Video poker is considered by many to be a combination of a slot machine and a poker game. In reality, video poker is only one part slot machine and three parts poker - much more poker than slots game. Video poker is only similar to slot games because they are both viewed on a screen - either on a video poker terminal in a land-based casino or on your computer screen in an online casino.

But whereas slots require luck and not much else (besides your money, of course), video poker does require something else - a certain degree of skill. When you play slots, the only decision you have to make is how much to bet and which machine seems the most appealing. But video poker involves real decision making - it's not as complex as real poker, but the player's skill can and does impact on the outcome of the game. Video poker is much more than a mere slot machine.

Video poker is essentially a computerized game of 5-card draw poker. In video poker you are not playing against a dealer or against fellow players (which makes it a lot less stressful than table poker). In video poker you're playing against the computer and the winning combinations are based on a) 5-card poker rankings and b) the pay table on the game you're playing. Online video poker is played exactly like the video poker games you'll find in land-based casinos (except you don't feed in real coins, of course).

One of the things you will read about before you play video poker is how many coins the specific game you're interested in accepts. Most video poker games take coins of different denominations and various numbers of coins (usually up to five). So if you play a one-dollar coin size and go for the maximum number of coins, you'll be playing $5.00 a hand. Figure out how much you want to bet and play will begin.

Once the bet is placed, you are dealt 5 cards and they will appear in a horizontal row - face up - on the screen. Look at your cards carefully - it is at this point that you have to make your big decision. You have the option of holding on to any number of your cards and/or discarding them. If you discard 3 cards, you get to draw 3 cards; if you don't discard any, you don't draw any, and so on. If you choose to hold some cards and discard others, you mark which are to be held (based on a poker strategy, which we'll talk about later). When it's time to replace the cards you want to discard, you push a button marked Draw and the machine will throw out the old and bring in the new. The hand you are now looking at is your final hand and you get paid for the hand based on the pay table conditions.

As mentioned, what makes video poker a big favorite is that there is an element of skill involved and that means a real strategy is possible in order to increase your chances of winning. Because of this, the odds in video poker are some of the best around - much better than regular, luck-based slots. Some strategies apply to all games - a blanket strategy, so to speak. But video poker comes in many variations including games with wild cards, like Microgaming's Deuces Wild, and the different features of these games will skew the strategy slightly. If you love a certain game and plan to stick to it, learn the strategy for that game - you'll be happy you did.

As for strategies that should be adhered to for all video poker, here are some tips: Always hold a royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, and full house With three of a kind, discard the remaining two cards (for a chance at 4 of a kind) With two pair, discard the fifth card (for a chance at a full house) A low pair is better than a single high card (picture card or ace) Hang onto a single J, Q, K, or ace if that's all you

As mentioned, the beauty of video poker is that there is none of the pressure you would experience at a real poker game. Because of this, it is always recommended that you take your time. Why rush when there is no one rushing you? Read the pay tables carefully so that if you're trying for the big prize you're sure to put in the right number of coins to make you eligible. Again, go slow so that you don't make mistakes.

Poker Hand Rankings (in descending order):
Royal flush: Suited 10, J, Q, K and Ace
Straight flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit
Four of a kind: Four cards with the same denominations (4 kings or four 4s)
Full house: A combination of 3 of a kind plus a pair
Flush: Any 5 cards with the same suit
Straight: Five consecutive cards of mixed suits
Three of a kind: 3 cards with the same denominations
Pair: Two cards with the same denomination

General Terms:
Deuces Wild: A variation of video poker where the 2's in the deck are wild.
Discard: to reject or throw out cards (as opposed to "holding" them) in the hope of "drawing" more advantageous cards.
Draw poker: Poker game where each player is dealt five cards with the option of discarding one or more and replacing them with new ones in the hope of making a better hand.
Payout Table: The chart relating to every video poker machine that shows the winning combinations and the number of coins they pay (plus the number of coins needed to be eligible for that payout).
Payout: The prize - the number of coins or credits won as per the pay table.
Wild card: A card that can substitute for any other card in order to make a hand. In Deuces Wild, the 2s are wild cards.