Free Bets Info : Online Poker : Poker Guide
Chapter 1:Video Poker
The Basics of Video Poker
Video Poker shares some of the characteristics of a slot machine. The gambling
gear itself is housed in a similar cabinet, and most have a coin slot and
a payout hopper. Many have a slotclub card reader and/or a bill acceptor.
The important difference is that on a reel slot you just pull the handle and
hope for the best, but video poker involves an element of skill.
To the novice player, the main attraction of video poker is the prospect of pitting
wits against the machine in fast action with a chance at a big jackpot.
To
the skilled player, however, the appeal is that some games offer an opportunity
for a long-term profit. Just as in a live poker game, you can expect a considerable
amount of risk and luck involved in the short term, but a player's
skill can make the difference between a winner and a loser in the long run.
Unlike the no-brainer reel slots, the maximum payback of any video poker
game can be ascertained from the game's payoff schedule.
No, you don't have
to do any math; just compare the payoff schedule shown on the glass or the
screen of every machine with the tables below. A game's rated payback - the
statistically projected return on money played - generally assumes perfect
play. But leave perfection to the pros; we won't even attempt it here, yet we
will easily get very close to the rated payback for a much higher return than
is possible on any other low stakes casino game.
First, find an attractive game by comparing its payoff schedule with Tables
11-1 and 11-2. Then, insert your player's card. The slot-club rebate may make
up a significant portion of your expected win rate, or it may even turn a negative
expectation game into a positive situation. If the casino has a slot club
and you don't have a card, you should get one before you begin playing.
Nearly every casino has a slot club, and membership is free. Before playing,
go to the slotclub booth, fill out an application, and get your card. You may
want to ask for two cards so you have a spare in case you leave one behind,
or if you want to play two machines at once. In some casinos, your friend or
spouse would be on the same account, and in others each of you would have
a separate account.
Slot clubs have a variety of inventive names, but they all serve the same purpose
of enticing you to play more at that casino by offering comps (compensation)
and/or cash rebates for your play. Check out the club brochure for
information on what you can get for your loyalty to that casino.
Free
Bets Info: UK Guide to Video Poker
|
