Casino Strategy & Gaming Education
Essential Terminology for Understanding Video Poker Strategy and Optimal Play
Return to Player is the percentage of all wagered money that a video poker machine returns to players over time. For example, a 99% RTP means that theoretically, for every $100 wagered, $99 is returned to players in winnings. The remaining 1% represents the house edge. Different pay tables and machine variants offer varying RTPs, making pay table selection crucial for optimal play.
The pay table displays the payout amounts for each winning hand combination. It shows the relationship between your bet size and winnings for hands like Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, and lower-ranking hands. Pay tables vary significantly between machines and game variants. Understanding and comparing pay tables is essential, as different tables directly impact the machine's RTP and your expected long-term results.
The highest-ranking hand in video poker, consisting of an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of the same suit. In most video poker games, the Royal Flush offers the highest payout. This hand is the target of optimal strategy, and many decisions in advanced play revolve around the possibility of completing a Royal Flush rather than settling for smaller wins.
A strategy chart is a ranked list of possible hands and draws, ordered by their expected value. Players use these charts to determine which cards to hold and which to discard on each hand. Following an optimal strategy chart based on your specific pay table can minimize the house edge. Strategy charts are the foundation of mathematically correct video poker play.
A hand containing four cards of the same rank, plus one kicker card. Four of a Kind typically offers substantial payouts in video poker, though payouts vary by machine and game variant. The optimal strategy often involves holding four cards toward a potential Four of a Kind rather than pursuing other hand combinations, depending on the specific situation and pay table.
Expected Value represents the average amount a player can expect to win or lose per hand over time when making a specific decision. In video poker strategy, each decision (which cards to hold or discard) has an associated expected value. Optimal play always involves choosing the action with the highest expected value, even when individual outcomes may vary.
Volatility refers to the variance in results over a period of time. High-volatility video poker games feature larger swings between winning and losing sessions, though they may offer higher theoretical returns. Low-volatility games provide more consistent, smaller wins. Understanding a game's volatility helps players select machines that match their bankroll size and risk tolerance.
The house edge is the mathematical advantage the casino maintains over players, expressed as a percentage of total wagered money. It represents the casino's long-term profit from that game. In video poker, the house edge can range from under 1% on games with optimal pay tables to over 5% on poor-paying machines. Selecting games with lower house edges is a fundamental aspect of optimal play.
Bankroll management involves setting aside money specifically for gaming and playing at bet levels appropriate to that bankroll. Proper management ensures that variance and short-term losing streaks won't deplete your entire gaming fund. Experts recommend maintaining a bankroll large enough to weather normal fluctuations while playing optimal strategy.
Variance describes the fluctuation of results around the expected value. High variance means results can swing significantly from the theoretical average, while low variance means results cluster more closely around expectations. A player's actual results over a limited period will likely differ from theoretical expectations due to variance.
Hold strategy refers to the decision of which cards to retain and which to discard in each hand. Optimal hold strategy is derived from mathematical analysis of expected values for each possible action. Following the correct hold strategy for your specific pay table significantly improves your overall return and reduces the house edge.
Draw probability refers to the likelihood of completing a desired hand after discarding certain cards. Understanding these probabilities helps inform optimal strategy decisions. For example, an open-ended straight draw has higher completion probability than an inside straight draw, influencing whether holding for these draws is mathematically sound.
A kicker is an unmatched card held alongside a stronger hand component. For example, in a pair with a kicker, the pair forms the primary hand value while the kicker is the fifth card. Strategy decisions sometimes involve whether to hold a kicker (in hopes of improving to two pair or three of a kind) or discard it to draw for stronger hands.
Optimal play represents the mathematically correct decisions for every possible hand dealt in video poker. By consistently following optimal play strategy for your specific pay table, you achieve the game's maximum possible return rate. Deviations from optimal strategy increase the effective house edge and reduce expected long-term returns.