Video Poker versus Slots
Video poker and slots games are often viewed as cousins, and for several good reasons. First is the fact that video poker and slots games are usually located in similar locations in offline casino environments. Then there is the observation that video poker and slots games are often presented in a similar style. A third similarity is that both types of game can be played on demand by an individual casino player. But none of this means that video poker and slots games should be seen as complete equals because there are a couple of big differences between them that all newcomers to online casino gaming should be aware of.
The biggest difference that should be noted is that video poker games involve an element of skill as well as luck. The skill element relates to the fact that you need to make decisions about which cards to keep and which cards to replace when you are playing each hand, and although this level of skill isn’t as high as the one involved when playing blackjack, it is still an element of skill that slots games don’t have.
Because video poker games require you to make decisions, you can increase your chances of winning over the long term by adopting a proven strategy. The benefit of adopting a strategy is that you won’t have to worry about what decision to make in each individual scenario, but can instead make decisions according to the probabilities of making a better hand.
Slots games are a very different matter, because although many slots games give the illusion of having a skill element (for example, when allowing the player to hold reels, choose bonus prizes and so on) the outcome is almost always a matter of pure luck. It is therefore impossible for a player to adopt any kind of strategy that will increase his chances of winning on a consistent basis.
Another big difference between video poker and slots games is that it is fairly easy to compare various video poker games of a similar type and note which ones offer the best payouts for particular hands. Payouts will of course vary markedly between games that have substantially different rules (for example, Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild) but games employing the same rules can certainly be compared quite effectively.
The same cannot be said nearly so often about slots games, because the rules governing payouts vary much more widely between slots titles than they do between video poker titles. Again, this is something that leaves slots players at a disadvantage to their video poker counterparts.
None of this should be taken to suggest that video poker games are automatically superior to slots games, but understanding the differences between video poker and slots games enables you to choose the game that best suits your mood and objectives. For example, slots games are perfect for those times when you want to relax and give yourself a chance of winning potentially big money without having to think about making any strategic decisions. And for those times when you want to try and increase your chances of winning by exercising your skill and judgement, video poker games would usually be the more appropriate choice.
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