Common Mistakes Beginners Make in Video Poker

Video poker is a fun and strategic casino game, but beginners often make mistakes that reduce their chances of winning. Understanding these pitfalls can help you play smarter, maximize payouts, and enjoy the game longer. This guide highlights the most common mistakes and offers tips to avoid them.

Ignoring Pay Tables

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is not checking the pay table before playing:

• Different machines offer different payouts for the same hands.

• For example, a 9/6 Jacks or Better machine (9 for full house, 6 for flush) offers much better returns than an 8/5 machine.

• Ignoring pay tables can significantly reduce long-term expected returns (RTP).

Tip: Always compare pay tables and choose the machine with the highest payouts.

Not Using Optimal Strategy

Video poker allows players to make decisions on which cards to hold or discard, but beginners often play randomly:

• Holding low-value cards instead of high pairs or potential straight/flush draws.

• Discarding winning combinations for a chance at a bigger hand.

Tip: Use strategy charts for your chosen variant to make mathematically optimal decisions.

Chasing Losses

Beginners often increase bets to recover losses, which is risky:

• Video poker is a game of probability, and losses are part of normal variance.

• Chasing losses can quickly deplete your bankroll.

Tip: Set a session budget and stick to it. Treat each hand as a fresh, independent event.

Playing Without a Bankroll Plan

Bankroll management is essential:

• Betting too much per hand can exhaust funds quickly.

• Playing too long without a plan increases the risk of big losses.

Tip: Divide your bankroll into manageable sessions and adjust bets according to your balance.

Ignoring Bonuses and Promotions

Many beginners overlook casino bonuses, missing opportunities to extend gameplay:

• Welcome bonuses, reload bonuses, and loyalty rewards can increase your bankroll.

• Some players fail to read terms and conditions, leading to missed benefits.

Tip: Use bonuses to practice strategy and maximize playtime without risking your own money.

Focusing Only on Big Wins

Beginners often chase rare hands like royal flushes, ignoring smaller but frequent payouts:

• Small wins like two pairs or three-of-a-kind add up over time.

• Focusing only on jackpots can lead to poor decision-making.

Tip: Balance chasing jackpots with playing consistently smart hands to maximize overall returns.

Switching Between Too Many Variants

Playing multiple video poker variants without mastering one is a common mistake:

• Each variant has different rules, pay tables, and strategies.

• Beginners may make poor decisions when switching games frequently.

Tip: Master one variant (like Jacks or Better) before exploring others like Deuces Wild or Bonus Poker.

Falling for the Gambler’s Fallacy

Beginners often believe past hands affect future results:

• Video poker uses a Random Number Generator (RNG); every hand is independent.

• Wins or losses do not predict what comes next.

Tip: Treat each hand as a fresh event and make decisions based on probability, not patterns.

Conclusion

Beginners in video poker often make mistakes that reduce their chances of winning. By checking pay tables, using optimal strategy, managing bankroll, taking bonuses, focusing on consistent hands, and avoiding superstition, players can significantly improve their results.

Video poker rewards players who combine skill, discipline, and patience. Avoiding these common mistakes helps beginners enjoy the game, minimize losses, and maximize potential winnings.