial hand (in other words, you don’t have a winning combination), you should discard all cards except picture cards and Aces.
Keep in mind:
We are sure that you will thoroughly enjoy your first few video poker hands. But we are also sure that you will eventually want to take your skills to the next level. Check out these handy tips to learn how to do just that:
Most punters pick a game, place bets, and marvel at the winnings that they accumulate. However, professionals know exactly how much their hands will pay out in various combinations. This knowledge can help you make split-second decisions and make or break a gaming session. We, therefore, recommend that you study the paytables.
Maximum bets are a great way to unlock the largest possible payouts for every hand. Moreover, maximum wagers can help you claim bonus features.
We suggest that you take breaks at preset intervals. A great way to force yourself into doing this is by setting an alarm at a hard-to-reach place. Additionally, if you feel yourself getting emotional, take a break.
Starting your online video poker journey is easy as pie. All you have to do is follow these easy steps, and you will be in the heart of the action in minutes!
The best online video poker casinos are not just fun; they also offer rich game libraries, exciting bonuses, helpful customer support, mesmerizing themes, first-class safety, and countless banking options. Finding such a venue is difficult, which is why we have prepared a list of the best Jamaican online video poker casinos. You can find the latter on this page.
A great way to avoid instinctive decisions and additional losses is by setting a budget. You should budget not only your funds but also your time.
Operators offer a plethora of amazing bonuses that increase your bankroll and prolong your gaming fun. Prime examples include welcome, no deposit, reload, cashback, and loyalty bonuses. Check out our guide to modern online bonuses to learn more.
Some of you might be tempted to jump into high-octane titles with VIP or high-roller wagers. We advise against this, as it will probably only result in enormous losses. We suggest that you start with small bets and work your way up from there.
Strategies are very hit or miss. While some punters ignore them completely, others swear by them. We recommend that you check out a strategy chart for your chosen video poker variant and give it a go. This way, you see for yourself if the internet’s most popular gaming recommendation holds water.
Beginners often find the sheer amount of online video poker slang to be daunting. However, it does not have to be. OCR has prepared a handy glossary of the most popular terms and phrases that you will encounter during your online gaming adventure. Have a gander at this list and speak like an online video poker pro in minutes!
Video Poker GlossaryYou will eventually encounter dozens of amazing online video poker variants. Check out the following breakdown and see the most popular ones:
This is the traditional variant that is played with five cards and the ability to hold or discard them. Your objective is to form the best possible hand.
All Aces reward hands with four aces by giving them larger payouts. The deck, rules, and gameplay are the same as in the original.
This variant has higher payouts for hands with four aces or eights. Other aspects, such as the deck, rules, and gameplay, are classic.
Do you want to up the ante? Play with up to five hands at once in this amazing online video poker variant.
This variant will give you larger payouts for hands with four Deuces. The underlying rules and gameplay are the same as in the original.
Yes, this is the actual name of this poker variant. If that was not amazing enough, wait till you learn about the increased payouts that hands with four aces, 2s, 3s, or 4s land.
This variant adds two jokers to a standard deck of cards. Hands with five-of-a-kind are given increased payouts.
Jacks or Better has payouts for hands with a pair of Jacks or higher. The deck, rules, and gameplay are traditional.
Hands with a pair of tens are given special payouts. Every other aspect stays true to tradition.
Do you want to experience some wild poker fun? Then check out Deuces Wild, which boasts two wild cards that can help forge the ultimate poker hand.
If you manage to land a hand with aces or face cards, you get an increased payout. Note that the deck is standard with 52 cards.
Do you want a larger reward or a hand with four of a kind? Then check out bonus poker that offers just that!
This variant adds a single Joker to the deck. The latter acts as a wild card and can pave the way to an increased payout for five of a kind.
All American is an incredibly generous variant of online video poker. It offers increased payouts for hands with a flush, straight, or straight flush.
Play poker with a three-card hand and land big payouts with even small bets. This Microgaming title is incredibly popular due to its unique gameplay and simplicity.
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Online video poker is only as safe as the venues at which you play it. We recommend that you stick to licensed, regulated, and audited online casinos that are renowned for their fairness. These sites work almost exclusively with leading casino software providers, which adds another layer of security.
Not really. Video poker is a mixture of poker and slots, mostly due to the fact that it is played on a machine. Moreover, video poker incorporates skill, which is not true of slots.
Yes, you definitely can! Numerous casino game developers and casino operators provide free or demo versions of their hit online video poker titles. However, these games do not offer any real money wins.
Almost every Jamaican online gaming venue worth its salt offers online video poker. We suggest that you check out our list of recommended online video poker casinos to find the best.
You can, theoretically, count cards. However, online video poker is based on random number generators that guarantee random outcomes by shuffling the underlying deck after every hand. You will, therefore, have a very difficult time counting cards.
Do you want to take your gaming fun on the move? Do you want to gamble on your favorite mobile device? Then check out this amazing guide that explores just that. See what it takes to be ranked as a first-class Jamaican mobile casino for Android, Windows, or iOS. Discover exciting payment solutions, the best mobile casino games in Jamaica, and gameplay that is designed for your device. All this and more in this exciting guide.
Do you want to play in the best real-money online casino in Jamaica? Do you want to take your gaming to the next level with the safest, securest, and most enjoyable gaming out there? Then check out this in-depth guide. Learn the ins and outs of money bonus offers, games, banking methods, and more!
Are you ready to explore the 10 best online casinos in Jamaica based on our expert reviews and rankings? Do you want to experience security, turnaround times, game libraries, and atmosphere on a whole new level? Then check out this amazing guide to the best recommended online venues, which guarantee a superb gaming experience.
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