The internet has changed the world in so many ways, and it’s so hard to pinpoint what its best achievement is. Some would argue that the way games are more accessible to a greater number of people is the best thing about the online world.
Video poker is one game that existed way before the dotcom craze kicked off, but internet gambling sites helped it reach the worldwide notoriety it has today. Still, there are some myths about the game that the uninitiated might be unsure of. Let’s delve deeper and explore 10 myths about the game.
Article Breakdown
1. Playing Longer Guarantees a Win
Some players think that playing longer on a video poker game can guarantee a win. That may be true, but one of the rock solid video poker facts is that every game has a house edge. For instance, Jacks or Better Multihand has an RTP of 97.30 percent. So, playing for longer means that the ratio will even out, and you will eventually be down on what you’ve invested. That’s why it might be preferable to play a few hands and hope to get lucky.
2. Holding Fewer Cards Always Increases Your Chances
You might hear some players suggest to you that holding fewer cards can increase your chances of winning. This can be true sometimes, but it all depends on what you initially draw. Sometimes, the optimal strategy could be to only discard one or two cards. Other times, it could be best to go for a completely fresh hand.
For example, if you hit a pair straight away, the best approach is to hold those cards and hope to improve them to three-of-a-kind, a full house, or four-of-a-kind. Conversely, if you don’t land a load of random cards of different values, it’s best to keep the ones of the same suit and discard the rest in the hope that you’ll land a flush.
3. Progressive Jackpots Are Not Worth It
Progressive jackpot games are connected over a network and offer a huge payout to one lucky player. A lot of video poker players avoid them, though, as the odds of winning are usually lower than standard machines. However, sometimes the jackpots can reach incredible amounts, meaning that playing for them could be worthwhile if you’re trying to land the biggest sums.
4. It’s Better to Always Chase the Royal Flush
You shouldn’t discard decent cards in the hope of hitting the holy grail of poker, otherwise known as the royal flush. Indeed, your chances of getting that much-coveted hand are extremely low. Therefore, unless you’re trying to win a progressive jackpot, you should stack the probabilities in your favor and aim to land the smaller, more achievable hands. These won’t pay out as much, but they have a greater chance of coming in.
5. You Need to Be an Expert to Win
Video poker is accessible to all player levels, and you certainly don’t need to be an expert to win. In fact, it’s one of the most played games at online casinos thanks to the fact that anyone can easily get the hang of it. It helps if you’re experienced and know a lot about the game, but you certainly don’t need to be an expert to win.
When you start out at video poker, it’s a good idea to study the different hand values and understand that they have different probabilities of occurring. This is because each hand can only be made with a certain number of cards, which are often put together in a particular way.
It’s easiest to land a pair because all you need is to match two cards. Four-of-a-kind is much less likely because you need to hit all four cards of the same value. The odds of hitting certain hands can change as well, depending on which ones you land initially and which ones you decide to discard.
6. Using a Strategy Card Is Cheating
One of the best things about playing video poker is that you can easily have a strategy card at hand to help you with your decisions. That means you can play optimally in any situation. A common myth is that doing this is cheating, but there’s no rule to say it isn’t allowed. In fact, it’s advisable if you’re not a seasoned player.
7. All Video Poker Games Are the Same
You may think that if you’ve played one video poker game, you’ve played them all. This may have been true a few decades ago, but the internet age has brought about countless new ways to enjoy these games. You can find twists on the classics such as Deuces Wild Multi-Hand and Jacks or Better Multi-Hand.
8. Video Poker Machines Are Rigged
Video poker games are most certainly not rigged – if you play them at a reputable site. The world’s top online casinos have licenses in place, and that means they’re regulated to ensure they’re fair. The games operate using RNG, but your card selections have an impact on the result.
9. Always Bet the Minimum to Avoid Big Losses
Some players think that you should only stick to the minimum bet to preserve your bankroll for as long as possible. However, playing in this way will also only get you minimal returns. If you want to hit the top payouts and the jackpots, you’ll need to play with higher stakes.
10. Hot and Cold Machines Exist
In the pre-internet age, there was a common belief that, if a machine hadn’t paid out for a while, it was due to drop. There may have been some truth to this back in the day, but it’s a complete myth for internet games. Each hand in a video poker game online is independent, and the RNG means that no pattern or streak can exist. Some machines may appear to be hot or cold, but that’s simply a result of their randomness.
It’s clear that there are myriad myths about video poker games that need to be broken. A lot has changed in the market in the internet age, and the games are now more advanced and fairer than ever. For anyone looking for a great introduction to the classic card game, video poker is the way forward.