To begin you are dealt five different cards by clicking the "Deal" button. You now have the choice to either keep all five cards or to improve your hand by throwing away some or all cards and receiving new ones in their place. If you would like to hang on to any of your orginal cards, hit the "hold" button that is found underneath each card. Once you have chosen which cards you want to hold click the "Draw" button and your new cards will be revealed.

If your new five card hand makes up a winning combination the computer will automatically notify you in the textbox on the lower right.

Below is a look at the most common winning combinations.

Winning Poker Combinations:

Jacks or Better: In most video poker games, holding a pair is only considered to be a winning a hand if the pair is jacks or better (queens, kings or aces). Example, QH, QS, 10H, 6C, 8C.

Two Pair: Is achieved when you are holding two different pairs of cards. Example, 3D, 3H, 9D, 9C, JS.

Three of a Kind: Is achieved when you are holding three cards of the same rank. Example, 7H, 7S, 7C, 9S, KH.

Straight: A hand consisting of five consecutive cards in numerical order (suit doesn’t matter in this case). Example, 8H, 9S, 10S, JH, QC or AH, 2C, 3S, 4H, 5S.

Flush: A hand containing any five cards of the same suit. Example, 4H, 7H, KH, 5H, AH.

Full House: A hand consisting of one par and one three of a kind. Example, 7H, 7D, QH, QS, QC.

Four of a Kind: A hand consisting of four cards of the same rank. Example, 9H, 9C, 9S, 9D, JS.

Straight Flush: A hand that consists of five cards in consecutive numerical order and of the same suit. Example, 6H, 7H, 8H, 9H, 10H.

Royal Flush: The best hand in poker, a Royal Flush is a straight flush that starts at the number 10 and ends with an Ace. Example, 10D, JD, QD, KD, AD.