What is Video Poker?
From casinos and online game rooms to smart phones, mobile video poker brings all of the excitement found when you gamble online. This allows players to access their favorite game whenever they choose, wherever they are.
Video poker is a game that combines the strategy of poker with the excitement of slots. The objective of the game is the same as that of traditional poker—to build the best poker hand possible out of the cards that are dealt. First, players must determine the amount of money to bet on the hand. Second, they are dealt between five and seven cards, depending upon the game variant being played. Third, they can choose to discard any of the first set of cards in exchange for new ones in an attempt to build a better hand. In most games, a player is only paid if he or she is able to build a hand that includes at least one pair, but again, this rule varies.
Video Poker Hands
Depending upon the strength of their hands, mobile video poker presents a host of payouts to players. A player is paid out more for a full house than for a single pair, for instance. Straights and flushes pay out more than the full house. The highest hand possible in video poker is the elusive royal flush, and players who manage to put this hand together on a maximum bet are in for a real treat—the highest payoff in the game! Players should remember that any video poker win is better than a loss, however. This means that they should always hold onto a hand that is going to pay out any amount, regardless of its strength. There is no shame in turning down the opportunity for a better hand.
Progressive Jackpots
Many of the larger-name casinos offer progressive jackpots to their customers, and these can pay out some truly magnificent amounts of money. Progressive jackpots are usually accumulated over a network; this means that every single player who is accessing video poker from the same casino from anywhere in the world is gradually adding to the jackpot. While some games require players to build a royal flush in order to be eligible for the jackpot, others are drawn completely at random—even on non-winning hands. Progressive jackpots add to the overall excitement and competitive nature of playing poker against the computer or smart phone.
Video Poker Game Variations
Regular video poker can be found in Five Card Stud, Seven Card Stud, Texas Hold ‘Em, Omaha Hold ‘Em, Deuces Wild, and Jacks or Better. The most common mobile video poker variant is Jacks or Better, and it’s also often the most common payout table for Five and Seven Card Stud games, and this means that the player does not receive any winnings unless they can build a hand of nothing less than a pair of Jacks. Deuces Wild works on the same principles as well, but twos can be used as wild cards in order to complete winning hands. These games typically have an adjusted pay scale due to the increased odds for the player, however.
Video poker is a great option for those who do not have access to a poker table, or even for those who simply do not enjoy the social aspects of the standard game. Playing video poker on mobile phone puts the game right in the players’ pockets for ease of play at any time.
