The five best video poker versions

One of the most interesting types of the most famous card game in the world is certainly VideoPoker, a cross between the game of poker and slot machines. The first example is dated 1887 but modern video poker, as we know it, dates back to 1970. We had to wait another 24 years (1994) for the launch of online video poker, by the company Microgaming. But how does it work? In this guide we will discover the five best versions of this game, starting from what it is, up to the best versions of this game.

Video Poker games are so successful because they combine the typical randomness of slot machines with the underlying logic of the game of poker. While for video poker the winning combinations follow the rules of poker (pair, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush and royal flush), for slot machines it is a repetition of certain symbols or combinations of them, and it depends on the slot you are playing. The possibility of playing with something in between total randomness and pure strategy is probably why online video poker is so popular. 

The game has similarities to other casino games, but it is far more complex than playing slot machines, where you simply have to wager some money, pull the handle or press a spin button. When playing video poker, however, decisions must be made that have a decisive impact on the chances of winning.

Where to Play Online Video Poker

Online video poker is also controlled by supervisory bodies for the protection of players so that the fairness of the game is guaranteed. Many players wonder if online Video Poker is rigged and obviously our answer is that online casinos with respected licenses guarantee maximum safety for users and complete fairness of the game. There are infinite types of Video poker with which it is possible to play but the advice is to limit yourself to playing with the most known versions such as Deuces Wild and Jacks or better.

Let’s now look at the five best and most common video poker versions!

1. All Aces Video Poker

All Aces Poker offers very simple graphics, without many frills. The player can customize the game, using the menu button (on the left side) and implement some choices, such as quick play, return to the Home Page, access banking services (for real money play) and set some choices of the game.

On the right part of the screen, you’ll find a symbol to set the value of the token (from 0.25 to 5 euros) per round of cards, in addition to the number (from 1 to 5). The minimum bet is 25 cents, while the maximum is 25 euros. Video poker offers an RTP of 99.92%, certainly among the most affordable in the industry. The game is played with all the cards from the French deck of cards, but without jokers (52 cards). All Aces Poker is a fast and very intuitive game, even for beginners. ‍

2. Deuces Wild Video Poker

The video poker version that is perhaps most appreciated and that particularly amuses the players is undoubtedly Deuces Wild. The name alone can hint at the peculiarity of this version of video poker. In fact, the main feature lies in the fact that the 2s have a Joker value, and can therefore replace any other card in play, helping to complete the score.

Of course, this peculiarity affects the scores themselves, which in this version are slightly different than the others, as well as more complex, thanks to the function of 2.

Upon approaching the game, the player can examine what is displayed on the screen. At the bottom of the screen, space is where the cards will appear, and below there are the buttons for a bet and for the maximum possible bet. On the right or left, there is a small box showing the selectable amount of the stake with the plus and minus keys, which usually starts from a minimum of a few cents up to the maximum limit allowed by the game.

At the top of the screen, you will usually find the paytable. This table lists all valid scoring combinations and the relative payment, with a subdivision into columns relating to the bet made from 1 to 5 Euros.

3. Tens or Better Video Poker

Videopoker Tens or Better rewards payouts when there is at least one pair in the combination that contains a 10 or a card with a better value than 10, as the name of the game implies. The payout percentage offered is as generous as 99.14%. The amount of the stake is set by clicking on + next to LIMIT BET and selecting the appropriate value in the respective list.

The paytable changes automatically based on the number of credits wagered. Each time you win the hand you will have the option to cash out your winnings or bet it again. In case you decide to double it, you will be offered the possibility to double or quadruple the amount won; so you will have to guess respectively the colour or the suit of the card that will be revealed. Doubling can be optioned on the same hand multiple times (you will never be able to exceed the doubling limits).

4. All American

All American is played with a normal 52-card deck and follows the rules of traditional poker. You must immediately set the basic bet to indicate how many pay lines you want to play (from 1 to 5), and then start the software to deal with the cards. You will be given 5 cards and at this point, you will normally have to choose which ones to keep and which ones to change in order to get the best score based on Hold'em Poker.

Finally, remember that if you end the game with a win, you can choose between different possibilities of action: collect the profit, double the sum collected or put back half of the sum won. As for combination scores and higher winnings in All American Video Poker Online, the Royal Flush will allow you to win up to 4000 times the value of the bet, in second place in value there is the Straight Flush, Poker, Full House, The Flush, the Straight, the three of a kind, the two pair and the pair. 

5. Jacks or Better

Jacks or Better is often referred to as the "grandfather" of video poker games, perhaps because it was the first video poker game introduced in casinos as far back as the 1970s. Nowadays it can also be found under its original name "Standard Poker" and "Classic Poker". Others will simply call it "Jacks or Better". It is played with 52 cards and, as the name suggests, to make a profit the player should hit a Pair of Jacks or better.

Jacks or Better is suitable for novice players and is, therefore, one of the best known and most loved video poker games

Among these variants, all however interesting and fun, Jacks or Better is the simplest and most direct and, therefore, particularly preferred by most players. The mechanism, as we said, is very simple: the screen is generally functional and rather sober, at the bottom there are the five boxes where the cards of the hand will appear, under which we find the buttons relating to "single bet", "maximum bet", “Distribute” and “credit” (or “collect”).

On the sides of these buttons, either on the right or on the left depending on the software version, you’ll be able to select the stake amount, which can vary from a few cents upwards. Another box shows the playing capital currently available, updated instantly when you bet or win. Usually, in the upper part of the screen, we find the paytable, where the relative payout multipliers for the bet made are indicated for each useful combination. 

Obviously, there are many more versions of video poker available online, and each of these versions has also been revisited multiple times by different software providers. So, if video poker is your favorite online game, we recommend you check out the many amazing versions available at most online casinos! If you’d like to play video poker online, you will be able to do so at most of the Casinos you’ll find on AboutSlots. We particularly recommend Betway Casino, 888 Poker, and Royal Panda Casino.