The Basics of Video Poker Play
Object of the Game
The goal in video poker is to achieve the winning poker combinations listed on the front of the machine so that coins and credits are earned. The higher ranked the poker hand, as listed, the greater the payout will be.
For some players, the real goal in video poker is to hit the royal flush, especially if you're playing on a big progressive jackpot. That's what all video poker players are really shooting for.
How to Play
Video poker is basically played as draw poker. The typical game employs a 52-card deck, which is dealt fresh after each hand. While you won't receive the same card within a play, for the machine will deal cards from the 52-card computer pack, the memory ends there as the deck is "reshuffled" after each deal.
There are other variations that use multiple decks and extra cards such as wild cards, but the principles are the same.
To start, you need to insert anywhere from one to five coins into the machine. The choice is yours, play one or play five at your discretion. We will recommend that serious players insert the full five coins to get the best odds.
If five coins are inserted, the machine will automatically deal a hand to you. However, if less than the maximum amount of coins are inserted, you'll need to press the button marked Draw/Deal to receive your cards.
Five cards will show on the screen. These are your cards. You may keep one, some, all, or none of the cards. It's your decision. To keep a card, press the button marked "Hold" underneath the corresponding card you wish to keep. There will be five hold buttons, one for each card, and for each card you want to keep, you must press the hold button.
"Held" will appear on the screen underneath each card or cards so chosen. The machine will not keep the other cards, the ones you wish to discard.
What happens if you press the wrong hold button by accident or change your mind? No problem. Press the corresponding button again. If the card indicated "Held," it will no longer do so and will not be held by the computer. If you change your mind, press the button one more time, and again the "Held" sign will come on the screen indicating that the card will be kept on the draw.
Until you press the draw button, it is not too late to change your strategy decision.
A player may keep all five original cards and does so by pushing the hold button under each card, or he or she may discard all five original cards if so desired. This is done by pressing the Draw/Deal button without having pressed any of the hold buttons.
You now press the Draw/Deal button to receive some new cards. The "Held" cards will remain and those cards not chosen to be held will be replaced with new ones. This set of cards is the final hand.
If your hand is a winner, the machine will flash "Winner" at the bottom of the screen. Winning hands are automatically paid according to the payoffs shown on the machine.
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