Video poker is one of the most popular online casino games outside of online slots. While the game is simple to play, it is one where players make a ton of mistakes. Today, we will go over some of the most common mistakes made by video poker players and how to correct them.

1. Video Poker Tabletop Machine

Ignoring Pay Tables

Video poker became more firmly established when SIRCOMA, which stood for Si Redd's Coin Machines (and which evolved over time to become International Game Technology), introduced Draw Poker in 1979. Throughout the 1980s video poker became increasingly popular in casinos, as people found the devices less intimidating than playing table games.

1. Video Poker Return Tables Although most amateur video poker players do not realize it, pay tables play a huge role in the profitability of a video poker machine. In fact, when you are comparing two machines that offer identical games/rules, the pay tables (or 'return tables') are the only way that the two machines' payouts can differ.
2. Regarding the statistics show in the tables list in a poker lobby, I think it’s most important to remember to use the numbers for comparisons; i.e. Once you’ve decided the game and limits at which you wish to play, the next step is to use the numbers to help decide which particular table.
3. Video Poker Return Tables Although most amateur video poker players do not realize it, pay tables play a huge role in the profitability of a video poker machine. In fact, when you are comparing two machines that offer identical games/rules, the pay tables (or 'return tables') are the only way that the two machines' payouts can differ.

The #1 mistake made by video poker players is that they ignore the pay table when they play the game. They see a game that looks appealing but neglect to see whether the pay table is going to give them the best chances to win. If you don’t know what we mean, check out our article about understanding video poker pay tables.

Finding the pay table of a game is simple. Many games have the table displayed across the top of the game. If the table is not displayed, then look a button for Payouts or Pay Table. Always check the table before playing the game to find the best game. You should play nothing worse than an 8-5, regardless of the game.

Playing Video Poker Like Regular Poker

A common mistake made by beginners is playing video poker like traditional poker. While the poker hand is the same, how you draw to those hands can be a bit different. For example, if you had a pair of fours and four to a straight, you would probably keep the straight draw in traditional poker. In video poker, you’d keep the pair.

There are other instances where a move in traditional poker is actually the wrong move in video poker. When playing video poker, remember that you are receiving fixed payouts based on a pay table. You cannot force extra bets out of your opponents with a monster hand because you’re not playing against anyone. You have to play the statistical odds rather than your opponents.

Looking for a “Hot Machine”

A common misconception that’s carried over to online video poker is that some video poker machines run “hot” or they run “cold.” As such, you will see some players hop from one video poker game to another in hopes of catching a hot machine.

Modern video poker machines use a random number generator to deal cards. This makes each deal truly random. Video poker machines don’t “run hot” or “build points” like some classic live poker machines used to. Pay more attention to the pay table and to using proper strategy rather than looking for a hot machine.

Failing to Play The Right Strategy For Each Game

In traditional poker, the strategy you’d use to win at Texas Hold’em is not the same as you’d use for Seven Card Stud or Omaha Hi-Lo split. The same holds true for video poker. You will use a different strategy for Double Double Bonus Poker than you will for Jacks or Better. There are also strategy differences for jackpot video poker games versus standard games.

If you are not using a video poker trainer to improve your poker game, you are doing yourself a disservice. Trainers will help you perfect your strategy for all variants of video poker, giving you the tools necessary to win more.

Failing to Play Max Credits

One of the worst mistakes you can make for your long-term profitability in video poker is failing to play max credits. The reason behind this is that a Royal Flush pays a massive bonus whenever you hit it.

The top payout on most hands at max credits is 5x the single credit payout. For example, a full house might pay 9 on a single credit and 45 on max credits. For a Royal Flush, a single credit payout is 250. Instead of max credits paying out 1,250, it pays out 4,000. This is the jackpot payout for a video poker machine.

Video Poker Tabletop Machine

The Royal Flush bonus is the key to long-term profitability. If you aren’t making Royal Flushes, you will are likely not a long-term winner. The only way to profit from this is by playing max credit.