So you wanna play poker?

Let the games begin with this party-popping, rootin’ tootin’ thrill-ride of 5-Card Draw poker. I’m a big fan of video poker because it’s really easy to play. I’m not going to kid you here – there are more winning combinations to be had in this game, more often because the sheer enormity of choice is overwhelming. Let’s take a look at a small sampling of the popular gaming variants in video poker:

• 4-5 Bonus Poker
• Aces and Faces
• All American
• Black Jack Bonus Poker
• Deuces Wild
• Double Down Stud
• Face n’ Deuces
• Double Pay Poker
• Five Deck Frenzy
• Going for Fours
• Louisiana Double
• Max Out Poker
• Sneak Peek Poker
• Super Double Double
• Triple Bonus

Note that all of these games are based on the inimitable 5-Card draw poker game. And the way they work – both at online casinos and bricks and mortar venues is basically as a slot machine works. If you’re familiar with the game of poker, then video poker is the next step up. I like to think of it as driving automatic as opposed to driving a manual transmission. All the usual poker terms and definitions like a Royal Flush, a Full House, a Straight, a Flush, , Four-of-a-Kind, Two Pairs, a Pair and a high card are hand values you’ll encounter at video poker. And it really is about choices in this game because you’ll be able to hold and fold, deal and draw as you see fit.

There is one word of advice I want to share with you though: Owing to the fact that all the games are different, there are SPECIFIC rules for each and every video poker game. Sometimes holding a pair of Jacks is the best that you can do. And between all the online casinos and video poker dens, there are points allocations that players can score. A Royal Flush for example scores you 2,000 points while a Full House will net you 40 points. There are plenty of online sites where you can practice the game . I like to try these games out for free first – to get the hang of them – before I wager for real money. Enjoy the poker gaming!