Playing video poker at a brick and mortar casino is pretty self explanatory. Online video poker is slightly different but overall it is still very simple. The proper video poker strategy can make a huge difference on your win/loss ratio. The first strategy I'm going to go over is probably the most important; set your limits and stick to them.
If you are playing a game at $3/hand and you get the urge to bump it up to $10/hand this can be very bad for your bankroll. It is wise to set limits and stick to them. While following this strategy has nothing to do with winning or losing a hand it does help you maintain your bankroll. Increasing your bet on an impulse is a good way to gamble.
Another tip that is related to the one above is: take your time. When you play video poker at an online casino you have the ability to make the machine go faster and slower. You can play many more hands/hour playing online than you can playing live at a casino. This leads a lot of people to rush through each hand, often making mistakes along the way that they never even realize their making. Playing at a slower pace will minimize mistakes and reduce the ever present stress of gambling which can make playing less enjoyable.
Now we get to actual video poker strategy. Most video poker games require you to get at least Jacks or better to break even. In these games if you do not get a pair before the draw than it is usually best to keep all of you cards that have a strength of Jack or higher. If you have a flush or a straight draw (one card away) than I would suggest going for that. When you have a pair and a straight/flush draw at the same time then it is a matter of if you want to chance. I have occasionally thrown away a winning pair to go after a flush.
If you receive three cards to a straight flush or Royal flush it is usually best to keep those three cards. The odds of hitting either one of those are remote but if you do the payout will be well worth it. You do not get rich playing video poker by getting small hands like two pair. If you are dealt all low cards (under Jack) and have no possible straight or flush than it is best to get 5 new cards. While no video poker strategy is perfect in every situation these tips should help you become a better player.