Introduction to Video Poker
Video Poker is a live game from Evolution where skill and strategy are tested in real time. There are many reasons why we love poker, such as how every hand feels like a mix of strategy, instinct, and a little bit of luck. One moment you’re reading your opponents, the next you’re trying to keep your own “tell” under control. Developed in the United States during the early 19th century, poker quickly became popular due to its competitive edge and significant skill element.
Here, you get a live game experience that combines nostalgia and a chance to enjoy poker in a live setting. In terms of design, it feels dated without the flair and quality we’re used to from Evolution. We wish the provider had included a Bonus Round or something to set it apart from standard Poker gameplay, but for purists looking for a live-action experience, it might work okay.
Video Poker Information
This game from Evolution provides a design based on a retro poker vibe, with the dealer sitting behind the table, guiding you throughout the game. All buttons, including the Bet Spot and Bet Size, are positioned on the screen's lower edge. You can play Video Poker on all mobile devices, desktops, and tablets. A win is created by creating the best possible 5-card poker hand.
First Person = This variant is a random number generated (RNG) with a similar interface, rules, and payouts. The First Person variant allows the players to control and play at their own pace. You can choose to “Go Live,” which takes you on a unique journey directly to the live Video Poker game.
Video Poker Payouts
The provider has yet to disclose the max win, and the game defaults to an RTP of 99.54%. See images for the game’s payouts.
Video Poker Gameplay
The objective of Video Poker is to make the best possible 5-card poker hand, which can consist of either the initial five real cards or any additional virtual cards. The game is played with one standard 52-card deck.
Before the game starts, you must choose your paytable, bet hand, and the number of hands you want to play with. Jack or Better is chosen by default, but you can choose from the following paytable: Jacks or Better, Tens or Better, Deuces Wild, Bonus Poker, and Double Double Bonus.
Once the betting phase is over, the following happens:
Five Real Cards Dealt = The dealer deals 5 cards up (the main hand), and if you have bought additional hands, they will appear as virtual cards at the top of the screen, face down at first.
Hold or Swap Your Cards = After the main hand has been dealt, choose which of the 5 cards you wish to hold and swap. You can hold from 0 to 5 cards by clicking the respective buttons.
RNG Cards Dealt = After you’ve made your decision, the cards you decided not to hold will be swapped with virtually dealt RNG cards. These cards are randomly picked from a virtual deck containing 47 cards.
Outcome = Once all virtual hands are filled with RNG cards, the winning Poker combinations, frequency, and payout are displayed.
Final Thoughts on Video Poker
Evolution has created a live experience for all poker fans, giving you the opportunity to play your favorite card game with a live dealer. Here, you get a classic poker set-up, reminding us of Poker After Dark, an iconic hour-long poker show featuring some of the best players, such as Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth, trying to prove who’s boss. However, during testing, the visuals felt flat, lacking the engaging vibe we usually see from Evolution.
So what about the gameplay? Video Poker offers you 5 different paytables to choose from and the opportunity to make a decent win. With that said, only the first 5 cards are dealt from a live dealer, and everything after that is RNG-generated, lacking the live aspect we want. Overall, this is a good chance to play poker in a live setting, with good RTP up to 99.5%. Having said that, the design, vibe, and win potential don’t meet our expectations for a modern release from Evolution, falling flat compared to the studio’s popular releases such as Crazy Time and Monopoly Big Baller.
Video Poker is a live game that offers a chance to test your strategy in a live setting, but without the strong visuals and big payouts we expected.