What is Video Poker?
Video Poker is a relatively modern invention, a merger of sorts between traditional Poker and slot machines. A video poker game is a contest between you and the machine. During a game of video poker the dealer (the machine) will deal you two hands of five cards each. When you receive your first hand you must decide which cards to hold (keep) or discard. The objective is to finish the game with the strongest hand possible. The payout at the end of the game is dependent on the value of the hand you are holding. If you have won, the game will offer you an additional opportunity to increase your winnings by participating in a doubling phase.
Joker Poker
The name of the game Joker Poker refers to the fact that there are 53 cards in the pack used in this game, instead of the normal 52. The 53rd card is a Joker, which acts as a wild card. The Joker can stand in for any other card of any suit and rank and can be used to help you complete a winning hand. Whenever you get the Joker, the computer will automatically assign a suit and value to it to give you the highest possible payout in light of the other cards that you are holding. This ensures that it is a lot easier to create potentially winning hands. Enjoy it!
Game Features
Any video poker machine is easy to use.
The Increase and Decrease buttons control how many coins you want to wager. These are represented by either a (+) and (-) symbol, or an Up and Down arrow. You can also click on the appropriate column of the Payout Schedule.
The Coin Size menu controls the size of the coins you are wagering.
The Deal button starts any game of video poker. You must have enough credits to meet your current wagering level to start a new game.
Five cards are dealt at the start of each new hand. These cards determine the outcome of the game.
You can hold a card by clicking on it and unselect a card by clicking on it again. When the cards are held they will be marked to indicate this.
Once you have decided on the cards you want to hold, you can discard the remaining cards by clicking the Draw button. The cards you have not held will be taken away and replaced by fresh cards from the deck.
Playing the Game
Playing a video poker requires only a basic understanding of the composition of various video poker hands. The game itself is simple.
Decide on the coin size you wish to play with by going to the coin size menu.
Decide how many coins you want to bet with by clicking on the appropriate column on the payout schedule or by using the Increase and Decrease buttons. These are represented by either a (+) and (-) symbol, or an Up and Down arrow.
Click the Deal button to start a new game.
Your first hand of cards will appear in the play area. Examine them carefully. You should compare the cards in your hand with the payout schedule on screen. Any winning hands in your first hand will be indicated on the payout schedule and, if automatic hold is enabled, the cards will automatically be held for you.
You can hold a card by clicking on it and unselect a card by clicking on it again. When the cards are held they will be marked to indicate this.
Choose the cards that can potentially give you the highest payout.
When you are ready click the Draw button to get your new cards. The cards you have not held will be removed and replaced with fresh cards from the deck. If your cards make up a winning hand you will be offered an opportunity to double your money or to collect your winnings.
Once you have collected your winnings you can begin another hand of video poker by clicking the Deal button again.
The Payout Schedule
The game you are currently playing follows the standard rules of the game “Joker Poker.” The table below shows the payouts (in coins) for the winning hands. A similar table can be found above the cards on the game screen. The winning hands will be paid out according to the number of coins bet. The total amount won will depend on the amount
There are various types of poker. We have chosen to highlight Joker Poker as a basis of understanding of the poker game. Please read the help files on your casino download software to find out the rules of specific poker games.
These Video Poker Rules were taken from the microgaming casino featured below: