Written By: RomeCasino.com

Just as in a live poker around a table in your friend’s house, there are strategies that you can utilize in video poker to help improve your chances of winning. Unfortunately some poker players, though they play a smart brand of poker in a live game, don’t play the same way in a video game. Other players, newer to the game, simply don’t know the smarter strategies to employ. So here’s a basic rundown on some techniques and tips that will help you maximize your hand for the best chances at winning in the most common poker games

Five-Card Draw

If you’re dealt a straight flush (or royal straight flush), or a full house, stand pat. Do not discard or draw anything. With four of a kind, hold on to the four and discard the non-matching card unless it’s an Ace; with three of a kind (and two non-matching cards), hold on to the three and discard the two (in hope of drawing another pair for a full house or, even better, a fourth of whatever you’re holding three of, which would give you four of a kind). Rome Casino Video Poker is a great place to play for fun and hone your skills for real play. If you have two pair, discard the non-matching card and hope for a card that will match one of the pairs and give you a full house. And if you have just a pair, discard the other three cards.

If you have a flush or straight, stand pat unless you are four cards to a straight flush. If you are four cards to a straight flush, break up your flush or straight on the chance of making a straight flush. Exception: If it’s an inside straight flush. That is, if you have four cards to a straight flush but the missing card is in the middle. Example: You are holding a 7, 8, 9, and J of diamonds. Only the 10 of diamonds will fill the straight flush. This is as opposed to your holding a 7, 8, 9, and 10 of diamonds, where either a J or a 6 will fill the straight flush. However, here comes an exception to the exception: It is worth going for an inside straight flush if it’s a royal straight flush. That is, if the missing card will give you 10-J-Q-K-A of one suit.

And speaking of inside straight flushes, let’s talk about inside straights: Do not draw to an inside straight (where the missing card is in the middle of the run, as explained above). Do draw to an open straight (where the four cards are consecutive and the fifth card could fill the straight at either end, such as if you are holding a 5, 6, 7, and 8, and you can make your straight with either a 4 or a 9).

If you have a pair but also have four cards to a straight flush (royal or otherwise), break up the pair and go for the straight flush.

By playing smart and knowing what to discard and what to hold on to, you improve your chances of bettering your hand and coming out on top.

Everybody wants to be a winner!