If you are totally new to video poker you may find it helpful to have our Video Poker Terms page open whilst you read this page although we have tried to stay clear of jargon as much as possible. Video poker is played between you and the Dealer. You are dealt five cards in the first hand. When you receive your first hand, choose the cards to hold or discard. The cards you discard are replaced with new ones from the deck. Multi hand or 'Power Poker' as it is sometimes called is exactly the same only you play more than one hand at a time.

The objective is to complete the game with the strongest hand. Different Video Poker Games have different winning hands and the orders vary from game to game, for example: In the Game 'Aces and Faces' 4 Aces is ranked higher than a Straight Flush but in other versions of Video Poker such as 'Jacks or Better' a straight flush is Ranked higher than 4 of a kind including 4 Aces. Before you worry too much about different versions it is wise to get to know the 'normal' Video Poker Hands but the payout table for each game will show you what is paid out for which hands so look at our game specific rules to find out more about the exact game you are interested in.

The payout is dependent on the value of the hand you are holding. The payout values are described in the Payout Schedule for each version of the game. If you win your hand, you can increase your winnings by participating in a Doubling phase.

Below we have detailed click by click instructions on how to play video poker, remember these are general and may vary depending on what software you are playing with. If you want to know about specific rules and hands for a specific game we suggest you first decide which software you prefer. If you are a beginner we would urge you to consider trying Microgaming as we have found the software to be extremely beginner friendly and very easy to use. Also if you play at Jackpot city (which uses the microgaming software) we have found their support team to be very fast to respond and always happy to help, they even have a 24/7 freephone number you can call if you have any problems at all!

Playing Video Poker (the click bye click guide)

To play a game of poker, do the following:
1. Click the Increase (+) or Decrease (-) button to select the coin size you want to bet.
2. Click the column in the Payout Table to select the number of coins you want to bet.

Note: Your total bet amount is the number of coins chosen, multiplied by the coin size selected.
3. Click the Deal button. A hand of five cards is dealt to you.
4. Select the cards you want to hold by clicking them. They are marked as Held.

Note: If the Auto Hold function is enabled, cards are automatically held according to the Optimal Game Play Strategy
5. Click the Draw button. The cards you did not hold are replaced with new cards from the deck.
6. If you have a winning hand, the win is highlighted on the Payout Table. You can either:
· Double
Click the Double button. This starts the Doubling phase.
· Collect
Click the Collect button. This ends the Doubling phase and you are paid out the win amount as reflected in the Win box.
If you do not have a winning hand, the game is over and you can play a new hand.

Doubling

The object of the Doubling phase is to draw a card of higher value than the Dealer's card. If you select a card of higher value, your win amount is doubled and you can choose to repeat the Doubling phase again, or collect your winnings. You can continue Doubling until you draw a card of lesser value than the Dealer's card and lose the hand, or until you reach the Casino's Doubling limit.

If you win a hand in the game and want to Double, do the following:
1. Click the Double button. Five new cards are dealt, and the Dealer's card is turned face up.
2. Select any one of the four remaining face down cards. All four cards are turned over to reveal their values and the card you selected is highlighted.
3. If your card is of a higher value than the Dealer's, you win double your original payout and can choose to either:
· Double
Click the Double button. Five new cards are dealt, and the Dealer's card is turned face up. Return to step 2.
· Collect
Click the Collect button. This ends your game and you are paid out the win amount as reflected in the Win box.
4. If your card is of equal value to the Dealer's, it is a tie and your win amount remains the same, you can then choose to either:
· Double
Click the Double button. Five new cards are dealt, and the Dealer's card is turned face up. Return to step 2.
· Collect
Click the Collect button. This ends your game and you are paid out the win amount as reflected in the Win box.
5. If your card is of a lesser value than the Dealer's, the Doubling phase is over. You are returned to the Poker game and can continue to play a new hand.

To view our pages which are aimed at helping you learn more about Video poker please use either the links on the left hand side or the links below:

Video Poker Tips - Video Poker Hands - Video Poker Background - Video Poker Terms