Jacks or Better
This is one of the video poker games often recommended for novice players. It was the first video poker game ever introduced for play, dating back to the mid-1970s. Nowadays some of the machines will show its original name, ”Draw Poker”, while others will label it ”Jacks or Better”. The game involves a typical deck of 52 cards, while the lowest rank for a winning hand is a Pair of Jacks.
The game is appropriate for beginners, as its playing strategies can be used in two other recommended games (Bonus Poker and Bonus Poker Deluxe). Another mentionable is that a hand as frequent as Two Pair may lead to a player receiving double the amount of money bet. As this is a very reasonable return for Two Pair, it allows the player to remain in the game longer using a restrained budget.
The version of the game, providing the greatest earning opportunity is considered to be 9/6 Jacks or Better, with its expected return (ER) being 99.54%. We shall talk about the ER in more detail at a later stage. When playing this game version, one will earn 9 coins for every coin bet, if they hold a Full House, and 6 coins for every coin bet, if they hold a Flush.
Bonus Poker Deluxe
This is another game, that utilizes a deck of 52 cards and has a Pair of Jacks as the lowest rank for a winning hand. Bonus Poker Deluxe, unlike Jacks of Better, offers a player mere even money for hands as frequent as Two Pair. However, if a player holds a Four of a Kind, they will receive 80 times the amount of money bet.
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Because Four of a Kind is not a very frequent hand, in order to have a reasonable return, one needs a larger budget to play this game. Or, we can say that the expected return may be reached through a number of smart strategic moves and a long enough period of play. Shorter periods of play may result in money loss. However, many players consider that the factor of excitement is worth the higher risk.
The version of the game, providing the greatest earning opportunity, is 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe, with its expected return being 99.64%. When playing this game version, one will earn 9 coins for every coin bet, if they hold a Full House, and 6 coins for every coin bet, if they hold a Flush.
The Game of Video Poker
Jacks or Better, Bonus Poker, Deuces Wild
Double Bonus, Pick’em Poker
Ranking Hands Video Poker
Video Poker Machine Appearance
Deuces Wild
The name, in fact, refers to a number of very popular video poker games, with each one of them utilizing a deck of 52 cards. All four Deuces (Twos) represent wild cards, or a player may use any Deuce as a replacement for any card so that they get a complete winning hand. As there are four wild cards to facilitate the completion of a winning hand, in these games the lowest rank for a winning combination is Three of a Kind. Profitable play in Deuces Wild requires the selection of a good game and, of course, accuracy.
There are two appropriate gaming options one may choose between, Full-Pay Deuces Wild and Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild. It is worth noting that such labels were given to the games by players, not by casinos or manufacturers of video poker machines. These names will not be found on machines in any casino. Deuces Wild is the casino name, that is to be seen in both cases.
Full-Pay Deuces Wild enjoys the greatest popularity among the variety of Deuces Wild games, as it provides the largest expected return (100.76%). This return comes as a result of the fact that Four of a Kind offers a larger payout compared to what it pays in other game versions. Here such a hand appears more frequently due to the four wild cards. However, it is exactly the reasonable return, which urges casinos to offer the game in nickel and quarter denominations. Another drawback is that the game is to be found only in those states, where casinos are allowed to propose returns exceeding 100%.
Full-Pay Deuces Wild is a player advantage game or a game where the expected return exceeds 100%, which provides the player with an advantage rather than the casino. This circumstance makes the game a nice choice for novice players.
Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild represents another good gaming option for beginners, with its expected return being 99.73%. Some experts refer to it as a 20/20 game, as a player will earn 20 coins for every 5-coin bet made if holding a Full House or Four of a Kind. This game version is offered on machines with larger denominations and is considered as legal in those states, which decree less-than-100-percent returns. These two circumstances explain why the game is easier to find than Full-Pay Deuces Wild.
At times casinos may downgrade Full-Pay Deuces Wild (they may reduce the percentage of return offered by the game). In such cases, Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild is the game to replace it.
Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild is suitable for beginners, because, if taking into account casino promotions, it becomes a player advantage game.
Bonus Poker
The game features a deck of 52 cards, while the lowest rank for a winning combination is a pair of Jacks. This game offers a larger payout for special Four of a Kind hands. For example, a hand consisting of four Twos, or four Threes, or four Fours will pay a player 40 times the amount bet, while a hand of four Aces will pay him/her 80 times that amount.
The return for a Full House or for a Flush, however, is lower compared to that, offered by 9/6 Jacks or Better. The reason for that is the additional amount paid for particular Four of a Kind hand.
Bonus Poker is an appropriate game for novice players because the strategies used in Jacks or Better are also used here, while the additional amount paid for particular hands boosts the excitement as well. People, who play on a restrained budget, will also find this game suitable because frequent hands such as a Two Pair will double the amount bet.
As for the game providing the greatest earning opportunity, experts recommend 8/5 Bonus Poker, with its expected return being 99.17%. When playing this game version, one will earn 8 coins for every coin bet, if holding a Full House, and 5 coins for every coin bet, if holding a Flush.
