Video Poker Glossary

Article about terms and common words for this game.

Video poker is an entirely new game. Even though the game sounds like an upgraded version of poker, it is actually different from the conventional one. As such, it uses several terms and phrases that may be new to you. The following are just some of the most common video poker jargons and their definitions:

Average Payback - The average pot you could win if you played a hand repeatedly. If you are intent on playing a hand more than once, you must choose the one that offers an impressive average payback.
Bonus Poker - A video poker machine that offers a larger payout to a few big hands. This is a variation of the original game.
Cash Out - A button that releases the coins, which you have accumulated.
Comps - Casino rewards you could get from playing. This maybe in the form of a free game, free tokens or chips, and other perks.
Credits - The amount you have in hand based on your deposited money and accumulated wins.
Cycle - The predicted number of hands in a royal flush. There may or may not be a royal flush in one cycle or several royal flushes in a single cycle.
Deuces Wild - Another kind of machine used in another form of video poker where wild cards are deuces.
Flat Top - A machine that do not offer progressive jackpots, hence the name.
Flush - A hand that contains five same suit cards.
Four Card Flush - A flush that only requires four same suit cards.
Four of a Kind - A hand that contains four same value cards.
Full House - A hand that contains a trio and a pair.
Full-Pay Game - A game that has the maximum average payback along with a couple of comps.
Garbage Hand - A hand that forces a player to discard the cards and draw another set.
Hand - A term used in different applications. It can mean the collection of cards and the different ways they are played.
High Card - The high value cards usually starting from 10, depending on the video poker game being played. If it is not a Tens-or-Better Video Poker - (link to: Jacks or better video poker), the high cards are just the Aces, Kings, Queens, and Jacks.
Hold/Discard Button - The button found under each card. Pressing it will switch the function from hold to discard and vice versa.
Jackpot - The hand that can give players the biggest payoff.
Jack or Better - The earliest form of video poker that is still being played today. A Full House pays off 9-1 while a Flush pays off 6-1.
Joker Poker - The video poker variety that uses the Joker card as a wild card.
Pat Hand - The initial hand that may result in a win. In some cases, however, it would be wiser to discard some of the cards and draw another set to get a better payoff.
Payoff Table - The grid that shows the amount to be paid off for each winning bet.
Progressive Jackpot - The prize pot that increases with every game when you are playing with your maximum credits.
Random - The way by which cards are drawn. This is protected by casino regulations so players are assured that the machines will not cheat.
Royal Flush - A hand that contains all the High Cards of a single suit.
Straight Flush - A hand that contains five same suit cards in a consecutive-value sequence.
Suit - The major classification of a deck of cards -- Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, and Spades -- apart from the wild card.
Three of a Kind - A hand that contains three same value cards.
Two Pair - A hand that contains two sets of two same value cards.
Video Poker Machine - A slot machine-looking console used in video poker. There are a couple of video poker machines available and each is created for a specific game type.
Winning Hand - A hand that has a matching payoff.

Last Updated ( Friday, 14 December 2007 )

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