Can Video Poker Improve Your Card Skills?
Any kind of poker player stands to benefit from constantly honing their craft. It’s essential to thrive and persevere in this game. Getting some mileage playing tournaments at a local casino is going to be quintessential, but you need to supplement it with some good theoretical fundamentals as well.
That’s where video poker comes in. The way the game works is that you will be faced with numerous situations that are similar in nature, so some of the knowledge gained will be transferable to other formats of poker. Above all else, you will get a primer on how to calculate probabilities, allowing you to get your chips in when you’re at an advantage and run like a madman when the odds are stacked against you.
Let’s get started with the basics first.
The anatomy of video poker
Video poker machines have been around for decades. These virtually simulate a real deck of cards, but can sometimes add digital transitions and special effects to make things a bit more interesting.
Gameplay-wise, you will find yourself in various situations that need you to make a judgment call on what your best move is. Yes, there are odds at play, but not every one of them is going to be a coinflip. In other words, you’re going to need to evaluate them on a case-by-case basis. In some situations, folding your cards is going to be your best option.
Much like regular Texas Hold ‘Em we’ve written a beginner’s guide on, your hand can improve in later rounds. The question then becomes, is it worth seeing the next round? For instance, in this classic poker format, the answer depends on whether someone bets into you, the size of their bet, and what the pot odds are.
Getting your feet wet
Another thing video poker accomplishes incredibly well is that it explains the basics of the game such as hand values. As an experienced poker player, these will be second-nature to you, but try to place yourself in the shoes of a beginner. In this sense, there’s no better exercise than video poker to remember it all.
Upon mastering them, you’ll see that the knowledge obtained is very much transferable to other poker formats. Next time around, you’ll know immediately that a flush beats a straight, for example.
A word on coinflip situations
The only situation where the outcome is completely dependent on luck is a coinflip scenario. In others, however, it’s you who gets to recognize a situation for what it is, and then either pursue it to its resolution or fold your cards. So while RNG is always a factor, in most situations, you, as the player, retain some sense of control.
Play it safe by sticking to trusted platforms
Before you go on to play real money pokies, another soft skill for you to learn is how to find the most trusted platforms as not all are made equal in this regard. This holds true for any kind of card game that you set out to play online.
If you risk it all by entrusting your hard-earned money to a fly-by-night operation, none of the other learnable skills will make a difference. At the same time, by doing your due diligence, you’ll also learn to give preference to the kind of providers that make it worth your while to stay by giving you access to lucrative bonuses and other Source: Pixabaypromotions.
Conclusion
Long story short, video poker is a great way to get your feet wet playing poker as a beginner and it will give you plenty of transferable skills you can apply to other games. Even poker pros will find the experience refreshing to step away from the daily grind, all while brushing up on their ability to calculate odds on the fly.
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