If you walk through any casino, past the flashing modern video slots, you will inevitably find rows of old, blocky Video Poker machines.

Because you can see the cards and know a standard 52-card deck is being used, you can mathematically calculate the exact probability of every draw.
Finding the Full Pay Machines
Before you ever insert a single dollar, you must intensely study the brightly lit paytable printed directly on the glass of the machine.

This specific machine pays exactly 9 coins for a Full House and 6 coins for a Flush on a single coin bet.
Progressive Video Poker machines often feature weaker base paytables to compensateOnline casinos usually offer the absolute best, highly favorable Video Poker paytablesNever play a machine where a Flush pays only 5 coins if better options exist Chasing the Royal Flush Premium
The single most catastrophic mistake a Video Poker player can make is failing to bet the maximum number of coins per hand.

Because the mathematical RTP calculation assumes you will eventually hit a Royal Flush, failing to bet max coins completely destroys your long-term advantage.
Using Math to Make the Right Hold
Once you find a 9/6 machine and bet max coins, the final step is flawlessly executing the mathematical basic strategy for every single hand.

For example, if you are dealt a Low Pair and a Four-Card Flush, the math dictates you must always hold the Pair.
Player MistakeMathematical ConsequenceBetting less than 5 coinsMassively lowers RTP due to poor Royal Flush payoutPlaying an 8/5 machineIncreases the house edge by nearly 2% instantly
Study the strategy charts relentlessly, and you will transform from a casual gambler into a formidable, highly profitable casino advantage player.