Five Card Draw, Jacks or Better, Deuces and More
Gamers have found that one of the most striking features of traditional Poker is the sheer number of variety in the games that can be played. You have Five Card Draw, Five Card Stud, Seven Card Stud, Texas Hold ‘Em, Let it Ride, and seemingly hundreds of other varieties.
Video Poker is no exception, as there are more than enough modes of gameplay involved with this electronic form. While five card draw is the most common variant found in video Poker machines, there are over thirty various styles of play.
In addition to five card draw (which typically lets a pair of tens win), two of the more common variants of Poker are the Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild. There are also various double and triple bonus games (Triple Play), and we’ve even heard rumor of a Texas Hold ‘Em variant. Regardless of which type of game that a player chooses to get involved with, each variant involves a different strategy.
In some games, such as Deuces Wild, a “wild” card is put into play, which can change up the variety of gameplay by adding new chances to form a winning hand. Other games use a Joker card, which is able to be used as any other card. These games give you a better chance to win, but they also usually have a smaller payout table (hey, casino has to keep some edge, right?)
There are also certain conventions to stick to in video Poker that are the same as traditional Poker. For example, playing with multiple decks reduces the player’s chance of getting better odds. Games like “King of the decks” adopt this play style, and unless a player is something of a masochist who loves to part with their money, this variant should be avoided. Other things to take into consideration are to never discard deuces while playing a deuces wild game. Mostly, it is just important to find a game and variant combination that will offer the player the best payout.
Regardless of the type of video Poker that you choose to play, there is a variant out there that should appeal to anyone interested in the game. With a little bit of research, and (of course) taking the time to learn and master some of these variations, you’ll find one that is just perfect for you. After all, if you are going to set out to win the big money, you may as well have some fun with it along the way.
As always, best of luck.
