Video Poker Basics

Video poker is a popular casino game played on a screen housed in a console that resembles a slot machine. In a sense, the game combines the anonymity and excitement of slots with the skill of a table game. When played well, video poker is also one of the only games in a casino that offers odds that favor the player over the house.

As opposed to traditional poker, which involves trying to beat other players’ hands, video poker is just you and the machine. Part of the appeal of video poker is this simplicity.

To start playing video poker, you first have to deposit money into the machine. Though some machines accept only cash, most modern video poker machines accept either cash or the barcoded paper tickets that slot machines or other video poker machines print for you when you cash out your winnings. To begin to play video poker, simply insert your money or barcoded ticket to receive a corresponding amount of credit on the machine.

Once you deposit your money or ticket, the video poker main screen appears. From this screen, you can choose the game you’d like to play by pressing the “More Games” button on the touch-sensitive screen, or by pressing the corresponding physical button beneath the screen.

Once you’ve pressed the button, the game select screen appears—most video game consoles offer about eight choices.

Push the onscreen button for the game that you’d like to play, then push “Return to Game.” For advice on which games to choose, see General Video Poker Strategy.

Two factors determine how much each hand of video poker is worth: unit size and the number of units per hand that you’re wagering.

The unit size of a machine refers to the increments by which you can bet. Common video poker unit sizes include 1¢, 5¢, 25¢, $1.00, and $5.00. A machine’s unit size is usually indicated by a sign above the machine and always appears near the bottom of the main screen (for instance, the 25¢ button in the Main Screen image above). Some machines allow you to change the denomination by pressing the denomination indicator and then selecting the desired amount. The unit size of a video poker machine determines how many credits you’ll receive when you put money into the machine. For instance, if you put $1.00 into a machine with a unit size of 5¢, you’ll get 20 credits.

The number of units refers to how many units you want to bet on a particular hand. Most machines allow you to bet 1–5 units per hand. The total value of each hand is the number of units times the unit size—for example, playing five units per hand on a 25¢ machine results in a total wager of 5 × 25¢ = $1.25 per hand. To choose the number of units you want to wager on a hand, you can use the Bet One or Bet Max button on the main video poker screen. The Bet One button allows you to cycle through the number of units you want to bet, from 1–5, while the Bet Max button sets your wager right to five units.

To receive your cards, push the Deal button. You’re then dealt your initial poker hand of five cards.

Depending on your initial hand, you’ll probably want to exchange some or all of your cards. Select the cards you want to keep by pressing the onscreen images of those cards or by pressing the corresponding physical buttons below the cards. The cards you’ve selected to keep will be indicated by the word “Hold” immediately above those cards.

If you select a card by mistake, press it again to deselect it. After you’ve made your final decisions, push the Draw button (the Deal button changes to Draw after your initial cards are dealt). If you don’t want to keep any of your cards, push Draw without selecting any cards. For strategies about which cards to hold and which to discard, see General Video Poker Strategy.

You can collect your winnings after finishing any game by pressing the Cash Out button located just below the screen. Depending on the machine, you’ll be given either coins or a paper ticket. Whichever you receive, take your winnings to the cashier to change them to paper money. The casino may also have automated “cashiers,” machines that let you insert your paper ticket in exchange for money.