To say that video poker has become very popular with casino players would be a gross understatement.  Casino visitors all over the world are fast making traditional Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Jokers Wild (Joker Poker) their games of choice.  American players in particular find video poker very appealing.  The jury is still out on exactly why video poker is more popular with North American casino players than with gamblers elsewhere.  There are, perhaps, one or two obvious reasons.  One may be the overall availability of the machines as there are millions upon millions of video poker machines in the United States alone.  Another may be the sheer number of outlets around the country where video poker players can test their skills.

So, what tips will help you become a better video poker player?  Below, you will find some excellent general tips.  Remember them for they are crucial to your success as a video poker player.

• There is no such thing as a "loose" or "tight" video poker machine.  Unlike reel slots which are governed by variant programming within the microchips, video poker machines are programmed to be as random as possible.  Digital processors cannot achieve true randomness, but the deviation away from 100% randomness is so small that it is not a factor in how the machines play.



• Since video poker machines are as close to random as possible, each card has an equal chance of showing up on any given hand.
  
  NOTE:  Most video poker machines use a single 52-card deck, and will say so on the front of the machine.  If the machine you are considering playing uses more than one deck, it may be wise to avoid it since it decreases the players' odds of doing well.



• Your success (or lack thereof) really only depends on three things:



1. Playing Speed - faster is better
2. Card combination recognition - you need to know which cards to hold, and when.
3. Your bankroll



• Playing speed (#1 above) is important because even though the machines are random, and are not subject to variant programming, they do experience natural fluctuations that are affected by two things:



1. The randomness of the draw in general which, in turn, is further affected by:
2. The cards you choose to hold each hand.


The fluctuations swing both ways [both good and bad], and can last for extended periods of time.  And, in a wild card game such as Deuces Wild or Joker Poker, the fluctuations can be highly volatile simply because of the inclusion of wild card(s) in the mix.  The faster you play, the faster you get through the fluctuations, and the faster you begin to see winning hands.  There WILL be times that you've held the right cards, and you don't get a winning hand.  Believe it.


• Card combination recognition goes hand-in-hand with playing speed.  Why?  Because playing fast and holding the wrong cards will destroy your bankroll in short order.
  
  So, what are the "right" cards to hold for a given hand?  We've made that part simple for you.  Use the Site Navigator below to view the playing guides for Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Joker Poker.

• The third critical element is your bankroll.  It should determine not only which denomination machine to play, but whether or not you should try a wildcard machine, or stick with a non-wildcard game like traditional Jacks or Better video poker.
  
  Whatever your decision is, you MUST be relatively certain of two things before you begin play:



1. Your bankroll must be able to support the denomination machine you have chosen to play while playing MAX COIN EVERY HAND.
2. Your bankroll must be able to withstand the normal downward fluctuations common to ALL video poker machines.


If the denomination machine you've chosen overpowers your bankroll and/or you've held the wrong cards along the way, you won't be around to enjoy the positive (upward) fluctuations when they occur.

The size of your bankroll is entirely up to you, but here are some suggested guidelines:

Jacks or Better ($.25) - $400.00 - $600.00
Jacks or Better ($1) - $1000.00 - $1400.00
Deuces Wild/Joker Poker ($.25) - $700.00 - $1000.00
Deuces Wild/Joker Poker ($1) - $1200.00 - $1600.00

NOTE:  These are general guidelines for 8 hours of sustained play.

Pro and semi-pro video poker players can play 700 to 1000 hands per hour.  They often play several machines simultaneously.  You will probably not play at those speeds or with the adeptness of a pro/semi pro in the beginning of your experience, but keep in mind that becoming the kind of video poker player you WANT to be entails practice.  It's just like anything else in life.  The more you do it, the better you will become..

Use the Site Navigator below to learn more about Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Joker Poker.  Knowledge is power (and, hopefully, profits).