A video poker machine in a land casino looks pretty much like a slots machine without the lever to spin the reels. For online video poker games, the software also looks very similar to that of video slots games. There is a big difference in how they are played, though. Video poker involves a lot more than simply betting and taking a spin. You actually need to have some skill in order to win consistently with video poker, just as you do in regular poker games.

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In a most basic video poker game, you will choose how much to bet to begin with. As with most online gambling games, the larger the initial wager, the larger the potential jackpot will be. Once you've placed your bet, you will hit the “deal” button. On your screen, five cards will appear. Underneath each card is a “hold” button. You choose which of the five cards you wish to hold and push that button.

Once you've decided which cards to hold, the next step will be to press the “draw” button that replaces the “deal” button. The software will automatically replace the cards that you didn't choose to hold with new cards. The resulting hand is what decides if you have won or not. Since video poker does not have a competing hand to play against, if you make any winning combination then you win the corresponding prize. Sounds easy, doesn't it?

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The standard game of five card draw that all video poker games are based on would be pretty easy for a poker professional or even a good amateur. It would also tend to get rather dull after a while. So the software creators keep creating new variations to make the game more exciting for players. Not only are the theme variations fairly endless, the actual game variations are pretty wide, as well. Game developers have added rules like “jacks or better”, extra reels, extra paylines, wilds, multipliers and more to make each game more thrilling than the last.

When you try a new video poker game, keep in mind the general rules and strategies for any other poker game. Read the rules of that particular variety carefully so you understand what the best hands would be and if there are any wilds, etc. Don't get stuck in the mindset of offline poker, though. You can't keep track of which cards have been played as the deck begins fresh with each and every round in video poker.