Like most casino games, video poker has amassed a number of myths over the years. Many gamblers hold such myths to be true, even though they are usually based on some core misconception or utter untruth. Taking such myths as facts can put one at a disadvantage when playing video poker, as they can significantly lead one astray from using appropriate strategy. The following represent some of the most commonly heard video poker myths.
Video Poker Games Have Hot and Cold Streaks
One of the most prominent myths about video poker games is that they run on cold and hot streaks. While illusions of patterns may emerge during short term play, every single hand has the same probability of winning and losing. This is due to the random number generator that powers video poker games, along with all electronic or digital casino devices. Likewise, it is also a myth that a game is likely to provide a large payout after a long series of losses. Again, the random number generator guarantees that all hands abide by the same probability.
Video Poker Games are programmed for Near Hits
Another common myth is that video poker games are specifically fixed to get very close to high-paying hands. For instance, a game may draw four cards needed for a royal flush with the final card of the correct number and wrong suit. The players that believe this myth explain that such behaviour must be hard-coded into the game to excite players and entice them to keep betting. However, each card is completely random, just as if they were being drawn from a well-shuffled deck. One explanation for why people tend to believe this myth is that they likely remember hands that almost win big, while forgetting those that are not even close.
Other Players Can Steal Royal Flushes
Some individuals may have played many video poker hands in a row with no luck when another player walks up to the same machine and wins big after just a few hands. Similarly, a player might be wagering on video poker online and hear news of a royal flush just minutes after they stopped. While this can lead some players to believe that they might have won that same hand if they had kept playing, such a conclusion is invalid. The random number generator in a video poker game continuously shuffles the cards, even when nobody is playing. To get the royal flush another player hit, one would need to deal and draw on the same millisecond as the winner.
Payback Percentages above 100 Guarantee a Win
While playing on machines with a payback percentage of greater than 100 is always advantageous, it does not guarantee that a player will win, or even be profitable while playing for a few hours. Rather, the posted payback percentage is reached over the course of thousands of hands. Theoretically, a player who wagered long enough could hit this figure, but doing so is highly unlikely.