Video poker is an easy game to learn to play well, so do take the time to learn the basic draw strategy, as well as the best machines to play (the ones with the most favorable payout schedule). In addition, the tips below will give you a better chance of winning and overall make the game more enjoyable.

+ Never keep a kicker (an extra card, often an ace) with any pair. This lowers your chance of drawing three of a kind.

+ Make certain the "hold" button shows for each card you want to hold before pushing the draw button.

+ Make sure the machine uses a "hold" button. Most do, but a few use a "discard" button instead, where you indicate the cards you want to discard by pushing the button instead of the cards you want to hold.

+ Take your time and consult the draw chart given above for every hand. One of the advantages of playing a machine is that no one will rush you. Take all the time you want. Think each hand through, have a drink, smoke a cigarette, the machine will always sit there waiting patiently!

+ If you are a beginner, pick the lowest denomination of machine you can find and play on it until you are familiar and comfortable with the drawing strategy.

Follow these tips and you money will last longer and you just might be the one to hit that 600,000 to 1 odds royal flush!

Good Luck!

Tom is the webmaster at http://www.blackjack-for-everyone.com, which is a website dedicated to turning beginning Blackjack players into serious recreational players.