Video poker Glossary
flush
A hand of five cards all of the same suit, irrespective of value
five of a kind
In games with wild cards, a hand containing four cards of the same value, irrespective of suit, plus a wild card
four of a kind
A hand containing four cards of the same value, irrespective of suit
full house
A hand of three cards of the same value and two cards of another same value, irrespective of suit, e.g. 2, 2, 2, 5, 5; i.e. a three of a kind and a pair
full pay machine
A machine with high enough payoffs so that a player using optimal strategy and betting the maximum can achieve a return of over 100%
hold cards
Cards dealt in the opening hand that the player has chosen to keep; all other cards are discarded and replaced with new ones
inside straight
A potential straight missing a card in the middle, as in e.g. 3,4,6,7,Q
natural royal flush
In games with wild cards, a royal flush not using a wild card
one pair
A hand containing one pair of cards of the same value, irrespective of suit; in video poker typically only a pair of jacks or better is considered a winning hand
open-ended straight
A potential straight missing a card at either end, as in e.g. 3,4,5,6, Q
progressive jackpot
A jackpot for a machine (or group of linked machines) where the value increases with each game played; used to additionally reward high-ranking hands (usually only royal flushes, sometimes other hands as well)
royal flush
A hand of 10, J, Q, K, A, all of the same suit
straight
A hand of five cards of consecutive value, e.g. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, irrespective of suit; an Ace cannot count as both low and high, as in e.g. Q, K, A, 2, 3
straight flush
A hand of five cards of consecutive value, e.g. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, all of the same suit; an Ace cannot count as both low and high, as in e.g. Q, K, A, 2, 3
three of a kind
A hand containing three cards of the same value, irrespective of suit
two pair
A hand containing two pairs of cards, each of the same value, irrespective of suit
wild card
A card that can count as any card to complete a hand
wild royal flush
In games with wild cards, a royal flush using a wild card to complete the hand