Video Poker Variations
Video poker is a five-card poker game played within the confines of a slot machine. There are many variations to the game, as casinos are always looking to freshen things up to make them more appealing. Most of the variations have to do with the theme of the machine, or which cards are wild (if any). Here are a list of the most popular and their differences from the traditional video poker.
- Power video poker: In this game, you are dealt four hands on your video poker screen instead of one. The payoffs vary, but your chances of getting a payoff increase since you are playing multiple hands. Once you get the hang of video poker, these machines can provide a nice change of pace (a much faster pace!).
- Deuces wild: This is played just like the traditional game, but all deuces (twos) are wild. This means they can become any card you want them to become in order to increase your hand. With four wild cards in the deck, you have a pretty good chance of getting one. Of course, since it is easier to get a better hand, a simple pair will likely not be good enough to get you a payoff. Check the chart on the screen or machine to see what wins.
- Jokers wild: The same as deuces wild, except now Jokers are wild. There are only two jokers in a deck of cards so they don’t come up too often. But when they do, you can usually make a decent, winning hand with them.
- Jacks or better: A traditional poker game, but you must have a pair of Jacks or higher in order to get a win.
- Tens or better: Same as the above Jacks or better, but a pair of tens or higher is all that is needed to win in this game.
- Louisiana double: This is played with a 53-card deck. The lucky 53rd card is a "double" card. If you get a winning hand on that particular game, you win double your listed payout!
- Aces and faces: A regular video poker game, with an extra big payout for a four of a kind hand that includes aces or face cards.
- Deuces and Joker poker: All deuces (twos) are wild, along with a single joker that is also used, so there are a total of five wild cards you may get.
- Progressive video poker: This means that there is a large jackpot that can be won if you make a certain hand (usually a straight or royal flush). This is generally hard to get, but if you are going to try and win this, your strategy should be vastly different than if you were not trying to get the progressive payout.