Video Poker Terminology

Common Video Poker Terms

To acquire competency as a Video Poker player, it’s necessary to know the basic Video Poker terms employed in the game. Without an awareness of Video Poker terminology, players are often unable to grasp game rules, strategies and concepts. Additionally, you may not enjoy your play to the fullest extent because, in some respects, your understanding of the game will be lacking.

OPA’s Video Poker glossary refers to basic words used in the Video Poker room, including Video Poker slang. Video Poker slang words are merely popular terms specific to the game. While you don’t have to memorize the entire Video Poker glossary, an operational knowledge of Video Poker language is advantageous.

Video Poker Terminology

A
Aces and Eights
A popular Video Poker variation that pays a jackpot if your hand has four Aces and an eight.
Average Payback
The average amount you will win if you play that particular hand one million times. For example, if a Royal Flush pays $1,000 and you draw one card to an existing four card royal flush, your average payback is about $25. This is important because for any hand that can be played in more than one way, you should always play the way that garners you the highest Average Payback.

B
Bonus Poker
A machine that pays off larger payouts for some big hands, such as four Aces, while paying off at smaller payouts for lesser hands, such as two pair.

C
Cash Out
A button located on each Video Poker machine that releases an accounting of your credit for that machine.
Casino Edge
The advantage that the casino holds on any bet in the casino parlour. In Video Poker, the casino edge is generally less than 2%.

D
Denomination
This refers to the number on the card reflecting its value, such as an 8 or a Jack
Deuces Wild
A Video Poker game in which deuces are wild cards hat can be substituted for any card in the deck.

E
Edge
The house advantage in a game, based on mathematical expectation.

F
Flush
A hand containing five cards of the same suit.
Full House
A hand comprised of three cards of similar value and two other cards of similar value.

G
Garbage Hand
A hand in which your best draw is to discard all five cards.

H
Hand
A collection of up to five cards that you are dealt to start a game.
High Card
This refers to a Jack, Queen, King or an Ace in games of Jacks or Better.
Hunches
This refers to a playing type in which you play a hand in such a way that is contrary to mathematical probabilities.

I
Inside Straight Flush
A hand containing three or four in the same suit in a broken sequence. All you need is to draw one card to have a straight flush.

J
Jacks or Better
A poker variation in which you receive a payout if you have a pair of Jacks or Better in your hand.
Joker Poker
A poker variation in which a Joker is inserted in the deck as a wild card.

L
Long Run
The point where the machine’s total appearance of number values is precisely what the mathematical probability of occurrence predicts.

N
Net Losses
The amount lost after the wager is deducted from the payout.
Net Winnings
The amount won after the wager is deducted from the payout.

P
Pat Hand
A winning hand that is dealt to you on the first five cards.
Payoff Table
By law, every Video Poker machine must display the amount it pays for each winning hand for each amount that is wagered.
Progressive Jackpot
This refers to the Jackpot, usually reserved for a Royal Flush. This total increases with every bet that is made on the machine. After a player wins the progressive jackpot, the total is reset back to its starting value.

S
Short Run
This refers to a limited amount of time when the probability theory will be marked by streaks and fluctuations.