There are many different kinds of video poker machines to play, whether at a brick 'n mortar casino on the Strip or at Microgaming's latest online casino licensee. While it can be hard to keep up with every new game that comes out, the good news is that all video poker machines operate in the same manner and pay out winnings according to a similar paytable.

Functionally, five cards are randomly dealt from a 52/53 card deck (depending if the Joker is used or not) according to odds set by the gaming authority in charge of regulation. In most jurisdictions, this is the same standard used by the Nevada Gambling Commission. The Random Number Generator (RNG) of the software, which is the microchip that you've likely heard about being used in all gaming machines, is programmed to deliver these odds, as well as determine which cards are unpredictably dealt at the precise nanosecond you click/press the "Deal" button.

After the initial deal, a player has the option of keeping cards by clicking/pressing the "Hold" button corresponding to each card, or getting new cards dealt. Those cards which are not put on "Hold" are discarded and the remaining 47/48 cards of the deck are reshuffled and dealt again to every card position where a "hold" is not in place. After the second deal, the final hand will stand and payouts (if any) will be awarded according to the paytable.

Generally speaking, video poker payouts begin for a Pair of Jacks - hence the quintessential video poker game, Jacks or Better. The highest payout is on the elusive Royal Flush, with some games offering up a progressive jackpot on the Royal. These can be for hundreds of thousands of dollars - again, depending on the game being played.

The greatest diversification in video poker machines comes in the form of multi-play games (offering the chance to play anywhere from 5 to 100+ hands at once) and games with modified paytables (generally referred to as "Bonus" "Double" or "Double Double" games). And depending on what casino you play at, there is a chance you could be getting a partial pay machine as opposed to a full pay machine. See our Video Poker Basics page for more information on full and partial pay video poker games.

Deuces Wild is a popular version of video poker paying return on a Three-of-a-Kind or better. With all two's serving as wilds, it is the Four-of-a-Kind that makes up over 30% of the payback at Deuces Wild. In fact, the payout is so good on a full-pay version of Deuces Wild that perfect mathematical strategy will theoretically return a payout in the player's favor (100.76%). As you might expect, finding a full-pay machine, especially online, is nigh impossible. The best alternative is a 15/9/4 table (also called "Not so Ugly Deuces Wild", paying 15 coins for a Five-of-a-kind, 9 coins for a Straight Flush and 4 coins for a Four-of-a-Kind). This table delivers a theoretical return around 99%.

• Deuces and Joker Poker - Essentially a game of Deuces Wild but with the addition of a Joker (also serving as Wild)
  to the deck. One extra coin is paid on a Flush, but all other hands (except a Natural Royal and 3-of-a-Kind) are paid less due to the addition of a third Wild Card.

Jacks or Better is the quintessential video poker machine offering return on a hand holding a Pair of Jacks or better. 9 coins for a Full House and 6 coins for a Flush make for a full-pay game of Jacks of Better (9/6). When played with perfect mathematical strategy, the theoretical return is 99.54%.

• Tens or Better video poker is actually a variety of a 6/5 Jacks or Better game, except that return begins with a Pair of 10's or better.
   
• Aces and Faces is a Jacks or Better hybrid that pays extra on Four-of-a-Kinds made up of Aces and Face cards.
   
• Aces and Eights starts return on a Jacks or Better and offers extra pay on Four 7's (50 to 1) and Four 8's or Four Aces (80 to 1). The paytable usually drops down to 8/5 with higher pay on the Straight Flush than a 9/6 table.
   
• All Aces - A variation of Jacks or Better that pays greater return on varying Four-of-a-Kinds and Straight Flushes. Bonus returns are given on all Four-of-a-Kinds, with payouts progressively covering 2's through 4's, 5's through Queens, and a Four-of-a-Kind made up of Aces.
   
• Bonus Poker is another variety of Jacks or Better, essentially being the same game except that higher payouts are returned on Four-of-a-Kinds.

  - Double Bonus Poker pays a bonus for a Four-of-a-Kind of Aces. Payoffs still start at Jacks or Better.

  - Double Double Bonus Poker pays a bonus on different ranking Four-of-a-Kinds. Payoffs still start at Jacks or Better

Joker Poker - This is a 53-card game of video poker (with the addition of the Joker acting as Wild) that returns on a Pair of Kings or Better. In this regard, the paytable is similar to Jacks or Better, but also resembles Deuces Wild by offering return on a Five-of-a-Kind and a Joker Royal Flush.

Double Joker - The same as Joker Poker but with two Jokers added to the deck (both serving as wilds).

Power Poker - There are many different kinds of Power Poker (Deuces Wild Power Poker, Jacks or Better Power Poker, All Aces Poker Poker etc.). Power Poker essentially refers to video poker machines that allow multiple hands to be played at once. 4-Play, 10-Play, 50-Play and 100-Play are the most common.