Low Rent Video Poker

23 July 2022

By Jerry Stickman

Video poker is a very popular casino game. It tends to have a low house edge compared to slot machines. It is also the only slot-type game that gives the player all the information needed to determine that house edge.

In addition, there are several apps and websites that show the exact playing strategy necessary to attain that low house edge.

Unfortunately, some players wrongly assume that having all this knowledge means they can play all day on a dollar game having only a single $20 bill.

It could happen, but the player would have to be extremely lucky.

Actually, as many players have found out the hard way, $20 does not last long on a quarter game. At five coins per hand (which is necessary to get the 800-for-1 or 4,000-for-5 payout for a royal flush), a quarter game requires $1.25 per hand. That amounts to only 16 hands from a $20 bill if there are no winners.

So, what can a “low rent” player do to extend playing time?

One option is to play a lower-denomination game.

While not as common as they once were, there are still some 10-cent, 5-cent and even 1-cent video poker games around. Each five-credit bet costs 50 cents, 25 cents, or 5 cents, respectively. Translated into hands, $20 would allow for 40, 80, and 400 hands without a winning hand, respectively.

Unfortunately, many of these lower-denomination games require more than five credits to trigger the royal flush bonus. Most require 10 or more credits. Make sure to check this out before playing.

Also, many of the lower-denomination games are 3-hand, 5-hand, or even 100-hand games. Some multiple-hand games allow the player to select the number of hands they want to play. Others automatically spread the bet to all hands. If the number of hands is selectable, choose to bet one hand per play.

A 3-hand 10-cent game requires $1.50 per play at five coins per hand. This is more than a single hand 25-cent game. A 5-hand nickel game requires $1.50 per play at five credits per hand and $3.00 per play at 10 coins per hand.

Lower-denomination games do not necessarily mean they cost less. Be careful with these games.

Another option for the low-rent player is to play less than the maximum credits.

While it is true that a royal flush will pay only 250-for-1 (not 800-for-1) if the maximum credits per hand are not bet, a royal flush is very rare. If you can emotionally handle the lower payoff, betting less than the maximum credits is a viable option. Just be aware that this will also lower the overall return of the game.

The final option presented here is probably the best one. Do not go to the casino until your bankroll is adequate to the level you wish to play; be that dollar, quarter, dime, or nickel games. Keep adding to your gambling fund a little at a time until it is where you need it to be to play at your chosen level.

Then it is time to head for the casino.

In any of the above scenarios, make sure the money you are gambling is money you can afford to lose. It is no fun to lose the next mortgage payment in the pursuit of some “fun” in a casino.

As always, may all your wins be swift and large, and your losses be slow and small.

Jerry “Stickman”

Jerry “Stickman” is an expert in craps, blackjack and video poker and advantage slot machine play. He is a regular contributor to top gaming magazines. He authored the video poker section of "Everything Casino Poker: Get the Edge at Video Poker, Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, and Pai Gow Poker!" You can contact Jerry “Stickman” at stickmanjerryg@gmail.com