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Video Poker: Poker for the 21st CenturyImagine a game of poker where you can’t even see your opponents’ eyes. You can’t read his face or judge his poker face, and, on a better note, he can’t read yours. Such a game exists in electronic or video poker. The Privacy of Slot and the Payouts of PokerVideo poker started in the 1970s with what we would now consider primitive programming. The concept combines a television-like monitor with a solid state central processing unit. This less intimidating and more private form of poker has grown in popularity in casinos in past years. It has seen remarkable popularity with Las Vegas locals. In fact, the seasoned video poker player knows the best places to play since local casinos will offer lower denomination machines or better odds. Video Poker Game MechanicsHow does this game work, then, since a player is working with a virtual dealer? Video poker begins when a player places his bet on one or more credits by inserting his cash into the poker machine. Next he presses the deal button to draw his cards. A random number generator determines the "deal", so you are randomly assigned numbers as if they were dealt to you from a standard deck of cards. Video poker uses a conventional 52 card deck. Variations of Video PokerVideo poker differs in variations in that the player has the opportunity to keep or discard one or more of his cards in exchange for a new card drawn from the same virtual deck. The machine then evaluates the hand and offers a payout if the hand matches one of the winning hands in the posted pay schedule. Jacks or Better Video PokerJacks or Better was the first video poker game to hit the casino floor. Over the years, it has remained the most popular game out there. It is so-called because a typical payout starts with a minimum requirement of a pair of jacks. A player can find some decent cash in this game as the payout schedules allocate the payout for hands based partially upon how rare they area and upon the total theoretical return the game operator chooses to offer. Some machines even offer progressive jackpots for rare hands like a royal flush. Some Jacks or Better games offer an expected return somewhere near 100%. This is probably the main explanation why this game is so popular. Can I Trust A Machine?Trusting a machine would make some people a little uncomfortable. Rest easy. Merchandisers test machines to ensure compliance with gaming authorities before offering them to the public. Developers program the machines to deal a random card sequence and to generate a new series of cards for each play. Additionally, the machine will deal five straight to the hand or deal in order if the player requests it. Native American CasinosInterestingly, one should beware of those machines at the Indian gambling establishments. These machines and the casinos are sovereign to the tribe holding the license and thus are not subject to the same Nevada-style regulations. Since they are the only game in town, these machines typically don't pay back the way a Vegas casino would. Competition for customers is fierce in a gambling mecca like Las Vegas. Other Versions of Video PokerIf a player wants to mix up his game a little, he can chose any one of the varieties of video poker available, including Deuces wild and Multi-play Poker. Deuces WildDeuces Wild is the most popular video poker game which employs a wild card. Joker Wild is also widespread. These games typically pay off starting at a three of a kind, instead of jacks or better. Multi-Play PokerThis allows a player to bet on several hands at one time. This increases the action, but also increases the monetary risk. Overall, video poker offers the privacy of a single game and the fun of poker all in one. It gives the younger poker player the increased pleasure of moving, colorful graphics as well. |
