Video Poker Tips

I've written a separate article about video poker strategy, and I'll expand with more specific strategies later. But this article is more about becoming a successful gambler, and the tips here are more general in nature. They' still strategic, but perhaps they're less tactical than some of the other features here.

Tip #1 - Don't Endanger Your Bankroll

If you have no bankroll, you can't play. The bigger your bankroll is, the bigger the game you can play, and the greater your hourly expected win rate if you're playing professionally.

Many people take money from their bankroll to spend on other things like rent or food. Make sure that you have a separate video poker bankroll that's sufficient to carry you through the levels of the game at which you're playing. Click here for some thoughts on how to calculate what kind of bankroll you need.

Tip #2 - Practice

You can practice online at an online casino, or you can practice on free flash games on sites like this, or you can buy a strategy tutor like Winpoker. But don't waste tons of money learning to play video poker. There are just too many ways to get good at it without having to lose money.

Tip #3 - Learn More Than One Game

You should at the very least know how to play Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild. It would be even better to know five or six games well, because then you'll have many opportunities when other people don't. (You can learn an easy strategy for Deuces Wild here.)

Tip #4 - Join the Slots Club

The slots club always adds to your expected return, and there is never a reason NOT to belong to the casino's slot machine club. All you have to do is fill out a form and occasionally get some mail from the casinos and keep up with a little plastic card. Just insert the card into the reader at the video poker machine you're playing, and you'll start getting money back on every bet.

Tip #5 - Understand Your Goals

Your approach to the game will vary dramatically based on your goals. If you're looking for a 2nd income, you're going to need a different approach than if you're just playing to get free drinks and a comp room now and then. Nothing wrong with either goal, but the former goal is going to require significantly more dedication and focus than the 2nd goal.

You can also get slot machine tips here, or blackjack tips here, and you can learn about free video poker here.

See also:

Video Poker Hall of Fame

This page was written on April 21, 2006 and was last updated on September 18, 2007.

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