Poker vs Video Poker

To the untrained eye, video poker players may seem to be just playing five card draw on a video screen. While there is some skill to video poker, it is a very different game than actual poker. Those who expect to make a smooth transition from the video poker machine to the live poker table or internet Texas Holdem may be in for a rude awakening.

Transitioning From Video Poker to Poker

Video poker players have a very simple task. Discard and replace cards from their hands to try to make the best five card poker hand possible, just as in five card draw. The better the hand one ends up with, the more money one wins.

Poker players have more complicated issues to deal with, mostly surrounding betting. In video poker, players place a bet up front and simply wait to see the outcome of the hand. There is no question of raising the bet or of putting up more money to see the end of the hand. Video poker players will need to learn the strategies behind betting in poker if they are going to be successful.

Transitioning From Poker to Video Poker

Poker players may become frustrated with the lack of control that they have in video poker. In traditional poker, even a bad hand can be salvaged with a well timed bet that gets an opponent to fold. In addition, if a hand shows little potential, the player can fold it immediately and save some money.

Players do not have these options in video poker. All they can do is try to make a winning hand and hope for the best.

Choosing Poker or Video Poker

Video poker does require some skill. Good players can come close to breaking even in the long term or even come out a long term winner if conditions are right.

However, the kind of consistent wins generated in regular poker are not likely in video poker. On the flip side, video poker players are just playing heads up against the House. They don’t have to worry about facing live opponents who they might feel the need to intimidate or who might intimidate them.