Throughout history, poker and it’s digital nephew, video poker, has been known as games of skill, not games of chance.

You may have been led to believe that video poker is just a slot machine with cards, but that impression is not correct.

Video poker requires an element of skill from the player.

It’s not merely about pressing the spin button. When you play video poker, you have to make decisions to determine an outcome, and that’s why it’s important to understand the basics of poker before you bet on one of our selection of video poker games.

A key element to being successful at video poker, is to know that you have to be in it for the long haul and at full-pay (also referred to as max bet).

Without this mind set and inclination, you’re unlikely to take big wins.

You have to be prepared that you will be making some mistakes, but all in all, discerning players report a very satisfying gaming experience due to the level of skill required, which makes it an immersive and interactive online gambling experience.

In fact, video poker casino games have become so popular, that they now dominate floor space in many Vegas Casinos.

Join the Video Poker Craze

Arm yourself with tips and tactics and be a potent poker player at ZAR Online Casino!

Let’s start

A single deck of cards are made up out of 52 Cards across 4 suits: Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs.

Sometimes a Joker is included in the standard 52-card deck with a meaning similar to the Fool card of the Tarot. 

(Sometimes, two Jokers are included.)

When choosing to play poker, there are different options.

Single Deck

52 Cards are dealt from a randomly shuffled single deck, and if you choose Joker Wild video poker options, there will be 53 cards.

The most basic of our video poker games is Jacks or Better.

Winning Hands

A “ hand”  consists of 5 cards.

Here are examples of winning hands:

Royal Flush                                                  

When you have an Ace; King; Queen; Jack and 10, all of the same suit.

Straight Flush

A straight flush is when you have 5 cards of the same suit in numerical order.

If the house also has a straight flush, the highest ranking card at the top of the numbered sequence will be the winner.

PS: As explained earlier, the best possible straight flush is known as the coveted royal flush, which consists of the ace, king, queen, jack and ten of a suit.

Four Of A Kind                     

When you hold 4 cards of the same rank; for example, ten of hearts, ten of spades, ten of clubs, ten of diamonds.

Full House

When you have 3 cards of one rank (meaning the same number or type) and 2 cards of another rank; for example, 3 of diamonds, 3 of hearts, 3 of spades, 6 of hearts, 6 of spades.

Flush

A regular flush is when you have five cards of the same suit, no matter the numerical order.     

Flush: Five cards of the same suit; for example, ace, 10, 7, 4, 3, all of diamonds.                                                                                   

Straight

Five consecutive cards of mixed suits; for example, 2 of diamonds, 3 of hearts, 4 of diamonds, 5 of clubs, 6 of spades.

Three of a kind

Three cards of the same rank; for example, 6 of hearts, 6 of clubs, 6 of diamonds.

Two pair

Two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank; for example, ace of spades, ace of hearts, 7 of clubs, 7 of diamonds.

Pair of jacks or better

Two jacks, queens, kings, or aces.

Now that you know how to win, why don’t you take a loo at the amazing video poker options we have available?